Free Beginner Quilt or Table Runner Patterns
Take your time, mistakes are unique expressions, don't try to do it all on one day, ask lot of questions, do not be hard on yourself, YouTube is you friend and HAVE A BALL!
Remember, this is a hobby, a past-time. It is by no means an occupation, so your creations should be made with love, not frustration. I say this as much as a reminder to myself as I do to you. Always work with fabrics you love and you will want to see them through. Use a quarter inch pressed foot if you have one. It really does help, and press everything, starch when you feel it’s important. The only other thing I wish someone had told me when I started was to use a shorter stitch length.
QUILTING BASICS 101
Rotary cutters: Unlike traditional sewing, quilting requires the use of a rotary cutter to cut out the pieces for your quilt. There are many different brands, styles and sizes. You will need to find the style and size that is most comfortable for you to use! The 45 mm cutter is the one most commonly used by quilters. If you have a very large project with larger pieces you may want to use the 60 mm size cutter. If you are cutting a lot of very small pieces you might consider the 28 mm size. Cutters are available at JoAnn's, Hobby Lobby, WalMart ,The Fig Leaf and The Sewing Circle. If you purchase your rotary cutter from The Fig Leaf you will receive a 10% discount for the duration of our class.
Cutting Mats: The second most important tool you will need is a cutting mat. Olfa has many sizes and style to choose from. I use an 18" x 24" Size for most projects, but I also have a lazy susan mat which comes in handy for many different types of quilt blocks where you can rotate the mat without moving the fabric. All of the retailers listed above also have cutting mats. Make sure you are using a mat ALWAYS for cutting or you may ruin your countertop or any other cutting surface as well as the blade in your rotary cutter. Remember to buy “self-healing” which can be used pretty much forever and are easier on your rotary cutter blades!
Quilting Rulers: Again, unlike traditional sewing you must own a quilting ruler to ensure accurate cutting for your block pieces. Traditional tape measures or rulers will not allow for cutting accuracy. There are many sizes and manufacturers. The one I use the most is my Omnigrid brand. The quilting ruler has each inch cut into 1/8 segments. We will go over the rulers and how to use them properly!
Batting: Batting is used to create what we call the "quilt sandwich" once your top is pieced together and you are getting ready to quilt the piece. There are many brands of batting and the type of batting depends on the weight and look you are looking for with your quilt. Probably the most popular is Dream Cotton because it is 100% cotton, very friendly on your machine when quilting, and it doesn't "pile" or pull through to the top of the fabric. Polyester batting has more loft but tends to pull through to the quilt top when quilting. Batting comes in sizes segments. Batting sizes ranging from crib size to king size. I tend to buy bigger packages when I am making a lot of smaller projects because I can get more projects out of one rather than buying smaller packages for every project.
Sewing Machine: There are so many types and brands of sewing machines and everyone has a different preference and price range! I have a Brother Simplicity model which accomplishes everything I need for projects. There are many embroidery machine on the market also. You will find that machines range in price from $100 to $25,000! It all depends on what you like and what your wallet will allow! Once you get a feel for the type you enjoy you may investigate many different manufacturers to find the one that matches your needs.
Sewing Machine Needles:
Sewing machine needles might seem insignificant, but they can literally make or break your stitching. Sewing with
damaged or worn sewing machine needles can cause broken or shredded threads, skipped stitches, fabric puckering, uneven seams, or even permanently damage fabrics. Schmetz is the most common and popular brand of needles that can be found at just about any craft or sewing center. Attached is a handy list for you to refer to when you are getting ready to start a new project and you aren’t sure about what needle to select with a specific fabric type. From a lot of experience, I’ve learned the hard way the importance of the correct needle in your machine.
Thread: The proper thread choice can definitely help you in achieving your envisioned product and it should always be patterned with the type of stitching task you are planning on doing and as such it should dictate your thread selection process. Here are some types of threads to help you decide:
Silk thread :A good silk thread is known to be naturally durable, smooth, and has an illustrious veneer. It is made for hand-sewing and tailoring as it is lightweight and easy to maneuver. Of course, silk thread is used to manufacture silk fabric. It is also ideal for using with wool for tailoring as it can be easily shaped with careful ironing. Because of its strong fibers, silk threads are quite resistant to this ironing process.
Cotton thread: In contrast to silk, cotton threads don’t have a sheen. It also does not possess the silk thread’s natural durability although it is also resistant to iron heat, which is why it is okay for cotton fabrics to be pressed repeatedly and continuously. Also, cotton threads can also produce a significant amount of lint which may prove irritating to some. However, it still can produce lightweight fabrics.
Elastic thread: Elastics threads are mainly used for the sole purpose of shirring. When you sew elastic threads the right way, it can produce a piece of fabric that will remain stretchy even after prolonged use.
Polyester thread: Like silk, a majority of polyester threads have a bit of sheen to them. In contrast to silk which is found in nature, polyester threads are man-made. As a consequence, they do not possess the same level of durability found in natural threads. They are often vulnerable to extreme temperatures. However, this does not mean that it has not apparent uses. The clothing industry frequently makes use of polyester threads because of it resistance to ultraviolet rays, chemical substances, and mildew. It also has a limited elasticity but not as strong as the elastic thread.
Scissors: You will want a couple of good pairs of scissors for fabric. The way the edge is cut on the blade of the scissors is different than those used for paper. Don’t let your family members use them for anything else because it destroys the edge on the blades. Gingher scissors are from Germany and are considered the best for cutting fabric. Fiskers used to be be the best domestic scissors but aren’t the quality they used to be! Havel Dura Shears are wonderful and used by professionals also. They are available at Wal Mart for $20. A good pair of 6” scissors like Fiskars is perfect for cutting out applique pieces!
Wonder clips- Wonder clips are the greatest new invention for quilters! Use them instead of pins especially when you are sewing the binding on your quilt. You can buy them just about anywhere now. I bought mine from Amazon because they come in a cute tin container and you get 110 of them for $10. So worth the money!
I hope all of the information I have given will be helpful as you begin your incredible journey with quilting. It will bring you hours of creative joy. Giving a quilt to family and friends is giving a loving piece of yourself to them! Happy Quilting to you! I’m sew glad you are all here!
Here is one principle about quilting that is so important: ALWAYS MEASURE TWICE AND CUT ONCE! This will save you a lot of time and frustration with each project you make!
HAPPY QUILTING! BUT MOST OF ALL HAVE FUN!
Links:
How to cut & prepare
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