Articles

Have you ever thought of quilting as a stress buster? Had a bad day, and just want to escape to your studio or quilting cubby and de-stress? Yup, I can hear most of you saying aaaaaahhhhhh! And the ones who are shaking their heads and saying noooooooooo are the ones who need some help with their quilting - the block isn't coming together as it should, or your quilt isn't square and you don't know how to fix that. You are the people I had in mind when I decided to create my website Quilt Lovers Guide I truly want to help. Quilting is a wonderful way to create a thing of beauty (althoug...

Setting the quilt: Press the blocks and lay them out on the bed to get the final effect before setting them together. If they do not cover the entire area of the bed, you will have to do something about it: (1) If the quilt is not wide enough, strips of material of white or colors may be used. Perhaps you have enough material left to piece and add an extra row of blocks. (2) If the quilt is too wide, use as deep a seam as possible in sewing blocks together. Be careful not to take the seams in the design of the blocks. Next check your border to see if it is correct for width. It should be ...

Pre Cut Quilt Kits & Longarm Quilting Services Like Bread and Butter! 100% Pre Cut Quilt and Fabric kits are now offered to quilters by SewReadyCreations.com. These are wonderfully designed kits for quilters that have 100% of the fabric and materials pieces precut including border and binding. Quilters have a great selection of baby quilts, lap quilts, queen quilts, king quilts, miniature quilts, wall hangings for the kitchen or living room, and table runners. All pieces are machine die cut. The die cut process ensures all pieces are precise, accurate, and easy to sew. Quilters save ...

What’s Quilting Fabric For, Anyway? Well, for one thing, you can make a quilt with it. Surprised? Maybe not yet, but wait! What is quilting fabric, anyway? What makes a fabric “quilt” fabric and not curtain fabric or dress fabric? It’s perplexing, I know, but here we go. One difference in fabrics is the composition, or what it’s made from. Fabrics can be made from synthetic or natural materials. There are many synthetic fibers available today, and certainly they have come a long way from the polyester used in suits of the 1970’s! There are also many natural fibers, such as silk, cott...

Using Your Fabric - Every Bit Of It! If you quilt or sew, it is quite certain that you have a stash of fabric. That little stash often grows into an insurmountable mountain! Going to the fabric store only makes matters worse. There is a new floral print that would look very nice as curtains for the bathroom; then there is that seasonal print that could adorn your Thanksgiving table; or how about the piece of fabric with the cute little lamb in the center? You know you could use all of these fabric pieces for something! Hence, the fabric stash grows and grows. First of all, knowi...

The art of quilting was practiced since ancient times, but the patchwork quilting flourished in America. Quilting can be a hobby to some people but it can also be transformed into a possible business opportunity. With the help of a good quilting machine, you can produce good quality, colorful quilts. Whatever you do, you should have a passion for it and it goes for quilting too. You have all the tools and equipment, but the creativity is yours and that’s where you can have an edge over your competitors if you are commercializing your products. You can use various kinds of quilting materials, f...

American quilting tradition has always included a reflection of current events, whether it is in the maker's personal life or the nation as a whole. Quilting has been a past time and necessity of women for hundred of years. As immigrants made their way from their old countries to the new world, their traditions of quilting followed them. Eventually, these separate styles and traditions melded together and eventually evolved to form a new American tradition: patchwork quilts. Historians and collectors alike can track American political and economic histories through quilts. Fabric types, c...

One afternoon I was sitting on the ski lift with a good friend. We were having one of those silent moments where you just enjoy the breathtaking scenery laid out in front of you. All of a sudden I just blurted, “I think I will publish some of my quilt patterns.” Immediately I wanted to take those words back. All I knew of publishing was tales from good writers whose manuscripts and articles were returned with nice letters that basically said, “Sorry, maybe next time.” But the damage was already done. I had said it, with conviction even and I had better follow through. I chose a patt...

Showing patriotic pride has been a part of American tradition since our country was founded. American pride has been expressed through music, quilting, style of dress and even through food. Our national monuments, like Lady Liberty, the Washington Monument and dozens of war memorials all express pride and support for our nation. During war time Americans express an especially fervent national pride. Tough economic times also garner much support and patriotism by the people. When Martha Washington created our first flag in red, white and blue with 13 stars and 13 stripes to represent the 13 ori...

The history of embroidery is still in the dark but it is said that the embroidery clothing originated in India. India is by far the oldest civilization of the world. The people of ancient India were stylish as the people of India came to know how to customize the attire. As a rule the embroidery clothing were used by the royal people of the society but later on the rich people started using the fashionable clothing. The poor class people started also using since the cost of embroidery started decreasing. In ancient time the people used to use the dress with the stitching of gold, silver as we...