String Quilts

During the economic slump of the early twentieth century, string style quilt making thrived. Rural mid-century women, cut off from mainstream society and markets, founded their own string quilt style. The twenty-first century version is known as selvedge edge quilts.*

The strings were narrow strips of scrap fabrics or otherwise used pieces of fabric that would be thrown out. String quilts knew no bounds. Women sewed their strips of fabric together until they covered a pattern in the shape of a diamond, square, triangle or any shape cut from newspaper or used fabric.

Women made strings from used, old, and new fabrics. All fibers and thread counts were candidates for the string quilt including the thinnest dress fabrics. Often, a flour sack served as the foundation fabric for sewing string pieces onto, in the flip-and-sew fashion, until the foundation was covered. They snipped off fabric leftover around the pattern edges, and the blocks were sewn together as any patchwork block would be. As a result, some string quilts offer a cacophony of fabrics not often used in quilts.

Some women used larger scraps, and often the block's strips were a variety of widths. Scrappy strips were asymmetrical and uneven, or pointed, or on the bias. Whatever fabrics were available, they were used as is. There was no time to waste cutting them to size. Women used an old blanket or quilt as the filler and tied the layers together; winter was near -- no time for quilting it.

String quilts made by women in Gee's Bend, Alabama, and Mid-western Amish communities, have become an art form. Their stringed blocks are often square in shape or close to it, with one above the other. Sometimes sashing strips divide the blocks. The Amish string quilts can look like stacks of small squares. This pattern is named Coins.

When these noted groups of quilters combined their scraps into a string quilt, it may have been nothing special to them. Yet, the quilts dazzle the eyes of outsiders and art collectors who see them as wall art today. When the country was enduring the Great Depression, women combined their scraps into string quilts, which were seen as utilitarian and still are.

Now, women are making selvedge edge quilts, using strips cut from the sides or edges of cotton fabric. The selvedge prevents unraveling and holds onto hooks during the printing process. This edge is mostly white with the manufacturer's name and logo, the designer or collection's name, and a chart of the colors used printed on it. Selvedge edges are cut completely off and thrown away. Today, they are saved for a new purpose.

Selvedge edges are about one-half inch in width and run the length of the bolt. The writing on the edge varies in font style, color, and amount of coverage. This then becomes the decoration on this strip. The selvedge edge's size and shape matches another material women used a century ago that was definitely not intended for quilt makers, but instead was a by-product of cigar companies.

A century ago, cigar companies tied a bright colored silk ribbon around a bundle of cigars. Women stitched them together with black or colored embroidery floss stitches onto a fabric foundation block. They were not cut or curved, but placed side by side. Cigar company ribbons had fancy logos and used attractive fonts in black ink on yellow or orange ribbons. The various advertising on the ribbons added decoration to the quilt block. Green, pink and purple ribbons were occasionally used in the block designs, signifying a rare cigar.

Just as with many string and selvedge edge quilt blocks, women took the cigar ribbons and arranged them to form designs. The blocks were usually square, with strips laid in log cabin designs, on the diagonal, or in quartered designs. The color would add another dimension as the secondary pattern that formed when the blocks were sewn together.

Seldom were cigar ribbon tops made into quilts with batting and back. Made with silk and unquilted, they were fragile, unlike the string and selvedge edge quilts. Mostly they remained as tops to cover tables, or they were made into pillows.

The common thread in string, selvedge edge, and cigar ribbon tops, is that their popularity came about at the time of an economic downturn or a War, or both. The materials used in each were throw-aways being put to use, as a quilt or decoration for women's homes, and they were there for the taking.

Women did then as they do now -- they got creative and sewed together the fabrics they had, including scraps. New quilt styles emerged that we recognize today and hold dear in our homes, or see exhibited in a gallery as art.

*This term may have been coined by the Karen Griska who authored a how-to book, "Quilts From the Selvage Edge", AQS, 2008. Selvage or selvedge is correctly spelled either way.

For more articles on the history of quilts, fabrics, women's lives and quilt styles through time visit http://www.antiquequiltdating.com and the newsletter at http://quiltersspirit.blogspot.com Both are written by quilt historian Kimberly Wulfert.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kimberly_Wulfert

Kimberly Wulfert - EzineArticles Expert Author

Take a look at Happy & Scrappy The perfect pattern for string Quilts for only $16.00 US dollars.

Another great ideas that is sweeping the web is making selvage quilts. Selvage quilts are the perfect companion to your string quilt patterns. Mix selvages with other strings of fabric or alone you won't be disappointed with the results. Take a look at Selvage Quilts pattern, which shows you 4 different projects to get your creative juices flowing for months to come. This class is only $16.00

Organic Baby Quilt ideas

Giving a baby quilt is rewarding and satisfying in it's self. But if you can make it organic, then you will feel even better as you know it will be good for the baby, the mother and our planet. This article will give you some tips on getting started.

Organic Baby Quilt

You can quickly make an organic baby quilt for the newest member of the human race. When you are invited to a baby shower or you are having a baby you know that one of the best present that you can give a baby is a quilt. The quilt will not only be used when the baby is small, but can be used as a keepsake when the baby grown and have babies of their own.

You can make a quilt easy. To make it organic you will want to make it using organic material. There are many variations of organic material available that you can create a unique baby quilt that is truly one of a kind.

To make a baby quilt you will want to cut out blocks of materials this will become the top part of the quilt. Depending on how large you will want the quilt is how many blocks you will cut out. You can make the blocks out of different patterns that you can then mix and match on the top of the quilt. Once you get the blocks cut out you will lay them out to see how you want to position them. Then sew them together. You have now completed the top of the quilt.

Once you have the top of the quilt designed you will need to cut a piece of fabric for the bottom of the quilt. Make this about the same size as the top blocks.

To assemble the quilt you will put the top of the quilt then batting and then the bottom. Sew these together you won't have to worry about the raw edges because you will be adding something to that. Once it's sewed, you will want to take binding tape which come in many different colors and wrap that completely around the quilt so that it gives a finished even look on both sides of the quilt.

It doesn't take long to make the quilt and it will be a treasured item for the baby and the family of the baby.

Just because you want to purchase all organic baby supplies you won't have to break your budget. It doesn't have to be expensive to buy organic baby toys and diapers. If you want to be a natural shopper and shop organic you can do it easily as more and more items are now being produced organically.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jackie_Chapman


Need a fun idea for the quilt top?

Check out this Mother Goose Pattern found at Quilting Weekly

Making sens of Marking Tools for Quilting

When you need to mark your quilts, there are so many choices available today that it can make your head spin. Chris from Quilting Weekly helps you make sense of them all in this short but informative video.

For more helpful tips, video tutorials and lessons visit Quilting Weekly. Where we Design Projects to Inspire!

Easy Quilting Crafts For Kids

A great way to keep kids busy is to introduce them to quilting. While there are numerous crafts and fun activities for smaller children in daycare, preschool, or elementary school, finding educational crafts for older girls can be challenging. Quilting crafts for kids can help older children learn sewing techniques, spark creativity, and bust those times of boredom. It's a skill that can be used for a lifetime.

Girls love quilting because they're able to pick and choose from hundreds of patterns of all shapes and sizes. There are patterns containing flowers, squares, circles, characters, animals, nature scenes, and a variety of colors. Crafts and sewing can go hand in hand, so once a child learns quilting, she can easily add other sewing skills if desired.

Quilting Books for Beginners

Quilting books for kids offer step-by-step instructions about quilting. They also start with the basics such as how to thread a sewing machine and how to stitch in a straight line. The books list what types of fabrics, tools, and supplies are needed to make gorgeous quilts. Some books offer photos, a glossary, tips, actual quilt projects with step-by-step guides, beautiful patchwork ideas, and more. Once your child learns the basics of quilting, she can add to her skills and learn to make pillows, placemats, wall hangings, or lap quilts.

A Quilt for Every Occasion

Making quilts can be a fun way for your daughter to decorate her room in her favorite colors or themes. Quilts also make great gifts for any occasion: birthdays, Christmas, weddings, baby showers, graduations, Mother's Day, Father's Day, and even Valentine's Day. Quilt designs might also be geared toward a season, with flower patterns and light colors such as pink, light green, yellow, or baby blue in spring and summer. Darker colors such as red, brown, black, green, or blue will work well for autumn and winter patterns. Quilts as gifts will express love and effort because she made the gift very special with her own hands.

For the Career-Minded

Teens who want to earn extra money will find quilting to be very rewarding. It does take time and effort to make a quilt, but the returns can be excellent. She can sell her quilts at local flea markets, consignment shops, or even online through a website or auction (with parent's help, of course). Quilts are always in demand, and all styles and colors can be sold for profits. She can make quilts of contemporary styles or lovely patchwork designs like "grandma used to make!" It's her choice. She can even ask her friends and relatives about buying the quilts.

If you don't own a sewing machine, you might be able to find an affordable machine used at a garage sale or flea market. Or, check your local newspaper in the classifieds. You can buy one new in a local sewing supply store or on the Web. There are online auctions for sewing machines as well, so make sure to check all these resources to find a great deal.

Quilting skills will take some time to learn, but once she becomes confident, she can enjoy quilting as a way to relax and create something of value. If you'd like to start quilting with your daughter or even teach a class of young people how to quilt, search online today to find instructional books and websites about quilting.

Chris Robertson is an author of Majon International, one of the worlds MOST popular internet marketing companies on the web. Learn more about Quilting Books and Ideas for Kids.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chris_Robertson

Sharon Schamber is AWESOME!

Wow, I got to meet Sharon Schamber this week and she is an awesome quilter! She was the guest speaker for our local quilt guild and by the end of the presentation and her trunk show of quilts, I was with out words!

For those of you you who are not familiar with the talent of this lady I highly recommend you visit her sites, and watch some of her videos. She has plenty of them available on her site, and on YouTube as well. So lots to see for free!

Here are here websites:

Sharonschamber.com
Saronschambernetwork

And here is a link to her youtube channel

SharonSchamberNet's Channel

Curved piecing

Curved piecing can scare most of us away. I know it scares me! But this video from Penny will have you wanting to try this technique and maybe even enjoy doing curved piecing.

The one tip I have for you is regarding the sewing over the pins. I know that some of you do this and Penny even tells you in the video that she does, I would strongly advise against this. Sewing over pins can break needles that we all know, but it can also throw off the timing in your sewing machine which can lead to expensive repair bills!

So do what you will with her advice, me personally I like the way she pins this block, but once under the presser foot I would remove pins as I go along.

Curved piecing shouldn't scare you anymore after you learn the secrets to pinning!