A useful art/craft that spans generations, fads, ages and cultures is quilted.It's satisfying to display your labor of love as a bedspread or wall hanging.There are a few things you can do to begin this rewarding activity.
Step 1: Pick the materials you want to work with.
Different fabrics have different properties that affect how they are used.Cotton is the best fabric for hand quilting.
Step 2: You will use the block pattern if you choose it.
The "blocks" are where the Quilts are created.Only the materials for making one block, or one fraction, of the blanket are needed.
Step 3: Iron the fabrics.
Step 4: Cut out your pattern pieces.
You can get a list of needed amounts of fabric from most quilt patterns.
Step 5: You should keep a diagram of your block pattern.
The best order of assembly for the block pieces can be specified by some patterns.
Step 6: Begin sewing.
Step 7: The sides of fabric facing each other should be lined up the seam edges of your first two pieces.
If necessary, pin them.
Step 8: Attach a hand sewing needle with 20–40 inches (50.8–101.6 cm) of thread to one of the ends.
Step 9: Take care to sew in a straight line after stitching the pieces of fabric together.
When finishing a seam, tie off the end of the thread.
Step 10: The seam allowances should be pressed to one side.
This will make them stronger.
Step 11: Continue to sew block pieces together in the order suggested by the pattern instructions, pressing each seam open and flat until you have completed a block of sewing.
Step 12: Begin on the next block if you set the block aside.
Step 13: As a final check, lay all completed blocks out in the pattern.
You can either sew the blocks directly together or sew a lattice work of contrasting colors between them.In either case, you will sew blocks together into long strips or rows and then sew the strips/rows together to make a finished quilt top.
Step 14: Put your quilt top face down.
Step 15: Put a layer of batting on top of the quilt.
Step 16: The backing material should be on top of the batting.
Step 17: The layers should be pinned together by starting with a line down the center of each axis and then more lines parallel to that center line.
Step 18: If necessary, check for tucks or wrinkling.
Step 19: As you do the actual "quilting" or stitching of the layers together with small stitches, place your basted quilt on a frame to stretch it smoothly.
Step 20: Quilt "in the ditch" along seam lines between colors of fabric, or do an "overall"quilt design which ignores the quilt design and simply stitches over the fabric in its own pattern.
For example, a fabric with a floral print could be quilted with an overall design of flower pots and spades or gardening tools.
Step 21: Edge the quilt with either a border or bias tape to take care of the corners.
Step 22: The stitches should be removed.
Step 23: You can display proudly.