Quilt Qua
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Stain Removal Guide
Fri 27 Nov 2009
Stain Removal Guidelines for textiles and other items. compiled by Kris Driessen from information discussed on the Quilt History List. Before attempting to remove a stain, please be sure to determine that you really need to. Read our primer first. Some stains are better off left alone. Keep in mind you may damage your item irrevocably. If it is an important piece, seek the advice of a professional first. We recommend that you use products containing the ingredient Sodium Percarbonate. This is a white, free flowing granular chemical used in the formulation of laundry products and many other cleaning products. ... Read More...
Quilty Sayings
Fri 20 Nov 2009
A Lifetime's not too long to live as friends and a quilt is not too small to sew them in! A quilt is something you make to keep someone you love ... WARM! A Quilt Will Warm Your Body and Comfort Your Soul A creative mess is better than tidy idleness A day hemmed in prayer seldom unravels A family stitched together with love, seldom unravels. A family is a patchwork of LOVE. A yard a day keeps the blues away. A fat quarter is not a body part A quilt is something you make to keep someone you love...Warm! ... Read More...
Home Machine Quilting Systems
Fri 20 Nov 2009
If you are trying to research home machine quilting systems, the alternative to an expensive long arm machine that allows you to use a home sewing machine and a carriage-rail system, here are several resources to help you. This information is based on personal research, and reflects my own knowledge and opinions based on that research. I would like to add my appreciation to Laura Starr of the UFO-Orphanage for compiling much of this information. If you would like to add a comment to this page, please E-mail me. MACHINE OPTIONS: Your standard home sewing machine with drop feed ... Read More...
Half Square Triangles
Fri 20 Nov 2009
Tips, Tools and Techniques Hundreds of quilt blocks include Half Square Triangles (HSTs.) This block is made of two triangles, each representing half a square, hence the name. The challenge is to quickly and accurately make these triangles in the quantities needed for a quilt. The traditional method for making HSTs is to cut two differently colored squares in half on the diagonal, swap them, then sew them back together on the diagonal. The Marti Michell templates are made for this purpose. They are placed on a strip of fabric with the blunt end against the cut side. (see picture ... Read More...
Are You a Fabraholic Addicted to Fabric?
Fri 13 Nov 2009
SELF TEST TO DETERMINE IF YOU ARE TRULY ADDICTED TO FABRIC OR JUST A SMALL TIME COLLECTOR by Fabric Collectors Anonymous Check all that apply. ____You subscribe to two or more fabric related magazines. (Yes, quilting magazines count.) ____Every bed in the house has fabric stored underneath it. ____You tell the salespeople at the fabric store to mind their own business when they ask you what you are planning to make with your fabric purchase. ____The trunk of your car has a least one sack of fabric that you are waiting to bring in when no one is looking. ____You ... Read More...
Inklingo
Fri 06 Nov 2009
Inklingo is a method of printing templates directly onto the wrong side of fabric for hand piecing, machine piecing or appliqué. It is a very accurate method of preparing patches for cutting and stitching. Inklingo templates: position templates on the straight of grain compensate for mirror image print seam lines for hand piecing, plus cross hairs and matching marks provide precise cutting lines have perfect seam allowances eliminate basting onto templates allow you to perfectly cut patches at all angles without specialty rulers. Watch a free demo video online now! The color coded templates are available on a CD ... Read More...
Fabric Postcards
Fri 30 Oct 2009
4 x 6 works of art Have you made your own postcards yet? It's a super way to express your creativity and, yes, they can be mailed! Get out your scraps, specialty fabrics and embellishments and challenge yourself to explore new techniques in creating 4" x 6" works of art. Then join a swap and prepare to be amazed at the appliquéd, beaded, embossed, embroidered, painted, pieced, quilted, stitched, thread painted and just plain embellished cards you receive in the mail. These postcards can be mailed as long as they are regulation size (4" x 6"), no more than 1/8" ... Read More...
EQ Tips - Tips and Tricks for Using Electric Quilt
Fri 23 Oct 2009
These tips are taken from the Electric Quilt mailing list and customer questions. They are sorted into the categories shown below. Click here for information on ordering EQ5 and EQ products Electric Quilt 6 is here! Click here for more info. Update EQ6 here EQ6 Tips for the EQ5 beginner EQ Frequently Asked Questions Using Electric Quilt EQ on an Apple Mac EQ5 Importing Tips EQ5 EasyDraw Tips Patchdraw tips for Electric Quilt Using Layers EQ5 Notecard Feature Using EQ5 with XP Using the Dear JaneCD with EQ Blockbase Tips Foundation Paper Piecing Tips Printing Tips EQ and Quilt Pro Comparison Tips for the EQ4 Beginner EQ4 Tracing Tips EQ4 Country Set Tips EQ4 Wreathmaker Tips Free Downloads: Lesson of the Month Palette of the Month YesUcan for EQ6 YesUcan for EQ 5 EQ Show for EQ5 KeepFive Database for EQ5 Electric Quilt Doctor for EQ4 BlockBase Screensaver EQ6show Read More...
Quilters Ten Commandments
Fri 16 Oct 2009
Thou shalt not do buttons. Thou shalt sew 1/4" seams. Thou shalt leave no bolt unturned. Thou shalt not rip - only un-sew! Thou shalt not envy they neighbours stitches. Thou shalt never pass a quilt shop. Thou shalt cook and clean but once a week. Never quilt tomorrow what you can quilt today. Thou shalt not covet they neighbors stash. Thou shalt not reveal funds spent on quilting supplies. Read More...
Easy Prairie Points
Fri 16 Oct 2009
Prairie Points are little triangle tabs of fabric that can be inserted into seams for a three dimensional effect, or used as a binding as an edging accent. They are made of squares of fabric, folded into triangles and either nested or overlapped. They can be made individually or as a strip. There are several methods of making individual prairie points. Method One Start with a square and fold it on the diagonal wrong sides together. Fold the top of the triangle back against itself. This will put all four raw edges at the bottom of the triangle. There ... Read More...
Murphys Law for Quilters
Fri 09 Oct 2009
by Judy Grow On any given day the number of employees in a quilt shop is inversely proportional to the number of customers needing quick attention. Every quilt will take twice as long as you expect and be ½ as beautiful (we are never satisfied). There are only 2 kinds of masking tape: that which won't stay on and that which won't come off. In cutting an intricate multi-piece block, your ruler will slip on the last side of the last patch. When there is no time to do something right, there will always be time to do it over. ... Read More...
Quilting Tips and Techniques on Video
Fri 02 Oct 2009
This is a list of quilting videos I have found useful. These videos show a specific technique in a short and precise manner. If you know of one you think should be here, let me know! Here's a tip for those on dial-up: click the video to start it loading, then click the pause button and minimize it. The video will continue to load while you do other things. When you are done, come back and hit the Play button. 3gp-cinema has created freeware for those who would like to download a You-Tube video to their hard drive or cell ... Read More...
Copyright Concerns
Fri 25 Sep 2009
The subject of copyright as it applies to handmade items is a subject dear to the heart of someone who is making a living through their creative efforts. A copyright protects an authors income by giving them the exclusive right to control the reproduction of that work, whether they have created patterns, music, art, books or any other specialized design. For work to be copyrighted, it must be significantly original. An item or a technique so common it can be considered in the public domain cannot be copyrighted. It must be something unique and distinctive already in existence. Facts and ... Read More...
Coloring a Quilt with Crayons
Fri 18 Sep 2009
Break out that box of crayons and make a colored quilt block to use in a quilt, as an applique for a T-shirt, or even a pillowcase. It's easy. These directions are for using regular crayons on 100% cotton. If you want to color on synthetic or synthetic blend fabrics, you will need to use Fabric Crayons. Fabric crayons are ideal for transferring colorful designs permanently to all your craft and home sewing projects when using synthetic and synthetic blend fabrics. Order Fabric Crayons for $4.79 Start by prewashing your 100% cotton fabric without using a fabric softener or dryer ... Read More...
Repair, Restore, Conserve
Fri 04 Sep 2009
What to do with damaged antique quilts by Kris Driessen See also: Quiltbus Restoration and Conservation Supplies Do you have a quilt that needs a little TLC? Maybe one that has been passed down through your family or one you rescued at a garage sale? Don't be afraid to make repairs to it. Many damaged quilts can be repaired or restored using basic sewing skills and careful cleaning. Quilt restoration stabilizes a quilt, extends its life and makes it more pleasing to the eye of the beholder. If you don’t know one end of a needle from another, though, contact ... Read More...
Machine Quilting Basics
Fri 21 Aug 2009
Machine quilting your top is a time honored tradition that goes back to the days of the treadle. Sewing machines were expensive - if you had one, you made sure to show it off. You might hand piece the quilt top, since the stitches didn't show, but machine quilt the top where the stitches DID show. Today we are more likely to machine quilt a top to both save time and allow for creative expression. Machine quilting is not difficult but it does take some practice. You don't need to buy a fancy machine to machine quilt. All machines will ... Read More...
How to Tie a Quilt
Fri 21 Aug 2009
Once you have made your quilt top, how do you finish it? Rather than the time consuming method of sewing the three layers of your quilt sandwich together with quilting stitches, tying quilts is a fast and easy way of finishing your quilt which gives you a give you a softer and puffier feel. In some cases (such as that of a quilt made with blue jeans), tying is the only way you will be able to finish it. Start out by stretching out your backing face down on a table or floor, attaching it to the surface with masking ... Read More...
Choosing the Right Sewing Machine Needle
Fri 07 Aug 2009
If you have ever had difficulty piecing a garment or quilt, you know how important your choice of needle can be. This primer will give you an overview of the type of sewing machine needle you should choose for your project. Needles range in size from a very thin and flexible 60\8 to a heavy-duty needle 120/19. (Needle sizes are not the same for regular home machines and commercial machines.) Just like thread, most needles use a two number identification system to define the needle shaft diameter. The higher number measures the diameter in fractions of a millimeter. The lower ... Read More...
How to Make a Quillow
Fri 24 Jul 2009
Quillows are Quilts and Pillows together. By sewing a special pocket into your quilt, it folds up and fits inside itself to make a pillow. These are the perfect sleepover accessory for kids to take with them or a nice item to keep in the car on long trips. Great for a couch throw, too. Quillows can be made any size, and are fun to do in a theme such as "bugs" or "autumn." To make a small quillow, you will need 2 yards of fabric for the top, 2 yards for the back, an 18" square for 1 side ... Read More...
Making a Silk Purse Out of a Sow's Ear - Using Those Wonderful Vintage Blocks in a New Quilt
Fri 10 Jul 2009
Have you been lucky enough to find old quilt blocks but don't quite know what to do with them? If they are in reasonably good shape, consider finishing them into a quilt or wall hanging. Don't just leave them in a drawer. Even if they are not in such good shape, it is still possible to work with them so their beauty will shine. Warning: these tips do not apply to every quilt or every situation. When in doubt, consult a professional. Before using your blocks, examine them carefully and repair any loose seams or stitches. Unless they are filthy, ... Read More...