Why not consider a quilt wall hanger?

The most common type of wall hangers for quilts has to be the dowel rod type of hanger. This type requires your quilt to have a fold of fabric attached to the full length of the upper back of your quilt. The rod then slides thru the fabric and is rested on brackets attached to your wall.

Another popular design, looks like a small quilt rack, similar to the dowel configuration, however the dowel rod is supported by a decorative back wooden piece, which is mounted on the wall.

You would need to have the fabric fold on the back of the quilt for this one also. This style of quilt wall hanger was the most available and popular up until a few years ago.

There has been quite a revolution in design of quilt wall hangers over the past few years many inventive ideas have been developed to safely hang your quilts.

Gone are the days when you used push pins or nails, eliminating the horror of putting holes in you precious quilt. One of the designs compresses the entire length of your quilt between two pieces of wood. Knobs are used to tighten the length of wood pieces together, so that your quilt will hang evenly.

This style is made of decorative woods, such as pine and oak and can be stained any color of your choice. Another design compresses the entire length of your quilt between the wood, but has end caps that hold the quilt wall hanger and quilt together.

This gives it a real neat smooth look, it is also manufactured from pine or oak and can be stained.

Check out all the different styles of quilt wall hangers that are available on in internet, I’m sure you will not be disappointed with the wonderful variety that you can choose from.

If you are interested in how to quilt, why don’t you check out my Quilt In A Weekend Ebook?

Displaying these wonderful quilts in an original way has to be with a quilt ladder.  These quilt ladders usually are manufactured of natural wood, pine and most often cedar is the wood of choice.  

Very often propping the ladder up against the wall in a corner is an effective decorative look, which takes up little space and cedar as the choice of wood, gives a rustic feel to the display of the historical quilts, also the cedar adds a little extra protection.

Keeping the wood in its natural state prevents any stain or paint from transferring from the quilt ladder to the treasured quilt.  A great idea for safety sake would be to lay a double fold of muslin on the quilt ladder rung, prior to hanging your quilt, thus adding another layer of protection.  

Most of the ladders will accommodate displaying at least four full sized quilts.
A more contemporary quilt display could be a quilt ladder made out of wrought iron, these can be manufactured in an A style frame, where quilts could be displayed on both sides of the ladder.

This would require a little more space, but the effect can be dramatic.  Again it would be recommended that a fold of muslin be placed on the rung before hanging the quilt.

Inventive people have used such products as copper tubing, even plastic tubing or for a real industrial look, plumbing pipe can be used for your quilt ladder. 

Ready made quilt ladders can be purchased on the internet and in some cases can be manufactured to your specifications.  Enjoy an original way to display your quilts.

If you’re looking to learn how to make a quilt, you might want to take a look at my Quilt In A Weekend ebook.  The great thing is you can download it to your computer and be reading it in the next 5 minutes!

Well let me tell you that I thought that quilting was not easy and I delayed trying to undertake this craft for too many years.

If you are a real beginner, let’s start out with a really easy quilt to make your quilting easy and painless.  A quilt consists of 3 layers; backing, batting and top., the equipment needed is a sewing machine, an even feet quilting foot, a scissors, a measuring ruler and an iron.

Let’s start out with just a small easy table quilt.  The easiest quilt is a 1 yard whole cloth quilt.

You need 2 yards of cotton fabric, choose 1 yard of a nice floral or design that will match your décor and then choose 1 yard of a solid color inexpensive cotton for the backing.  You can purchase pre-made binding at your fabric store to match your fabric. 

For the batting, you can use flannel fabric or purchase cotton batting from the fabric store.  Pick up a package of safety pins.    Pre-wash the cotton fabric and  flannel, press the cotton fabric  with spray starch, which makes the fabric easy to cut and sew.

If you need to square the layers up, with a ruler draw a line down each side and with the scissors trim the layers.   On the top fabric face draw a line with a pencil, from one corner to the other corner.  Using your ruler, draw lines at intervals of 2 inches each on either side of the first line.

If you would like, you can repeat drawing lines from the opposite side, which will give you a cross-hatch look. 

Place the backing fabric face down on a table, lay the batting on top, aligning the edges.  Place the top fabric next, face up aligning all edges.  Use pins spaced about 5 inches apart to keep the layers together, while you are quilting them.

Starting on your first line machine stitch from corner to corner, removing pins as you come to them.  Continue stitching on each of the lines and to make it easy, you can reverse the starting point of each line and not have to cut the thread for each line. 

Attach the easy sew binding per the instructions included with it.

You are done, you just completed a very easy first quilting project.  Congratulations!

The reason for this is that quilting does not refer to the complex designs of traditional and modern quilts, but to the tying or sewing together of the parts that make up what is commonly referred to as a quilt.

A quilted item is one that is formed by stitching together two layers of fabric, usually with a layer of soft insulating material between them. A quilt can consist of two plain sheets of fabric with a layer of shredded cotton between them, and stitched to hold the three parts of the layer secure. That, in fact, was the way that the quilts of the Civil War era were structured.

Quilting Does not Require a Pattern

There is no requirement for a pattern in quilting, though the term is generally used with reference to patterned quilt tops that are then stitched to the other two layers referred to above. The quilting itself is determined by the design being quilted, and whether or not there is any specific pattern required in the quilting stitching which, in normal block-based quilted patterns, is normally along straight lines.

Easy quilting patterns are those that involve blocks of fabric in square and rectangular shapes that only need sewn together and then quilted by sewing in straight lines. The quilting is made quicker if this is done by a sewing machine, but not necessarily easier, since there is not much difficulty in sewing straight lines. However, quilting can be made even easier through the use of quilting kits.

Quilting kits consist of everything needed to make a quilt, frequently also including the threads. At the very least you get the blocks that have to be stitched together to make the quilt top. Once that has been done, you then have to put the top, the batting and the quilt back together, preferably stretched out on a quilting frame, and then stitch them together.

It is this stitching that forms the ‘quilting’. Sometimes the stitching is carried out in the form of complex patterns, especially when it is done on a plain quilt top, where the pattern is intended to be embroidered as part of the quilting.

Not All Quilting is for Bedding

Quilting need not be intended for bedding or even for warmth, although that was the original idea for this method of using fabrics. The space between the layers of fabric provided insulation, and in early quilting the batting layer comprised sheep’s wool or some other natural form of insulation to enable people to keep warm during the winter months. Quilting was used for clothing rather than blankets, and still is in many areas.

An easy quilt to make would be two sheets of fabric and an insulating layer between, fixed together with some simple stitching. The patterns came to be developed because the middle layer had be secured with stitching over the most of its area in order to prevent it from gathering at one side or end of the quilt during use.

A Modern Duvet is an Example of Quilting

This is still done today with modern duvets that are technically simple quilts with thick batting. In modern designs, most quilting is easy. It is the forming of the quilt top that is the difficult and time-consuming part.

A beginner seeking an easy quilting project should be able to purchase a beginner’s quilting kit to help them to make a start on the practical side of quilting. Although there are many quilt top patterns that are difficult to stitch, the quilting itself does not generally present a problem.

About the author: Jessie Pedersen is an avid quilter, having made quilts for over 10 years. She has come out with a simple and easy quilting method to make a quilt in a weekend.

There are a lot of quilting books available in bookshops, and it can often be useful to read through an elementary introduction to quilting so that you get an idea of what the subject is about.  It is not always easy, however, to find a quilting book especially for beginners, though many general quilting books include an introduction to the craft in the early chapters.

Large Or Small – Quilts Are Modular Constructions

Quilted articles look good, especially those marvelous large bed quilts that are what most people think of when they hear the word ‘quilt’.  Once you understand their construction, and the simple steps requited to make a quilt irrespective of its size, then tackling such a project suddenly does not seem so daunting.

A good beginner’s quilting book can explain to you how a quilt is made up, and the patchwork quilt that everybody is familiar with is only one of a number of different types of quilt top.

There is more to a quilt than the top, and in fact it is the batting that makes a quilt a quilt, something that a beginner should learn before picking up a pair of scissors. Once you understand what it is all about, a beginner’s starter pack is good way to start to learnt to quilt.

These are provided with all you need to make a quilt, including ready-made blocks, batting and backing.  Some even provide the thread required to sew the blocks together, and to assemble and tie the sandwich.

Get To Know Your Fabrics

Once you have tried your first project to get a taste for the practical side of quilt making, you should get to know the fabrics used. There are a variety of fabrics, textures and colors, and most beginners are confused at the start by the choice available and what should be used with what. 

However, don’t despair because everybody is the same at the start. You will soon get the hang of it, and it helps sometimes to wander around a quilt shop and look at the various types of fabric on show.

It won’t be long before each fabric becomes an idea for a finished product, rather than just another roll of material.  You will be looking at all the scraps in your home, even your old clothes and curtains, as being potential quilted cushions or purses.  It is important however, that if you really want to learn to quilt rather than just play at it, you should learn about all the facets of quilting, not just sewing up the blocks.

Why Not Design Your Own Quilting Project?

There are many different types of blocks you can design, and different ways of putting them together. You have choices for the padding, or basting, and the backing which is the bottom side of the quilt.  You can join the layers together in a number of different ways, by tying, sewing or even using a quilting machine.

You have a large number of options for each of the layers, but your choice of fabric and design for the quilt top itself is endless. You can recreate one of the classic designs, or invent your own. Whichever way you decide to approach it, once you learn to quilt you will have a wonderful ability in your hands that you can use to create beautiful articles that can become family heirlooms.

About the author:  Jessie Pedersen is an avid quilter, having made quilts for over 10 years. She has come out with a simple and easy method to learn to quilt in a weekend.

You will also need to know how to do it, though quilting is not difficult if you are able to sew. Once you have learned the basics of quilting, you will be able to tackle increasingly more complex patterns and larger pieces.

The way your quilt is made, and the materials it is made from, depends a lot on what its purpose is.  If it is just ornamental then you can use any fabrics you have lying around, or you could purchase a quilt pack with everything ready for you to sew together.  There are also many different kind of keepsake quilts. 

An example of this is when you make a quilt from all your daughter’s old clothes that you have kept for the purpose.  This sort of quilt is sometimes presented by mother to daughter at her wedding.

Embroidery Can Be Used For A Beautiful Pattern

Let’s assume that have chosen your fabric and that you have cut it into the sizes required. You can create any design you want with your fabric, though it is common to sew small pieces together into larger blocks, which themselves are then sewn together to make the complete quilt top.

Some of the blocks can include embroidery to make a more complex pattern, and you can also use appliqué as well as sewing fabric strips together.  Some quilts are made by embroidering a plain piece of fabric with colored threads to form complex patterns, and some beautiful quilts are made in this way.

If you are using blocks, you are best to lay them out before sewing them since you will have a better idea of what the finished quilt will look like.  That is far better than completing the quilt, then unpicking the sewing because you don’t like the finished design.

It is easier if the blocks are squares and rectangles, since you can sew in straight lines, especially useful if you are machine sewing.

Once your quilt top is finished you can put the quilt together.  The term ‘quilt’ is actually the finished sewn padding, though most people associate it with the quilt top.  Hand quilting is easier carried out on a quilt frame that stretches the quilt out and keeps it free from creases and undue movement. 

You stretch the backing out on the frame, then apply the batting which is the padding that gives the quilt its thickness and warmth.

You now place the top over the batting and fasten it tightly to the frames.  The backing and quilt top should be pulled tightly over the frame, then apply a few tacks to ensure that the batting does not move. 

Now sew the whole quilt together.  You can either do this along the seams, or if the quilt is made from a single piece of material, in an embroidered pattern.

You can use a domestic sewing machine for most of your quilting work if the throat is large enough to accommodate the quilt, and there are also dedicated quilting machines that are attached to the frame.  This is the basis of most commercial quilting systems.

Making a quilt is very rewarding since it is not only a work of art but it is also practical. Many grandmothers get great satisfaction from making baby quilts since, not only is the work satisfying because the end product is a beautiful work of art, but it is also good to see your grandchild wrapped up and kept warm by your labor of love.

If you have some spare time on your hands this fall, and are wondering what you can do to keep yourself out of mischief, why not design your own quilt top, spend some time seeking out the fabrics needed and make a quilt for a member of your family.  It will be gladly received and greatly appreciated.

About the author:  Jessie Pedersen is an avid quilter, having made quilts for over 10 years. She has come out with a simple and easy method to make a quilt in a weekend.

Quilting Starter Packs are good for Beginners

Before you start you should read a bit about the subject, and understand the tools and materials needed. You might find it easier to start with a beginner’s quilting pack that provides all you require for a starter quilt, or you might prefer to do it from scratch.  A starter pack introduces you to the basics of quilting, without you having to sew up your blocks before piecing them together to form your quilt top. 

You should also learn a bit about the fabrics you can use, and which require pre-washing. If your quilt is to be washable, you will have to make sure that the colors will not run, or you might end up with a quilt of varying shades of grey. You should also decide if you are going to hand sew or machine sew, and while hand sewing gives you more of a flavor of what quilting is about, machine sewing is a lot quicker.

A Quilt Top Can Take Months To Make

Once you know what tools and materials you need then you are ready to start.  A quilt top can be made from a number of different pieces of material stitched together in a random patchwork design, by creating a number of blocks of the same design, and then sewing them all together, or by embroidering or stitching one single sheet of material. The top is what takes most time and can take either a weekend or months to make, depending on size, type of design and whether you are hand or machine sewing.

If you have to cut your pattern, then use sharp scissors or a cutting wheel. If you don’t have a pattern there are plenty offered free on the internet.  The blocks should be cut so that you can sew them together allowing around a quarter inch allowance for the seam. Your pattern should tell you how to put the blocks together, and for your first quilt the sewing should be in straight lines.  This is where a sewing machine comes in handy. 

You have to sew enough blocks to make up the top of your quilt, and the number will depend on the size of the quilt and the size of the blocks. If you want to miss out this step for your first quilt, you can buy blocks ready made to sew together.  It means that your quilt design will not be unique, but the work will be a lot less and it might be a better way to learn.  However, whatever way you decide to go, you then sew the blocks together to make up the top. You can sew borders onto each block if you like, and also round the edges of the quilt top.

The Batting Determines The Thickness Of The Quilting

You now have to make up the quilt.  So far you have only made the quilt top, and what makes a quilt a quilt is the padding, called batting, that forms the centre of the sandwich. There are different types and thicknesses of batting according to the type of quilt you want. You will also need quilt backing, which is the underside of the quilt. The process of joining them together is called basting. You can also buy batting that sticks to the top and backing when ironed, so you don’t have to baste, just iron the sandwich.

When you baste you sew from the middle out so that you can keep it smooth and unwrinkled. You usually do this along the seams of the blocks, known as stitching ‘ in the ditch’.  When finished, you then finish off the edges of the quilt with a binding, or sewing on tassels or any other finishing effect that you want to use. 

Quilting can be as easy or difficult as you want to make it, according to the design and size of your work.  You should learn how to quilt on a simple piece rather than try to be too ambitious to begin with.  However, once learned, quilting is a wonderful skill to have.

About the author:  Jessie Pedersen is an avid quilter, having made quilts for over 10 years. She has come out with a simple and easy method to make a quilt in a weekend.

Make Learning Easy With a Cheater Quilt

Another possibility is starting with a cheater quilt.  A cheater quilt is a preprinted quilt top that you can sew with the batting and backing, or bottom, to make a completed quilt.  Because they are usually printed in blocks, you don’t have any work to do making the top, and you can hand or machine sew the quilting in straight lines. This enables you learn the art of quilting, that is the stitching of the three parts of the quilt together, without having to worry about the intricate parts that require experience.

That’s not to say that the actual quilting itself is not difficult; it can be, especially for beginners, but if you choose your cheater design carefully, it will be a lot easier than starting from scratch.  Some are supplied partially quilted, just requiring a few extra stitches to finish off.

Read about it First - or Try a Baby Quilt

Some beginners prefer to read a book about quilting before the start on the practical side, and there should be plenty books in your local library.  Make sure you don’t start with too large a project that will take you years to finish, and choose a pattern that is made from square blocks, rather than triangles or rectangles.  This makes sewing the blocks together, or piecing, much easier.

A simple quilt starter kit often works with some beginners, providing most of the required materials, though you have to purchase your own equipment. The very basic supplies a beginner at quilting would need are good sharp scissors, a selection of needles and some thread of the appropriate color.

A Quilting Kit Could be Your Answer to Learning Quickly

Quilting kits come with the pattern, instructions and the materials required for the top.  Some include batting and/or backing, and some kits supply ready quilted pieces for making the quilt, so that no batting is required.  You should always check the contents to make sure you have everything you need to complete your quilt.  You don’t want to be left with a half made quilt and wonder where you are going to find the batting or backing if it is not included in the kit.

People have their own preferences in the way they approach learning a craft, and quilting is no different.  However, whether you prefer to learn the theory first or jump right in with a cheater quilt or simple kit is up to you, but it is difficult to beat the advantages you get from a quilting for beginners course, and you can often find one at your nearest quilting store.  Happy quilting!

About the author:  Jessie Pedersen is an avid quilter, having made quilts for over 10 years. She has come out with a simple and easy method to make a quilt in a weekend.

Many quilt stores have a good stock of quilts, not just the modern ones, but examples of the older work quilted to traditional patterns. If you are really lucky, you will have an Amish quilting shop near enough for you to visit. Many Amish communities are famous for their quilting and some of the antique samples their stores have are very beautiful.

Old and New Quilt Patterns Can Inspire Newcomers to Quilting

Most quilting shops, however, are restricted to showing modern quilts and quilting blocks, as well as all the materials and equipment needed to make them. Modern quilting patterns can be just as inspiring to the new quilter as the older more classical ones, and some of the imaginative designs on show in even the smaller quilt stores can have tremendous visual impact.

Many people like to spend some time just browsing round. Newcomers to quilting, especially, find quilt shops of extreme interest; there is so much to see and learn. The use of quilts as wall decorations may be new to them and the high quality of the fabrics on show might surprise them.

Anyone who is used to purchasing their fabrics from discount stores, or even from the better known department stores, will probably be surprised at the quality of fabric available from small local quilt stores. The reason for this is that specialized quilting shops buy fabric that is of quilting quality. This is a higher quality than would normally be used for the fashion and upholstery industries, for which textile companies often produce cheaper versions of their quality designs.

Quilt Stores Stock High Quality Fabrics

This is the reason why fabrics from quilt shops are frequently more expensive than from department or other textile stores. It’s not because they are putting on a higher margin, or even because they are not buying in bulk. The reason is that they are stocking a higher quality fabric that will last long enough to be handed down through generations.

The next time you wander round your local quilting store just stop and take in the beauty of many of the quilts you see on display. Consider all the loving work that has been put into them, and check out the designs and fabrics that were used in them. Not only will you get lots of ideas for your own quilting designs, but you should also consider how lucky you are to have a quilt shop in your own locality.

About the author:  Jessie Pedersen is an avid quilter, having made quilts for over 10 years. She has come out with a simple and easy method to make a quilt in a weekend.