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What’s In a Professional Quilters Toolkit? Part 2

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Welcome back to our must have quilting special. In previous articles, we covered the core tools that without them, it would be impossible to make a quilt.

In this article, we’ll be looking at some items that aren’t ‘critical ‘ to the quilt making process, but without them, it would probably take far longer and be a lot tougher.

Basting Gun

If you’ve never seen a basting or tacking gun, the best way to describe it is as a material stapler that uses clear plastic instead of steel staples.

These staples are designed to become solvent in a warm wash. The idea here is that you staple your top cover, batting and bottom cover along with these and then run it through your sewing machine.

Once stitching is complete, you then put the quilt in the wash and the staples come out.

Pins – and lots of them!

If you do not have a basting gun, you are going to need something to hold the quilt together while you stitch it. Here is where pins come in.

Pins have been employed for years and years as the default option when making a quilt. Many quilters still wish to use pins over a basting gun too , as its quick, easy and does not run any chance of damaging a quilt.

Calculator

I’m not good with math, thats why I will always keep one of those nearby. Even for easy sums, there are a couple of times I have double-checked on the calculator to be sure my mathematics was correct.

Its stopped me from a couple of erroneous head calculations and some massively mis-measured quilts.

Tape Measure

A tape measure is a good way to quickly and accurately make any measures for your quilt. It goes around corners and can wrap to just about any shape to offer you a precise measurement of anything one meter or under.

This comes in especially handy if you are measuring up fabrics for a patchwork quilt.

Its always a welcome addition in my quilting kit.

Well, that wraps up this guide on ‘must have ‘ tools for quilting, hopefully you have got some good ideas on what you may need or at the very least has confirmed that your kit is complete!

To get more great tips about how to make a patchwork quilt, check out Jane Green’s how to make a patchwork quilt website now!

categories: australian patchwork and quilting,how to make a patchwork quilt,patchwork bedding,patchwork blocks,patchwork material,patchwork quilt,patchwork sewing,patchwork templates,patchwork throw,quilt,quilts

Why Quilting Kits Are Great For Quilters of All Levels

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No two folks learn quilting the same way. Some individuals gain an interest in from a quilting magazine or perhaps from a relative. For me, my nanna was an avid quilter. One stormy day, I was at her home and she suggested that I’d like to have a go at quilting.

She had bought a quilting kit a couple of weeks before and had waited till I was bored before giving it to me, so this is how I learned about quilting kits and how I made my first quilt with a green quilt design.

What’s A Quilting Kit?

There are a few different types of kits, but the standard quilting kit is an all in one package for making a quilt from start to end.

It incorporates the material, patterns and directions concerning how to make the selected quilt. The one thing they do not have is the tools, you are expected to provide your own.

Now And Then there are ‘block of the month’ type kits, where a different bit of material is sent to you every month and you build it up over the year, but these aren’t the most common.

Kits For Beginners

These kits are the perfect way for first-timers to learn how to make quilts. Everything is provided so you don’t have to worry about not having the right materials.

The real value comes from the directions. The instructions are made for folk who’ve never made a quilt before. They contain all the information and guides you need to know to turn the material into the quilt.

Just be certain to pick one that is labeled for beginners.

Kits For Veteran Quilters

Kits aren’t just for newbies, there are more advanced and complicated patterns available for the more highly experienced quilter.

These are neat if you feel a bit like a simpler challenge, you do not have to spend a lot time coming up with and measuring out a design. You can just pick a pattern you like and get to work!

Hopefully this has given you a good idea on what quilt kits are and has inspired some new people to give them a go!

Would you like more green quilt design concepts? Then head on over to Jane Green’s how to make a patchwork quilt site now!

categories: green quilt design,flower quilt,green bedspread,green patchwork,green quilt,green quilts,patchwork quilt,how to make a patchwork quilt,quilt,quilts

What Tools Should Every Quilter Have? Part 2

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In part 1 we looked at the benefits of rotary cutters and cutting mats and how they can help you speed up your quilting. In this piece, we will be looking at the core basics you’ll need to complete your quilt.

Iron and Ironing board

Chances are you’ll have both of these, even before starting quilting. The great news is that you almost certainly will not have to buy a newer one – unless your old one is causing you problems with normal ironing.

With the iron, you just have to be sure that you can adjust the temperatures and that you can turn the steam functions off and on. This is critical as you will need to adjust both these depending on the types of materials you’re counting on using in your quilt.

There’s also the option of getting a portable ironing board. These are basically a surface similar to your present ironing board, but without the legs.

This has been designed to sit on a table or the surface you are working on instead of being a free standing board. Helpful if you are tired of ferrying your fabrics from the craft table to the ironing board.

Sewing Machine

This is a large section to cover, you might need to read a more in-depth article on sewing machines to get the full scope on what you will need.

Basically you’ll need a sewing machine that does your standard stitch as well as a zig-zag stitch, this will let you stitch most patterns, and the zig-zag will help with button holes or anywhere that needs a bit more strength.

Consider buying a second hand stitching machine. You’ll find that you’re going to get a better overall machine for a load less than a new one from a store. Just be certain to test it out before you buy it to make sure that it works! It also will be handy for the more complex designs like a mosaic or rose quilt design.

If you do not have a sewing machine, there are services available specifically for stitching quilts.

In the next article, we’ll be having a look at some other smaller accessories that may actually help speed up your quilting.

Would you like more rose quilt design ideas? Then head on over to Jane Green’s how to make a patchwork quilt site now!

categories: how to make a patchwork quilt,rose quilt design,rose quilt,roses quilts,unflower quilt,patchwork quilt,quilt,quilts

What Are The ‘Must Have’ Quilting Tools? Part 1

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Quilting can be a lengthy and tricky pastime. Fortunately over the years there have been many tools and accessories which have been invented to take on certain problems that quilters used to face all the time.

If you’ve been quilting for a bit, there’s an even chance you will have most, if not all, of these tools. If you are new to quilting, you’ll soon work out which you ‘must have’.

Rotary Cutter

This is my favorite and probably more frequently used tool. Rotary cutters come in numerous sizes but they basically all do the same job. If you have never seen one before, it’s a lot like a pizza cutter – except much sharper.

It works by running the wheel in a line over your fabric and pressing down. It will make fast work of most fabrics and materials – usually requiring only one pass. I first used this on a green quilt design and by gum it saved me almost an hour of additional cutting.

You can purchase them separatley, however if you do not have one already, I would suggest purchasing them in a kit as this incorporates rulers and sometimes a cutting mat, dependent on the kit.

Also don’t forget to have a mat beneath any material you might be cutting, it won’t always stop when its cut through the fabric and you do not want to be cutting into your craft table!

Cutting Mats

The term ‘cutting mat ‘ doesn’t cover everything in this area. While you can get a cutting mat you can also get a fold away table cover or a complete custom cutting table. How much you wish to spend is down to you.

The other wonderful part about these mats is they come with a grid pre-ruled on there to assist with any quick, simple cuts or measurements you may have to make.

A mat should be purchased at the same time as your rotary cutter so that you can get directly to work. You may also find that the mat that comes with your rotary cutting kit might be a bit small, so I would like to suggest purchasing a larger cutting mat when you get a rotary cutter.

These are the tools I frequently work with the most when I’m busy quilting. In the subsequent article, we will be taking a look at some other necessary items for quilting.

Interested in more green quilt design ideas? Then head on over to Jane Green’s how to make a patchwork quilt site now!

categories: green quilt design,flower quilt,green bedspread,green patchwork,green quilt,green quilts,patchwork quilt,how to make a patchwork quilt,quilt,quilts

What Quilting Accessories Can’t I Live Without?

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Every quilter has their necessary tools, their iron, their scissors, rulers and the like. However for me it doesn’t just stop there.

Over my years of quilting, I have also come across several cute accessories and tools that would simply make quilting so much harder without them. The funny part is they aren’t even huge things, just tiny things here and there that save me a few minutes at a time.

Chaco Liners

Chaco liners look a lot like permanent markers, however they’re completely different. Rather than permanently staining your fabric, these liners use a powder type tip that is designed to leave a mark, but not forever.

The basic idea behind these is that you can mark out the measurements as needed and then when its no longer needed, clean it off quickly and easily. Good for anybody working on a custom quilt pattern or patchwork quilt.

They also are refillable, so when you finish one, you can just unscrew the cartridge and swap it for a new one.

Thread Rack

This is a fantastic straightforward to use device which has saved me countless minutes hunting for the right thread. This is a rack divided up into a grid. Where each grid meets is a little dowl that protrudes, which you can put a spool of thread on.

I have prepared mine in a rainbow color order so I am able to quickly locate the color thread I need and begin sewing. No more rumaging around your sewing box for the right color spool.

You may get ones that stand vertically and have a roatating base to help you choose your threads, similar to a greeting card rack.

5 in 1 Sliding Gauge

This looks similar to one of those T-squares your teacher used in maths class. The difference is this one has an adjustable slider.

It’s a real wonder tool and is perfect for marking out button holes, seam allowances and hem length, just to name a couple!

Its these tiny things that help me to save minutes here and there. These minutes then start turning into hours and shortly you’ll find you cannot live without them either!

To get more nice advice about how to make a patchwork quilt, check out Jane Green’s how to make a patchwork quilt internet site now!

categories: australian
patchwork and quilting,how to make a patchwork quilt,patchwork
bedding,patchwork blocks,patchwork material,patchwork quilt,patchwork sewing,patchwork templates,patchwork throw,quilt,quilts

How Do You Design A Quilt?

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For somebody only just starting in quilting, designing a quilt pattern seems like one of the toughest things you might ask them to do.

The better news for you budding quilters is that it appears harder than it really is, all you need is the knowledge.

The Fundamentals of Planning A Quilt

When you’re planning a quilt for the first time, the simplest way to do this is by designing a block. A block is a square section of quilt that holds the pattern. The concept here is that you make a number of the same blocks and then sew them together to form the pattern.

Just be sure to work out how big your quilt needs to be and then work out how many blocks you will need to make the quilt big enough.

When you’re prepared to start working on a design there are a couple of strategies that people typically use, these are graph paper or software.

Graph Paper

This is the most typical way that folk design quilt patterns. You can get graph paper ruled in all different sizes.

On the graph paper, draw a square that represents the entire block, If feasible try and make the square a proportion of the dimensions of the block ie 3:1 or 2:1. This is going to help you immensely when it comes to measuring and cutting up the material for the pattern.

Then begin working out your pattern inside the drawn square. Its quickest to divide the squares into smaller shapes such as squares and triangles. When you’ve worked on a couple of quilts you can then move on to something more complicated like a rose quilt design.

Quilt Design Software

More lately, quilters have been turning to computer software to help them with planning their patterns.

This program acts as virtual graph paper, letting you draw shapes, divide and resize your square on a whim. It really also help with importing custom shapes and images to add into your design.

There is a significant variation in the capabilities of different bits of software so be certain to do your homework!

Hopefully this has helped you learn a bit more about the best way to design a quilt and has inspired you to give it a go yourself!

Would you like more rose quilt design concepts? Then head on over to Jane Green’s how to make a patchwork quilt site now!

categories: how
to make a patchwork quilt,rose quilt design,rose quilt,roses
quilts,unflower quilt,patchwork quilt,quilt,quilts

Quilting Kits – Not Just For People New To Quilting

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No two folks learn quilting the same way. Some individuals gain an interest in from a quilting magazine or perhaps from a relative. For me, my nanna was an avid quilter. One stormy day, I was at her home and she suggested that I’d like to have a go at quilting.

She had got a quilting kit a few weeks before and had waited till I was bored before giving it to me, so this is how I learned about quilting kits and how I made my first quilt with a green quilt design.

What’s A Quilting Kit?

There are two differing kinds, but the standard quilting kit is an all in one package for making a quilt from beginning to finish.

It incorporates the material, patterns and directions concerning how to make the selected quilt. The one thing they do not have is the tools, you are expected to provide your own.

Infrequently there are ‘block of the month’ type kits, where a different bit of material is sent to you once a month and you build it up over the year, but these aren’t the most common.

Kits For Beginners

These kits are the ideal way for first-timers to discover how to make quilts. Everything is provided so you don’t have to fret about not having the correct bits and pieces.

The most worth comes from the instructions. The directions are made for folks who have never made a quilt before. They contain all of the info and guides you have to know to turn the material into the quilt.

Just be sure to pick one that’s labeled for beginners.

Kits For Veteran Quilters

Kits are not simply for newbies, there are more varied, advanced and complex patterns available for the more highly experienced quilter.

These are nice if you feel just like a less complicated challenge, you don’t have to spend time coming up with and measuring out a design. You can just pick a pattern you love and get to work!

Hopefully this has given you a good idea on what quilt kits are and has inspired some new folks to give them a go!

Want more green quilt design concepts? Then head on over to Jane Green’s how to make a patchwork quilt site now!

categories: green quilt design,flower quilt,green bedspread,green patchwork,green quilt,green quilts,patchwork quilt,how to make a patchwork quilt,quilt,quilts

Tips For Those Who Are Thinking About Starting Quilting?

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Making your first quilt can be an enjoyable and nervous venture, nevertheless it does not need to be. I’ve prepared a few tips that could help you get started on your first quilt.

My first bit of advice is do not buy the most expensive material.

This is going to be your first quilt, there’s a good possibility that you’re going to make some mistakes and learn a few lessons on the way. If you are going to make mistakes, you don’t want to make pricey ones.

Second, many people new to quilting are stunned to find out how long it basically takes to make a quilt.

The most effective way to find out how long yours might take is to start small and work your way up.

When you look at a quilt, you’ll often find that the pattern is made up of squares stitched together. Each one of these squares is called a block. Blocks are typically made of a number of different shapes, which help form the pattern.

You should begin by just making one block. Then work out just how many of these blocks your quilt will need. This can give you a good idea of how long it’ll take to make the pattern for your quilt.

To give you an idea of times, a standard quilter working on a queen size quilt can take up to twenty hours in total.

If you have got the time and are still excited, you may want to have a look at buying a quilt kit.

These are kits that have all of the materials you want to make a quilt as well as the directions on the way to make it. All you have to do is find a design or pattern that you like and go with that.

This is how I made my first quilt. It’s a beautiful green quilt design that I still use to this day.

Just remember to check the kit to make certain its one designed for beginners. Occasionally there are ones that are for more intermediate to advanced quilters.

Hopefully this has made the decision to start quilting a simple one to make.

Interested in more green quilt design ideas? Then head on over to Jane Green’s how to make a patchwork quilt site now!

categories: green quilt design,flower quilt,green bedspread,green patchwork,green quilt,green quilts,patchwork quilt,how to make a patchwork quilt,quilt,quilts

How To Spend Less When Making Your Next Quilt – Part 1

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When beginning a new quilt, the best and most fun part is going to the store to pick up some new materials and materials. But the costs can all add up fairly quickly, so to help your credit card survive your next project, here’s a few tips to help drive your dollar further.

Saving While Shopping

Check for discount bins every time you visit a craft store. Many stores have the discount bins close to the entrance, but do not stop looking there. You’ll usually find a few scattered round the store in different areas. So keep your eyes open!

You might find the very thing you need, or did not know you needed.

If you are there to buy materials, and you notice that they are close to finishing a bolt, ask if there is a discount for finishing the bolt. Many stores are willing to do this so that they don’t end up with small bits of material that they cannot sell. Nobody is going to want to buy half a yard of a rose quilt design or custom printed material, so it benefits the store to sell the rest of the bolt at a discount.

Another fast tip for shopping – its OK to use polyester batting. A few people are against it, but actually there’s nothing wrong with polyester batting, you buy what you are able to afford – so don’t be put off!

Also, its perfect if you are making a blanket that is to cover a couch or for occasional use. No point spending more for something you will likely only use every once in a while.

Spend Longer Looking At Your Fabrics

Many fabrics can easily cost over $10 a yard. However , some fabrics can cost just under $3 a yard. People mostly believe that anything at the lower end of the price range will be a poor quality material.

This is not always true. A quilter with a keen eye for detail can find a bargain in the discount fabrics. Occasionally even great fabrics don’t sell that well, stores are all about moving stock quickly , so if it doesn’t move off the racks fast enough, they are going to discount the price with no regard for the quality – so keep your eyes open.

In the next article, we will be taking a look at some alternate approaches you can take to save cash and different places to get some more quilting supplies.

Like more rose quilt design ideas? Then head on over to Jane Green’s how to make a patchwork quilt site now!

categories: how to make a patchwork quilt,rose quilt design,rose quilt,roses quilts,unflower quilt,patchwork quilt,quilt,quilts

How To Spend Less When Making Your Next Quilt – Part 2

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In the part one, we looked at saving money when shopping for quilting supplies in craft stores. This time we will be having a look at some other techniques and approaches you can take to save cash on your next quilting project.

Wait For The Sales

I know this is tough to do, especially when you have a project you are just dying to finish. Nonetheless, in this situation, good things come to the ones that wait.

Keep an eye open for catalogues and news from your local craft stores. Every once in a while, they will have some great discount sales. You must save your cash for these – your cash will go much further.

Join up to store clubs and membership programs.

Almost every large craft store has or is building up a club program. These are wonderful as you can get letters, or even more commonly emails, letting you know about speical or that have coupons, special reductions and special discount days for memebers only.

They’re free, so sign on to as many as you can. You only stand to save cash!

Make Scrap or Patchwork Quilts

When you have loads of left over material (and you will have heaps of leftover material) you should think about making a patchwork quilt.

These quilts are beautiful and cheap and a productive way to use your excess and scrap materials. They really get you to channel your creativeness and come up with some beautiful and unique patterns.

Garage and Estate Sales

Garage and Estate sales are really some of the absolute best places to get discounted, good quality quilting materials.

If you have never been to an estate sale, its like a garage sales on overdrive. They are far bigger than a garage sale and the people selling are quite willing to let vintage quilts go for next to nothing.

Albeit I’ve had more success at estate sales than garage sales, maybe just because there’s more on offer, but you shouldn’t overlook a garage sale. There might be somebody who just does not have enough time to do their quilting any longer and wants to sell their stock.

So there you have it, a number of good ways you can save a good deal of money on your next quilting project.

To get more excellent tips about how to make a patchwork quilt, check out Jane Green’s how to make a patchwork quilt site now!

categories: australian patchwork and quilting,how to make a patchwork quilt,patchwork bedding,patchwork blocks,patchwork material,patchwork quilt,patchwork sewing,patchwork templates,patchwork throw,quilt,quilts

7 Machine Embroidery Projects For A New Baby

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Is a new baby coming into your life, perhaps a grandson or daughter? Or maybe you need a baby shower gift for a friend’s baby. If you have an embroidery machine such as the Brother SE400, you can create a variety of unique personalized baby gifts.

You’ll really enjoy making and giving personalized gifts. Taking the time to create a personalized gift shows how much you care. Baby gifts are usually adorable, colorful, and fun. They easily lend themselves to adding a personal touch with embroidery. And parents really appreciate receiving personalized gifts for their baby.

First, find a motif to embroider. There are huge number of choices: Animals or sports may be more appropriate for a boy. Or for a little princess, pretty flowers. Of course, there are cartoon characters for anyone.

Then, for the personalized touch, add the baby’s name, initials, date of birth, birth weight, and/or any cute, meaningful, or inspiring saying.

Here are seven ideas for things that babies need that could easily be enhanced with embroidery:

Burp Clothes – You can either embroidery a motif and funny saying relating to milk. Or you can simply embroider any design such as a flower or cartoon figure with the baby’s name underneath.

Bibs are essential and more fun with a personal touch. You can either buy plain ones to embellish or if it already has a design, just add the baby’s name underneath.

All kinds of clothes — sleep suits, bodysuits, shirts and dresses, bootees, hats. You could make a complete outfit with matching embroidered designs or just one item. To make it special, personalize it by embroidering her name or a slogan like “Daddy’s Little Girl.” If you knit, you can make adorable little hats. Baby hats are such fun to knit because they’re cute and go so fast. Or buy plain hats and embroider adorable designs on them. Booties can be knitted or just embroidered with a tiny motif and initial. Cute sayings delight the parents and make everyone smile. This is your opportunity to create something completely different.

Baby or crib blankets can be embroidered with initials or name and date of birth and weight. Many things can be embroidered on blankets.

Hooded towels personalized with the baby’s name or initials are adorable and practical to wrap the baby in after a bath.

Baby towels and washcloths.

Totes to carry all the baby’s stuff are always useful. Personalize them with their name or initials or a nice design.

Have a lot of fun making extra special baby gifts by adding your own creative touch. In this world of machines and factories, nothing says how much you care like something handmade.

Kamala Kelly has been sewing since she was 10 years old and is now having a lot of fun with embroidery. If you’d like to join her embroidering baby clothes and don’t yet have an embroidery machine, the Brother SE400 Sewing and Embroidery Machine is a very good machine for beginners. Visit my site, The BrotherSE400 Enthusiast, to find out all about the Brother SE400 and discover if it’s the right machine for you.

categories: brother se400,embroidery machine

The Quick and Easy Guide to T-Shirt Quilts

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If you’re wondering what a t-shirt quilt is, well its literally a quilt made out of t-shirts. It works alongside the same guidelines as a patchwork quilt design but is different in its own special way.

The basic notion of these quilts is that you use the designs from old t-shirts, right where the printings, designs and slogans are. This is a perfect use for all those unused t-shirts you do not wear anymore and gives them a new way to be useful.

Making one of these quilts is simple and comparatively quick:

1. Collect and clean all the t-shirts you would like to use. Make sure they have all been washed and ironed. You do not want to work with soiled or wrinkled materials.
2. Work out how many you wish to use in your design. This is a vital step as it’ll affect each other part of your quilt design.
3. Choose a pattern. Will there be a border between all of the t-shirts? Will you stitch them all together and just add a border round the outside? The choice is yours.
4. Work out what size each t-shirt square needs to be to work with your pattern. Check all of the t-shirts to make sure the parts you want to capture can be contained in these sized squares.
5. Make a block template, ideally with thick card or linoleum – something that’s tough to accidentally cut through.
6. Spread your t-shirt over the block and cut out the design.
7. Organize all of the t-shirt blocks in your preferred pattern.
8. Cut out and arrange your borders and other materials and add them to the t-shirts to ensure that your pattern will work and come out the size you intended it to.
9. If everything has lined up, start to stitch the pattern into rows. Once all of the rows are complete, sew the rows together.

Thats it!

Now there is no reason to have all those old t-shirts lurking around and cluttering up your cupboard any more!

To get some more great tips about the way to make a patchwork quilt, check out Jane Green’s how to make a patchwork quilt website now!

categories: australian patchwork and quilting,how to make a patchwork quilt,patchwork bedding,patchwork blocks,patchwork material,patchwork quilt,patchwork sewing,patchwork templates,patchwork throw,quilt,quilts

What Is The Best Way To Clean A Quilting Iron?

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Your iron gets lots of use when putting a quilt together.

I noticed one day when i was at work on a green quilt design that my iron was leaving tiny smudges and marks on my quilt. It was this that made me think that my iron needed cleaning.

But how would you get all of the muck and dust off that has been baked on over the numerous hours of use?

Its actually surprisingly simple. Here’s how:

Get a bottle of white vinegar. Unbeknown to some, vinegar is an extraordinary cleaning agent. You may use it to scrub drains and floors and it kills a large amount of bacteria. Your iron is not an exception so we’ll be using it here too.

First, fill the reservoir up to quarter the way with vinegar

Next, get a clean white fabric to iron onto. I’ve found that an old towel or dishcloth works best. Try and use an old one as the vinegar smell can linger after a wash occasionally.

Set your iron to steam mode and wait for it to warm up. When its prepared, spray and iron the vinegar onto the material.

Run the hot iron over the top of the cloth. Repeat this until the reservoir is completely empty.

When its empty get some distilled water and fill the reservoir all the way this time. The reason why we use distilled water is that it will prevent the clogging of the spray and steam nozzles of the iron.

Like you have done with the vinegar, spray and iron the material again until the iron is empty.

Once this is done, all your nozzles should be completely clean as well as the underside of your iron, this explains why we were ironing over the cloth.

This works nicely with any iron and I will highly recommended for any iron with a teflon coating as it will not affect or damage the teflon, unlike cleaning with a bristle pad or brush.

Now you can enjoy worry free ironing, without the smudge marks.

Interested in more green quilt design ideas? Then head on over to Jane Green’s how to make a patchwork quilt site now!

categories: green quilt design,flower quilt,green bedspread,green patchwork,green quilt,green quilts,patchwork quilt,how to make a patchwork quilt,quilt,quilts

What’s Knitting?

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Knitting is a famous craftwork. In reality knitting turns thread or yarn into cloth. Knitting consists of loops, these loops are called stitches and are acquired by pulling the thread through one another. There are countless hand strategies in knitting. In some, the final product may be entirely different and in some it could be similar. Flat knitting goes the length of the fabric and circular knitting produces a seamless tube. Using different yarns, kneedles, color, texture and weight produces different end products.

History:

In the year 1527, the 1st knitting guild was started in Paris. Hand knitting fell out of style many times but it started its revival in the 21st century. The quantity of women knitters increased about 150% in the year 2002 and 2004. World communities have also formed for knitting. There are groups where folk share methodologies and patterns and also run competitions.

Kinds of Knitting:

Weft knitting and warp knitting are the 2 major sorts of knitting. Weft knitting needs only a single yarn. One yarn for every stitch is utilized in warp knitting. Weft knitting is done either by hand or machine while warp knitting is done by machine sometimes.

Circular knitting is otherwise called as knitting in the round. It creates a seamless tube. A collection of four or five double pointed needles is utilized for doing circular knitting. Flat knitting is used to produce oblong pieces of fabric. 2 straight knitting needles are employed in this type and stitches are made in rows and horizontal lines. Hats, socks, mittens and sleeves are made by using circular knitting. Scarves, blankets and front and backsides of sweaters are made with flat knitting.

Texture:

Flat stockinette stitch is the commonest texture for the knitted garment and knit stitches worked flat is utilized for machine made stockings and T-shirts. Simple textures are made using knit and purl stitches, garter stitch, ribbing and moss and seed stitches. There is more number of complicated patterns in which slip stitch and heel and linen stitches are used. Tiny eyelet holes may also be created in the fabric. The employment of yarn also changes the appearance of the garment. If the yarn is thick, the stitches will be more observable and if the yarn is thin, the feel will be finer.

Process:

The method of casting on begins a bit of knitting. It is the creation of stitches on the needle. Different methods of casting on get used. Thumb methodology and double needle technique are the various methods in cast on. Thumb methodology is excellent for picking up stitches and double needle strategy produces firm edge on the border. The 2 fashions of knitting are continental style and English style. In the English style yarn is held in right hand whereas in continental style the yarn is held in the left hand. Knitting needles, knitting machines are the tools utilised for knitting.

Folk find knitting as an enjoyable hobby.

Yarnia is a Knitting and Yarn shop in Belvedere, Dartford

categories: Knitting,Yarn,Yarnia

Running Out Of Time To Make A Quilt? Here’s How To Make One Quickly

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Do you have an event coming up which you have guaranteed someone or intended to make a quilt but have run completelyt out of time? Don’t panic, it happens to the very best of us.

To get you out of a pickle, I have put together a handy guide to assembling a quilt if you’re pressed for time.

Also, a quick note for people who are against using a pattern to work from, you will probably want to finish reading now. One of the reasons why this quilt is quick to make is that you’re going to be working off a pre-designed pattern. This is one of the ways in which we cut out a few hours from the process.

1. Plan Your Quilt. This is much easier than it sounds. Head to your local newsagent or craft shop and pick up a couple of quilting magazines. Beginner or Easy labeled magazines are the best as these will have the fastest and simplest quilts to make.
2. Assemble Your Supplies – the best thing about working from a magazine guide is they nearly always have a catalogue of tools and materials that are required for every design. Collect these materials and tools together to streamline the quilt making process.
3. Fabric and Supplies – If you do not have the necessary fabric you are going to need to get to a craft store and buy some.
4. Cut out the pieces that are to go into the quilt top and sew them together, as per the instructions in your guide.
5. Prepare your batting. Cut it to the same size as your quilt top.
6. Backing fabric – similar to the batting, you’ll need to measure and cut your backing fabric to the same size as the batting.
7. Lay the backing, batting and cover down on top of each other like a sandwich.
8. Pin the quilt together. This is a dry run so that you can see if all the sides are correct and whether it needs any adjustments.
9. If no adjustments are necessary, sew the quilt together using your sewing machine. You can do this by hand, but you will be sacrificing speed.
10. Cut off any loose threads and iron.

You’re done.

I have made a bunch of quilts this way, including a children’s quilt and a rose quilt design.

These are the steps I follow when I need to make a quilt swiftly. However , I will guarantee myself that this won’t happen again.

Interested in more rose quilt design ideas? Then head on over to Jane Green’s how to make a patchwork quilt site now!

categories: how to make a patchwork quilt,rose quilt design,rose quilt,roses quilts,unflower quilt,patchwork quilt,quilt,quilts

What you can Do In four Different Bee Seasons

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A beekeeper or apiarist has different jobs in each season. During winter, there's not a great deal to do with the hives if you already did all of the correct things in late summer and fall. But you still need to keep your sight on mites. Count for mites in sticky-board for 3 days and treat them when required and take away the chemical strip after 6 weeks. In the winter, you can decide the amount of hives you would want for the next year and the amount of bees to make a tough colony.

In spring, food stores must be checked each week. The brood should always be kept in the bottom by reversing the supers each fortnight. Add a 3rd super when the population starts to grow again. Avoid swarming by changing the queen with a younger one.

During summer, the honey should be extracted as speedily as possible before hive beetles ruin them. But leave enough honey for the month of July and Aug when the nectar is few. If you spot Varroa mites, you need to treat them at once so as to maintain a healthy colony for a rather more fall honey flow. So as to be prepared for the autumn season, you have to begin getting ready frames and super.

It is advocated to have ten or even more frames of bees during fall. Half full frames are mixed with other hives. In early fall, there should be lots of food stores and three to four frames is good. Feed the queen with syrup if there’s not too much egg-laying by mid September. In preparation for winter, the supers should be prepared.

It is important for a beekeeper to be conscious of the seasonal cycles of beekeeping. The activity of honeybees differs each season. Seasonal change in weather pattern affects the ripening of plants and nectar flow. Let us take another look at the honeybees ‘ activities during the 4 seasons.

Extra information about beekeeping and the abundant bee seasons

categories: beekeeping seasons,beekeeping,beekeeper

Shelf Plans – Be Absolutely Sure You’ve Always Got Shelving For Any

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If you’re someone that might watch do-it-yourself design shows for the home, you could be asking yourself that you would be very pleased to create shelves of your own. There’s a lot of reasons a person would wish to build their own shelves. As an example, they would realise they require more space in their rooms, such as the bedroom, or in the kitchen. Or, they’d decide that they can take advantage of space on the walls, by making wooden shelves to rest objects and decorations. Or, they’d decide that they want more space for storing in their pantries, garages, or closets. These will all call for more wooden shelves, and if you want to make these yourself, then you’re going to need shelf plans.

Shelf plans are simply blue prints of sorts that give steering and direction for an individual to create their own woodworking projects, such as wooden shelves. They are vital for a couple of reasons. For one thing, shelf plans give guidance concerning the sort of wood that must be used to make a shelf project. For instance, some people might not realize this, but there are specific sorts of wood material that must definitely be considered and utilized for certain projects. This is due to the fact that some kinds of wood material are sturdier than others. The purpose of the shelving will decide how strong the wood should be. For instance, if you are making shelves for your garage or for your pantry, you can’t employ a insubstantial sort of wood. On the other hand, if you are creating a easy and small shelf for a wall, you don’t always need to make use of the most hard grain wood on the market to support little knick-knack items.

One more reason shelf plans are important for your woodworking project is because you need to have the right measurements in place , for the best results. You might try and create your own measurements, but this may not turn out so well. On the other hand, if you are someone who has made a decision to use shelf plans, then you won’t have to worry about making a guess at the proper measurements. These plans create a foolproof system of making absolutely sure that you are using the correct measurements for your woodworking project, every time that you create new shelves in your house, or when you’re working on any project in your house. The woodworking plans will outline the length of the wooden planks, as well as the width and the thickness of the materials that you ought to be using, so you can have a foolproof experience when you’re building your shelves.

Other things which your shelf plans will include, is operating instructions regarding the type of tools you need to be using, as well as any parts. While it’s certainly key to have the basic wood planks which you need, you may also really need to have the tools and the parts, which are necessary to put everything together, and to hang them on the wall.

Using shelf plans can create plenty of solutions across the home, and it can create lots of options. For one thing, not only is it possible to create flat shelves, you may create 90-degree angled shelves, or sloped shelves. You can add space to furniture items, for example book shelf units and entertainment stacking units. You can get much more creative, and create wooden shadow boxes as a sort of shelving. These are applicable for extraordinarily light-weight items, and they add an amazing touch to your walls.

If one would like to know where you can come across shelf plans, then you can find them on the internet. These are available for a price, but a lot of them are free too. Just ensure that you pick them up, so one will not be wasting money and time on a project that isn’t going to work, without the right shelf plans.

Loft bed plans & great woodworking tips & tricks. Help in making wonderfull projects. Find a good range of woodworking plans & some great guidance from Abu Dujana.

categories: shelf plans,woodworking plans,shelves

Make It Last – Tips on The Proper Way To Store A Quilt

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Have you noticed the weather is getting hotter and your quilt is beginning to become a burden rather than a valuable asset? It may be time to put it away for the summer while the hot weather hangs around. If you’re thinking about this, there are a couple of things you can do to be sure your quilt survives the months of storage.

Here are the things you’ll need to consider when storing your quilt:

Height

It would be a good idea if you store your quilt at a fair height. While it might not appear important, storing it in a middle or high shelf will keep your quilt safe from a number of different elements.

Storing it low to the ground has a tendency to attract dust, hair and insects. As you go higher, your quilt will attract less of these things, though it is difficult for you to avoid dust completely.

Temperature

This is another thing you ought to be cautious about. Make sure your quilt isn’t stored in an area that is close to a heating or hot water system. This can introduce moisture and condensation from steam or cause evaporating moisture to gather in your quilt.

Light

Try and keep your quilt out of direct sunlight. Natural sunlight has a tendency to drain the colour from fabrics and materials over time. If possible, try and store it in a dark or shaded indoor area.

Additional Precautions

If you are concerned about moisture, put tissue paper in the folds of the quilt when folding. This will absorb any moisture and keep it away from the quilt.

Also, add some mothballs to keep moths and other insects in check. You do not need to discover that some hungry insects have gnawed a hole in your cherished quilt with that wonderful rose quilt design.

Taking a quilt out of storage.

When you take a quilt out of storage, avoid put it straight on to a bed or couch.

You should be careful check for spiders and insects. They like a dark place with heaps of places to hide.

As an alternative take it outside and give it a good shake, this could get rid of plenty of dust which might have been collected, as well as any insects that could be in it.

Then let the quilt to air outside for a few hours to help lose ‘that cupboard smell ‘

Curious about more rose quilt design concepts? Then head on over to Jane Green’s how to make a patchwork quilt site now!

categories: how to make a patchwork quilt,rose quilt design,rose quilt,roses quilts,unflower quilt,patchwork quilt,quilt,quilts

New To Sewing? Here’s How To Choose The Right One – Part 1

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Buying a sewing machine is kind of like buying a car. There are lots of different types and all of them suited for different functions. When I was staring out on my very first green quilt design I decided to purchase a sewing machine of my very own.

I did my homework and found out what to search for when purchasing your first sewing machine, and now, I pass that on to you:

Should I Buy A New or Used Machine?

This is something that is completely up to you. The perks of purchasing a second hand machine is that it will be less expensive and you’ll be in a position to buy more for less.

That having been said, ask why they’re selling the machine, confirm there is nothing wrong with it before buying it.

Second, try it out. This is a vital step and will help you to find out if there are any problems with it and if it is the right sewing machine for you. So you are going to need to bring some bits of material to sew on to.

I am About To Test It Out, What Should I Look For?

Listen for the sound it makes when sewing. Ensure there is not any grinding, no ticking or thumping. The sound should be smooth and consistent.

Next, examine the stitches – are they even length? If some are double the length of others that suggests the machine is skipping a stitch. It might not look like a big thing now, but later on this could cause huge problems.

Make sure that you check the back of the material. The stitching should look the same as the stitching on the front side. Check for loops and inconsistencies. Remember, these can occur on both sides.

In the following part, I’ll cover what stitching styles you need to look for and further tips to keep an eye out for with your next machine.

Interested in more green quilt design tips? Then head on over to Jane Green’s how to make a patchwork quilt site now!

categories: green quilt design,flower quilt,green bedspread,green patchwork,green quilt,green quilts,patchwork quilt,how to make a patchwork quilt,quilt,quilts

New To Sewing Machines? Here’s How To Choose The Right One – Part 2

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What Sort Of Stitching Patterns Do I Need?

There are a couple of stitches that folks new to sewing will require. These are the straight stitch and zig zag stitch

All machines have a straight stitch, its the most typical and most used stitch by nearly everyone. So its considered the default.

Most machines will have a zig zag stitch but be certain to check because there are machines out there that don’t have this. They’re far and few between, but they’re still out there, so just make sure to check the machine.

There are two other stitching styles that are handy to have but are not essential. These are button hole stitch and stretch stitch.

Stretch stitch is good for for anything that needs a little room to manouver round the seam, so its good for a patchwork quilt which use several different materials, but its not required.

Do not be too concerned about getting a button hole stitch, some people love this sort of stitch, but button holes can be done with a zig zag stitch setting.

Any Other Tips?

Check the machine can be reversed or is able sew backwards. This is fairly significant as some older machines don’t do this and its really convenient when you have to do this.

Always get the seller to show you how to thread the machine. Almost every machine has an alternative way of threading the needle. There’s few things worse than having a new machine to play with and having no clue how to even use it.

If you buy one and forget this step, you might get lucky and find a video that shows you the right way to do it on YouTube, but this should only be a back up solution.

If you’re purchasing a second hand machine, don’t forget to check the electric cord for indicators of fraying and wear and tear. You don’t want to get zapped while sewing a quilt!

Keep these tips under consideration and you’re sure to purchase a winner!

To get more superb tips about the best way to make a patchwork quilt, check out Jane Green’s how to make a patchwork quilt website now!

categories: australian patchwork and quilting,how to make a patchwork quilt,patchwork bedding,patchwork blocks,patchwork material,patchwork quilt,patchwork sewing,patchwork templates,patchwork throw,quilt,quilts

How to Cut Perfect Squares For You Quilt

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Cutting fabric squares is a strange thing. Its something that seems simple to do but hard to master. It can take lots of attempts to get the perfect square.

Well if you’re yet to master the ideal square, which is vital if you are going to make a patchwork quilt, there are two methods to do it.

Make a Template

This is a quick and extremely simple solution. Get some thick card or vinyl, a pair of scissors and a ruler. Mark out the size of the square you need and cut it out of the card/vinyl.

You may then place this perfect square on top of your material and use your rotary cutter round the outside.

With A Set Ruler

You’ll be able to find some specialized rulers in most craft shops. These look like ‘L ‘ shapes and typically have a 90 degree angle. They should also have measurements down each side.

Simply cut along the inside of the ruler to along each side to the length each side of the square must be. When you have cut out two sides, flip the ruler over the diagonally opposite side and repeat.

There are a couple reasons these strategies are at the very top of my list. First off its quick. While this might not seem like much, if you are making a quilt with 40 squares and it saves you half a minute per square, you’ve saved 20 minutes on your quilt.

Second, these techniques don’t require you to mark out any lines. This is great as there is not any risk of accidentally drawing on any bit of the material and having to throw that section out.

As a bonus, its straightforward to make perfect triangles too.

Once you have your squares, simply cut your squares diagonally form one corner to the other and you will get perfect triangles each time.

Don’t forget to use a guide or ruler for the cutting so you get a good, straight edge on every side!

To get more great advice about the best way to make a patchwork quilt, check out Jane Green’s how to make a patchwork quilt website now!

categories: australian patchwork and quilting,how to make a patchwork quilt,patchwork bedding,patchwork blocks,patchwork material,patchwork quilt,patchwork sewing,patchwork templates,patchwork throw,quilt,quilts

How To Prepare Your Materials for a Patchwork Quilt

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One of the most beautiful and eye catching quilts that may finish any bedroom is a patchwork quilt. Even though it may seem that the quilt was put together quickly, there’s actually plenty of care and planning that goes into every one.

So if you’re thinking about how to make a patchwork quilt, here’s the things you should do before you start:

Collect all your potential materials together.

I’ve seen scrappers during the past decide they are going to make a patchwork quilt, grab some material and just start cutting out squares. This is a recipe for disaster. The very first thing you must do is collect all your potential material in one place.

Work out how many squares you can get out of each section of materials.

Its very rare that you will have scrap materials of all the same sizes. So it makes sense to work out how many squares you’ll have.

The reason why you do this now is now is so you can identify if you have enough materials to get the pattern you want. If you don’t, you’re going to have to reconsider your design or get more of the same material.

Cut out your patches.

When you have your design, you will know how many squares you’ll need and what size they’ll have to be. Its now ok to start to cut.

Stack Them into piles

Believe me, this make it far easier and simpler when putting your quilt together. Before I started to do this, I lost numerous hours sorting though my materials and other squares and patches for the couple of remaining squares.

Do a ‘dry run ‘

This is a relatively fast and simple process and makes sure you have enough of each material to finish the quilt.

For a dry run, you want your squares and a whole pile of pins. Make a line of

This makes sure you don’t discover that you’re short of material towards the end of the quilt.

Its also a good way to make sure that it’ll fit correctly on any bed or couch the quilt is destined to go on.

After you have finished the above steps, you are ready to assemble your quilt – good luck!

To get some more nice tips about the best way to make a patchwork quilt, check out Jane Green’s how to make a patchwork quilt site now!

categories: australian patchwork and quilting,how to make a patchwork quilt,patchwork bedding,patchwork blocks,patchwork material,patchwork quilt,patchwork sewing,patchwork templates,patchwork throw,quilt,quilts

Preparing Your Material for Your Next Quilt

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Preparing your materials is an important first step whenever you are beginning a new quilt. You wouldn’t start a brand new job in mucky clothes, so why should your quilt be any different?

To get your quilt off to the best possible start, I have listed my pre-flight quilting checklist.

Read Any Instrutions

This is the most significant step before anything else, I learned this the tough way – which I’ll tell you about later on.

The instructions will give you information about anything which will damage or affect the materials in the preparation process, so make sure you read all of the directions so you do not get caught out.

Washing

Once you’ve read the directions, your next stop is to wash the quilt. The directions will tell you whether its safe to put in the machine or whether you should hand wash it, as well as the temperature of water to use.

I was recently working on a green quilt design and did not go over the directions. As it seems, the particular dye they used for this material doesn’t handle warm water well and the colours ran and faded in areas, so be vigilant and check!

Drying

Drying is one of the things that surprises a number of quilters. Some material does not react well to being put in direct sunlight straight after washing.

More commonly, there are more materials that will get damaged if you put them into a dryer, so make sure you know what you are dealing with.

Ironing

Like drying, ironing is another step in which you can ruin a supremely good fabric. Materials like silk and polyester will burn or melt if you use an iron that is too hot.

There are too many materials to cover here, so in short if you are uncertain, put your iron on the lowest setting simply to be safe.

When you’re ironing, start from the center and push your iron out to the sides. Once the material is flat, run your iron over the sides to get rid of any small wrinkles and make it prepared for stitching seams.

If you follow these steps, your material will be prepped and ready to be used in any quilt, removing any forseeable issues with the fabric itself.

Curious about more green quilt design ideas? Then head on over to Jane Green’s how to make a patchwork quilt site now!

categories: green quilt design,flower quilt,green bedspread,green patchwork,green quilt,green quilts,patchwork quilt,how to make a patchwork quilt,quilt,quilts

How Rushing a Quilt Will Do More Damage Than Good

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Quilts are fantastic things. They make great presents, look nice in almost any room and can keep you toasty warm during even the chilliest of winter nights. Its simple to see why you’d want to speed your way though it.

In any case whether its a puffy quilt or a rose quilt design, there are a bunch of rock solid reasons why you should not do this. The first of which is:

You Can Make Mistakes

Not only can you make mistakes, you most probably will mess up. Even the most experienced quilters are way more sure to mess up when they are rushing. Its the primary cause of most automobile accidents and thats when the drivers personal safety is at risk!

Most likely you’ll make a mistake and when you do, it is going to be minutes or possibly hours of undoing your mistakes, whether its wrong measurements, wrong stitching settings or who knows?

Poor Finish

This is the second likely side-effect of trying to rush your quilt making. You’re more certain to find yourself cutting corners.

This could come in any amount of ways. You might be spending less time measuring correctly or not taking as much care with your cutting as you should. This can cause ungainly joins, gaps or scrunching with your quilt – something that’s easier to fix by starting from scratch.

If you have to start from scratch, its going to take you two times as long as if you had just taken your time the first time.

Pattern Problems

Planning your quilt is an important part of the quilting process. When you are in a hurry you may lose sight of the bigger picture.

You could pick a pattern for a friend they don’t like, forget the decorative style of the room and make something that clashes badly or merely pick some colours that do not really work well together.

Whatever the case may be , whatever the reason, it never pays to rush a quilt. So just take it easy, relax and take heart in the undeniable fact that if you did rush it – it just would not work out.

Curious about more rose quilt design concepts? Then head on over to Jane Green’s how to make a patchwork quilt site now!

categories: how to make a patchwork quilt,rose quilt design,rose quilt,roses quilts,unflower quilt,patchwork quilt,quilt,quilts

The 3 Major Inventions that Rocked The Quilting World

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Quilting hasn’t always been butterflies and rainbows. It used to be a lot harder and more labour intensive than it currently is. Thanks to modern breakthroughs, it’s been made way easier – not to say that it’s a breeze now, but there have been some revolutionary inventions that have eased the suffering of many quilters:

Cutting Mat

No-one wants to see a good table or table fabric messed up. In the olden days, before these mats were invented, quilters would decide between selecting a table that would get nicks, scratches and marks or find an old table cloth or material that they didn’t want anymore and let that take the punishment.

But the cutting mat does not just save your table, it also includes pre-ruled grids and rulings, measurements and templates.

Many cutting mats also have templates for corners, circles and other various shapes. This straightforward addition has saved quilters world wide hundreds of hours in measurements and rulings, not to mention their tables and table cloths.

Rotary Cutter

If you do not know what a rotary cutter is, imagine a pizza cutter, only with a much sharper blade.

This replaces the conventional scissors and permits people to cut the length of material in a much smaller portion of the time. Because there is no need use a squeezing motion like scissors, you can cut in one swift, smooth motion and avoids jagged bits that will occur when separating your hands for another scissor cut.

Another great thing it does is cut through multiple layers. So folding your material along the cutting line can further reduce cutting time without sacrificing the quality of your cut.

This device alone has slashed my cutting time by at least half.

The Quilting Ruler

The quilting ruler is another handy invention and when you need it, you really need it.

While its perfect for measuring distances, gaps, widths and cuts, it actually comes into shine in some of those clumsy to gauge situations.

It has got a good range of pre-set angles and is transparent, so you can measure and check things that it the ruler is sitting on top of.

It has actually come in useful in some uncommon situations, there is one specific green quilt design that I couldn’t have finished without it.

These are the items that I simply couldn’t do without and if they were to disappear from my world tomorrow… I’d likely give up quilting all together!

Would you like more green quilt design ideas? Then head on over to Jane Green’s how to make a patchwork quilt site now!

categories: green quilt design,flower quilt,green bedspread,green patchwork,green quilt,green quilts,patchwork quilt,how to make a patchwork quilt,quilt,quilts

Whats the Secret of Expert Quilters?

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Everybody has their own specialized quilting equipment, our rotary cutters, the quilting ruler and the specialized quilting mats. There is however one tool, that is owned by quilters and non-quilters alike that saves hours of frustration and prevents lots of possible problems for quilters.

Its the iron.

While nearly everybody owns an iron, any quilter worth their salt, knows that without it, quilting would be an up hill battle, one that would take much longer and be much harder without it.

Here’s two ways that expert quilters use irons to save time and get the ideal finish each time:

Stictching a Seam

If you have ever attempted to stitch a seam, you’ll understand how precise you have to be to get it right. Its something not many newcomers get right on their first attempt.

You can spend a lot of time measuring and cutting with precision and all it takes is one little wrinkle or fold to undo all of your hard work.

This is where an iron comes in to save the day. Simply place the materials together at the seam as if you were getting ready to start stiching and run a hot iron over the top. This will eliminate any wrinkles and bumps and will ensure that the materials are the same length and flatness.

It also makes it so much better for stitching as the materials will have a tendency to keep a flat smooth edge perfect for stitching.

Adding a Border

Attaching a border or edging to a quilt is similar in nature to sticthing a seam, basically you are just adding a massive seam to the outside of your quilt. However , this may be harder than the standard seam as any inconsistencies are amplified.

Running an iron around the exterior of the edge makes sure you can correctly measure the quantity of mateiral needed for the border and will also highlight any uneven or jagged lines.

These are both very common activities and you’ll come across these many times in any quilt, whether its an emborided, victorian or rose quilt design. Without out it, you’d see a lot more scrunching, uneven and basically poor seams and edges.

Interested in more rose quilt design ideas? Then head on over to Jane Green’s how to make a patchwork quilt site now!

categories: how to make a patchwork quilt,rose quilt design,rose quilt,roses quilts,unflower quilt,patchwork quilt,quilt,quilts

Your Simple Guide To Quilting Rotary Cutters – Part 1

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One of the most important tools in making a patchwork quilt is a rotary cutter. I recollect how I used to draw lines on fabric, then cut out my pieces with scissors.

I just balk at even the idea of that now. So where do you start when buying your first rotary cutter?

Well there are lots of types of cutters available, all with different size blades, different shaped handles and a selection of protective sheaths.

Usually bigger blades are used to chop through thicker fabric such as flannelette, or a number of layers of cloth at one point. Though the more fabric layers you cut through the less precise you can become. So it’s best when starting to just start with one or two layers to gain confidence.

Blade Sizes

Rotary cutters come in several different sizes which include 18mm, 28mm, 45mm and 60mm in diameter. Smaller blades are great for cutting around curves, small templates, and finer work but you’ll find usually the bigger blades will be more useful.

The 45mm is the most generally used and a sensible choice for all general fabric cutting requirements. You will find this size is the one you reach for the most.

New Blades and Sharpening

When you purchase a rotary cutter it’ll routinely include one blade and occasionally a spare. It can be quite costly buying new blades every time they get blunt. What is so great about these blades is that they can be sharpened!

The sharpeners are available in various sizes of blades but will only fit one size blade per sharpener. A blade can be sharpened six or more times before it must be replaced.

The down side is if you’ve more that one size blade you will need to get a sharpener for each size. Something to consider when buying different size cutters.

If however your blade has a nick out of it, maybe from dropping it or cutting into your ruler, you may doubtless not be able to sharpen it acceptably and it’ll need to get replaced.

Ensure you buy the right blade for your cutter as the hole shape in the centre of the blade varies according to the type of cutter. As an example, “Kai” cutters have a round mounting hole with two squares cut out of it on opposite sides, while Olfa blades have a triangular shaped mounting hole.

That’s it for this article, keep an eye open for part two where we cover handles and maintenance.

Until then, happy quilting!

To get some more excellent tips about the best way to make a patchwork quilt, check out Jane Green’s how to make a patchwork quilt website now!

categories: australian patchwork and quilting,how to make a patchwork quilt,patchwork bedding,patchwork blocks,patchwork material,patchwork quilt,patchwork sewing,patchwork templates,patchwork throw,quilt,quilts

How To Make A Quilt They’ll Love Without Them Finding Out

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Making a quilt for someone is a challenging business, especially if you’re making it as a surprise gift.

You have to find out all kinds of info about what the individual wants or needs, but you have to do it in a way so they don’t learn what you are up to.

So we have got to use out best ninja skills and go undercover to find the details you want to make a quilt they need!

Your first mission should always be to recon the house of the individual you are making the quilt for. I am presuming you know this person – it would be odd to make them a quilt if you didn’t know them well.

Find any reason to go over. Coffee, a catch up heck even prepare a tray of muffins and bring them over. The vital part here is to find a reason to go over.

If you can, wait for a moment until they're out of the room. Then do some quick recon of their bedroom and lounge room.

Pay attention to the colors of their decor, noting any patterns or common themes. Also have a detailed look at what cover they have on their bed already – it may give you an understanding into what they like.

Next find a subtle way of beginning a discussion on quilts. You may say something like “I was having a look at purchasing a new quilt cover last weekend” or “I was at a store yesterday and saw a beautiful quilt cover”.

Go into detail about what you liked about the pattern and quilt the most. They should then tell you what they like in a quilt. If not, you will have to delicately convince them into sharing their thoughts.

“If you could design the ultimate quilt cover, what would it be?” or “What do you think about rose quilt designs?”

Basically, asking them without letting on what you are up to and making it feel exactly like a natural conversation.

If they don’t want to share or do not have an opinion during this conversation, don’t push them too much. It will look suspicious.

In this case, your next stop is their pals or immediate family. You’ll be surprised about how much they pick up about the taste of people near them or they may have simply overheard them talking about a pattern or colours that they like.

These are some neat methods to discover what you have to know, without letting on what you’re actually up to.

Curious about more rose quilt design concepts? Then head on over to Jane Green’s how to make a patchwork quilt site now!

categories: how to make a patchwork quilt,rose quilt design,rose quilt,roses quilts,unflower quilt,patchwork quilt,quilt,quilts

How To Design The Perfect Quilt For That Special Someone

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When we are making a quilt for someone, we should always need to put lots of love and thought into it. We are doing it to see their face light up when they see it, to give them something they will truly appreciate.

Its no small thing to start a quilt for someone either! You’re saying ‘I know you well, i care about you and you’re going to love this ‘

So to be sure your quilt is a triumph and not a flop there are a couple of questions you ought to be asking.

What is their favourite color?

This is always a great place to begin. I am a big fan of green. I have got a green quilt, but if somebody made me another one, I’d still be excited as I just love the relaxing effect the color has on me. The individual you are making the quilt for will have a favorite colour. If you don’t know what it is, you must find out.

Will this blend in with the rest of their decor?

When you are making or purchasing a quilt for your room, one of the first, and most crucial things you will think about is the decorative style and color of the room. If you had a room that featured cream and peach colours, you wouldn’t be thinking about a green quilt design – this would clash badly with the colors.

By thinking about what colours their room decor is, you can make a quilt that will fit perfectly and perhaps even draw the room together.

Believe me, this will not go unnoticed and they will actually appreciate the efforts you went to, to make certain everything was perfect.

What size is the bed will this be going on?

This is a critical one, one question that should be answered before you even start. It’d be quite humiliating to realize that your quilt is too small for the bed it was intended. A simple check will stop this from happening

You may even find that it’d be better to go on their couch, or maybe used in the lounge room for those cold winter nights. If this is the case, you need to re-assess what size and shape would be best for this.

By answering a few of these basic questions, you will avoid some of the easy to make mistakes.

Inquisitive about more green quilt design ideas? Then head on over to Jane Green’s how to make a patchwork quilt site now!

categories: green quilt design,flower quilt,green bedspread,green patchwork,green quilt,green quilts,patchwork quilt,how to make a patchwork quilt,quilt,quilts

Working Out The Specifics For The Perfect Quilt

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It matters little if if you’re stitching a pattern onto a pre-made quilt or whether you are making a quilt from the start, there are numerous factors you’ve got to think about before going about your project.

It doesn’t matter if you’re making a green quilt or a patchwork quilt, you still need to take these shared characteristics into consideration:

Climate

The very first thing you must consider is the average temperature that your quilt will be used in. This is especially critical if you’re sending the quilt to a relative in another country or a significant distance away.

While you could be living in a nice, temperate area, they may be living in a place where the temperature frequently goes below freezing in the winter or could could soar in the summer.

Bear in mind where this quilt will be used and then work out how much stuffing would work the best.

Allergies

Consider the person you are making this quilt for. Do they have any allergies? Are they allergic to certain materials?

It is not unusual for folks to be allergic or susceptible to feathers and yes, even cotton. If you’re ever in doubt, get in contact with the person your quilt is for and ask!

Also keep your work space under consideration. You might not be sensitive to cat hair, but the individual you are sending the quilt to could be. Make sure you work in a clean, sterile environment whenever possible.

The last thing you need is someone that is allergic to your quilt.

Weight

One thing that’s commonly overlooked is weight. Materials can vary significantly in density. The more dense or thick a material is, the heavier it is. While this may not weigh much for the square or section of material you may be working with, keep in mind that each piece will add up.

To check, hold all of the material you are looking to use and see whether it would be too heavy to use for a quilt.

Also remember to add the weight of the quilt and stuffing when determining the weight!

So there you go, a few things to keep in mind when planning out your next quilt.

Curious about more green quilt design ideas? Then head on over to Jane Green’s how to make a patchwork quilt site now!

categories: green quilt design,flower quilt,green bedspread,green patchwork,green quilt,green quilts,patchwork quilt,how to make a patchwork quilt,quilt,quilts