Learn How to Quilt: quilting terms, free quilt block patterns

A Little Quilting Vocbulary
and June Free Quilt Block Patterns

Jelly Roll / Bali Pop Quilt top - backing

Greetings Quilter -

Who says that layering a quilt using basting spray is a piece of cake?

Under normal conditions, I have found it to be very easy to put the backing on my floor, spray it, then put the batting down and then the quilt top.

But this one was a little more difficult. I think it is because of the backing.

In the first place, this backing is only about 2 inches larger thatn the quilt top. Normally I make backings about 4 inches larger, allowing for any shrinkage during quilting and making it easier to center the quilt top on the backing.

The other thing about this backing is that it has a kind of Rail Fence (parquet) design, and I didn't want that design to look all cockeyed when the quilt was finished - even if it is on the back.

It would have been much easier with two people, but I did get it done, and it helps that the basting spray is temporary and it is easy to move the quilt.

Next in line is the quilting design. I pulled some books out and have marked some pages, so I will do some testing on practice sandwiches.

I'm also wondering whether I can print a design on freezer paper, iron the freezer paper onto a square and then machine quilt using that as a stencil. I'll let you know - - -

It's time for our Annual How to Quilt Survey. This a fairly short survey so that we can be sure to provide the information you want. It should take just a couple of minutes to complete. It's anonymous - so be completely honest.

Based on this survey in prior years, the information provided in our newsletter and daily emails has changed, and we have provided products that you find useful.

Happy Quilting!

Penny

Fabric Postcards for Penny's Postcard Posse

Take a few minutes to create a small fabric postcard this week for a soldier in the Middle East. A few scraps of fabric is all it takes, and by making one a week - or every few days - you can brighten the life of our troops.

Just a few minutes is all it takes to create one of these small treasures and send it to Diane for shipment abroad. The letters and emails she gets back are remarkable and tell just how much these little treasures mean to the soldiers over there.

You'll find all the information below. This month I'll be sending additional information, including patterns and instructions for making these tiny quilts.

And now for the rest of the news - -

Happy Quilting!

penny halgren

A Little Quilting Vocabulary

If you are new to quilting, you may hear words from long time quilters that make you stop and wonder exactly what it is they are talking about. You need a quilter’s dictionary.

But since a dictionary of quilting terms doesn’t exist, here is a very brief list to help you.

Applique: is a technique in which fabric is applied to another layer of fabric to form a design. Applique work in quilts may be done by hand or by machine.

Backing: is the bottom side of your quilt. You have pieced the quilt ”top,” so naturally the bottom piece is the back.

Backstitch: these are the short machine stitches that either begin or end a line of stitches. The principle idea behind backstitches is that sewing over the stitches locks them in. Generally it is not necessary to backstitch when you are sewing a quilt top, since your stitches will be locked in when the next patches are added.

Baste: this means to loosely secure your quilt layers together. Basting can be done with wide, loose stitches that are usually sewn by hand, with straight pins or safety pins, even clips. You can also use basting spray to hold your quilt layers together.

Basting stitch: This temporary stitch holds the fabric in place to keep it from slipping. The stitches are generally large and sewn by hand with a single strand of thread. This makes removing the temporary stitches much easier once the project is complete.

Batting: This is the middle layer of your quilt sandwich (assuming you are adding a middle layer). More simply put, batting is your “fluffy stuff” inside the quilt. Batting is sold in various sizes and thicknesses. The thickness of batting is referred to as the loft.

Batting also comes from a variety of materials. One of the newest batting materials is bamboo. Bamboo fibers are woven to create a soft layer of batting that is both a natural odor reducer and moisture wicker. One of the oldest types of batting is cotton. If you are concerned with being a “green” quilter, you will want to check into bamboo batting or organic cotton batting.

Another popular batting is polyester. It generally seems to be fluffier than the others and, like all polyester, this batting is manmade. There’s nothing green about it.

Bias: The bias is the diagonal weave of woven fabric (like cotton fabric). Fabrics like polyester won’t have a bias because they are not woven. In cotton fabrics, patterns cut on the bias are the ones with the most stretch.

Grain: This is the lengthwise and cross wise directions of woven fabric. Again, man made fabrics like polyester won’t have a grain.

Grainline: The grainline is the lengthwise thread that runs in the grain.

Out of context, some of these words seem meaningless. However, one day you will hear them in your quilting circle or read them in quilting instructions. As you run across terminology you don’t know, write the word or phrase down, then search for the definition when you have time. The website www.how-to-quilt.com is a great source of all information. So, in addition to defining unknown terms and answering your specific questions, you just might also find a how-to video posted there to walk you through a quilting technique step by step.

The important thing to remember is that no one expects you to know everything there is to know about quilting when you are just starting out. Knowledge and shortcuts come in time. Just keep on quilting! Sew and enjoy what you do. Before you know it, you will be answering questions for new quilters yourself!

Creative Two-Block Quilts

Now that all of the patches are cut - I thought - I sewed one block together. My original plan was to sew the other one of the two blocks first, but then I discovered that I had missed cutting out some triangles.

Back to the cutting board, but in the meantime, here is "Block 9" from the Creative Two-Block Quilts book.

The block is pretty easy to sew together, even with the odd shapes of the green in the corner square patches. The one thing I will do as I sew is trim the excess bulk in the center - behind the peachy triangles.

Those patches are squares sewn onto larger green squares. Each one ends up being 4 layers thick, and when you sew the four corners together, it is really bulky in the center.

As I trim the bulk from the center, I will leave the green fabric so I can use it as a guide for sewing the patches together. No matter how hard I try, my seams on those little triangles aren't straight!

Block 9 from Creative Two-Block Quilts

If you are wondering about the Creative Two-Block Quilts resource - -

Using These 12 Simple Quilt Blocks,
You Can Design an Unlimited Number of Beautiful Heirloom Quilts -
And Each One Will Be an Original Design

I would much rather be sewing a quilt together, watching the design of the quilt blocks develop as the patches are sewn, and then playing with the blocks for the final layout of the quilt top.

Possibly it’s because my creativity is fairly limited.

It’s easy for me to choose fabrics for a quilt (even though quilting daughter, Stephanie, doesn’t always agree with my color selection).

Once I have the blocks sewn, I seem to be able to come up with some interesting ideas for adding sashing, and putting the blocks together.

But, choosing more than one block for a quilt is generally something I avoid.

I do love the secondary designs that are created when certain blocks are placed directly next to each other. Those designs can occur with a single block or when two blocks are alternated.

Using this resource makes designing an original heirloom quilt easy - using just two blocks.

Any combination you choose will result in a gorgeous quilt and an original design.

But time is limited - the deadline is TOMORROW - Tuesday, June 15

Tell me more - - -

TheQuiltingCoach.com provides answers to your quilting questions; tips, techniques and shortcuts to make your quilting fun and easy; quilt block patterns with step-by-step instructions (including photographs of what to do); quilting projects; and tons more.

Beginning Quilters or more experienced quilters, we're anxious to have you join our community!

For this month, you can join for a special rate that will give you access to everything online in TheQuiltingCoach. You'll find hundreds of free quilt block patterns as well as quilt projects - including the new Jelly Roll / Bali Pop Quilt.

Visit: www.TheQuiltingCoach.com for more information. Click on this link for the special rate: Special Deal for TheQuiltingCoach.com

Postcard Quilts for the Troops

Halloween Roundup Next - Deadline September 29!

Halloween in Iraq or Afghanistan is just another day unless it becomes something different by virtue of quilters' intervention!

I wanted to do something to let the soldiers in the Middle East know that there were hundreds - even thousands - of folks here in the US who appreciated what they were doing.

Our first Penny's Posse Rounded up more than 139 tiny postcard greetings for the soldiers in Iraq for the 4th of July 2006.

Those fabric cards were sent through Camp Pendleton in San Diego, California, and pictures of fabric postcards sent in the first Roundup are posted on this site.

You can read the first webpage with the original idea here.

After the first Roundup, Penny received emails from several quilters asking if she would please do another Roundup so they could participate. And more Roundups were added.

As quilters, we know what those postcards mean to the men and women who recieve them. Some who get them receive no other mail from home. And for all of them, it's a reminder of the wonderful freedoms they are fighting for and the comforts they will enjoy when they return home.

Still others have fond memories of their mothers or grandmothers creating quilts to keep them warm and safe as children.

Now you can send postcards for our Halloween Roundup. This is just a fun time of the year - with Trick or Treat fabric, memories of Halloween costumes and marching around the neighborhood begging for candy.

You can bring those memories back for the soldiers stationed abroad by sending them tiny quilts - fabric postcards decorated for Halloween.

Check out the postcard patterns on www.QuiltBlockLibrary.com I will continue to add designs, and patterns for the fabric postcards are always free.

To make the Halloween deadline, get your cards to Diane by September 29

Please send your cards to:
Diane Malaznik
14215 Westmore St.
Livonia, MI 48154-4149

Diane is doing a fabulous job keeping the pictures updated, and if you have sent cards in, let your friends and family know that they can see pictures of them here: www.Fabric-Postcards.com

Remember you can get FREE postcard patterns at: www.QuiltBlockLibrary.com

June Free Block Patterns

These free June quilt block patterns will make your summer quilting fun. These quilt blocks include easy blocks as well as some that are a little more difficult.

Click here to download your June FREE quilt block patterns