Learn How To Quilt
When learning to make baby quilts, there is whole new world of supportive people who have a passion for their craft, wonderfully colorful fabrics, and hundreds of designs just waiting for your creative talents. There is no better way to learn to make baby quilts then from those who know their craft. Read and jump right in and try your first quilt.
Check out these great articles for information on learning to quilt.
SEW start right now!
Learn How To Make Quilt Binding
Don’t let that UFO sit around without a quilt binding. Finish your project.
Check out these great articles for information on learning to quilt.
SEW start right now!
Learn How To Make Quilt Binding
Don’t let that UFO sit around without a quilt binding. Finish your project.
Check out the Baby Quilt Shop for the unique handmade baby quilts, hand-quilted by Sharon just for your baby.
Grandma's Advice on How to QuiltA wide-eyed 8 year-old stands by the quilt frame watching her Grandma and friends ply the needle over the quilt blocks. How I remember just waiting for the opportunity to try a few stitches. The joy of threading needles for Grandma as she chatted and sewed with her friends was the beginning of a history of learning the love my art of quilting.
Now years later, many projects have called my quilt frame home. The lessons learned from my Grandma have stood the test of time and now become valuable tools of my trade. For example, press seams towards the darker fabric. Keep scissors sharp and check that they cut straight. Scissors that have been dropped may not cut a true line. Always complete a practice quilt block to determine which piecing order you prefer and which direction you want the seams to face. Whenever four or more seams come together at one point, press the seams open. Grandma always said to dip one finger into water and dab the moisture onto the area where the multiple seams come together and fan out. This process will flatten the seams as you press your quilt block.
Grandma sewed her quilt blocks with either her treadle machine or in later years her new electric machine. Yet she strongly cautioned that no matter the sewing machine you purchased with every new option available, don’t forget the inexpensive and tiny essential item, the sewing machine needle. When stitching a quilt block, needles are best when sharp, and Grandma’s reminder was to replace the needle with each new quilt top. Dull needles become noisy and should be replaced immediately.
Until today I can still hear my Grandfather remind me to keep those quilt stitches small, so he would not get his big toe stuck in them when he slept under the quilt at night. I knew my Grandfather was only kidding me, but that little joke between us so many years ago, still reminds me to keep the quilt stitches small and even. While tiny stitches are not essential, it is important to the overall appearance of your quilt that they are reasonably sized. If they are too large, just like my Grandfather teased me, they run the risk of being broken in the course of wear or just pulled loose. Anywhere from 6 – 12 stitches per inch is what Grandma suggested when stitching a quilt by hand. It is time to quilt!
By: Sharon Camp - Unique Baby Quilt Boutique
The years have flown by, the days with Grandma are no longer, but the love of her craft will live on.
Quilting Designs on a Baby Quilt
Congratulations! You finished your baby quilt top. The fabric and colors are superb and match perfectly with the baby’s new room. Now it is time to do the hand quilting. But the dilemma is in choosing the perfect design. After the hours and time spent on the baby quilt top, the design of the hand quilting must be just right. But where to start?
The quilting design should follow the style and pattern of the new quilt top:
1. Place your baby quilt top on the design wall and study or analyze it for the elements of design.
2. Decide the amount of usage the baby quilt will receive and how often it will be cleaned or laundered. If the project will be a wall hanging, more intricate patterns could be considered as opposed to a child’s personal blanket that will be well-loved.
3. Considered your time. The more intricate the pattern, the more time will be needed to complete your baby quilt and the more visually exciting the designs will become. If time is a factor, cross-hatch grids, quilting in the ditch, or outlining stitch are effective for holding the layers together.
4. The type of fabric in your baby quilt top will also determine the type of quilting design you should choose. Large or busy prints require a simpler design on the baby quilt top. On the solid colors or tone-on-tones, a decorative featured wreath or floral motif is perfect to show off that baby quilt.
5. The quilter’s expertise in hand quilting of a baby quilt must be considered. Stick to the simple patterns of outline quilting, straight lines or grids.
6. As a hand quilter, stencil and patterns will allow you to bring a design onto your baby quilt. These can be purchased commercially or traced from any pattern around the house. Freezer paper also makers wonderful templates. Cut out and press the freezer paper on to your fabric. Trace and stitch around the shape. Peel off and reuse.
Every inch of your baby quilt does not have to be stitched. Strive to keep a balance in the quilting throughout your baby quilt.
Enjoy creating the design on yourbaby quilt top. By: Sharon Camp - Unique Baby Quilt Boutique A new baby quilt is finish, but what quilt binding do I choose? In a baby quilt, the quilt binding is the last part that keeps those raw edges from showing and adds the finishing touches to your project. Before I pull out my fabrics and decide my colors, the method of quilt binding for by my project needs to be considered first. There are numerous factors to consider when you are choosing the method of finishing the baby quilt. Consider your time constraints, your skill level in sewing and quilting, and your preference in either handquilting or machine quilting of your quilt binding. The quilt binding can have straight, irregular or curved edges. Do I want to create a certain mood with my quilt binding? If my answers here are to keep it simple since I have a basic straight edge and my time is of the essence, use a bias, straight- grain, or single fold binding. A common type of quilt binding, bias binding is made from strips cut on the bias or at a 45 degree angle to the straight grain of the fabric. Bias binding provides the stretch needed on curves. Strips are put together to provide the required length needed for the baby quilt. Bias fold bindings can be either doubled or single folded and used for all types of fabrics. This method of quilt binding is common for use in finishing a baby quilt due to its durability. Follow the steps below and you will never have to use a calculator to figure our binding: 1. First choose your binding method. (Bias, straight- grain, or single fold binding). 2. Decide the width of the quilt binding. Finished Measurement (inches) Cut Width (inches) For Single Fold Cut Width (inches) For Double Fold 1/4 1/2 1 1/2 3/8 1 1/2 2 1/2 2 2 1/2 5/8 2 1/2 3 1/2 3. Calculate the length of binding you need to prepare for you quilt for Straight Grain Binding Cut the Width of the Binding (inches) Yardage up to 150 Yardage 150 - 200 1 1/4 1/4 1 1/2 1/4 1/4 2 1/3 1/3 2 1/2 3/8 1/2 1. Calculate the length of quilt binding you need to prepare for you quilt for Bias Cut Binding Cut the Width of the Binding (inches) Yardage up to 150 Yardage 150 - 200 1 1/2 5/8 1 1/2 5/8 3/4 2 5/8 7/8 2 1/2 3/4 7/8 The single fold binding is sewn to the quilt edge first. The free side of the binding strip is then turned under ¼ inch and sewn in place by hand. This binding can either be cut by a bias cut or a straight cut, not on the bias. This type of quilt binding has little bulk and is a good choice for smaller baby quilts that will be used as wall hanging and will not require many launderings. Also this type of binding is better to be sewn on baby quilts that have only straight edges. Never treat the quilt binding as an afterthought. Chose the quilt binding that perfect for your almost completed baby compete to make it the treasure of a lifetime. By: Sharon Camp - Unique Baby Quilt Boutique
Learn How To Make Quilt Binding
Don’t let that UFO sit around without a quilt binding. Finish your project.
Don’t let that UFO sit around without a quilt binding. Finish your project.
Tips For Appliqueing Baby Quilts
Wonderful! You have the fabric and patterns laid out for various baby quilts that you could make but the one that sticks out and you really would like to tackle is appliqué. Whether you have quilted before or not, the project of an appliqué quilt can be a challenge. Here are successful techniques that will help you feel comfortable and not feel frustrated to the point that you are ready to give up on your first try.
1. If you are using fusible web, and there is a problem with it not sticking well to the fabric, stop first and read or reread the manufacturer’s directions and follow the steps exactly. In most cases, if you press the fusible web longer than is recommended, the glue loses its adhesive qualities and it will no longer stick to your fabric.
2. Curved edges are tricky. Iron your fabric to the freezer paper. Trim the seam allowances to 1/8 inch to reduce the bulk. The wider those seams are, the harder it will be for the fabric to stick to the paper since too much fabric is harder to gather.
3. If your baby quilt project requires appliquéing many pieces of the same shape and you are using iron-on freezer paper, first make a plastic template. It is more accurate and easier to trace around the plastic template and onto the freezer paper, than over a printer pattern.
4. Fusible web is great for appliquéing baby quilts, but it makes your project stiff. To reduce this problem, cut away the center portion and leave ¼ inch of fusible web around the perimeter of your shape. This is just enough to secure the baby quilt project is place but keeps them flexible for you to do the appliqué stitching.
5. To remove the freezer paper from underneath your finished appliqué pattern, you need to cut the background fabric. Leave ¼ inch for your seam allowance. Another option which leaves the background in place and won’t fray is made by making a diagonal snip in the background fabric. This allows you to pull the freezer paper through the opening.
6. A sharp pointed needle is important for hand appliquéing on the special fabrics you have chosen for your baby quilts. Change the needle often.
7. Hand appliquéing your baby quilts offers you two ways of stitching. The top edge is referred to as the “mountain” because you are looking over the fold. The second way is to stitch along the “valley” or the bottom edge where you can see the exact edge of the fold. My suggestion is try both methods and see which is more comfortable for your use.
8. Since you may want to travel, resealable plastic bags are perfect for storage and carrying your appliqué projects. They keep your appliqué project neatly organized, and is portable when you are on the go.
Using these helpful tips, your beautiful fabrics, and some creativity, there are many new appliquéd baby quilts just waiting for your needle.
By: Sharon Camp - Unique Baby Quilt Boutique
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