If you are new to quilting and are wondering what type of machine you need to get started you may want to have a look at my article at Online Quilting. It breaks this down into 3 simple categories and may just help you decide what is best for your situation.
Quilting Machines Covers everything from Domestic quilting machines to Long Arm machines. You will learn about the benefits and disadvantages of the different types of machines out there. This is a must read if you are a new quilter, or considering upgrading.
Hope you enjoy it! Your comments here will let me know for sure so don't forget to come back and leave them. Or better still subscribe to my feed and don't ever miss out on all my quilting lessons online!
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Machine Quilting
Machine quilting is an area that many new quilters seem to struggle with. They have many questions and I get so many e-mails on this subject that I thought it was time to lend a hand.
When machine quilting, you need to take the time to prepare properly. Machine quilting (which is the act of sewing the 3 layers together. Backing, batting and the quilt top)requires practice in it's self. There is no way around the practice part, sorry ladies! To perfect machine quilting, you need to put in your time at the machine. You need to become one with the machine. But how do you do that?
Prepare the layers and build a quilt sandwich first
There are many ways to do this. If this is your first time, I suggest getting some batting, and muslin or scraps of fabric together. Make a square about 12 x 12 inches of all 3 layers.
Now you need to secure those layers. This step is very important. You can do this in a number of ways.
Now if you are not familiar with these methods you may need to do a bit of research to figure out which one you prefer. Sometimes it depends on the project at hand. Spray Adhesives work well for small projects, but have strong odors that may be offensive to some people. You need a well ventilated room to use them in. Pin basting is popular because it is easy to move or remove the pins as you quilt. Giving you the opportunity to smooth out the quilt and keep control of the wrinkles. Plus by removing them as you sew, you don't have anything to remove in the end like you would with thread basting. Thread basting is quick also, and many quilter like that, because the thread does not get in the way of quilting. So they don't have to stop to remove it like you do with pins.
As you can see there are pros and cons to all of these methods, and you need to find the one you like best. UFO-rphanages has a list of tips on Spray Adhesives. Pat Sloan has a video that shows you how to pin baste. I don't agree with her on a few things but the video will give you an idea of how to pin baste. (I prefer the curved pins they go through the layers easier. & I pin much closer than she does and I think that helps keep the layers from slipping)Take a look at About.com they show a good example of how to thread baste.
Once you have the layers basted together using one of the above methods
Your next step is the quilting. There are two main types of quilting. straight line quilting & Free motion quilting
As a beginner you may want to start out with the straight line quilting. This is much easier to master than the free motion quilting. One helpful tool you should own is a walking foot, or even feed foot on your machine. This type of quilting uses the feed dogs to pull the fabric through the machine. The walking foot helps pull the top layers of fabric a the same pace as your feed dogs in the machine are pulling the bottom layers. Making the fabric move through much easier and helps to prevent puckers. Puckers can occur when the layers are not feeding evenly. (they also can happen when your layers are not basted properly, or if the layers shift and you don't adjust the basting)
As for free motion quilting you should attach the darning foot. Then you will need to lower the feed dogs or cover them depending on your machine. Free motion quilting puts all the control in your hands. There are no feed dogs to pull the fabric, you are the only one moving the fabric. If you just let the machine stitch with out moving the fabric it would stitch in the same hole repeatedly. Think of free motion quilting as drawing with your machine, by moving the paper not the pencil. This take more practice than you think! That is why I suggested you make a small quilt sandwich, and now you can follow the steps to basting and practice both styles on the sample piece before going to your project.
Here are a few websites to check out for more examples of machine quilting.
I hope this helps shed some light on machine quilting. There is still plenty more to learn about machine quilting which I will need to cover in another post. I did not want to overwhelm the new quilter, and I also know that if this gets too long, you may not read it all. Machine quilting is an important topic and I want to be sure you do read it all. So until next time get that practice piece out and have some fun. Play around with both straight line quilting and try some free motion quilting as well.
If you have any comments you would like to share on this subject please do so in my comments section. I love to read them. I also have mailing list you can join at the top of this page, I recommend you join if you want to learn more about quilting. My members get weekly quilting tips and much more. Enjoy Quilting today!
When machine quilting, you need to take the time to prepare properly. Machine quilting (which is the act of sewing the 3 layers together. Backing, batting and the quilt top)requires practice in it's self. There is no way around the practice part, sorry ladies! To perfect machine quilting, you need to put in your time at the machine. You need to become one with the machine. But how do you do that?
Prepare the layers and build a quilt sandwich first
There are many ways to do this. If this is your first time, I suggest getting some batting, and muslin or scraps of fabric together. Make a square about 12 x 12 inches of all 3 layers.
- Place the backing on the table, wrong side up
- Place the batting on the backing
- Place the quilt top on the batting, right side up
Now you need to secure those layers. This step is very important. You can do this in a number of ways.
- With Spray Adhesives
- With quilters pins
- With Thread
Now if you are not familiar with these methods you may need to do a bit of research to figure out which one you prefer. Sometimes it depends on the project at hand. Spray Adhesives work well for small projects, but have strong odors that may be offensive to some people. You need a well ventilated room to use them in. Pin basting is popular because it is easy to move or remove the pins as you quilt. Giving you the opportunity to smooth out the quilt and keep control of the wrinkles. Plus by removing them as you sew, you don't have anything to remove in the end like you would with thread basting. Thread basting is quick also, and many quilter like that, because the thread does not get in the way of quilting. So they don't have to stop to remove it like you do with pins.
As you can see there are pros and cons to all of these methods, and you need to find the one you like best. UFO-rphanages has a list of tips on Spray Adhesives. Pat Sloan has a video that shows you how to pin baste. I don't agree with her on a few things but the video will give you an idea of how to pin baste. (I prefer the curved pins they go through the layers easier. & I pin much closer than she does and I think that helps keep the layers from slipping)Take a look at About.com they show a good example of how to thread baste.
Once you have the layers basted together using one of the above methods
Your next step is the quilting. There are two main types of quilting. straight line quilting & Free motion quilting
As a beginner you may want to start out with the straight line quilting. This is much easier to master than the free motion quilting. One helpful tool you should own is a walking foot, or even feed foot on your machine. This type of quilting uses the feed dogs to pull the fabric through the machine. The walking foot helps pull the top layers of fabric a the same pace as your feed dogs in the machine are pulling the bottom layers. Making the fabric move through much easier and helps to prevent puckers. Puckers can occur when the layers are not feeding evenly. (they also can happen when your layers are not basted properly, or if the layers shift and you don't adjust the basting)As for free motion quilting you should attach the darning foot. Then you will need to lower the feed dogs or cover them depending on your machine. Free motion quilting puts all the control in your hands. There are no feed dogs to pull the fabric, you are the only one moving the fabric. If you just let the machine stitch with out moving the fabric it would stitch in the same hole repeatedly. Think of free motion quilting as drawing with your machine, by moving the paper not the pencil. This take more practice than you think! That is why I suggested you make a small quilt sandwich, and now you can follow the steps to basting and practice both styles on the sample piece before going to your project.
Here are a few websites to check out for more examples of machine quilting.
- Machine Quilting for Dummies (love this one)
- Popular Patchwork
- Expert Village has some great videos on YouTube.com here is one of them. Once your at YouTube.com type in "machine quilting" into the search and you will find plenty of videos to watch.
I hope this helps shed some light on machine quilting. There is still plenty more to learn about machine quilting which I will need to cover in another post. I did not want to overwhelm the new quilter, and I also know that if this gets too long, you may not read it all. Machine quilting is an important topic and I want to be sure you do read it all. So until next time get that practice piece out and have some fun. Play around with both straight line quilting and try some free motion quilting as well.
If you have any comments you would like to share on this subject please do so in my comments section. I love to read them. I also have mailing list you can join at the top of this page, I recommend you join if you want to learn more about quilting. My members get weekly quilting tips and much more. Enjoy Quilting today!
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Cheap Tweet - see all the deals!
Do you use twitter? If you do I just found out about a great way to find all the best deals on just about anything. Anything that has been tweeted about that is. Go to CheapTweet and see what I mean.
Now even if you don't use Twitter, you can still go to the site, and find the deals, and the websites or links to those who sent out the tweets. But I would highly recommend you get in on the fun and join Twitter. It's free and it is a great way to keep in touch with like minded people. Whether that be with friends and family or co-workers or connecting with business associates. Tweeting can be addicting, but then so is blogging and reading blogs. (Which you are doing right now)
Buy the way, if you like what your reading in my blog, leave me a comment and let me know what you like or don't like. If your are a quilter (and the fact that you are reading this blog I am assuming you are) then why not sign up for my newsletter at the top of this blog. You will get in on some great deals with my online quilting classes and you will benefit from my hot quilting tips sent weekly.
Now even if you don't use Twitter, you can still go to the site, and find the deals, and the websites or links to those who sent out the tweets. But I would highly recommend you get in on the fun and join Twitter. It's free and it is a great way to keep in touch with like minded people. Whether that be with friends and family or co-workers or connecting with business associates. Tweeting can be addicting, but then so is blogging and reading blogs. (Which you are doing right now)
Buy the way, if you like what your reading in my blog, leave me a comment and let me know what you like or don't like. If your are a quilter (and the fact that you are reading this blog I am assuming you are) then why not sign up for my newsletter at the top of this blog. You will get in on some great deals with my online quilting classes and you will benefit from my hot quilting tips sent weekly.
Friday, December 12, 2008
Online Quilting Classes on Sale!!
Quilting Weekly's 12 Days of Christmas Sale
Check this out! If you like quilting. These are the lowest prices we will ever offer on our Home Study courses. Quilting Weekly offers great quilting classes, that you can purchase, and download to your own computer. So you can work at your own pace. There are no time lines on attending classes or when you need to finish a project, except for your own.
THE CATCH This sale is unique in the way it works. There will be 12 Classes but each class will only be on sale for 24hours!
The first class is up now. Go to The 12 Days of Christmas sale page and see the first class, then bookmark that page, as tomorrow you will see another class listed. Buy the ones you want, and then check back to see the next one. There are some really fun classes great for beginners and more confident quilters alike!
Don't miss out, these prices will go back to the regular price after Christmas and may never be this low again!
Note to worry, your satisfaction is our primary concern. We offer a money back guarantee on all our products
Check this out! If you like quilting. These are the lowest prices we will ever offer on our Home Study courses. Quilting Weekly offers great quilting classes, that you can purchase, and download to your own computer. So you can work at your own pace. There are no time lines on attending classes or when you need to finish a project, except for your own.
THE CATCH This sale is unique in the way it works. There will be 12 Classes but each class will only be on sale for 24hours!
The first class is up now. Go to The 12 Days of Christmas sale page and see the first class, then bookmark that page, as tomorrow you will see another class listed. Buy the ones you want, and then check back to see the next one. There are some really fun classes great for beginners and more confident quilters alike!
Don't miss out, these prices will go back to the regular price after Christmas and may never be this low again!
Note to worry, your satisfaction is our primary concern. We offer a money back guarantee on all our products
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Online Qulting Class
Quilting Weekly has just released a new class. Raking Leaves is a great class for beginners and more confident quilters alike.
Are you looking for a fun and easy project for a last minute gift? This class has not one idea but four unique gifts you can make with fabric scraps and selvages that would ordinarily be destined for the landfills. Go green and make a great tote that you would be proud to carry on your next shopping trip!
Raking leaves is perfect because there is no set day or time to attend class you simply purchase the class and then download it to your computer! You can work at your own pace. It couldn't be any simpler. Quilting Weekly stands behind all their classes with a money back guarantee.
Are you looking for a fun and easy project for a last minute gift? This class has not one idea but four unique gifts you can make with fabric scraps and selvages that would ordinarily be destined for the landfills. Go green and make a great tote that you would be proud to carry on your next shopping trip!
Raking leaves is perfect because there is no set day or time to attend class you simply purchase the class and then download it to your computer! You can work at your own pace. It couldn't be any simpler. Quilting Weekly stands behind all their classes with a money back guarantee.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Tree Skirt Patterns
Want to make a skirt for your Christmas tree? I have found a few fun links for you to do just that. There are many patterns on the web today, but if you don't have time to search for them yourself then look no further.
How stuff works - This site has a great easy pattern done with fleece. It would be great to do with young children.
McCall's Quilting - You can always count on McCall's to come up with great patterns. This little beauty has cute Santa faces appliquéd on it.
BellaOnline - This site not only has tree skirt patterns, but you will also find many other useful patterns for all your holiday decorating. A must see list!
FreeQuilt.com - Another great site full of free pattrns, for tree skirts and more!
Happy Holidays! It is not too late to make those last minute gifts if you know where to look for help.
Do you have a great pattern for a tree skirt you want to share? Leave me a comment and I will add it to the list. Thanks for stopping by!
How stuff works - This site has a great easy pattern done with fleece. It would be great to do with young children.
McCall's Quilting - You can always count on McCall's to come up with great patterns. This little beauty has cute Santa faces appliquéd on it.
BellaOnline - This site not only has tree skirt patterns, but you will also find many other useful patterns for all your holiday decorating. A must see list!
FreeQuilt.com - Another great site full of free pattrns, for tree skirts and more!
Happy Holidays! It is not too late to make those last minute gifts if you know where to look for help.
Do you have a great pattern for a tree skirt you want to share? Leave me a comment and I will add it to the list. Thanks for stopping by!
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