| Quiltmaking Supplies:
Fabrics and materials.
A quilting hoop or frame.
Marking tools such as pencils, fine-point permanent marker
or chalk markers.
Pins and pin cushions.
Scissors to cut templates.
An iron and an ironing board.
Transparent rulers.
A sewing machine unless all the work is to be done by hand.
Quilting thread and sewing threads in colours that match
the fabric to be used.
A quilt consists of three layers:
The first layer is decorative and made up of small pieces
of fabric or patches sewn together. This provides the opportunity
to express your creativity.
The second layer is called the batting and consists of insulating
materials such as wool, cotton or polyester. It is designed
to provide warmth and comfort.
The third layer is formed from one large piece of material
and is called the backing.
The quilting stitches hold together the three layers. The
work can be done by hand or using a machine.
Hand quilting is the traditional method and is usually
done on a quilting frame or hoop. Special needles are used
called betweens and the stitching is done using quilting
thread.
It is easier and quicker to use a machine to do quilting.
This involves using a sewing machine to stitch together
the fabric layers.
An alternative way of quilting is called tying which uses
bows or knots evenly separated. It can be done using a machine
or by hand.
Patchwork or piercing is a way of sewing together small
pieces of fabric. It can be used to produce a decorative
pattern called a block. The work can be done by hand or
using a sewing machine.
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Applique is the process of adding
patches of fabric onto a fabric background, to produce decorative
patterns. The shapes can be sewn onto the quilt using a
zig-zag stitch called a satin stitch. Using this technique
it is possible to produce attractive patterns or pictorial
scenes which might tell a story.
You could also trace a shape onto the reverse side of the
fabric. Then place the patch onto lightweight lining and
sew around the mark. After trimming the patch can be sewn
onto the background using invisible thread and a hemstitch.
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