Rotary-Cutting Tools

Rotary cutters have round blades that enable you to cut straight-edge shapes more quickly and accurately than scissors can. They come with various blade sizes. (A good size for a first blade is 45 mm.) Experiment with handle styles to see which you prefer as they come in various shapes and sizes.

For making perfectly straight cuts, choose a thick, clear acrylic ruler. A good size to start with is a 6×24″ rectangular ruler marked in 1/4″ increments.

Always use a rotary cutter with a cutting mat specifically designed for it. In addition to protecting your work surface, the mat helps keep the fabric from shifting while you cut. Start with a 17×23″ mat marked with a 1″ grid, hash marks at 1/8″ increments, and 45 and 60 degree angles.

I highly recommend this Olfa rotary cutter for making simple quilt patterns.

Fabric

The best fabric for simple quilt patterns is 100% cotton because it minimizes seam distortion, presses crisply, and is easy to quilt. Good simple quilt patterns specify quantities for 44/45″ wide fabric unless otherwise noted. You’ll need to allow for a little extra yardage to accommodate minor cutting errors and slight shrinkage.

There are conflicting opinions about the need to prewash fabric. The choice is yours, but if you have any doubts about colorfastness (whether or not the color will bleed or wash out), test the fabric before adding it to your quilt.

Threads

For piecing and most simple quilt patterns, match the thread fiber to the fabric. Since most quilters use 100% cotton fabric, 100% cotton thread is ideal. If you find your thread breaking, try a new spool; old thread can become brittle and lose elasticity.

Needles

The preferred needle type for woven cotton fabrics is called a “sharp.” Sizes 75/11 and 80/12 are good choices for piecing, quiltmaking, and binding most simple quilt patterns. Use a smaller needle (70/10) if you’re piecing tightly woven batiks and a larger needle (90/14) for flannels. Dull needles can cause skipping or uneven stitches, so it’s a good idea to insert a fresh needle at the start of every project.

Sewing Machine

Any machine with a straight stitch and well-adjusted tension (not too tight or too loose) will work for piecing simple quilt patterns. A machine that also can zigzag or blanket stitch makes machine applique possible. If your machine has bad stitch quality, before making any other adjustment, lift the machine’s presser foot and rethread the machine.

Once you have these tools of the trade you’ll be ready to start making simple quilt patterns to enjoy and share!

Quilting is really addictive and the array of materials is endless. There are such a lot of projects to form – beginning off on small projects like cushions, tablecloths, pillowcases to the bigger projects like throws, bed quilts and wall hangings. But select something that most nearly fits your talent level.

The easy block patterns are very fast and fun. The 9 patch block pattern can be the foundation for your imagination. When you stitch the nine blocks in a pattern you can make tiny blocks and from these blocks make plenty of different quilt patterns.

You do not have to use just squares either, you use half square triangles and quarter square triangles also. As this is a straightforward block to make, you may have this finished over a weekend. What easier way to spend your weekend than to make something to enjoy forever.

There are so many block patterns to make a choice from. Try these patterns: bears paw, double T, card trick, the windmill, Yankee puzzle, maple leaf, log cabin, Ohio star there are too many to write down here. But there’s so much info within easy reach books, magazines, web sites, craft stores, you have to start looking.

A good quilting idea is to decide what sort of time you can spend on a project. If you do not have a large amount of time select something straightforward, but if you do have plenty of time on your hands then make something more detailed and be imaginative. Regardless of what you decide to do have fun!

Machine quilting is kind of easy to learn the skill of. But be prepared as the day can go by when you’re engrossed in a project. When quilting it is fine to use different kinds on the same block or quilt.

You also do not have to follow the seam lines and you can give your quilt a new element by stitching diagonally across the block. It is generally better to have the design on the overall quilt instead of single blocks.

Hand quilting is a calming way to spend the day. You want short and pointy needles, start at size eight which is the biggest and then the littlest which is twelve and it’s critical to have uniformity.

Employing a ring is a brilliant idea when quilting as the layers are held tight which will help you in keeping your stitches uniform. Some quilting ideas on projects to make are:

Clothing quilts – these quilts are made out of pieces of material from garments that you perhaps had when you used to be a kid and other pieces that have many memories for you.

T-shirt quilts – are made out of t-shirts with pictures or sayings on them, cut them out and put them in a quilt.
Message quilts – this is where you stitch messages onto blocks and then stitch them together. This is a great family project.
Sports team quilts – Cut emblems, team colours, and other sports themes and stitch them into a quilt.

There are several places to get quilting ideas – photos, landscapes, exhibitions, craft shops, books and mags. Just let your imagination run wild and you’ll be shocked at what superb projects you can create.

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

Patterns for eight full-size quilts with skill levels from beginner to expert.  Clear and detailed instructions with beautiful full-color photos.  The eight patterns included are: Ohio Valley Musings, The Stripe Quilt, A Suggestion of Bunnies, Nids & Grids, Cherry Vanilla Swirl, Dashing Through the Past, Tulips All Around, and Square Dance. 

Books by Moon Over Mountain

How To Quilt
Quilt Books
Quilt Supplies

Patterns for eight bed and throw patterns with full color photos of each quilt.  Step-by-step directions and Betty’s insight on fabric selection.  Patterns include: Heart & Home, The Recipe Quilt, Settler’s Star, American Made, Shaker Baskets, North Country Star, Crazy Baskets, and Red Baskets. 

Books by Moon Over Mountain

How To Quilt
Quilt Books
Quilt Supplies