Once I read Wendy Butler Berns' article about how to make picture quilts in Quilting Arts Magazine, I knew I had to give her technique a try.
Hi! With Quilt Con coming soon in February and awesome quilters are getting back feedback on whether their quilt got chosen or not to be in the show – the hot topic of what is MODERN QUILT is…
“Get quilting ideas in part 2 of this 5 part series. Learn about quilting colors as they relate to tint, tone, and shade.”
Are you new to machine quilting? You may have made tied quilts for a while and now want to explore machine quilting. I’ve seen a lot of advice given for how to machine quilt but I think mos…
If you are new to quilting or want a refresher on what sorts of quilting are available to you, then these must-know quilting techniques and styles are just the resource you need. When I first started quilting, I wasn't sure what the phrases I was hearing and reading about meant. This concerned quilting styles, different quilting techniques, and quilting types. That's why I decided to create a page that explains the basics of quilting. This will help you plan your next project or understand the meaning behind the terms. First, I'll explain the two main ways of quilting and some specifics within those two methods. Then, I'll provide an overview of techniques used, from applique to trapunto. Lastly, check out the types of quilts you can make, both traditional and modern. Be sure to check out our Glossary of Quilting Words and Terms for even more information about quilting. This page gives you an overview of every quilting term you need to know before you start. Keep scrolling down to learn all about Quilting 101 for styles and techniques. Get familiar with the quilting methods used by those in the industry!
Each year, Premier Needle Arts conducts a survey of quilters in North America to better understand consumer behavior. Get the 2022 data.
An honest look at the costs a quilt pattern designer needs to cover in order to have a profitable quilt pattern business.
Are you ready to make the easiest quilt ever? If so, read on to see how I made this easy quilt with no measuring or pattern required!
What is a fabric swap? Read this quilting article for general fabirc swap rules and tips.
Issue 4 is all about quilts around the home and how we take our passion for art and quilting and make it function in our homes.
I’m not a sketcher or very good at drawing.but I do make some rudimentary sketches for most of my landscape quilts. These are very broad and simplistic ideas of the way I want the art quilt to flow and appear. Much of what I use the sketches for is to figure the proportions of the Read the full article...
Today, I want to talk about quilt marking pens, and how to choose the best ones for every project.
Instructions and How-To’s to Guide you through the most common sewing techniques including how to sew a zipper & insert piping into a seam.
Note to Pinners: THIS FRAME DOES NOT WORK!!!! Please read my comments at the bottom of this article. If you've seen or heard of the Flynn Multi Quilting Frame, you'll know that it costs about $180.00. After careful study, I came up with my own version that is much cheaper. Ask your local lumber yard or hardware store if they have any scraps close to the size you need and have them cut for you. You may want to start with 24" pipes instead of 48" for small projects until you get the hang of using this frame. The longer the rods are, the more flexible they become. For anything longer than 48", you will want furniture grade PVC or wooden dowels which are more rigid. PVC clamps are available from flexpvc.com. (1) 3/4x4x24" Solid pine shelving (3) 48" lengths 1" I.D. Charlotte pipe (2) 18" lengths 3" I.D. Sewer PVC (6) 1" PVC End caps (6) 1" PVC Clamps (4) 24" strips of 1/2" ribbon (8) Small safety pins (6) 1/4 x 2" Carriage bolts (6) 1/4" Wing nuts (6) 1/4" Machine nuts (12) 5/8" washers 1/4" Open end wrench PVC glue Vise clamps, large and small Shop vise (optional) Skill saw Jig saw Drill 1/4" drill bit 1/4" cutting bit Sheet of poster board Pencil Ruler Soda can Scissors Craft Bond spray adhesive Use the poster board to make two templates. Measure and mark two rectangles 18" long x 2-1/2" wide. Use the top of a soda can to round off the ends inside the marks. Erase the pencil marks outside the round ends. From one end, measure 1-1/2" and mark with an X. Measure 2-1/2" from that mark and make another X. Measure 1-1/2" from that mark and draw a 1-1/2" line. From the opposite end, measure 2" and mark with an X. Measure 1-3/4" from that mark and draw a 1-1/2" line 3/8" from the edge. Do the same on the other template. Cut out the templates and glue them beside each other on the wood board. Position them so each edge is flush with the edge of the board on either side leaving space between them for cutting. Use a jig saw to cut the rounded ends first. Then, cut the straight lines with the skill saw. You'll never make a cutting mistake using paper templates. Use a small vise clamp to secure the end caps. Make sure the clamp is holding the bottom of the cap, not the top so you don't crush it. Sit in a solid chair with the clamp between your legs. Hold the clamp steady and drill a 1/4" hole in the center of the cap. Repeat for all the others. It's best to use a drill press for this, if you have one. Lay the boards on top of one another, making sure the hole marks are lined up. Clamp them to a bench and drill the holes. Drill holes just inside the marks at each end of the straight lines. Change to the cutting bit and bore out from hole to hole. Assembly Place a washer and bolt in each end cap hole. Place a washer and nut onto the bolt and tighten with a wrench. Get it as tight as you can. Swirl a bit of pvc glue around the inside of the pipe. Insert the end cap. Let the glue cure. Place a washer on the bolt. Slide the bolt through a hole in the board. Place another washer on the bolt. Place a wing nut on the bolt and tighten. Repeat for the other two pipes. Tension Bands Cut a slit through one end of the ribbon. Slip the cut end through the slit in the wood. Slide the other end through the cut and pull it tight. Make sure the ribbon is under the board edge and not over it. Repeat with the other three ribbons. Different projects may require different lengths of ribbon. It's better to have them too long than too short. Mounting Center the backing fabric on the rod. Secure the fabric to the rods with the PVC clamps. The backing is wound around the first of the two rods on the end. Notice how the fabric is oriented. The wrong side faces up and wraps around the rod from the bottom. Loosen the wing nuts. Roll the backing fabric onto the rod, keeping it straight and tight. Make sure there is enough fabric on the end to wrap around the top rod. Tighten the wing nuts and move this fabric out of the way. Roll up the batting making sure there is enough on the end to wrap around the top rod. Move the batting back out of the way. Secure the fabric to the rods with the PVC clamps. The top is wound around the second of the two rods on the end. Notice how the fabric is oriented. The right side faces up and wraps around the rod from the bottom. Loosen the wing nuts. Roll the top fabric onto the rod, keeping it straight and tight. Make sure there is enough fabric on the end to wrap around the top rod. Tighten the wing nuts and move this fabric out of the way. Replace the backing fabric. Attach a safety pin close to the edge of the fabric. Slide the ribbon through the closed pin and tighten. The pin will pop open if you pull too much. Secure the ribbon with another pin. Repeat for the other three ribbons. The backing fabric and batting are wound around from the bottom. The top is placed over the ends of the batting and backing. Clamp the ends to the rod. Loosen the wing nuts on the top rod and roll the quilt to create tension. Tighten the wing nuts. The rolled batting rests between the first and second rods. The finished quilting is wound around the top rod that goes under the machine throat. Using the Frame Leave the extension table on your sewing machine if it has one. Turn your sewing machine so the throat is behind you rather than to the right. This orientation will take some getting used to. Place the 3" PVC pipes on either side of the machine. They balance the frame and allow freedom of movement in all directions. Remove the foot attachment from the machine. Remove the board and tension bands from one side. Slide the quilt under the foot arm. Don't try to slide the rod under the foot arm; it won't fit. Replace the board and tension bands. Replace the foot attachment and you're ready to stitch your quilt. Roll up the quilt on the top rod as you finish each area. This frame can also be used as a stretching frame and for hand quilting. It may be expanded and used for long arm quilting with your home machine as well. Assessment I tried it out and the only thing I like about it is being able to roll my quilt and not have any wrinkles on the back. The tension bands weren't necessary. The rods provide enough tension to keep the backing tight. It's heavy. There is so much weight on the 3" pipes that it renders them useless, even though they are required for supporting the frame. The frame has to be lifted while stitching to prevent drag. That leads to the other problem of the frame not having enough support. It lacks balance. When the needle is on one end or the other of the quilt, the frame tilts in the opposite direction. The machine and frame has to rest on a long table for adequate support. The 3" pipes do not roll smoothly which causes skips and uneven stitches that lack uniformity. It needs stability. Lastly, it isn't fair to call this a free motion frame because the movement is so limited. There is only 3-1/4" of space between the pipe and the needle on my machine. It is best used for narrow continuous line stitching. I recommend that you skip this one and move on to my Rolling Quilt Frame.
If you have ever looked at a sewing pattern, you probably know how much information is packed into those small packages. From the type of pattern, materials needed, instructions, the pattern, and so on, it's not easy to know how to read a sewing pattern. The good news is that you get a lot of information to work with, from written and illustrated instructions, tips, alteration guidelines, and more. The not so good news is that reading a sewing pattern can be overwhelming for even the most experienced sewists. Fortunately, vintage and modern print sewing patterns, along with digital patterns all have similar information. When it comes to sewing basics, you will want to learn how to read a sewing pattern as one of the first things you figure out. It's important to learn how to understand a sewing pattern because sewing a dress, a pair of pants, shirt, or other items is a process that takes time, energy, and money that you don't want to lose. Even though every pattern has a particular set of instructions, sewing symbols, and notes, these sewing tips and tricks for patterns will help you gain knowledge to be prepared for your next project. Sign Up For More Free Patterns >>> Below, you will find one of our popular videos on how to read a sewing pattern as well as written instructions and pictures. Then, learn all about pattern symbols you will find on your sewing projects. From the grain line to the zipper markings and everything in between, you'll know exactly what all of the details on a pattern mean.
Finish your quilt quickly by tying it for a softer quilt with a decorative finish. This tutorial explains what to use, and how to tie it.
Do you want to build a stash fabric but do not know where to start? You have come to the right place! Read this article to know how to build your own stash fabric collection.
Short arm quilting, a valuable skill in the realm of textile artistry, is about creating intricate and detailed patterns on quilts using a sewing machine with
Learn how to do Big Stitch Hand Quilting using perle cotton #8 tutorial.
Learn the basics of quilting with this helpful guide. An introduction to selecting fabric and thread, piecing the top, quilting, and binding. How to start making a quilt.
Once I read Wendy Butler Berns' article about how to make picture quilts in Quilting Arts Magazine, I knew I had to give her technique a try.
As we near the end of 2019, National Quilters Circle is looking back at what videos and articles our community has found most useful. We’ve rounded up our top 5 most popular videos and articles…
If you’ve ever imagined the beauty of a quilt that resembles a grand cathedral with its sparkling windows, then you’re in luck! This article will guide you through the process of creating a magnifi…
Issue 4 is all about quilts around the home and how we take our passion for art and quilting and make it function in our homes.
Do you want to build a stash fabric but do not know where to start? You have come to the right place! Read this article to know how to build your own stash fabric collection.
Make Modern magazine is written by quilters, for quilters just like you. Subscribe to join our growing community.
MEET quilters Crystal Two Hearts, Corinne Sovey + Jackie Gillies. MAKE geometric quilts! Get MOTIVATED to sew curves with confidence. Hours of inspiration for just $10!
Ecco una guida su come regolare la tensione del filo della macchina da cucire. La giusta tensione dei fili è un fondamentale per cuciture precise
This class will help you make 2 simple patchwork quilts made with squares. You'll learn how to quickly cut your fabric, piece the quilt tops
Here's a free Rail Fence Quilt Pattern, written by Bonjour Quilts, called Off the Rails. Come and get the PDF on the website.
Today I’m continuing to share the 5 part series of articles that I originally wrote for the National Quilting association as part of my Quilt as Desired column. This article first appeared in…
Today, it’s all about the 5 things you need to know about thread when free motion quilting. I’m going to use the Sapphire 930 to show you some different ways the sewing machine can be threaded. Yes – it does make a difference! Next up, I’ll chat about thread weights and…
Short arm quilting, a valuable skill in the realm of textile artistry, is about creating intricate and detailed patterns on quilts using a sewing machine with
This is the first in a series of articles on the use of color in quilts. Comprehensive instructions are included for reading the color wheel, and applying the scientific methods in developing new and creative color schemes for todays quilts. - Color Theory for Quilters - The Color Wheel - Quilting at BellaOnline
We had some dry weather yesterday so I ducked out of work an hour early and went and played pickleball for a couple hours. I was exhausted when I got home so didn’t even think about going int…
I am one of those people that likes to soak up knowledge like a sponge. And in this day and age, you can find out the answer to almost anything on the internet. That's especially exciting when it comes to fun things like sewing. We wrote several articles this year that you are going to want to put on your reading list
Starting a new log cabin project? Read this article to learn how much fabric you will be needing to make a log cabin quilt.
Modern Quilting Tips, Tricks and Tutorials! - Everything you need to know to make quilting easy and fun so you can do what it is you love to do and create a beautiful joy filled life!
Make Modern magazine is written by quilters, for quilters just like you. Subscribe to join our growing community.
What is a scant 1/4" seam allowance? Knowing how to sew a scant seam will help with the accuracy of all of your quilt piecing.
With 2018 just around the corner, we’ve taken a look back our top tips, selected by YOU, from 2017. Read below to see the most popular articles and videos this year at National Quilters Circle!
A quilt sizes chart visually showing standard quilt sizes and standard quilt batting. Use this quilt sizes infographic to fit standard beds.
