Encyclopedia

If you are a machine quilter then you must use safety pins to baste together the layers of your quilt. Safety pins should be pinned about 3 inches apart all over the quilt top to ensure that the layers will not shift. You will need a couple hundred pins when basting a lap quilt. Do… Continue reading Safety Pins

A sampler quilt is made from a sample of blocks. These quilts are quite popular for beginning quilting classes. Often the instructor will plan the sampler so that each block will allow the students to learn a new quilting skill while working on that particular block. The blocks in a sampler quilt may all be… Continue reading Sampler Quilt

Sandpaper for quilting? Whatever for? Well …. a fine sandpaper makes an excellent platform for tracing templates on to the fabric. The sandpaper grips the bottom of the fabric and makes it easier to draw on the surface of the fabric. Lightweight sandpaper can help “hold” fabric when trying to trace around patterns. My husband… Continue reading Sandpaper

      Blocks are separated by sashing in some quilts. The sashing is often cut from a solid color or tone-on-tone fabric so its pattern does not interfere with the design of the quilt blocks. There are no written rules concerning the width of sashing. The choice is up to the individual. Usually sashing… Continue reading Sashing

  The satin stitch is a decorative stitch that often is used to border appliqued pieces.  The stitch is actually a zig zag stitch with zero stitch length.  Some sort of stabilizer is usually needed when making this stitch as it has a tendency to “pull up” the fabric around the stitching.  It’s a good… Continue reading Satin Stitch

    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… Continue reading Scale

    A scant 1/4″ seam is about a thread narrower than a regular 1/4″ seam.  Many quilters prefer sewing a scant 1/4″ seam as it helps with accuracy.  Using tape or seam guides will produce the best results.  Watch the video below for more info. If you would like to buy a package of… Continue reading Scant 1/4″ Seam

  Quilters use a ¼ inch seam allowance unlike most dress maker patterns that require a 5/8” seam allowance.  Sewing an accurate ¼ inch seam ensures the patchwork pieces will fit together and the quilt will lie flat. Using tape or seam guides will help with accuracy.   If you would like to buy a… Continue reading Seam

Most quilters use a 1/4 inch seam allowance. Some miniature quilters use 1/8 inch. Whatever the size of your seam, it is most important that you remain consistent throughout your quilt. In this photo, the triangle (bottom left) has been sewn to another triangle using a ¼ inch seam. It is a good idea to… Continue reading Seam Allowance

  A seam ripper is a handy tool that makes it easy to rip out a seam gone bad. Keep this tool handy!  There are many sizes and styles available on the market.  Look for one that feels good in your hand.  Some rippers are dual purpose – one end is a seam ripper and… Continue reading Seam Ripper

    The two parallel finished edges of the fabric are called the selvage. This edge will not ravel and has a tighter weave. It runs in the same direction as the straight of grain.  Often it is a different color from the rest of the fabric.  Sometimes the name of the fabric line and… Continue reading Selvage

When square blocks in a quilt are rotated 45 degrees (turned to a diamond shape) they are said to be set on point. The nine patch blocks below are quilt blocks set on point (rotated to a diamond-like shape) in this quilt. The next photos compare the difference between “set on point” (top block) and… Continue reading Set on Point

When you finish your blocks for your quilt, you will have to decide how to arrange them in your quilt. This arrangement is called the setting. Below is a video about sewing blocks together into a quilt.  The blocks have been laid out in three rows of three blocks each.  This is a simple setting.… Continue reading Setting

Setting triangles are used when blocks are set on point. They are “fillers” that are used to make the quilt rectangular. Without these, you would have a zigzag edge. Four 1/2 square triangles are used in the corners. Quarter square triangles are used on the sides. Setting Triangles:  Notice the triangles below. There are 4… Continue reading Setting Triangles

“Sew and Flip” (or Flip and Sew) refers to a technique that uses a foundation for its construction. Fabric is sewn (right sides together) to the foundation and then flipped over. This method is often used to make crazy quilts.  Sometimes this method is referred to as free form piecing but free form does not… Continue reading Sew and Flip

Sew order refers to the sewing order that needs to be followed to best put the block together.  In these machine piecing directions, the B and D triangles must be sewn together first.  Then these units are sewn into rows with other pieces.  Finally the rows are sewn together to complete the quilt block. CAUTION:… Continue reading Sew Order

    A shade is a color that has been blended with black or a darker color. Navy is a shade of blue.

Sharps needles are a type of needle that is used in applique. The shaft is usually longer than between needles (used for hand quilting). Sharps needles come in different sizes. These sizes refer to the eye of the needle. The larger the number, the smaller the eye. These size 11 Sharps needles have a very small… Continue reading Sharps Needles

Fabric Sizing is like spray starch but not as stiff. You can buy it at the grocery store in the laundry detergent aisle or purchase a can from Amazon, click here. Some people call it “Magic in a Can”. If your block is not the proper size or if it is distorted often a squirt… Continue reading Sizing