MARCH 2014

OKLAHOMA HOME AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION LESSON

KAY COUNTY

SEW YOU WANT TO BE A

QUILTER HANDOUT

Lindsay Grace

Kay County Extension Educator Family amp Consumer Sciences4-H Youth Development Kay County OSU Cooperative Extension Office PO Box 430 Newkirk OK 74647

580-362-3194

This information given herein is for educational purposes only Reference to commercial products or trade

names is made with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by the Coopera-

tive Extension Service is implied

Oklahoma State University U S Department of Agriculture State and Local governments cooperating Okla-

homa State University in compliance with Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 Executive Order

11246 as amended Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990

and other federal and state laws and regulations does not discriminate on the basis of race color national

origin gender age religion disability or status as a veteran in any of its policies practices or procedures

2

Sew You Want to be a Quilter

Table of Contents

Easy Quilt Patterns --------------------------------------------------------------- 3mdash5

Quilting Terms and Vocabulary ------------------------------------------------ 6mdash7

Putting Your Quilt Together -------------------------------------------------- 8mdash12

Quilt Sandwich ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 13

Machine Quilting (straight lines and free motion) ------------------------ 14mdash16

Quilt Binding ------------------------------------------------------------------ 17mdash24

Learn How to Hand Quilt ---------------------------------------------------- 25mdash28

3

Sew You Want to be a Quilter

Easy quilt patterns

A simple place to start learning to

quilt is a small quilt like a baby

quilt or a lap throw The 9 Patch

pattern is simple and very attractive

The Disappearing 9 Patch has just a

small addition to the pattern that

makes it look completely different

Nine-Patch Quilt Block Structure

Nine-patch quilt blocks initially contain nine equal squares The squares are arranged three rows

across and three down like the simple nine-patch quilt blocks left and center in the illustration

The drawing on the right illustrates one of thousands of nine-patch block variations Called a

double nine-patch it replaces the square grids at the blocks center and corners with smaller nine

patch units

6-inch squares would yield 8-inch blocks 7-inch squares would yield 9frac12- inch block

MAKING THE DISAPPEARING 9 PATCH BLOCKS

Group your squares into sets of nine and arrange them in three rows with three squares in each

row

For maximum contrast place a dark square in the center a medium or light square on each side

and a novelty or bright square in each corner

Stitch the squares together to

form a traditional nine patch

Cut the block into four equal

pieces by cutting through the

block vertically and

horizontally

Repeat this with the remainder

of your basic nine patch blocks

until they are all stitched and

cut into four

SETTING THE BLOCKS

Arrange the blocks either in

rows or sets of four depending upon how

many blocks you have in your finished

quilt

Experiment by turning the blocks and

arranging in various ways to create the

desired layout

Here are a couple of suggestions Have

fun

Figure 1 Nine patch block and split

2

Sew You Want to be a Quilter

Table of Contents

Easy Quilt Patterns --------------------------------------------------------------- 3mdash5

Quilting Terms and Vocabulary ------------------------------------------------ 6mdash7

Putting Your Quilt Together -------------------------------------------------- 8mdash12

Quilt Sandwich ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 13

Machine Quilting (straight lines and free motion) ------------------------ 14mdash16

Quilt Binding ------------------------------------------------------------------ 17mdash24

Learn How to Hand Quilt ---------------------------------------------------- 25mdash28

3

Sew You Want to be a Quilter

Easy quilt patterns

A simple place to start learning to

quilt is a small quilt like a baby

quilt or a lap throw The 9 Patch

pattern is simple and very attractive

The Disappearing 9 Patch has just a

small addition to the pattern that

makes it look completely different

Nine-Patch Quilt Block Structure

Nine-patch quilt blocks initially contain nine equal squares The squares are arranged three rows

across and three down like the simple nine-patch quilt blocks left and center in the illustration

The drawing on the right illustrates one of thousands of nine-patch block variations Called a

double nine-patch it replaces the square grids at the blocks center and corners with smaller nine

patch units

6-inch squares would yield 8-inch blocks 7-inch squares would yield 9frac12- inch block

MAKING THE DISAPPEARING 9 PATCH BLOCKS

Group your squares into sets of nine and arrange them in three rows with three squares in each

row

For maximum contrast place a dark square in the center a medium or light square on each side

and a novelty or bright square in each corner

Stitch the squares together to

form a traditional nine patch

Cut the block into four equal

pieces by cutting through the

block vertically and

horizontally

Repeat this with the remainder

of your basic nine patch blocks

until they are all stitched and

cut into four

SETTING THE BLOCKS

Arrange the blocks either in

rows or sets of four depending upon how

many blocks you have in your finished

quilt

Experiment by turning the blocks and

arranging in various ways to create the

desired layout

Here are a couple of suggestions Have

fun

Figure 1 Nine patch block and split

3

Sew You Want to be a Quilter

Easy quilt patterns

A simple place to start learning to

quilt is a small quilt like a baby

quilt or a lap throw The 9 Patch

pattern is simple and very attractive

The Disappearing 9 Patch has just a

small addition to the pattern that

makes it look completely different

Nine-Patch Quilt Block Structure

Nine-patch quilt blocks initially contain nine equal squares The squares are arranged three rows

across and three down like the simple nine-patch quilt blocks left and center in the illustration

The drawing on the right illustrates one of thousands of nine-patch block variations Called a

double nine-patch it replaces the square grids at the blocks center and corners with smaller nine

patch units

6-inch squares would yield 8-inch blocks 7-inch squares would yield 9frac12- inch block

MAKING THE DISAPPEARING 9 PATCH BLOCKS

Group your squares into sets of nine and arrange them in three rows with three squares in each

row

For maximum contrast place a dark square in the center a medium or light square on each side

and a novelty or bright square in each corner

Stitch the squares together to

form a traditional nine patch

Cut the block into four equal

pieces by cutting through the

block vertically and

horizontally

Repeat this with the remainder

of your basic nine patch blocks

until they are all stitched and

cut into four

SETTING THE BLOCKS

Arrange the blocks either in

rows or sets of four depending upon how

many blocks you have in your finished

quilt

Experiment by turning the blocks and

arranging in various ways to create the

desired layout

Here are a couple of suggestions Have

fun

Figure 1 Nine patch block and split

4

Sew You Want to be a Quilter

Rotary Cutting and safety ndash

Cutting Rotary cutting can be fast easy and accurate Yoursquoll need a rotary cutter a

24rdquo see through ruler and a self-healing cutting mat The 24rdquo x 36rdquo mat size

is perfect for quilting Make sure you keep a sharp blade in your cutter Dull

blades make for jagged cuts and can be unsafe if you have to press too hard

to make your cuts Get in the habit of closing the blade of your cutter when

itrsquos not in use Safety first

Fabric right off a bolt probably has uneven edges or may be folded off

center The first step in rotary cutting is to square up the fabric edge With

freshly ironed fabric lay your fabric on your self-healing cutting mat Fold

the fabric in half lengthwise wrong sides together Line up the two selvages

and adjust the edges until the fold hangs evenly or lays flat without

wrinkles This will make sure the grain of the fabric is straight and you will

get nice straight width of fabric cuts

You may want to fold your fabric again lengthwise bringing the folded

edge down to line up with the selvage edge This will give you a shorter

cutting length (yoursquoll have 4 layers) and you wonrsquot need to reposition

your hand when you cut

To start cutting make sure the folded edge lines up with a horizontal line

on your cutting mat Then place your ruler along a vertical line on the mat

for a straight cut If you are right handed the bulk of the

fabric will be on your right The opposite applies if you

are left-handed The first cut you make will be to trim

off the raw edge and square up the fabric Cut off just

enough fabric to make a straight edge

Now yoursquore ready to cut your strips Irsquom cutting 2rdquo

strips so I line up the edge of the fabric with the 2rdquo

mark on my ruler Make sure the 2rdquo mark lines up all

the way down the edge of the fabric not just at one

place Check that measurement Measure twice cut

once

Place your left hand on the ruler spreading your fingers for stability

Always cut away from yourself Be safe Rotary cutters are sharp Cut

along the right edge of the ruler and keep the blade flush against the

ruler Never cut beyond your hand position Stop cutting reposition

your hand up the ruler and continue cutting

5

Sew You Want to be a Quilter

Always open up your first strip and check that it is straight and

even If not adjust the fabric and square it up again Itrsquos better

to check at the beginning than cut a bunch of crooked strips

After your strips are cut you can line them up on the

horizontal lines of your mat and use your ruler to sub cut

them into the shapes and sizes that you need for your quilt

(Continued from page 4)

6

Sew You Want to be a Quilter

Quilting terms and vocabulary ndash

Wonky - Is typically a geometrical block but the shapes are not perfectly square they are

ldquowonkyrdquo

Scrappy - Made with small pieces of fabric scraps

Improv - Piecing without prior planning or preparation

Interlacing - Piecing with the appearance of weaving fabrics

Sampler Quilt - One quilt with many different style blocks

Medallion Quilt - Patchwork design with a sequence of borders and sections around a cen-

tral block

Quilt-as-you-go - Piecing together a 12Prime block adding the batting and backing and com-

pleting the quilting before moving on to another block

String Patchwork - Patchwork made from thin strips of fabric

Wholecloth - A traditional blanket made from one whole piece of fabric not pieced

Appliqueacute - A decorative design made of one material sewn over another

Freezer Paper Appliqueacute - Freezer Paper is pressed to the backside of your fabric and then

the edges are folded over and pressed into place So the fabric is precisely the same shape as

your freezer paper template

Raw Edge Appliqueacute - Usually fused on to your fabric the edges are left raw and the appli-

queacute is sewn inside the edge

Bias Strip Appliqueacute - Used to make narrow designs such as a flower stem

Reverse Appliqueacute - An appliqueacute method where the foundation fabric is on top of the shape

The foundation piece is cut away to reveal the appliqueacute shape

Fussy Cutting - Cutting a print fabric in such a way as to center or otherwise highlight part

of the print

Mitering - Technique for finishing quilt borders or bindings to resemble picture frames

Backing - Is the back piece of your quilt Usually less extensive or detailed than your quilt

top

Basting - Temporary holds together multiple layers of fabric Can be done with a tack

stitch spray baste or basting pins

Quilt Sandwich - The Backing Batting and Quilt Top make a quilt sandwich

Binding - Using strips of enclosed fabric to finish the raw edges of a quilt

Bias Binding - Binding strips are cut on the bias of the fabric This is the longest lasting

binding It is essential for biding around curves and usually require more fabric

Straight Binding - Binding strips are cut parallel with the grain of the fabric and usually

require less fabric

7

Sew You Want to be a Quilter

Machine Sewn Binding - Binding is sewn on completely with a machine

Hand Sewn Binding - Usually machine sewn onto your quilt and then folded over to hand

sew with a slip stitch

Turned-in Edges - Sewn much like a pillow case The quilt is sewn with right sides to-

gether then flipped inside out and sewn along the edge

Sashing - Is the fabric strips sewn in-between your quilt blocks

Bearding - Migration of batting fibers through the surface of the quilt Often more

noticeable on darker quilt sandwiches

Ironing - Gliding your iron back and forth over fabric to smooth away wrinkles

Pressing - Unlike ironing you do not move your iron back and forth but lightly press your

fabric

Home Machine - Standard sewing machine

Mid-Arm Machine - Is made for quilting with a throat space of up to 18Prime Can be used

while sitting or standing

Long-Arm Machine - Is a large commercial sewing machine with an extended throat

space of up to 36rdquo Used while standing up

(Continued from page 6)

8

Sew You Want to be a Quilter

Putting your quilt together

A Perfect Scant Quarter Inch Seam Quarter inch seams are the standard in quilt piecing Being

able to piece accurately will save you lots of quilting

headaches A quarter inch seam in quilting is not really a

quarter inch Itrsquos a scant quarter inch a few threads less than a

full frac14rdquo The difference is taken up by the slight fold or ridge

created by the seam

It seems like a few threads less wouldnrsquot make a difference but multiply a little bit across the

many seams in a quilt and it can become a problem when itrsquos time to put everything together

Use a frac14rdquo foot on my machine which creates a scant frac14rdquo seam when I run the edge of the foot

along the edge of my fabric but if you donrsquot have a frac14 ldquo foot and even if you do itrsquos a good

idea to do this little test to see if yoursquore sewing an accurate scant quarter inch Not all quilting

involves precision piecing but if you need to be precise a scant frac14rdquo

seam is your friend

The Test Cut two 2rdquo x 4rdquo rectangles Be sure to cut accurately Sew the piec-

es together along the 4rdquo side using your frac14 ldquo seam allowance Press

the seam (see below for pressing tips) and then measure the unit

It should measure exactly 3 frac12 ldquo wide If your piece measures more

or less adjust your seam allowance You can make adjustments by moving the needle position

or by marking a new line to follow on your stitch plate Some quilters place moleskin or tape

on their stitch plates to mark their accurate frac14rdquo seam allowance Repeat the test until you

achieve a perfect measurement

Piecing With an accurate scant frac14 ldquo seam yoursquore ready to piece I use cotton thread for piecing I like to

match my thread color to my fabric if possible If not I use a neutral thread in cream taupe or

medium grey

I use a stitch length of 12 to 15 stitches per inch for piecing If you

find your units separating at the ends as you work with them reduce

your stitch length just a bit and that might help As you piece keep

fabric edges aligned and sew a nice straight seam I donrsquot pin as I

sew If your edges stay aligned forget the pins If your edges tend to

shift a few pins might make a difference for you

Pressing Donrsquot you love when your seams lay flat and your block is crisp

and square Proper pressing techniques can help you achieve just

that Pressing is using the weight of the iron and its heat to re-

move wrinkles and flatten seams Ironing is moving the iron back

and forth Pressing is lifting the iron up and down Pressing is for

quilters

Pressing technique is a matter of preference Some quilters

9

Sew You Want to be a Quilter

press seams to the side some press seams open Pressing to the side has been the standard for

many years but pressing open is gaining in popularity Itrsquos nice how flat the pieces lay and

piecing is more accurate with seams pressed open There is an interesting article by Mabry

Benson about pressing seams open at httpwwwstrawcomequilterslibrarytechniques

SeamsOpenhtml You might find it enlightening You need to decide what works best for you

Yoursquoll also need to decide if you want to use steam Steam can cause blocks or units to distort

If you need a little help with a stubborn seam you can use a tiny spritz of water or Best Press

Best press is a starch alternative and it works without the gunkiness of starch You can find

Best Press at most local quilt shops

Pressing routine

1 Set seams before you press them open This helps rsquosetrsquo the

threads into the fabric and will ensure that extra fabric doesnrsquot get

caught up in the seam Put your sewn unit flat on your ironing board

as you sewed it Lower your iron for a few seconds and set the

seam You might find when pressing to the side that setting the

seam helps the seam allowance flip more easily and results in a flat-

ter seam

2 Open the

unit right

sides down

and do a

quick finger

press to open

the seam and

then use your iron to press it flat lifting and lowering the iron not sliding back and forth

3 For long seams use your fingers to open the seam and work the iron down the length of the

seam pressing as you go

4 Then flip the unit over to press again from the right side A couple of touches of the iron

will give a nice flat seam

Proper pressing can give you units and blocks that lay flat and are not distorted This can make

your quilt come together accurately and with less stress for you

A Good Match Yoursquove prepped your fabric your pieces are cut and yoursquore piecing away You have your units

sewn and now itrsquos time to start putting things together In most quilts yoursquore probably going to

have to join units and match some seams Itrsquos not as difficult as it

looks to achieve

How you join units will depend on how you decide to press your

seams Here are demonstrations methods for both As you gain expe-

rience with joining units you may be able forget the pins Then you

may tend to use a pin or two especially if you want a perfect match

That said try not to focus on perfection it can be paralyzing in

5

Sew You Want to be a Quilter

Always open up your first strip and check that it is straight and

even If not adjust the fabric and square it up again Itrsquos better

to check at the beginning than cut a bunch of crooked strips

After your strips are cut you can line them up on the

horizontal lines of your mat and use your ruler to sub cut

them into the shapes and sizes that you need for your quilt

(Continued from page 4)

6

Sew You Want to be a Quilter

Quilting terms and vocabulary ndash

Wonky - Is typically a geometrical block but the shapes are not perfectly square they are

ldquowonkyrdquo

Scrappy - Made with small pieces of fabric scraps

Improv - Piecing without prior planning or preparation

Interlacing - Piecing with the appearance of weaving fabrics

Sampler Quilt - One quilt with many different style blocks

Medallion Quilt - Patchwork design with a sequence of borders and sections around a cen-

tral block

Quilt-as-you-go - Piecing together a 12Prime block adding the batting and backing and com-

pleting the quilting before moving on to another block

String Patchwork - Patchwork made from thin strips of fabric

Wholecloth - A traditional blanket made from one whole piece of fabric not pieced

Appliqueacute - A decorative design made of one material sewn over another

Freezer Paper Appliqueacute - Freezer Paper is pressed to the backside of your fabric and then

the edges are folded over and pressed into place So the fabric is precisely the same shape as

your freezer paper template

Raw Edge Appliqueacute - Usually fused on to your fabric the edges are left raw and the appli-

queacute is sewn inside the edge

Bias Strip Appliqueacute - Used to make narrow designs such as a flower stem

Reverse Appliqueacute - An appliqueacute method where the foundation fabric is on top of the shape

The foundation piece is cut away to reveal the appliqueacute shape

Fussy Cutting - Cutting a print fabric in such a way as to center or otherwise highlight part

of the print

Mitering - Technique for finishing quilt borders or bindings to resemble picture frames

Backing - Is the back piece of your quilt Usually less extensive or detailed than your quilt

top

Basting - Temporary holds together multiple layers of fabric Can be done with a tack

stitch spray baste or basting pins

Quilt Sandwich - The Backing Batting and Quilt Top make a quilt sandwich

Binding - Using strips of enclosed fabric to finish the raw edges of a quilt

Bias Binding - Binding strips are cut on the bias of the fabric This is the longest lasting

binding It is essential for biding around curves and usually require more fabric

Straight Binding - Binding strips are cut parallel with the grain of the fabric and usually

require less fabric

7

Sew You Want to be a Quilter

Machine Sewn Binding - Binding is sewn on completely with a machine

Hand Sewn Binding - Usually machine sewn onto your quilt and then folded over to hand

sew with a slip stitch

Turned-in Edges - Sewn much like a pillow case The quilt is sewn with right sides to-

gether then flipped inside out and sewn along the edge

Sashing - Is the fabric strips sewn in-between your quilt blocks

Bearding - Migration of batting fibers through the surface of the quilt Often more

noticeable on darker quilt sandwiches

Ironing - Gliding your iron back and forth over fabric to smooth away wrinkles

Pressing - Unlike ironing you do not move your iron back and forth but lightly press your

fabric

Home Machine - Standard sewing machine

Mid-Arm Machine - Is made for quilting with a throat space of up to 18Prime Can be used

while sitting or standing

Long-Arm Machine - Is a large commercial sewing machine with an extended throat

space of up to 36rdquo Used while standing up

(Continued from page 6)

8

Sew You Want to be a Quilter

Putting your quilt together

A Perfect Scant Quarter Inch Seam Quarter inch seams are the standard in quilt piecing Being

able to piece accurately will save you lots of quilting

headaches A quarter inch seam in quilting is not really a

quarter inch Itrsquos a scant quarter inch a few threads less than a

full frac14rdquo The difference is taken up by the slight fold or ridge

created by the seam

It seems like a few threads less wouldnrsquot make a difference but multiply a little bit across the

many seams in a quilt and it can become a problem when itrsquos time to put everything together

Use a frac14rdquo foot on my machine which creates a scant frac14rdquo seam when I run the edge of the foot

along the edge of my fabric but if you donrsquot have a frac14 ldquo foot and even if you do itrsquos a good

idea to do this little test to see if yoursquore sewing an accurate scant quarter inch Not all quilting

involves precision piecing but if you need to be precise a scant frac14rdquo

seam is your friend

The Test Cut two 2rdquo x 4rdquo rectangles Be sure to cut accurately Sew the piec-

es together along the 4rdquo side using your frac14 ldquo seam allowance Press

the seam (see below for pressing tips) and then measure the unit

It should measure exactly 3 frac12 ldquo wide If your piece measures more

or less adjust your seam allowance You can make adjustments by moving the needle position

or by marking a new line to follow on your stitch plate Some quilters place moleskin or tape

on their stitch plates to mark their accurate frac14rdquo seam allowance Repeat the test until you

achieve a perfect measurement

Piecing With an accurate scant frac14 ldquo seam yoursquore ready to piece I use cotton thread for piecing I like to

match my thread color to my fabric if possible If not I use a neutral thread in cream taupe or

medium grey

I use a stitch length of 12 to 15 stitches per inch for piecing If you

find your units separating at the ends as you work with them reduce

your stitch length just a bit and that might help As you piece keep

fabric edges aligned and sew a nice straight seam I donrsquot pin as I

sew If your edges stay aligned forget the pins If your edges tend to

shift a few pins might make a difference for you

Pressing Donrsquot you love when your seams lay flat and your block is crisp

and square Proper pressing techniques can help you achieve just

that Pressing is using the weight of the iron and its heat to re-

move wrinkles and flatten seams Ironing is moving the iron back

and forth Pressing is lifting the iron up and down Pressing is for

quilters

Pressing technique is a matter of preference Some quilters

9

Sew You Want to be a Quilter

press seams to the side some press seams open Pressing to the side has been the standard for

many years but pressing open is gaining in popularity Itrsquos nice how flat the pieces lay and

piecing is more accurate with seams pressed open There is an interesting article by Mabry

Benson about pressing seams open at httpwwwstrawcomequilterslibrarytechniques

SeamsOpenhtml You might find it enlightening You need to decide what works best for you

Yoursquoll also need to decide if you want to use steam Steam can cause blocks or units to distort

If you need a little help with a stubborn seam you can use a tiny spritz of water or Best Press

Best press is a starch alternative and it works without the gunkiness of starch You can find

Best Press at most local quilt shops

Pressing routine

1 Set seams before you press them open This helps rsquosetrsquo the

threads into the fabric and will ensure that extra fabric doesnrsquot get

caught up in the seam Put your sewn unit flat on your ironing board

as you sewed it Lower your iron for a few seconds and set the

seam You might find when pressing to the side that setting the

seam helps the seam allowance flip more easily and results in a flat-

ter seam

2 Open the

unit right

sides down

and do a

quick finger

press to open

the seam and

then use your iron to press it flat lifting and lowering the iron not sliding back and forth

3 For long seams use your fingers to open the seam and work the iron down the length of the

seam pressing as you go

4 Then flip the unit over to press again from the right side A couple of touches of the iron

will give a nice flat seam

Proper pressing can give you units and blocks that lay flat and are not distorted This can make

your quilt come together accurately and with less stress for you

A Good Match Yoursquove prepped your fabric your pieces are cut and yoursquore piecing away You have your units

sewn and now itrsquos time to start putting things together In most quilts yoursquore probably going to

have to join units and match some seams Itrsquos not as difficult as it

looks to achieve

How you join units will depend on how you decide to press your

seams Here are demonstrations methods for both As you gain expe-

rience with joining units you may be able forget the pins Then you

may tend to use a pin or two especially if you want a perfect match

That said try not to focus on perfection it can be paralyzing in

6

Sew You Want to be a Quilter

Quilting terms and vocabulary ndash

Wonky - Is typically a geometrical block but the shapes are not perfectly square they are

ldquowonkyrdquo

Scrappy - Made with small pieces of fabric scraps

Improv - Piecing without prior planning or preparation

Interlacing - Piecing with the appearance of weaving fabrics

Sampler Quilt - One quilt with many different style blocks

Medallion Quilt - Patchwork design with a sequence of borders and sections around a cen-

tral block

Quilt-as-you-go - Piecing together a 12Prime block adding the batting and backing and com-

pleting the quilting before moving on to another block

String Patchwork - Patchwork made from thin strips of fabric

Wholecloth - A traditional blanket made from one whole piece of fabric not pieced

Appliqueacute - A decorative design made of one material sewn over another

Freezer Paper Appliqueacute - Freezer Paper is pressed to the backside of your fabric and then

the edges are folded over and pressed into place So the fabric is precisely the same shape as

your freezer paper template

Raw Edge Appliqueacute - Usually fused on to your fabric the edges are left raw and the appli-

queacute is sewn inside the edge

Bias Strip Appliqueacute - Used to make narrow designs such as a flower stem

Reverse Appliqueacute - An appliqueacute method where the foundation fabric is on top of the shape

The foundation piece is cut away to reveal the appliqueacute shape

Fussy Cutting - Cutting a print fabric in such a way as to center or otherwise highlight part

of the print

Mitering - Technique for finishing quilt borders or bindings to resemble picture frames

Backing - Is the back piece of your quilt Usually less extensive or detailed than your quilt

top

Basting - Temporary holds together multiple layers of fabric Can be done with a tack

stitch spray baste or basting pins

Quilt Sandwich - The Backing Batting and Quilt Top make a quilt sandwich

Binding - Using strips of enclosed fabric to finish the raw edges of a quilt

Bias Binding - Binding strips are cut on the bias of the fabric This is the longest lasting

binding It is essential for biding around curves and usually require more fabric

Straight Binding - Binding strips are cut parallel with the grain of the fabric and usually

require less fabric

7

Sew You Want to be a Quilter

Machine Sewn Binding - Binding is sewn on completely with a machine

Hand Sewn Binding - Usually machine sewn onto your quilt and then folded over to hand

sew with a slip stitch

Turned-in Edges - Sewn much like a pillow case The quilt is sewn with right sides to-

gether then flipped inside out and sewn along the edge

Sashing - Is the fabric strips sewn in-between your quilt blocks

Bearding - Migration of batting fibers through the surface of the quilt Often more

noticeable on darker quilt sandwiches

Ironing - Gliding your iron back and forth over fabric to smooth away wrinkles

Pressing - Unlike ironing you do not move your iron back and forth but lightly press your

fabric

Home Machine - Standard sewing machine

Mid-Arm Machine - Is made for quilting with a throat space of up to 18Prime Can be used

while sitting or standing

Long-Arm Machine - Is a large commercial sewing machine with an extended throat

space of up to 36rdquo Used while standing up

(Continued from page 6)

8

Sew You Want to be a Quilter

Putting your quilt together

A Perfect Scant Quarter Inch Seam Quarter inch seams are the standard in quilt piecing Being

able to piece accurately will save you lots of quilting

headaches A quarter inch seam in quilting is not really a

quarter inch Itrsquos a scant quarter inch a few threads less than a

full frac14rdquo The difference is taken up by the slight fold or ridge

created by the seam

It seems like a few threads less wouldnrsquot make a difference but multiply a little bit across the

many seams in a quilt and it can become a problem when itrsquos time to put everything together

Use a frac14rdquo foot on my machine which creates a scant frac14rdquo seam when I run the edge of the foot

along the edge of my fabric but if you donrsquot have a frac14 ldquo foot and even if you do itrsquos a good

idea to do this little test to see if yoursquore sewing an accurate scant quarter inch Not all quilting

involves precision piecing but if you need to be precise a scant frac14rdquo

seam is your friend

The Test Cut two 2rdquo x 4rdquo rectangles Be sure to cut accurately Sew the piec-

es together along the 4rdquo side using your frac14 ldquo seam allowance Press

the seam (see below for pressing tips) and then measure the unit

It should measure exactly 3 frac12 ldquo wide If your piece measures more

or less adjust your seam allowance You can make adjustments by moving the needle position

or by marking a new line to follow on your stitch plate Some quilters place moleskin or tape

on their stitch plates to mark their accurate frac14rdquo seam allowance Repeat the test until you

achieve a perfect measurement

Piecing With an accurate scant frac14 ldquo seam yoursquore ready to piece I use cotton thread for piecing I like to

match my thread color to my fabric if possible If not I use a neutral thread in cream taupe or

medium grey

I use a stitch length of 12 to 15 stitches per inch for piecing If you

find your units separating at the ends as you work with them reduce

your stitch length just a bit and that might help As you piece keep

fabric edges aligned and sew a nice straight seam I donrsquot pin as I

sew If your edges stay aligned forget the pins If your edges tend to

shift a few pins might make a difference for you

Pressing Donrsquot you love when your seams lay flat and your block is crisp

and square Proper pressing techniques can help you achieve just

that Pressing is using the weight of the iron and its heat to re-

move wrinkles and flatten seams Ironing is moving the iron back

and forth Pressing is lifting the iron up and down Pressing is for

quilters

Pressing technique is a matter of preference Some quilters

9

Sew You Want to be a Quilter

press seams to the side some press seams open Pressing to the side has been the standard for

many years but pressing open is gaining in popularity Itrsquos nice how flat the pieces lay and

piecing is more accurate with seams pressed open There is an interesting article by Mabry

Benson about pressing seams open at httpwwwstrawcomequilterslibrarytechniques

SeamsOpenhtml You might find it enlightening You need to decide what works best for you

Yoursquoll also need to decide if you want to use steam Steam can cause blocks or units to distort

If you need a little help with a stubborn seam you can use a tiny spritz of water or Best Press

Best press is a starch alternative and it works without the gunkiness of starch You can find

Best Press at most local quilt shops

Pressing routine

1 Set seams before you press them open This helps rsquosetrsquo the

threads into the fabric and will ensure that extra fabric doesnrsquot get

caught up in the seam Put your sewn unit flat on your ironing board

as you sewed it Lower your iron for a few seconds and set the

seam You might find when pressing to the side that setting the

seam helps the seam allowance flip more easily and results in a flat-

ter seam

2 Open the

unit right

sides down

and do a

quick finger

press to open

the seam and

then use your iron to press it flat lifting and lowering the iron not sliding back and forth

3 For long seams use your fingers to open the seam and work the iron down the length of the

seam pressing as you go

4 Then flip the unit over to press again from the right side A couple of touches of the iron

will give a nice flat seam

Proper pressing can give you units and blocks that lay flat and are not distorted This can make

your quilt come together accurately and with less stress for you

A Good Match Yoursquove prepped your fabric your pieces are cut and yoursquore piecing away You have your units

sewn and now itrsquos time to start putting things together In most quilts yoursquore probably going to

have to join units and match some seams Itrsquos not as difficult as it

looks to achieve

How you join units will depend on how you decide to press your

seams Here are demonstrations methods for both As you gain expe-

rience with joining units you may be able forget the pins Then you

may tend to use a pin or two especially if you want a perfect match

That said try not to focus on perfection it can be paralyzing in

7

Sew You Want to be a Quilter

Machine Sewn Binding - Binding is sewn on completely with a machine

Hand Sewn Binding - Usually machine sewn onto your quilt and then folded over to hand

sew with a slip stitch

Turned-in Edges - Sewn much like a pillow case The quilt is sewn with right sides to-

gether then flipped inside out and sewn along the edge

Sashing - Is the fabric strips sewn in-between your quilt blocks

Bearding - Migration of batting fibers through the surface of the quilt Often more

noticeable on darker quilt sandwiches

Ironing - Gliding your iron back and forth over fabric to smooth away wrinkles

Pressing - Unlike ironing you do not move your iron back and forth but lightly press your

fabric

Home Machine - Standard sewing machine

Mid-Arm Machine - Is made for quilting with a throat space of up to 18Prime Can be used

while sitting or standing

Long-Arm Machine - Is a large commercial sewing machine with an extended throat

space of up to 36rdquo Used while standing up

(Continued from page 6)

8

Sew You Want to be a Quilter

Putting your quilt together

A Perfect Scant Quarter Inch Seam Quarter inch seams are the standard in quilt piecing Being

able to piece accurately will save you lots of quilting

headaches A quarter inch seam in quilting is not really a

quarter inch Itrsquos a scant quarter inch a few threads less than a

full frac14rdquo The difference is taken up by the slight fold or ridge

created by the seam

It seems like a few threads less wouldnrsquot make a difference but multiply a little bit across the

many seams in a quilt and it can become a problem when itrsquos time to put everything together

Use a frac14rdquo foot on my machine which creates a scant frac14rdquo seam when I run the edge of the foot

along the edge of my fabric but if you donrsquot have a frac14 ldquo foot and even if you do itrsquos a good

idea to do this little test to see if yoursquore sewing an accurate scant quarter inch Not all quilting

involves precision piecing but if you need to be precise a scant frac14rdquo

seam is your friend

The Test Cut two 2rdquo x 4rdquo rectangles Be sure to cut accurately Sew the piec-

es together along the 4rdquo side using your frac14 ldquo seam allowance Press

the seam (see below for pressing tips) and then measure the unit

It should measure exactly 3 frac12 ldquo wide If your piece measures more

or less adjust your seam allowance You can make adjustments by moving the needle position

or by marking a new line to follow on your stitch plate Some quilters place moleskin or tape

on their stitch plates to mark their accurate frac14rdquo seam allowance Repeat the test until you

achieve a perfect measurement

Piecing With an accurate scant frac14 ldquo seam yoursquore ready to piece I use cotton thread for piecing I like to

match my thread color to my fabric if possible If not I use a neutral thread in cream taupe or

medium grey

I use a stitch length of 12 to 15 stitches per inch for piecing If you

find your units separating at the ends as you work with them reduce

your stitch length just a bit and that might help As you piece keep

fabric edges aligned and sew a nice straight seam I donrsquot pin as I

sew If your edges stay aligned forget the pins If your edges tend to

shift a few pins might make a difference for you

Pressing Donrsquot you love when your seams lay flat and your block is crisp

and square Proper pressing techniques can help you achieve just

that Pressing is using the weight of the iron and its heat to re-

move wrinkles and flatten seams Ironing is moving the iron back

and forth Pressing is lifting the iron up and down Pressing is for

quilters

Pressing technique is a matter of preference Some quilters

9

Sew You Want to be a Quilter

press seams to the side some press seams open Pressing to the side has been the standard for

many years but pressing open is gaining in popularity Itrsquos nice how flat the pieces lay and

piecing is more accurate with seams pressed open There is an interesting article by Mabry

Benson about pressing seams open at httpwwwstrawcomequilterslibrarytechniques

SeamsOpenhtml You might find it enlightening You need to decide what works best for you

Yoursquoll also need to decide if you want to use steam Steam can cause blocks or units to distort

If you need a little help with a stubborn seam you can use a tiny spritz of water or Best Press

Best press is a starch alternative and it works without the gunkiness of starch You can find

Best Press at most local quilt shops

Pressing routine

1 Set seams before you press them open This helps rsquosetrsquo the

threads into the fabric and will ensure that extra fabric doesnrsquot get

caught up in the seam Put your sewn unit flat on your ironing board

as you sewed it Lower your iron for a few seconds and set the

seam You might find when pressing to the side that setting the

seam helps the seam allowance flip more easily and results in a flat-

ter seam

2 Open the

unit right

sides down

and do a

quick finger

press to open

the seam and

then use your iron to press it flat lifting and lowering the iron not sliding back and forth

3 For long seams use your fingers to open the seam and work the iron down the length of the

seam pressing as you go

4 Then flip the unit over to press again from the right side A couple of touches of the iron

will give a nice flat seam

Proper pressing can give you units and blocks that lay flat and are not distorted This can make

your quilt come together accurately and with less stress for you

A Good Match Yoursquove prepped your fabric your pieces are cut and yoursquore piecing away You have your units

sewn and now itrsquos time to start putting things together In most quilts yoursquore probably going to

have to join units and match some seams Itrsquos not as difficult as it

looks to achieve

How you join units will depend on how you decide to press your

seams Here are demonstrations methods for both As you gain expe-

rience with joining units you may be able forget the pins Then you

may tend to use a pin or two especially if you want a perfect match

That said try not to focus on perfection it can be paralyzing in

8

Sew You Want to be a Quilter

Putting your quilt together

A Perfect Scant Quarter Inch Seam Quarter inch seams are the standard in quilt piecing Being

able to piece accurately will save you lots of quilting

headaches A quarter inch seam in quilting is not really a

quarter inch Itrsquos a scant quarter inch a few threads less than a

full frac14rdquo The difference is taken up by the slight fold or ridge

created by the seam

It seems like a few threads less wouldnrsquot make a difference but multiply a little bit across the

many seams in a quilt and it can become a problem when itrsquos time to put everything together

Use a frac14rdquo foot on my machine which creates a scant frac14rdquo seam when I run the edge of the foot

along the edge of my fabric but if you donrsquot have a frac14 ldquo foot and even if you do itrsquos a good

idea to do this little test to see if yoursquore sewing an accurate scant quarter inch Not all quilting

involves precision piecing but if you need to be precise a scant frac14rdquo

seam is your friend

The Test Cut two 2rdquo x 4rdquo rectangles Be sure to cut accurately Sew the piec-

es together along the 4rdquo side using your frac14 ldquo seam allowance Press

the seam (see below for pressing tips) and then measure the unit

It should measure exactly 3 frac12 ldquo wide If your piece measures more

or less adjust your seam allowance You can make adjustments by moving the needle position

or by marking a new line to follow on your stitch plate Some quilters place moleskin or tape

on their stitch plates to mark their accurate frac14rdquo seam allowance Repeat the test until you

achieve a perfect measurement

Piecing With an accurate scant frac14 ldquo seam yoursquore ready to piece I use cotton thread for piecing I like to

match my thread color to my fabric if possible If not I use a neutral thread in cream taupe or

medium grey

I use a stitch length of 12 to 15 stitches per inch for piecing If you

find your units separating at the ends as you work with them reduce

your stitch length just a bit and that might help As you piece keep

fabric edges aligned and sew a nice straight seam I donrsquot pin as I

sew If your edges stay aligned forget the pins If your edges tend to

shift a few pins might make a difference for you

Pressing Donrsquot you love when your seams lay flat and your block is crisp

and square Proper pressing techniques can help you achieve just

that Pressing is using the weight of the iron and its heat to re-

move wrinkles and flatten seams Ironing is moving the iron back

and forth Pressing is lifting the iron up and down Pressing is for

quilters

Pressing technique is a matter of preference Some quilters

9

Sew You Want to be a Quilter

press seams to the side some press seams open Pressing to the side has been the standard for

many years but pressing open is gaining in popularity Itrsquos nice how flat the pieces lay and

piecing is more accurate with seams pressed open There is an interesting article by Mabry

Benson about pressing seams open at httpwwwstrawcomequilterslibrarytechniques

SeamsOpenhtml You might find it enlightening You need to decide what works best for you

Yoursquoll also need to decide if you want to use steam Steam can cause blocks or units to distort

If you need a little help with a stubborn seam you can use a tiny spritz of water or Best Press

Best press is a starch alternative and it works without the gunkiness of starch You can find

Best Press at most local quilt shops

Pressing routine

1 Set seams before you press them open This helps rsquosetrsquo the

threads into the fabric and will ensure that extra fabric doesnrsquot get

caught up in the seam Put your sewn unit flat on your ironing board

as you sewed it Lower your iron for a few seconds and set the

seam You might find when pressing to the side that setting the

seam helps the seam allowance flip more easily and results in a flat-

ter seam

2 Open the

unit right

sides down

and do a

quick finger

press to open

the seam and

then use your iron to press it flat lifting and lowering the iron not sliding back and forth

3 For long seams use your fingers to open the seam and work the iron down the length of the

seam pressing as you go

4 Then flip the unit over to press again from the right side A couple of touches of the iron

will give a nice flat seam

Proper pressing can give you units and blocks that lay flat and are not distorted This can make

your quilt come together accurately and with less stress for you

A Good Match Yoursquove prepped your fabric your pieces are cut and yoursquore piecing away You have your units

sewn and now itrsquos time to start putting things together In most quilts yoursquore probably going to

have to join units and match some seams Itrsquos not as difficult as it

looks to achieve

How you join units will depend on how you decide to press your

seams Here are demonstrations methods for both As you gain expe-

rience with joining units you may be able forget the pins Then you

may tend to use a pin or two especially if you want a perfect match

That said try not to focus on perfection it can be paralyzing in

9

Sew You Want to be a Quilter

press seams to the side some press seams open Pressing to the side has been the standard for

many years but pressing open is gaining in popularity Itrsquos nice how flat the pieces lay and

piecing is more accurate with seams pressed open There is an interesting article by Mabry

Benson about pressing seams open at httpwwwstrawcomequilterslibrarytechniques

SeamsOpenhtml You might find it enlightening You need to decide what works best for you

Yoursquoll also need to decide if you want to use steam Steam can cause blocks or units to distort

If you need a little help with a stubborn seam you can use a tiny spritz of water or Best Press

Best press is a starch alternative and it works without the gunkiness of starch You can find

Best Press at most local quilt shops

Pressing routine

1 Set seams before you press them open This helps rsquosetrsquo the

threads into the fabric and will ensure that extra fabric doesnrsquot get

caught up in the seam Put your sewn unit flat on your ironing board

as you sewed it Lower your iron for a few seconds and set the

seam You might find when pressing to the side that setting the

seam helps the seam allowance flip more easily and results in a flat-

ter seam

2 Open the

unit right

sides down

and do a

quick finger

press to open

the seam and

then use your iron to press it flat lifting and lowering the iron not sliding back and forth

3 For long seams use your fingers to open the seam and work the iron down the length of the

seam pressing as you go

4 Then flip the unit over to press again from the right side A couple of touches of the iron

will give a nice flat seam

Proper pressing can give you units and blocks that lay flat and are not distorted This can make

your quilt come together accurately and with less stress for you

A Good Match Yoursquove prepped your fabric your pieces are cut and yoursquore piecing away You have your units

sewn and now itrsquos time to start putting things together In most quilts yoursquore probably going to

have to join units and match some seams Itrsquos not as difficult as it

looks to achieve

How you join units will depend on how you decide to press your

seams Here are demonstrations methods for both As you gain expe-

rience with joining units you may be able forget the pins Then you

may tend to use a pin or two especially if you want a perfect match

That said try not to focus on perfection it can be paralyzing in

10

Sew You Want to be a Quilter

quilting A smidge off here and there wonrsquot affect the beauty or utility of your quilt A very ex-

perienced quilter said ldquoget my nose out of the quiltrdquo Stand back and look at your work Yoursquoll

be surprised how small imperfections disappear and the beauty emerges (Irsquom trying to let go of

my perfectionist tendencies)

Joining With Side Pressed Seams If you press your seams to the side when you join units at seams yoursquoll want the seams laying

in opposite directions so you can nest the seams together Pressing to

the side creates a tiny ridge Nesting seams takes advantage of those

ridges by butting them against each other Opposing seams will also

help distribute the bulk of the seam

With both methods I pin the side of the seam allowance that the needle

will reach last This keeps the intersection from shifting allows me to

sew up to the center of the seam remove the pin and continue sewing

DO NOT sew over pins You could damage your machine dull your

needle or hurt yourself

If you press to one side you will need to be aware of which direction you are pressing your

seams as you assemble your quilt so that nesting is possible Most quilt patterns will give you

instructions for which direction to press

Joining With Seams Pressed Open If you press your seams open joining is a little different You wonrsquot

have ridges to butt against each other When matching seams that

have been pressed open align them on top of each other right sides

together

Some quilters stab a pin through the center

of the seam in the top piece and through to

the bottom piece to align You can simply

wiggle them together with your fingers

Again pin on the side that the needle will reach last You might find

thatrsquos enough to keep the seams aligned and get accurate matches

You may want to pin more or less

When joining sections of a quilt that contain multiple seams to match you will probably pin

more You can pin at each seam match and then again halfway between seam intersections

You will find your own way to keep your edges aligned and give you accurate seam matching

Herersquos what the matched units look like either with seams

pressed open or seams pressed to the side

11

Sew You Want to be a Quilter

Quick Piecing

There are a few techniques to share that will speed up your piecing These two techniques can

be used in many quilt patterns The first is strip piecing

Strip Piecing Strip piecing involves joining two or more strips of fabric and then cut-

ting smaller units from those joined strips The center sections of the

lsquoSnippetsrsquo quilt pictured below were strip pieced using 22rdquo long 1rdquo wide

strips

When strip piecing do your best to keep your edges aligned and use that

scant frac14rdquo seam Pin if you need to

One problem that sometimes occurs when sewing strips is that multiple

strips sewn together will tend to curve and form an arc and not lay flat

There are a couple of ways to pre-

vent this If you have many strips to

join sew them in pairs first press your seams then join

those units and continue joining units until you have all

the strip sets joined Irsquove also found when joining multi-

ple strips sewing from the top down on the first set and

then sewing from the bottom up on the second set will

help keep the strip set straight and flat

When your strips are joined you can line up the bottom

edge with a horizontal line on your cutting mat and sub-cut units whatever size you need Look

at all the units that were made from one strip set made up of two joined strips

Chain Piecing Another method that you can use to speed up your piecing is chain piecing

The pairs of squares below are candidates for chain piecing

Chain piecing involves stitching similar units one after the other without clip-

ping the threads between the units

You can stack your units to be chain pieced with the edge to be sewn to the

right Lay them beside your machine so you can pick

them up and move them to the machine in an orderly manner This

helps make sure that yoursquore sewing the correct side

Stitch the first unit as usual and stop with your needle down at the end

of the unit Without lifting the presser foot feed the

second unit under the presser foot without clipping the threads Continue

feeding and sewing all of your units Clip your final threads and the units will

be connected in a long chain that you can carry over to your ironing board

Clip the thread between the units and press

12

Sew You Want to be a Quilter

Chain piecing saves time and thread and can also help you keep units in the correct sewing or-

der To save even more time you can chain piece your strip sets Yoursquoll have a quilt in no time

13

Sew You Want to be a Quilter

Quilt sandwich

The quilt ldquosandwichrdquo consists of the backing batting and the pieced top Layer these 3

together baste then quilt them

BACKING

Plan on making the backing a minimum of 8Prime longer and wider than the quilt top Piece if

necessary Trim the selvages before you piece to the desired size

To economize piece the back from any leftover quilting fabrics or blocks in your collection

BATTING

The type of batting to use is a personal decision consult your local quilt shop Cut batting

approximately 8˝ longer and wider than your quilt top Note that your batting choice will affect

how much quilting is necessary for the quilt Check the manufacturerrsquos instructions to see how

far apart the quilting lines can be

LAYERING

Spread the backing wrong side up and tape the edges down with masking tape (If you are

working on carpet you can use T-pins to secure the backing to the carpet) Center the batting on

top smoothing out any folds Place the quilt top right side up on top of the batting and backing

making sure it is centered

BASTING

Basting keeps the quilt ldquosandwichrdquo layers from shifting while you are quilting

If you plan to machine quilt pin baste the quilt layers together with safety pins placed 3Primendash4Prime

apart Begin basting in the center and move toward the edges first in vertical then horizontal

rows Try not to pin directly on the intended quilting lines

If you plan to hand quilt baste the layers together with thread using a long needle and light-

colored thread Knot one end of the thread Using stitches approximately the length of the

needle begin in the center and move out toward the edges in vertical and horizontal rows

approximately 4Prime apart Add 2 diagonal rows of basting

QUILTING

Quilting whether by hand or machine enhances the pieced or appliqueacuted design of the quilt

You may choose to quilt in-the-ditch echo the pieced or appliqueacute motifs use patterns from

quilting design books and stencils or do your own free-motion quilting Remember to check

your batting manufacturerrsquos recommendations for how close the quilting lines must be

14

Sew You Want to be a Quilter

Quilting ndash straight lines and free motion

Straight Line Quilting - Can be parallel lines or

random lines quilted straight

Cross hatching - Can be parallel lines or random

lines quilted straight

Stitch in the Ditch - Stitching directly in the

seams of a quilt

Free Motion Quilting - Machine quilting done

with the feed dogs down so the quilt can be

moved any direction under the needle

Contour Quilting - Quilting parallel to quilt

seams

Echo Quilting - Echoing a shape or appliqueacute in a

quilt (echoed zig zags below)

Stippling or Meandering - Is a single meandering

stitch that never crosses itself

What is Free Motion Stitching and why would I

ever want to do it Free motion stitching gives you total control over

the direction and stitch length of your sewing

Normally when you sew your sewing machine

takes care of all of these things When you push

down on your foot pedal activating the motor of

your machine the feed dogs under your presser

foot move in perfect timing with the movement of

your presser foot bobbin amp needle creating the

stitches in your fabric Arenrsquot sewing machines

wonderful

Free motion sewing involves lowering your

machinersquos feed dogs and releasing the pressure on

your presser foothellip Once you have done this itrsquos

now up to you to move the fabric while gauging

the speed of your machinersquos motor to perfectly

time the creation of your stitcheshellip Sounds tricky

It is definitely a learned skill and one that requires

patience and perseverance to perfect but it isnrsquot

rocket science and anyone can do this with

practice

Machine Quilting

11

Sew You Want to be a Quilter

Quick Piecing

There are a few techniques to share that will speed up your piecing These two techniques can

be used in many quilt patterns The first is strip piecing

Strip Piecing Strip piecing involves joining two or more strips of fabric and then cut-

ting smaller units from those joined strips The center sections of the

lsquoSnippetsrsquo quilt pictured below were strip pieced using 22rdquo long 1rdquo wide

strips

When strip piecing do your best to keep your edges aligned and use that

scant frac14rdquo seam Pin if you need to

One problem that sometimes occurs when sewing strips is that multiple

strips sewn together will tend to curve and form an arc and not lay flat

There are a couple of ways to pre-

vent this If you have many strips to

join sew them in pairs first press your seams then join

those units and continue joining units until you have all

the strip sets joined Irsquove also found when joining multi-

ple strips sewing from the top down on the first set and

then sewing from the bottom up on the second set will

help keep the strip set straight and flat

When your strips are joined you can line up the bottom

edge with a horizontal line on your cutting mat and sub-cut units whatever size you need Look

at all the units that were made from one strip set made up of two joined strips

Chain Piecing Another method that you can use to speed up your piecing is chain piecing

The pairs of squares below are candidates for chain piecing

Chain piecing involves stitching similar units one after the other without clip-

ping the threads between the units

You can stack your units to be chain pieced with the edge to be sewn to the

right Lay them beside your machine so you can pick

them up and move them to the machine in an orderly manner This

helps make sure that yoursquore sewing the correct side

Stitch the first unit as usual and stop with your needle down at the end

of the unit Without lifting the presser foot feed the

second unit under the presser foot without clipping the threads Continue

feeding and sewing all of your units Clip your final threads and the units will

be connected in a long chain that you can carry over to your ironing board

Clip the thread between the units and press

12

Sew You Want to be a Quilter

Chain piecing saves time and thread and can also help you keep units in the correct sewing or-

der To save even more time you can chain piece your strip sets Yoursquoll have a quilt in no time

13

Sew You Want to be a Quilter

Quilt sandwich

The quilt ldquosandwichrdquo consists of the backing batting and the pieced top Layer these 3

together baste then quilt them

BACKING

Plan on making the backing a minimum of 8Prime longer and wider than the quilt top Piece if

necessary Trim the selvages before you piece to the desired size

To economize piece the back from any leftover quilting fabrics or blocks in your collection

BATTING

The type of batting to use is a personal decision consult your local quilt shop Cut batting

approximately 8˝ longer and wider than your quilt top Note that your batting choice will affect

how much quilting is necessary for the quilt Check the manufacturerrsquos instructions to see how

far apart the quilting lines can be

LAYERING

Spread the backing wrong side up and tape the edges down with masking tape (If you are

working on carpet you can use T-pins to secure the backing to the carpet) Center the batting on

top smoothing out any folds Place the quilt top right side up on top of the batting and backing

making sure it is centered

BASTING

Basting keeps the quilt ldquosandwichrdquo layers from shifting while you are quilting

If you plan to machine quilt pin baste the quilt layers together with safety pins placed 3Primendash4Prime

apart Begin basting in the center and move toward the edges first in vertical then horizontal

rows Try not to pin directly on the intended quilting lines

If you plan to hand quilt baste the layers together with thread using a long needle and light-

colored thread Knot one end of the thread Using stitches approximately the length of the

needle begin in the center and move out toward the edges in vertical and horizontal rows

approximately 4Prime apart Add 2 diagonal rows of basting

QUILTING

Quilting whether by hand or machine enhances the pieced or appliqueacuted design of the quilt

You may choose to quilt in-the-ditch echo the pieced or appliqueacute motifs use patterns from

quilting design books and stencils or do your own free-motion quilting Remember to check

your batting manufacturerrsquos recommendations for how close the quilting lines must be

14

Sew You Want to be a Quilter

Quilting ndash straight lines and free motion

Straight Line Quilting - Can be parallel lines or

random lines quilted straight

Cross hatching - Can be parallel lines or random

lines quilted straight

Stitch in the Ditch - Stitching directly in the

seams of a quilt

Free Motion Quilting - Machine quilting done

with the feed dogs down so the quilt can be

moved any direction under the needle

Contour Quilting - Quilting parallel to quilt

seams

Echo Quilting - Echoing a shape or appliqueacute in a

quilt (echoed zig zags below)

Stippling or Meandering - Is a single meandering

stitch that never crosses itself

What is Free Motion Stitching and why would I

ever want to do it Free motion stitching gives you total control over

the direction and stitch length of your sewing

Normally when you sew your sewing machine

takes care of all of these things When you push

down on your foot pedal activating the motor of

your machine the feed dogs under your presser

foot move in perfect timing with the movement of

your presser foot bobbin amp needle creating the

stitches in your fabric Arenrsquot sewing machines

wonderful

Free motion sewing involves lowering your

machinersquos feed dogs and releasing the pressure on

your presser foothellip Once you have done this itrsquos

now up to you to move the fabric while gauging

the speed of your machinersquos motor to perfectly

time the creation of your stitcheshellip Sounds tricky

It is definitely a learned skill and one that requires

patience and perseverance to perfect but it isnrsquot

rocket science and anyone can do this with

practice

Machine Quilting

12

Sew You Want to be a Quilter

Chain piecing saves time and thread and can also help you keep units in the correct sewing or-

der To save even more time you can chain piece your strip sets Yoursquoll have a quilt in no time

13

Sew You Want to be a Quilter

Quilt sandwich

The quilt ldquosandwichrdquo consists of the backing batting and the pieced top Layer these 3

together baste then quilt them

BACKING

Plan on making the backing a minimum of 8Prime longer and wider than the quilt top Piece if

necessary Trim the selvages before you piece to the desired size

To economize piece the back from any leftover quilting fabrics or blocks in your collection

BATTING

The type of batting to use is a personal decision consult your local quilt shop Cut batting

approximately 8˝ longer and wider than your quilt top Note that your batting choice will affect

how much quilting is necessary for the quilt Check the manufacturerrsquos instructions to see how

far apart the quilting lines can be

LAYERING

Spread the backing wrong side up and tape the edges down with masking tape (If you are

working on carpet you can use T-pins to secure the backing to the carpet) Center the batting on

top smoothing out any folds Place the quilt top right side up on top of the batting and backing

making sure it is centered

BASTING

Basting keeps the quilt ldquosandwichrdquo layers from shifting while you are quilting

If you plan to machine quilt pin baste the quilt layers together with safety pins placed 3Primendash4Prime

apart Begin basting in the center and move toward the edges first in vertical then horizontal

rows Try not to pin directly on the intended quilting lines

If you plan to hand quilt baste the layers together with thread using a long needle and light-

colored thread Knot one end of the thread Using stitches approximately the length of the

needle begin in the center and move out toward the edges in vertical and horizontal rows

approximately 4Prime apart Add 2 diagonal rows of basting

QUILTING

Quilting whether by hand or machine enhances the pieced or appliqueacuted design of the quilt

You may choose to quilt in-the-ditch echo the pieced or appliqueacute motifs use patterns from

quilting design books and stencils or do your own free-motion quilting Remember to check

your batting manufacturerrsquos recommendations for how close the quilting lines must be

14

Sew You Want to be a Quilter

Quilting ndash straight lines and free motion

Straight Line Quilting - Can be parallel lines or

random lines quilted straight

Cross hatching - Can be parallel lines or random

lines quilted straight

Stitch in the Ditch - Stitching directly in the

seams of a quilt

Free Motion Quilting - Machine quilting done

with the feed dogs down so the quilt can be

moved any direction under the needle

Contour Quilting - Quilting parallel to quilt

seams

Echo Quilting - Echoing a shape or appliqueacute in a

quilt (echoed zig zags below)

Stippling or Meandering - Is a single meandering

stitch that never crosses itself

What is Free Motion Stitching and why would I

ever want to do it Free motion stitching gives you total control over

the direction and stitch length of your sewing

Normally when you sew your sewing machine

takes care of all of these things When you push

down on your foot pedal activating the motor of

your machine the feed dogs under your presser

foot move in perfect timing with the movement of

your presser foot bobbin amp needle creating the

stitches in your fabric Arenrsquot sewing machines

wonderful

Free motion sewing involves lowering your

machinersquos feed dogs and releasing the pressure on

your presser foothellip Once you have done this itrsquos

now up to you to move the fabric while gauging

the speed of your machinersquos motor to perfectly

time the creation of your stitcheshellip Sounds tricky

It is definitely a learned skill and one that requires

patience and perseverance to perfect but it isnrsquot

rocket science and anyone can do this with

practice

Machine Quilting

13

Sew You Want to be a Quilter

Quilt sandwich

The quilt ldquosandwichrdquo consists of the backing batting and the pieced top Layer these 3

together baste then quilt them

BACKING

Plan on making the backing a minimum of 8Prime longer and wider than the quilt top Piece if

necessary Trim the selvages before you piece to the desired size

To economize piece the back from any leftover quilting fabrics or blocks in your collection

BATTING

The type of batting to use is a personal decision consult your local quilt shop Cut batting

approximately 8˝ longer and wider than your quilt top Note that your batting choice will affect

how much quilting is necessary for the quilt Check the manufacturerrsquos instructions to see how

far apart the quilting lines can be

LAYERING

Spread the backing wrong side up and tape the edges down with masking tape (If you are

working on carpet you can use T-pins to secure the backing to the carpet) Center the batting on

top smoothing out any folds Place the quilt top right side up on top of the batting and backing

making sure it is centered

BASTING

Basting keeps the quilt ldquosandwichrdquo layers from shifting while you are quilting

If you plan to machine quilt pin baste the quilt layers together with safety pins placed 3Primendash4Prime

apart Begin basting in the center and move toward the edges first in vertical then horizontal

rows Try not to pin directly on the intended quilting lines

If you plan to hand quilt baste the layers together with thread using a long needle and light-

colored thread Knot one end of the thread Using stitches approximately the length of the

needle begin in the center and move out toward the edges in vertical and horizontal rows

approximately 4Prime apart Add 2 diagonal rows of basting

QUILTING

Quilting whether by hand or machine enhances the pieced or appliqueacuted design of the quilt

You may choose to quilt in-the-ditch echo the pieced or appliqueacute motifs use patterns from

quilting design books and stencils or do your own free-motion quilting Remember to check

your batting manufacturerrsquos recommendations for how close the quilting lines must be

14

Sew You Want to be a Quilter

Quilting ndash straight lines and free motion

Straight Line Quilting - Can be parallel lines or

random lines quilted straight

Cross hatching - Can be parallel lines or random

lines quilted straight

Stitch in the Ditch - Stitching directly in the

seams of a quilt

Free Motion Quilting - Machine quilting done

with the feed dogs down so the quilt can be

moved any direction under the needle

Contour Quilting - Quilting parallel to quilt

seams

Echo Quilting - Echoing a shape or appliqueacute in a

quilt (echoed zig zags below)

Stippling or Meandering - Is a single meandering

stitch that never crosses itself

What is Free Motion Stitching and why would I

ever want to do it Free motion stitching gives you total control over

the direction and stitch length of your sewing

Normally when you sew your sewing machine

takes care of all of these things When you push

down on your foot pedal activating the motor of

your machine the feed dogs under your presser

foot move in perfect timing with the movement of

your presser foot bobbin amp needle creating the

stitches in your fabric Arenrsquot sewing machines

wonderful

Free motion sewing involves lowering your

machinersquos feed dogs and releasing the pressure on

your presser foothellip Once you have done this itrsquos

now up to you to move the fabric while gauging

the speed of your machinersquos motor to perfectly

time the creation of your stitcheshellip Sounds tricky

It is definitely a learned skill and one that requires

patience and perseverance to perfect but it isnrsquot

rocket science and anyone can do this with

practice

Machine Quilting

14

Sew You Want to be a Quilter

Quilting ndash straight lines and free motion

Straight Line Quilting - Can be parallel lines or

random lines quilted straight

Cross hatching - Can be parallel lines or random

lines quilted straight

Stitch in the Ditch - Stitching directly in the

seams of a quilt

Free Motion Quilting - Machine quilting done

with the feed dogs down so the quilt can be

moved any direction under the needle

Contour Quilting - Quilting parallel to quilt

seams

Echo Quilting - Echoing a shape or appliqueacute in a

quilt (echoed zig zags below)

Stippling or Meandering - Is a single meandering

stitch that never crosses itself

What is Free Motion Stitching and why would I

ever want to do it Free motion stitching gives you total control over

the direction and stitch length of your sewing

Normally when you sew your sewing machine

takes care of all of these things When you push

down on your foot pedal activating the motor of

your machine the feed dogs under your presser

foot move in perfect timing with the movement of

your presser foot bobbin amp needle creating the

stitches in your fabric Arenrsquot sewing machines

wonderful

Free motion sewing involves lowering your

machinersquos feed dogs and releasing the pressure on

your presser foothellip Once you have done this itrsquos

now up to you to move the fabric while gauging

the speed of your machinersquos motor to perfectly

time the creation of your stitcheshellip Sounds tricky

It is definitely a learned skill and one that requires

patience and perseverance to perfect but it isnrsquot

rocket science and anyone can do this with

practice

Machine Quilting

15

Sew You Want to be a Quilter

Free motion stitching is used to create the beautiful swirls and curls and

any other number of designs that you may like to use to quilt your

quilt Free motion sewing allows you to move your project in any

direction you desire to create whatever design you desire Sounds

fantastic doesnrsquot it It can also be used to finish the edges of appliqueacute

which can provide the freedom to create any design you dream up

There are a few features that will make the process of Free Motion

Stitching a whole lot easier should you want to give this technique a

whorlhellip Here are a few

Lowering Feed-Dogs This is enables you to disengage your feed-dogs

which stops the machine from

grabbing hold of the underside of your project in an

attempt to feed it under the presser foot If your machine

doesnrsquot have this feature then you are able to cover your

feed-dogs with a platehellip However I would guess that if

your machine doesnrsquot have this feature it would be

unlikely to have many (if any) of the other features that

make this process more pleasurable

There are people who donrsquot lower their feed dogs when

they quilt I have on occasions spent time sewing away

only to find that I havenrsquot lowered my feed-dogs My

stitches are fine and no one would probably ever be able to tellhellip However I find that the drag

created by the feed-dogs makes it harder to make my project move smoothly under my

machine

Needle Down This feature enables you to program your sewing machine to stop with itrsquos

needle down This is a particularly desirable feature because it means that your project doesnrsquot

move around while you reposition your hands readjust your quilt or take a sip of your cup of

tea

Again this isnrsquot essential If you are particularly careful you can try and time your stopping to

coincide with the needle being in the down position Alternatively you just need to make sure

that you hold your project still while you lower the needle with your

other hand

Hands-Free Needle Down This is a terrific feature that allows you to

raise amp lower your needle using your foot pedal This allows you to

keep your hands on your project the entire time When you need to

raise or lower your needle you only need to give your foot pedal a little

tap

Knee Lift This is a great feature It can take some getting used to but

you might not want to be without one of these When using a knee-lift

your presser foot is controlled by your knee This is perfect for free

motion stitching because you never have to lift your hand while you are sewing a project ndash

giving you more control and you will be more likely to create better shapes

DarningFree Motion Foot There are many different looks to these feet In addition to this

there are many different styles for each different brand of sewing machine The best advice to

16

Sew You Want to be a Quilter

you when you are looking at purchasing one of these feet Make

sure that you can see your work clearly around it Many brands

also have a lot of mechanics around this area and it can make it

virtually impossible to see behind the foot so look out for this if

you a buying a new machine

Foot 1 looks like it would be easy to work with however you

might find that the clear plastic actually distorts the view of

your project beneath it making it very hard to sew precise and

intricate patterns or around the edges of shapes You can get a

foot similar to this one with the center part between the two red

lines removed which corrects this issue

Foot 2 is particularly difficult to work with The metal foot

obscures your vision and the mechanics behind it are right in

your field of view

Foot 3 isnrsquot a bad one as it has a clear field of vision behind

the foot and the front of the foot is open You might find that

the clear plastic is not as easy to work with as the next

examplehellip

Foot 4 not only allows you to see your needle it also allows

you to see the stitches around it and your project behind the

presser foot Itrsquos amazing how much of a difference being able

to see your work makes

Foot 1

Foot 2

Foot 3

Foot 4

Extension Table (or a cabinet capable of lowering your

machine into) Being able to work on a large flat surface

really helps to make your free motion stitching lines and

shapes smoother and more consistent

Many machines have optional extension tables or even better

if you have a sewing table that your machine can lower into

you will be amazed at how this alone improves your

techniquehellip It also helps a lot with your posture

If you do give this technique a try make sure you are kind to

your machine Free Motion Stitching can be hard work for a

domestic sewing machine Clean

out the areas around your bobbin

case and under the foot plate

regularly Oil your machine

regularly Change your sewing

machine needles regularlyndash They

donrsquot last any longer than around

5 hours of sewing

17

Sew You Want to be a Quilter

Machine Quilt Binding Tutorial

Bind a quilt completely by machine and have it look like it was done by hand

Use for wall hangings baby quilts hot pads and any item you are not having judged or want to

hold up to lots of washings This method is so fast you can bind the quilt in no time

1 Once your quilt top is quilted stitch around the perimeter 18rdquo from the edge if you have not

already done so to hold all the layers together

3 Join the strips by mitering the

adjoining edges trim to frac14rsquo and press

seams open

2 Cut (2 frac14rdquo) strips of binding fabric

so you have enough to go around your

quilt plus 10rdquo

Step 3 Step 3 Step 3

4 Press long raw edges of binding

strip wrong sides together

5 Optional Wrap binding on an empty thread

spool and place on your extra sewing machine

spindle

16

Sew You Want to be a Quilter

you when you are looking at purchasing one of these feet Make

sure that you can see your work clearly around it Many brands

also have a lot of mechanics around this area and it can make it

virtually impossible to see behind the foot so look out for this if

you a buying a new machine

Foot 1 looks like it would be easy to work with however you

might find that the clear plastic actually distorts the view of

your project beneath it making it very hard to sew precise and

intricate patterns or around the edges of shapes You can get a

foot similar to this one with the center part between the two red

lines removed which corrects this issue

Foot 2 is particularly difficult to work with The metal foot

obscures your vision and the mechanics behind it are right in

your field of view

Foot 3 isnrsquot a bad one as it has a clear field of vision behind

the foot and the front of the foot is open You might find that

the clear plastic is not as easy to work with as the next

examplehellip

Foot 4 not only allows you to see your needle it also allows

you to see the stitches around it and your project behind the

presser foot Itrsquos amazing how much of a difference being able

to see your work makes

Foot 1

Foot 2

Foot 3

Foot 4

Extension Table (or a cabinet capable of lowering your

machine into) Being able to work on a large flat surface

really helps to make your free motion stitching lines and

shapes smoother and more consistent

Many machines have optional extension tables or even better

if you have a sewing table that your machine can lower into

you will be amazed at how this alone improves your

techniquehellip It also helps a lot with your posture

If you do give this technique a try make sure you are kind to

your machine Free Motion Stitching can be hard work for a

domestic sewing machine Clean

out the areas around your bobbin

case and under the foot plate

regularly Oil your machine

regularly Change your sewing

machine needles regularlyndash They

donrsquot last any longer than around

5 hours of sewing

17

Sew You Want to be a Quilter

Machine Quilt Binding Tutorial

Bind a quilt completely by machine and have it look like it was done by hand

Use for wall hangings baby quilts hot pads and any item you are not having judged or want to

hold up to lots of washings This method is so fast you can bind the quilt in no time

1 Once your quilt top is quilted stitch around the perimeter 18rdquo from the edge if you have not

already done so to hold all the layers together

3 Join the strips by mitering the

adjoining edges trim to frac14rsquo and press

seams open

2 Cut (2 frac14rdquo) strips of binding fabric

so you have enough to go around your

quilt plus 10rdquo

Step 3 Step 3 Step 3

4 Press long raw edges of binding

strip wrong sides together

5 Optional Wrap binding on an empty thread

spool and place on your extra sewing machine

spindle

17

Sew You Want to be a Quilter

Machine Quilt Binding Tutorial

Bind a quilt completely by machine and have it look like it was done by hand

Use for wall hangings baby quilts hot pads and any item you are not having judged or want to

hold up to lots of washings This method is so fast you can bind the quilt in no time

1 Once your quilt top is quilted stitch around the perimeter 18rdquo from the edge if you have not

already done so to hold all the layers together

3 Join the strips by mitering the

adjoining edges trim to frac14rsquo and press

seams open

2 Cut (2 frac14rdquo) strips of binding fabric

so you have enough to go around your

quilt plus 10rdquo

Step 3 Step 3 Step 3

4 Press long raw edges of binding

strip wrong sides together

5 Optional Wrap binding on an empty thread

spool and place on your extra sewing machine

spindle

18

Sew You Want to be a Quilter

6 Leaving a 5rdquo tail and starting on the bottom

middle of top of your quilt stitch binding to

quilt using frac14rdquo seam allowance

7 Stop frac14rdquo before you get to the

corner and sew off the edge of you

quilt at a 45 degree angle

8 Next fold the binding up forming a 90

degree angle and then fold it down so the fold

is even with the edge you just finished

sewing

9 When nearing the

fourth side where you

started stop sewing 5rdquo

before you meet where

you started adding the

binding

10 Overlap by the total

width of the binding in

this example 2 frac14rdquo and

trim the two overlapped

binding strips at 90

degree angle

11 Line up the two ends of the binding at a 90 degree angle and draw a 90 degree line on the top one Stitch along

this line trim seam allowance to frac14rdquo and finger press seam open

19

Sew You Want to be a Quilter

12 Check to ensure the binding length matches the

quilt and stitch the remainder of the binding down

Trim the batting and backing to match the raw edge of

the binding and the quilt front

13 If necessary change your presser foot and

set your machine for a small zigzag For my

machine it is 30 setting for the width and 20

setting for the length

15 Next fold the binding around from the

front to the back and match the folded edge of

the binding with the stitch line on the back of

the quilt where you attached the binding on the

front

14 Lay your quilt on your machine table with the back side up

16 Place the right side this fold directly centered under your

presser foot and start sewing right where the angle of the

binding meets the fold of the quilt back

17 Slowly hold everything in place and zigzag so when the

needle goes left it catches that layer of binding and quilt back

and when it goes right it goes off the edge completely

18 You will want to catch the very edge of binding AND the

very edge of the backing of the quilt right inside the stitching

line where you attached the binding EVERY time you zig to

the left

19 You will not want the needle to go through any fabric

when you zag to the right

20 Sew until you get to the corner and either backstitch or tie

off the threads

20

Sew You Want to be a Quilter

24 This is the wrong side of the quilt after stitching

with the binding unfolded

23 This is the wrong side of the quilt after stitching

and the binding is still folded back

21 Continue on with the other three sides

22 Tack the corners of the binding on the back of

the quilt

25 Ta-dahellip This is the close up of the right side of

the quilt with the binding ALL SEWN BY

MACHINE

21

Sew You Want to be a Quilter

Hand-Stitching the Binding to the Back

by Ann Johnson

What supplies do I need

You only need a needle and thread but most quilters have their favorite gadgets to make the

process more comfortable

Hand-Sewing Needle Appliqueacute sharps and milliners needles are the most popular Short

needles such as betweens used for hand-quilting work less well for sewing on binding Some

needles have larger eyes to facilitate threading

Needle Threader Thread Thread color is important hand-sewing stitches for binding ideally are almost

invisible Most quilters try to match the thread to the binding (some say to match the backing)

100 silk thread is sometimes used on wall hangings and art quilts

Thimble I am amazed how few of my quilting friends use thimbles My Grandma Willie Ann

who taught me to sew as a child insisted I use one and I always have There are a wide variety

of thimble styles I prefer a fingernail-friendly open-sided thimble which accommodates a

longer nail

Binding Clips Using clips to hold the binding in place as you sew is optional Metal hair

clips have been used

Thread Wax Many quilters like to draw their thread through blocks or discs of thread wax

to keep the thread from tangling back on itself and twisting Good Lighting Adequate lighting helps you see what you are doing and prevents eye strain

Many quilters enjoy the realistic color of a broad-spectrum day-light lamp which also gives

off less heat than an incandescent light bulb

How do I start

Press the binding on the front toward the edge to flatten the binding before folding it back

Clean up the raw edges by trimming any extra threads or uneven areas

Thread the needle Due to the way thread is wound on the spool the end you pull off is the

one you thread through the needle The end closest to the spool is the end you tie Doubling the

thread adds strength but stitches may be more visible the need for durability versus the desire

for invisibility of stitches for your project will help you decide Whether single or doubled

limit your total length of thread to about 18 longer threads tend to tangle knot and fray If you

use a single fine thread making one simple knot at the eye of the needle will keep the needle

from unthreading it will still go through the fabric

Tie a knot in the end of the thread The Connecting Threads video tutorial Hand Appliqueacute

Stitch has a demonstration of the quilters knot Very useful

Start somewhere on a side and turn the binding to the back being sure to cover the machine

stitching Take a stitch through the layers on the edge and bury the knot inside the binding

19

Sew You Want to be a Quilter

12 Check to ensure the binding length matches the

quilt and stitch the remainder of the binding down

Trim the batting and backing to match the raw edge of

the binding and the quilt front

13 If necessary change your presser foot and

set your machine for a small zigzag For my

machine it is 30 setting for the width and 20

setting for the length

15 Next fold the binding around from the

front to the back and match the folded edge of

the binding with the stitch line on the back of

the quilt where you attached the binding on the

front

14 Lay your quilt on your machine table with the back side up

16 Place the right side this fold directly centered under your

presser foot and start sewing right where the angle of the

binding meets the fold of the quilt back

17 Slowly hold everything in place and zigzag so when the

needle goes left it catches that layer of binding and quilt back

and when it goes right it goes off the edge completely

18 You will want to catch the very edge of binding AND the

very edge of the backing of the quilt right inside the stitching

line where you attached the binding EVERY time you zig to

the left

19 You will not want the needle to go through any fabric

when you zag to the right

20 Sew until you get to the corner and either backstitch or tie

off the threads

20

Sew You Want to be a Quilter

24 This is the wrong side of the quilt after stitching

with the binding unfolded

23 This is the wrong side of the quilt after stitching

and the binding is still folded back

21 Continue on with the other three sides

22 Tack the corners of the binding on the back of

the quilt

25 Ta-dahellip This is the close up of the right side of

the quilt with the binding ALL SEWN BY

MACHINE

21

Sew You Want to be a Quilter

Hand-Stitching the Binding to the Back

by Ann Johnson

What supplies do I need

You only need a needle and thread but most quilters have their favorite gadgets to make the

process more comfortable

Hand-Sewing Needle Appliqueacute sharps and milliners needles are the most popular Short

needles such as betweens used for hand-quilting work less well for sewing on binding Some

needles have larger eyes to facilitate threading

Needle Threader Thread Thread color is important hand-sewing stitches for binding ideally are almost

invisible Most quilters try to match the thread to the binding (some say to match the backing)

100 silk thread is sometimes used on wall hangings and art quilts

Thimble I am amazed how few of my quilting friends use thimbles My Grandma Willie Ann

who taught me to sew as a child insisted I use one and I always have There are a wide variety

of thimble styles I prefer a fingernail-friendly open-sided thimble which accommodates a

longer nail

Binding Clips Using clips to hold the binding in place as you sew is optional Metal hair

clips have been used

Thread Wax Many quilters like to draw their thread through blocks or discs of thread wax

to keep the thread from tangling back on itself and twisting Good Lighting Adequate lighting helps you see what you are doing and prevents eye strain

Many quilters enjoy the realistic color of a broad-spectrum day-light lamp which also gives

off less heat than an incandescent light bulb

How do I start

Press the binding on the front toward the edge to flatten the binding before folding it back

Clean up the raw edges by trimming any extra threads or uneven areas

Thread the needle Due to the way thread is wound on the spool the end you pull off is the

one you thread through the needle The end closest to the spool is the end you tie Doubling the

thread adds strength but stitches may be more visible the need for durability versus the desire

for invisibility of stitches for your project will help you decide Whether single or doubled

limit your total length of thread to about 18 longer threads tend to tangle knot and fray If you

use a single fine thread making one simple knot at the eye of the needle will keep the needle

from unthreading it will still go through the fabric

Tie a knot in the end of the thread The Connecting Threads video tutorial Hand Appliqueacute

Stitch has a demonstration of the quilters knot Very useful

Start somewhere on a side and turn the binding to the back being sure to cover the machine

stitching Take a stitch through the layers on the edge and bury the knot inside the binding

20

Sew You Want to be a Quilter

24 This is the wrong side of the quilt after stitching

with the binding unfolded

23 This is the wrong side of the quilt after stitching

and the binding is still folded back

21 Continue on with the other three sides

22 Tack the corners of the binding on the back of

the quilt

25 Ta-dahellip This is the close up of the right side of

the quilt with the binding ALL SEWN BY

MACHINE

21

Sew You Want to be a Quilter

Hand-Stitching the Binding to the Back

by Ann Johnson

What supplies do I need

You only need a needle and thread but most quilters have their favorite gadgets to make the

process more comfortable

Hand-Sewing Needle Appliqueacute sharps and milliners needles are the most popular Short

needles such as betweens used for hand-quilting work less well for sewing on binding Some

needles have larger eyes to facilitate threading

Needle Threader Thread Thread color is important hand-sewing stitches for binding ideally are almost

invisible Most quilters try to match the thread to the binding (some say to match the backing)

100 silk thread is sometimes used on wall hangings and art quilts

Thimble I am amazed how few of my quilting friends use thimbles My Grandma Willie Ann

who taught me to sew as a child insisted I use one and I always have There are a wide variety

of thimble styles I prefer a fingernail-friendly open-sided thimble which accommodates a

longer nail

Binding Clips Using clips to hold the binding in place as you sew is optional Metal hair

clips have been used

Thread Wax Many quilters like to draw their thread through blocks or discs of thread wax

to keep the thread from tangling back on itself and twisting Good Lighting Adequate lighting helps you see what you are doing and prevents eye strain

Many quilters enjoy the realistic color of a broad-spectrum day-light lamp which also gives

off less heat than an incandescent light bulb

How do I start

Press the binding on the front toward the edge to flatten the binding before folding it back

Clean up the raw edges by trimming any extra threads or uneven areas

Thread the needle Due to the way thread is wound on the spool the end you pull off is the

one you thread through the needle The end closest to the spool is the end you tie Doubling the

thread adds strength but stitches may be more visible the need for durability versus the desire

for invisibility of stitches for your project will help you decide Whether single or doubled

limit your total length of thread to about 18 longer threads tend to tangle knot and fray If you

use a single fine thread making one simple knot at the eye of the needle will keep the needle

from unthreading it will still go through the fabric

Tie a knot in the end of the thread The Connecting Threads video tutorial Hand Appliqueacute

Stitch has a demonstration of the quilters knot Very useful

Start somewhere on a side and turn the binding to the back being sure to cover the machine

stitching Take a stitch through the layers on the edge and bury the knot inside the binding

21

Sew You Want to be a Quilter

Hand-Stitching the Binding to the Back

by Ann Johnson

What supplies do I need

You only need a needle and thread but most quilters have their favorite gadgets to make the

process more comfortable

Hand-Sewing Needle Appliqueacute sharps and milliners needles are the most popular Short

needles such as betweens used for hand-quilting work less well for sewing on binding Some

needles have larger eyes to facilitate threading

Needle Threader Thread Thread color is important hand-sewing stitches for binding ideally are almost

invisible Most quilters try to match the thread to the binding (some say to match the backing)

100 silk thread is sometimes used on wall hangings and art quilts

Thimble I am amazed how few of my quilting friends use thimbles My Grandma Willie Ann

who taught me to sew as a child insisted I use one and I always have There are a wide variety

of thimble styles I prefer a fingernail-friendly open-sided thimble which accommodates a

longer nail

Binding Clips Using clips to hold the binding in place as you sew is optional Metal hair

clips have been used

Thread Wax Many quilters like to draw their thread through blocks or discs of thread wax

to keep the thread from tangling back on itself and twisting Good Lighting Adequate lighting helps you see what you are doing and prevents eye strain

Many quilters enjoy the realistic color of a broad-spectrum day-light lamp which also gives

off less heat than an incandescent light bulb

How do I start

Press the binding on the front toward the edge to flatten the binding before folding it back

Clean up the raw edges by trimming any extra threads or uneven areas

Thread the needle Due to the way thread is wound on the spool the end you pull off is the

one you thread through the needle The end closest to the spool is the end you tie Doubling the

thread adds strength but stitches may be more visible the need for durability versus the desire

for invisibility of stitches for your project will help you decide Whether single or doubled

limit your total length of thread to about 18 longer threads tend to tangle knot and fray If you

use a single fine thread making one simple knot at the eye of the needle will keep the needle

from unthreading it will still go through the fabric

Tie a knot in the end of the thread The Connecting Threads video tutorial Hand Appliqueacute

Stitch has a demonstration of the quilters knot Very useful

Start somewhere on a side and turn the binding to the back being sure to cover the machine

stitching Take a stitch through the layers on the edge and bury the knot inside the binding

22

Sew You Want to be a Quilter

What stitch do I use for hand-sewing binding

The blind stitch and ladder stitch are the most popular because the stitches can be hidden A

whip stitch shows too much thread on the surface and is very time-consuming

The blind stitch is most common for binding and also used for hand-appliqueacute The needle

comes up through the quilt back takes a small stitch at the edge of the folded binding and

returns to tunnel through the quilt for one stitch length With minimal practice the steps

combine into one stitching motion shown below in the large photo The secret to hidden

stitches is to catch only 2-3 threads with each bite of the binding and to take the stitch slightly

under the edge of the binding fold Evenly-spaced stitches are desirable stitches 18 to 14

apart work well A darker thread is used in the photos for contrast usually the thread and fabric

match The blind stitch is demonstrated in the Connecting Threads video tutorial Hand

Appliqueacute Stitch although it is being shown doing hand appliqueacute and not binding

For the ladderrdquo stitch the needle comes up through quilt back tunnels through the edge of

the folded binding for one stitch length and back into the quilt for one stitch length The

stitches are not visible but the binding may not lay as consistently smooth and the stitch

cannot be easily make in one fluid motion This stitch works well for closing the fold in mitered

corners

Placing a few binding clips (optional) will hold the binding in the folded position they are

removed as you sew It is not necessary to place a large number of them at a time just enough

for the next section ahead

Be careful to not sew through to the front (see OOPS photo) so that your stitch shows it is

easy to do Some quilters prevent this by tunneling through the folded binding edge to the next

stitch instead of the quilt

When you run out of thread or you are finished make a loop and draw your needle through

it to tie a knot at the last stitch tunnel through the quilt edge to bury the thread inside the

binding before cutting thread The quilt can be held away from you or toward you as you bind Most quilters hold the quilt

horizontally and sew right or left (depending on handedness) One left-handed quilter friend I

know holds the binding vertically with the quilt to the left and sews upward Experiment to find

the most natural way of holding the quilt for you

23

Sew You Want to be a Quilter

Every few stitches stop to give a gentle tug to bury the stitches in the binding

When you get a looped knot as you sew pulling on the threads on either side of the knot

will tighten it Put your needle in the loop and tug gently the knot will go away Continue to sew the binding on until you come to a corner

How do I hand-stitch a mitered corner

Sewing a tidy well-made mitered corner is quite satisfying Here are some tips to help you

have successfully mitered corners Judges look closely at binding and mitered corners They

like to see evenly-space stitches well-filled binding and perfectly mitered corners I had a

judge once comment that the diagonal fold of my mitered corner did not line up well with the

seam in my mitered border So much to learn Please keep in mind as you look at the photos

that bright purple thread does not hide well on green fabric the stitches should be tiny and

hidden by taking stitches slightly under the edge of the folded edges

Sew to the corner bringing the last stitch up through the quilt to where the two seams

intersect

A miter forms more easily on front but you will need to shape it on the back Fold the other

side of the binding over the edge and form a 45 degmiter Holding the mitered fold on the back

turn the quilt over to see how it looks on the front The direction of the mitered fold will usually

24

Sew You Want to be a Quilter

go in opposite directions on the front and back Take a tacking stitch to secure this spot

Go up inside the mitered fold on both the back and front to take a tiny tacking stitch to

close the folds A couple of ladder stitches also works very well for this

Bring the needle to the back again coming up at the tacked corner or one stitch over on the

next side to be sewn

25

Sew You Want to be a Quilter

Learn How to Hand Quilt

Yoursquoll need a few special tools to get started Itrsquos important use a hand quilting thread These

threads are often wax coated for strength stability and to prevent tangling (If you choose to

use an uncoated thread you can coat it yourself with quiltersrsquo beeswax) Yoursquoll want to try

using a between needle which are shorter than many other sewing needles The shorter needle

is important for keeping control over the length of your stitches A quilting hoop or frame is

important to keep all three layers of the quilt sandwich from sliding around while you sew

And finally yoursquoll need to choose a thimble They come in a variety of styles including steel

and leather You may want to try several types to what feels most comfortable to you

Before you make your first stitch yoursquoll need to

make a knot at the end of your thread I use a

quilterrsquos knot Start by threading your needle

then laying the last centimeter or two of the

thread on your right index finger with the end

pointing down Pinch your needle on top of it

between your thumb and index finger with the

point facing away from your hand

Holding the end of the thread connected to the

needle in your left hand 2 inches away from the

the pinch and needle wrap it around the needle

going from front to back 3 to 4 times

Then making sure that the end of the thread is on

top of the long tail slide (without releasing your

pinch on the end and wraps) your thumb and

index finger around the wraps and let go of the

thread in your left hand

24

Sew You Want to be a Quilter

go in opposite directions on the front and back Take a tacking stitch to secure this spot

Go up inside the mitered fold on both the back and front to take a tiny tacking stitch to

close the folds A couple of ladder stitches also works very well for this

Bring the needle to the back again coming up at the tacked corner or one stitch over on the

next side to be sewn

25

Sew You Want to be a Quilter

Learn How to Hand Quilt

Yoursquoll need a few special tools to get started Itrsquos important use a hand quilting thread These

threads are often wax coated for strength stability and to prevent tangling (If you choose to

use an uncoated thread you can coat it yourself with quiltersrsquo beeswax) Yoursquoll want to try

using a between needle which are shorter than many other sewing needles The shorter needle

is important for keeping control over the length of your stitches A quilting hoop or frame is

important to keep all three layers of the quilt sandwich from sliding around while you sew

And finally yoursquoll need to choose a thimble They come in a variety of styles including steel

and leather You may want to try several types to what feels most comfortable to you

Before you make your first stitch yoursquoll need to

make a knot at the end of your thread I use a

quilterrsquos knot Start by threading your needle

then laying the last centimeter or two of the

thread on your right index finger with the end

pointing down Pinch your needle on top of it

between your thumb and index finger with the

point facing away from your hand

Holding the end of the thread connected to the

needle in your left hand 2 inches away from the

the pinch and needle wrap it around the needle

going from front to back 3 to 4 times

Then making sure that the end of the thread is on

top of the long tail slide (without releasing your

pinch on the end and wraps) your thumb and

index finger around the wraps and let go of the

thread in your left hand

25

Sew You Want to be a Quilter

Learn How to Hand Quilt

Yoursquoll need a few special tools to get started Itrsquos important use a hand quilting thread These

threads are often wax coated for strength stability and to prevent tangling (If you choose to

use an uncoated thread you can coat it yourself with quiltersrsquo beeswax) Yoursquoll want to try

using a between needle which are shorter than many other sewing needles The shorter needle

is important for keeping control over the length of your stitches A quilting hoop or frame is

important to keep all three layers of the quilt sandwich from sliding around while you sew

And finally yoursquoll need to choose a thimble They come in a variety of styles including steel

and leather You may want to try several types to what feels most comfortable to you

Before you make your first stitch yoursquoll need to

make a knot at the end of your thread I use a

quilterrsquos knot Start by threading your needle

then laying the last centimeter or two of the

thread on your right index finger with the end

pointing down Pinch your needle on top of it

between your thumb and index finger with the

point facing away from your hand

Holding the end of the thread connected to the

needle in your left hand 2 inches away from the

the pinch and needle wrap it around the needle

going from front to back 3 to 4 times

Then making sure that the end of the thread is on

top of the long tail slide (without releasing your

pinch on the end and wraps) your thumb and

index finger around the wraps and let go of the

thread in your left hand

26

Sew You Want to be a Quilter

(For the next steps here is some unconventional steps Traditionally quilters are taught to wear

their thimble on their middle finger while gripping the needle with their thumb and index

finger and then moving the needle with the thimble only You might feel awkward holding the

needle this way so you can wear my thimble on your ring finger and then grip and move the

needle in and out of the fabric with my thumb and middle finger As long as it feels

comfortable you should make modifications for your personal preference)

Start by holding the quilting hoop on the arm you are not sewing with and keeping your hand

under where you will be sewing at Place the needle straight up and down into the quilt

sandwich

Pull the point of the needle with your left hand

and keep the knot to be tight in the pinch until

the entire length of the thread has slid through the

pinch in your right hand Give it a little tug and

you have a quilterrsquos knot

To pop in your thread insert your needle next to

where you want to start quilting and into the

batting Pull the needle up to where yoursquoll be

starting your stitches at and tug at the knot until it

pops into the quilt top The knot should embed

itself into the batting and will secure itself

Yoursquore just about ready to quilt

27

Sew You Want to be a Quilter

Then without pushing the needle all the way

through push up from underneath the quilt with

your thumb and gently rock your needle with

your thimble to pick up a new stitch from the

bottom

When the tip of the needle shows on the top of

the quilt point your needle back to the starting

position of straight up and down and repeat the

previous steps

Once you have 2 to 3 even stitches on your

needle push the needle all the way through the

fabric with your thimble

Continue quilting with controlled even stitches

until you are one stitch from where you would

like to finish

28

Sew You Want to be a Quilter

Source httpwwwsewmamasewcomtagskills-techniquestutorials

Yoursquoll need to make another quilterrsquos knot to end

the line of quilting Start once again by holding

the thread between your finger and needle and

wrap from front to back around the needle 3 to 4

times

Making sure not to twist anything gently slide

the knot down and tighten about frac14 inch from the

last stitch

Finish off by inserting your needle into the quilt

sandwich pop the knot into the center of the

batting and cut the end of the thread Easy peasy

If this seems like a lot to think about just

concentrate one or two things at first Start out by

just working on making your stitches all the same

lengthmdashit will help to make your quilting look

neat and tidy Keep practicing and in no time

yoursquoll be ready to tackle a quilt of your own

27

Sew You Want to be a Quilter

Then without pushing the needle all the way

through push up from underneath the quilt with

your thumb and gently rock your needle with

your thimble to pick up a new stitch from the

bottom

When the tip of the needle shows on the top of

the quilt point your needle back to the starting

position of straight up and down and repeat the

previous steps

Once you have 2 to 3 even stitches on your

needle push the needle all the way through the

fabric with your thimble

Continue quilting with controlled even stitches

until you are one stitch from where you would

like to finish

28

Sew You Want to be a Quilter

Source httpwwwsewmamasewcomtagskills-techniquestutorials

Yoursquoll need to make another quilterrsquos knot to end

the line of quilting Start once again by holding

the thread between your finger and needle and

wrap from front to back around the needle 3 to 4

times

Making sure not to twist anything gently slide

the knot down and tighten about frac14 inch from the

last stitch

Finish off by inserting your needle into the quilt

sandwich pop the knot into the center of the

batting and cut the end of the thread Easy peasy

If this seems like a lot to think about just

concentrate one or two things at first Start out by

just working on making your stitches all the same

lengthmdashit will help to make your quilting look

neat and tidy Keep practicing and in no time

yoursquoll be ready to tackle a quilt of your own

28

Sew You Want to be a Quilter

Source httpwwwsewmamasewcomtagskills-techniquestutorials

Yoursquoll need to make another quilterrsquos knot to end

the line of quilting Start once again by holding

the thread between your finger and needle and

wrap from front to back around the needle 3 to 4

times

Making sure not to twist anything gently slide

the knot down and tighten about frac14 inch from the

last stitch

Finish off by inserting your needle into the quilt

sandwich pop the knot into the center of the

batting and cut the end of the thread Easy peasy

If this seems like a lot to think about just

concentrate one or two things at first Start out by

just working on making your stitches all the same

lengthmdashit will help to make your quilting look

neat and tidy Keep practicing and in no time

yoursquoll be ready to tackle a quilt of your own