Savvy Crafting » Beginner Quilting

Quilting Designs – Beginning Through Advanced

Christine — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 23:45:34 +0000

The first step to any art produce is the design and the same goes for quilting. Quilting designs are simply the patterns used to create masterpieces using cloth. There are hundreds perhaps even thousands of quilting designs that range from simple designs that anyone can do to quilting designs that can only be accomplished by individuals with a significant amount of skill.

Where To Find Quilting Designs

There are a number of places to find quilting designs. The first place to look, especially these days, is the internet. Just about, anything you want to know about can be found through simple internet searches. There are also a number of resources available through craft stores, books, and even quilting clubs if you have one in your area.

Of course, depending on your age you can always ask an older person from your family such as a mother or grandmother, aunt or cousin who may be old enough to have done quilting and needlecrafts. There are also other things to consider when finding designs for quilting. Just about anything can become a quilt design, there are a number of iron on transfers, patterns, even software applications that can turn any picture into a design that you can use for a quilting block.

Quilt designs are not just about the pictures that are stitched onto the fabric. They are also about the type of stitching that is done. In fact, there are some quilts that are nothing more than plain fabric that has a series of designs created simply by stitching. The stitching can be in the same color thread as the quilt fabric or it can be done in a contrasting color. The point is that designs are not just about pictures, they do not have to be fancy in order to be attractive and they do not have to be hard to accomplish.

Though you may be a little intimidated when you first look at some of the quilting designs that are available, especially if you are looking at the final product or you are only looking at the design specifications without seeing the final product. This is why it is a good idea to take quilting classes. There are a number of classes usually available in an area provided there is a craft store, which sells quilting supplies. The majority of large and even small stores that sell supplies for quilting usually offer classes for beginners in both hand and machine quilting.

Quilting Accessories for Beginners and Experienced Quilters

Christine — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 23:41:13 +0000

Machine Quilting Accessories would include feet, needles, notions, software, thread, cabinets, cutting tables and lamps. Some accessories are naturally more useful than the others, and with experience it is possible to handle more accessories.

Basics

Good quality needles and threads are the most important things that are required for quilting. Use 100 % cotton quilting thread, and now they are available in a sampler box with an array of colors. As a part of Quilting Accessories there are special quilting needles available for home sewing machines. They come in a box of 100, and another variety of quilting needles is also available for heavy material sewing.

Several books are available too, which have designs of various kinds. It is not easy to conjure patterns in your mind if you begin with quilting as a hobby, so books can guide you to make them. Actually many give a list of Quilting Accessories that you require as a beginner, and then later as an experienced quilter.

There are electric bobbin winders for plastic and metal bobbins. In addition to that you can also get a motor and platform with variable speed foot control. You can also get fancy Quilting Accessories like a stitch length regulator. This is of course one of the expensive Quilting Accessories, but it gives a perfect finish to the quilt that you are sewing.

Simple and Useful

Simple Quilting Accessories are therapeutic ergonomic support gloves, which you can wear during sewing, cutting, handwork and especially during quilting. Don’t forget the simple machine oil which lubricates your sewing machine. There are quilters safety pins in a handy re-usable box and quilt binding clips which are nickel plated. The clips are sturdy and rust proof and can hold your binding firmly in place while you are stitching.

Fine marking pencils are also important as Quilting Accessories. They normally come in a set of three; one is white, one yellow and one pink or blue. The set also includes a sharpener.

Fancy Additions

The quilters Roll Clips are useful Quilting Accessories. With the help of the clip you can roll up the quilt on the right hand side, so that the bulk that may be a hindrance during sewing is reduced. The quilter’s ruler handle is attached by suction caps securely to rulers and templates so that you can move the quilt easily while sewing. It also helps to ensure accurate cutting and marking.

There are hosts of other Quilting Accessories which are a bit more expensive, but if you are looking for quilting to become easier and more enjoyable for you, you could opt for them. You can have a good sewing machine case, a turntable cutting board, a ruler holder or a pinning tool and if you get everything made of wood, it is even better. After you have finished your artistic product, use a quilt holder or a quilt rack to display your object of beauty.

For The Beginner In Quilting

Christine — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 23:28:32 +0000

There is a lot to love when it comes to quilting, as it is an excellent way to pass the time away along with being able to tell a story through fabric. More and more people are starting to see the many benefits of quilting and want to start their own. For those who do not have someone like a grandmother or mother to teach him or her how, they may find themselves at a loss. It is important not to let go of that dream and to find other ways to learn how. For the beginner in quilting, there are many things that can be done in order to learn this wonderful skill.

There are currently a lot of different books for the beginner in quilting hitting the Internet and store shelves on a daily basis. These books can help walk someone through how to make a quilt. It is generally the easiest though if the beginner in quilting already has some sort of a rough idea about quilting. This would help make sure that they pick up on everything quickly and correctly. For those who really do not know one single ounce about quilting, there is always the option of taking a class that is set up for the beginner in quilting.

Finding Classes

A good place to start looking is at your local scrap booking or crafts store, as sometimes these stores will hold classes on certain subjects. There is generally a fee for coming to the class but the fees generally are not that large at all. And the amount of information and hands on experience that you get within these types of classes cannot be beat. The classes are usually year round so you should not have too much trouble finding one that can fit within your particular schedule.

If you cannot find a class for the beginner in quilting that way, you could always stop down at your local library as they generally have billboards for advertisements set up. You can find a lot of interesting things for sale there along with different classes that are being offered throughout the area. This is worth a shot because between those two places you are bound to find a class for the beginner in quilting within no time. Once you get started you will see that it is really easy and you will start to wonder why you did not begin something like this before.