Encyclopedia

  Any fabric can be used as a quilt fabric. Just be aware of the fact that some fabrics won’t sew as easily as cotton. Quilters usually use 100% cotton fabric in their quilts because this is one of the easiest fibers to sew; it’s washable and will ‘hold up’ over the years. Today quilters… Continue reading Fabric

The quilter’s four letter word.  The bias of a piece of fabric is any diagonal across the fabric.  The true bias is the diagonal that is at a 45 degree angle to the selvage. In order to find the fabric’s true bias you need to be familiar with some other terms. The selvage is the… Continue reading Fabric Bias

  Fabric chalk is used at times to mark the quilt top for quilting.  Most chalk will wipe off of the fabric but it is important to run a check on a scrap of  fabric before using it on your quilt.  I have used fabric chalk (that was made for easily washing out of fabrics) that… Continue reading Fabric Chalk

Move over rotary cutters.  There’s a new cutter in town that is much more accurate (and expensive).  Today’s quilter can purchase die cut machines to precisely cut their patchwork pieces.  Watch the video to see one in action. If you would like to purchase this cutting system, click here.

The fabrics in this photo are part of a fabric line from Moda.  It is a collection of fabrics that compliment each other through matching colors, designs and/or themes. I wanted a yard of each for my stash but I could not afford this.  Instead I purchased these 10” squares in a package (see Layer… Continue reading Fabric Line

Fabric Pen – see Pigma Pens  

Fabric scale refers to the size of the design on the fabric. Solid colored fabric has no scale because there is no design on it. Calico fabric usually has a small scale pattern. Most decorator prints are larger in scale. Quilters usually consider the scale of the fabric pattern when choosing material for a quilt. Small… Continue reading Fabric Scale

    Seams pressed to a lighter fabric will sometimes show up as a shadow.  In the above photo, the red has been pressed to the white and there are shadows in the triangle.  The blue fabric on the right has been pressed away from the white and there is no shadow on the white… Continue reading Fabric Shadow

A fat quarter refers to a cut of fabric that is a quarter of a yard in area. It differs from a regular quarter of a yard by its shape. A regular quarter of a yard of fabric looks like a long skinny rectangle – 9 inches by 44/45 inches. A fat quarter is close… Continue reading Fat Quarter

The feed dogs are located on your sewing machine under the machine foot. The feed dogs have little teeth that help to grab and pull the fabric through your machine. Their movement establishes the length of your stitch.      

see presser foot

Batting is sometimes referred to as the quilt filler; same thing, different words.

Little rubber covers for your fingers will help you hold and move your fabric when machine quilting. These can be purchased at a medical supply store, drug store, or quilt shop. Some quilters use one on each finger. I only cover my thumbs and middle fingers because I like my index fingers free. Usually I… Continue reading Finger Cots

You do not need an iron to finger press; only a finger! Sometimes you will not want to get up from your machine to press a little seam. So you put the piece on the table and using your fingernail, you press hard on the seam. Hand quilters can also use this method. It works… Continue reading Finger Pressing

Flip and Sew refers to a quilting technique where fabric strips are flipped so their right sides are together.  Then they are sewn to a foundation.  This method is also called Sew and Flip. Watch the video below to view the process.

    Flying Geese is the name of a quilt pattern.  In the above photo, the three yellow triangles are the “geese” that are flying.  This pattern can stand alone (above) or can be parts of blocks (as seen in the Patriotic Spin and Christmas Flying Dutchman below) or can be used as a continuous… Continue reading Flying Geese

A focal fabric is used to pick out other fabrics for your quilt. The focal fabric is usually a multi-colored patterned fabric. It sets the mood of your quilt. It’s a fabric that you love. Often quilters use this fabric will in the border. Quilters may use all of the colors in the focal fabric… Continue reading Focal Fabric

A focus fabric or focal fabric will make it easier for you to choose fabric for your quilt. Sometimes the focus fabric may be a photo or a painting as seen here. I used this photo from an old calendar to pick the fabrics in my quilt.   Learn how quilters use a focus fabric… Continue reading Focus Fabric

A follower is a scrap of fabric that is used to end chain piecing patchwork.  It can help with your accuracy.  Check out the video below for more info.

  Quilters sometimes sew fabric on top of a foundation. Foundations are used when the fabric (bias-cut fabric, knits, silks, velvet, and other specialty materials) in the quilt top is difficult to sew and keep straight. The foundation can be fabric or paper. Muslin works well as a foundation because it is cheap and does… Continue reading Foundation