| A quilt is essentially two layers of fabric with wadding | | | | traditional patchwork, with elaborate shapes appearing |
| sandwiched between. The top layer of material is the | | | | in many contemporary quilts. So that the patchwork |
| quilt top and the back layer is the backing. These | | | | lies flat, the shapes are precisely joined, after being |
| layers of fabric, along with the wadding (also known as | | | | carefully measured and cut.There are countless ways |
| batting), are held together by stitching or ties.Many | | | | to construct a patchwork quilt.A patchwork block quilt |
| beginning quilter's desire to create a quilt comes about | | | | is typically pieced from squares. (8", 10", 12", etc.) The |
| after viewing quilts in magazines, at an exhibition or in | | | | blocks can be of all the same design or different |
| the homes of friends and family. Once hooked quilter's | | | | patterns. Some common block patterns are |
| are always thinking about their next quilt. The idea for | | | | Four-patch, Nine-patch, Log Cabin and Pineapple.An |
| a particular quilt can come from anywhere. Inspiration | | | | overall patchwork quilt design is made of pieced |
| may begin with a painting, garden or the beauty of a | | | | shapes stitched together to form a larger design or |
| specific piece of fabric.Much thought goes into each | | | | specific effect. Star Burst quilts are examples of an |
| quilt. Will the quilt be for a bed or displayed on a wall? | | | | overall patchwork quilt.In Crazy Patch quilts, random |
| Who will be the lucky recipient? Is the quilt to | | | | shapes of fabric are stitched together in an irregular |
| commemorate a special event or to be a wedding or | | | | pattern, with fancy embroidery embellishing the |
| anniversary gift? Contemplation of the finished quilt | | | | seams.Techniques used in piecing patchwork are |
| include size, pattern and colour scheme | | | | numerous. English Paper Piecing is still used to create |
| considerations.A quilt top can be one large piece of | | | | traditional hexagon designs. Foundation Paper Piecing |
| fabric or made up of smaller pieces of fabric called | | | | where the fabric is sewn directly onto a paper pattern |
| quilt blocks. The blocks are sewn together edge to | | | | allows complicated patterns to be created easily and |
| edge or with sashing separating the blocks. Borders | | | | accurately. Revolutionary Template Free methods |
| are added to emphasis the quilt blocks, as another | | | | have eliminated the need for marking the fabric making |
| element of interest or as a way of simply creating a | | | | it quicker and easier to construct quilts, such as lovely |
| larger quilt.Different techniques or combinations of | | | | Feathered Star quilts.To folks with limited knowledge of |
| techniques are used in the actual construction of a | | | | patchwork and quilting the intricate patterns of many |
| quilt.1. Piecing or patchwork is the sewing together of | | | | quilts appear to have taken years of patience to |
| small pieces of fabric (patches) to produce a design. | | | | construct. Clever modern methods of quick cutting and |
| The designs incorporate the various colours, patterns | | | | quick piecing, have made it possible to create beautiful |
| and textures of the fabric, as well as different shapes. | | | | Bargello quilts, and the classic Le Moyne Star quilts |
| The contours of the shapes are generally geometric in | | | | without frustration. 2. |