Encyclopedia

    Machine piecing refers to piecing the quilt on your sewing machine as opposed to hand piecing which is sewing the quilt by hand.

Machine quilting usually refers to the process of stitching all the layers of the quilt sandwich.  The stitching can be done by a home sewing machine or by a longarm machine and often mimics the patterns and designs that were hand quilted in the past. Beginners might find straight line quilting the easiest to follow.… Continue reading Machine Quilting

Quilters mark their quilts with a design using many different tools and techniques. Always test a scrap of fabric before marking your quilt top. The marking lines should easily wash out of fabric. The lines should not wear off completely when you handle the quilt or you will have to remark the top. Tools for… Continue reading Marking

  Thin masking tape (1/4 inch thick) to thicker tape (1 inch thick) can be applied to your top temporarily to be used as a guide for quilting stitches.  Make sure you use the tape as a temporary guide as  a sticky residue may stain the top if the tape is left on for a long… Continue reading Masking Tape

Matchbook Quilting is a type of quilting usually used to add texture to the project.  Stitching lines are close together; about 1/8″ to a 1/4″ apart.  These lines resemble the vertical lines in a matchbook. Below you will find a video about Matchbook Quilting using your machine without a walking foot.  The project featured in… Continue reading Matchbook Quilting

Most patchwork involves matching seams.  The more pieces in a quilt, the more seams that need to match.  Below are videos with tips for sewing perfect seam intersections every time. Matching Intersections (4 videos) Intro (1 of 4) Cutting (2 of 4) Sewing (3 of 4) Pressing (4 of 4) Matching Points (2 videos) Matching… Continue reading Matching Seams

  Quilt meandering refers to a type of random stitching pattern that will add texture to the quilt surface. It can be done by hand or by machine. Below is a photo of a machine quilting sample. The meandering stitch is in the center of the piece.  I used my machine’s darning foot attachment to… Continue reading Meander

    A tape made of fabric or plastic that is marked off in inches or centimeters is used to measure items that are curved.  Quilters rarely use these tapes for measuring when piecing.  Acrylic rulers are the popular measuring devices that quilters rely on. If you would like to purchase a measuring tape, click… Continue reading Measuring tape

A medallion quilt is a quilt with a large center block that is the focal point of the quilt. It may be surrounded by other quilt blocks or borders. Sometimes the center is a motif found printed on fabric or it is a pieced or appliqueed design. A feathered star is in the center of… Continue reading Medallion Quilt

Mirror image shapes look like the same shape, but when placed in the quilt block they must “mirror” each other. Learn about quilt patterns that are mirror images. NOTE:  to enlarge the video, click the PLAY button, then click the full-screen icon at the bottom right of the video. TRANSCRIPT: Mirror Image – Encyclopedia These two… Continue reading Mirror Image

  Muslin fabric is a type of woven cotton material that quilters often use as a background fabric. It usually costs less than other cottons. Muslin fabrics comes in two “flavors”; unbleached (beige in color) or bleached (white). It is also available in different widths (not always 45 inches) so be careful to check this… Continue reading Muslin