Quilting as an art form isn’t as easy as going to a store and buying an item. The actual process of creating a quilt is much more involved. It is an art form, complete with its techniques, rules, practices, and standards. It has been around for centuries but was officially recognized as an art form in the early part of the twentieth century. But to quilt well and understand what you are doing and why… takes more than just following a few simple steps. Quilts are pieces of art, so they require incredible skill and attention to detail. To make a great quilt, you’ll need a lot of training and know-how (hard skills). If you’re starting and wish to learn quilting, it might be best for you to start with something simple like a basic blanket or long-sleeved top.
Depending on the type of fabric used, one can choose an abstract style, floral, photorealism, fine point, or applique. Some people like to create a personal message with their quilts. Some want to use quilts to honor a special anniversary or other occasions.
If you take up the quilting hobby, you will benefit from learning online about this craft. This is how you will come across the best quilts worldwide and get inspiration from them. In addition, you will find a suitable quilt for you, which will make the crafting process much more enjoyable. This is a feature that is lacking in most stores that specialize in crafting quilts. This is where Fat Quarter Shop comes in! It offers an extensive selection of sewing, quilting, and related materials.
Here are some basic definitions of the most commonly used terms in the quilting world:
Quilting Fabric
Cotton is the most popular fabric for quilting since it’s soft, firm, and easily available. Because of this, quilting fabric comes in a wide variety of colors, patterns, and textures, from very bold to very subtle designs. At a minimum, quilting fabric should be 100% cotton to provide a dense weave with grain in the fabric that runs vertically. In addition, a variety of widths are available in 42″ and wider.
Good fabric is the key to quilting success. So it just makes sense that if you put your best work into your project, you should use well-made materials. The key to finding quality fabric is to select something closely woven, which reduces the chance of threads pulling out later on.
Wide yardage is also available at many online stores, including Fat Quarter Shop, allowing you to choose the pattern you need for your project. It is common practice to pre-wash fabrics for many quilting projects to reduce shrinkage and fading. However, high-end fabrics are less prone to shrinking or fading. Therefore, we advise washing a small piece of fabric before measuring how much the color will change.
Quilt Backing
Quilting is based on two very distinct pieces of fabric sandwiched together to form one complete quilt. The top piece is always the first layer, which will ultimately be seen when you finish the quilt. You can refer to this piece as being face up. On the backside of this top piece, there exists a second layer or backing. These layered quilts typically cover a good portion of the face-up top piece. More delicate designs may leave a small amount exposed to add a creative piece of quilt art. The area you expose from the top layer still needs covering, and you can piece or assemble it in another decorative way.
There are a whole lot of benefits to the pre-made quilt backing. One advantage is that there is no need to piece or cut the backing material. Another benefit is that if you are not familiar with the methods to make the back of your quilt, you can use pre-made materials that are easy to use. It helps reduce the frustrations that might come with backing a quilt. Backing for a quilt can be made of any solid color you wish or pieced in a way to create a more incredible feeling of sophistication. Finally, it provides the final layer of protection for your quilt so you can place it safely on display.
The truth is that backing is an integral part of your quilt. You can make your backing elaborate or simple, plain or patterned, made from one fabric, or have a printed design, but whatever you do – your backing matters! And it matters to your quilt no matter if you are doing the traditional pieced “lap” style, using a pre-cut background, or making an intricate crazy-quilt design. Fat Quarter Shop provides a fantastic assortment of quilt backing. While thousands of quilting fabrics are available in their collections, you can also mix match your favoritecolor scheme using the fabrics on the site.
Quilt kits
Magazines can help you hone your creativity. They are also an invaluable aid in helping you take your quilting to the next level. But not everyone has the budget to go out and purchase fabrics for each new project they want to complete. If this is the case, then buying quilt kits is the answer. Quilt kits are the quickest, most economical way to get the fabric for your next quilting project. In addition, they are easy-to-follow patterns that are offered in the most popular fabric designs.
Each bundle includes all necessary fabrics, including backing and binding materials, to complete a specific pattern. Simply cut your fabrics, baste them together, stitch them, and then finish the edges. Quilt kits simplify the quilting process, saving you time and money. They allow you to create a lovely quilt without having to spend time and effort choosing fabrics and arranging them on your own. This saves you both time and money. Additionally, if you want to duplicate a beautiful finished project, it can be quickly done by simply purchasing its corresponding quilt kit.
Before you start looking for a quilt kit, it’s essential to understand what type of project you will be doing. Ensure you know how large your project will be (if you’re making a birthday or Christmas gift). Also, decide whether you will be making the whole thing in one go or part of it at a time. Take into consideration where you are located, as well as your season’s needs. Planning will also help you avoid buying fabric that is already costly because of its weight or demand. At Fat Quarter Shop, we offer a wide selection of beginner, mid-range, and high-end quilt kits for every budget. Each kit comes with detailed instructions on building the piece and an index of which fabric colors work best together. This way, you can pick the perfect design for your unique style!
Quilt blocks
A quilt block is a piece of cloth, which you can create either by sewing pieces together manually or by cutting them up and sewing them back together in a pattern. You can use it in many creative DIY projects. They can be pieced, appliqued, or made from one single piece of material. A pieced block is usually faster than the other methods because the material already has all the pieces attached together. For decorative purposes, a block can be an artistic and simplistic piece of artwork. On the other hand, a quilter may want to make intricate or straightforward projects out of their quilt blocks for functional purposes.
The quilter who has time and inclination to create a new masterpiece can check out Fat Quarter Shop. Each of their quilt blocks is a finished design that includes sewing some pieces together, some applique stitching, and binding the edges with a contrasting or matching fabric. These quilt blocks can be used as-is for a small wall hanging, potholder, or table topper. Or they can form part of an entire afghan or quilt.
Quilt batting
A quilt is an arrangement of three layers – the top, the batting, and the back. The top is what you see on your bed. You can cover it in an exciting pattern or pretty colors, or unique fabrics. The batting you choose gives depth to the quilt, while the backing is the layer you place outside. Quilt batting is a soft, padded substance that creates warmth and durability, and it’s an essential part of any quilt. The batting of a quilt can be decorative. However, it can be more practical for warmth or more of aesthetic flexibility of the look of the blanket.
As a whole, quilt batting has come a long way in recent years. It is now possible to find quilt batting that is much more eco-friendly than the traditional feather or wool type of batting. It can be any thickness you like, but remember, the thicker the batting, the heavier the finished product. Quilt batting comes in a variety of materials, from wool to acrylic. The new generation synthetic type of batting is made partly from recycled materials. There are several types of synthetic batting out there. They are made from artificial fiber, acrylic, cotton, or microfibre. Check out Fat Quarter Shop to find one that works for you is to experiment until you find what you like.
