How To Quilt
For Patchwork Quilts
7 Simple Rules
Learn How To Quilt For
Patchwork Quilts by following these simple
steps.
Patchwork is the art of
joining small pieces of material in patterns
using diamonds, triangles, squares, and similar
shapes. It is important that all pieces are cut
accurately, allowing 1/4 inch for seams, and
that they are joined together with the running
stitch as evenly as possible. The success of
the finished design depends not only on careful
cutting and sewing together but on the color
harmony of the whole. If scraps from mixed
colors are used they should be chosen with
taste and equally distributed in all sections
of the quilt.
For patchwork quilts here
are 7 simple rules to follow:
1. Draft your pattern,
allowing 1/4 inch all around for the seams.
2. Use a number 60 thread
and a number 8 short needle. A long needle is
not necessary, for very few stitches are taken
on such small pieces before drawing the needle
through the material. Use white thread unless
the patches are cut from very dark cloth.
Unlike applique, patchwork does not require
thread in matching colors.
3. It is important to have
small pieces pressed smoothly to facilitate
cutting as well as stitching together. Place
the pattern on cloth and trace around the
outline with a hard lead pencil. Cut out each
piece as accurately as possible.
4. Separate the patches
according to size and shape, and string them
together. Some quilt makers prefer to sort them
as they will be needed in assembling each
block.
5. Sew patches together with
small running stitches and secure each short
seam as it is finished with at least two back
stitches. The seams should be 1/4 inch deep,
and sewed as straight as possible.
6. In piecing the block, sew
several patches together at a time to form a
small section of the design. Fit sections
together and see that the corners of adjoining
pieces match exactly. In order to have it
perfectly accurate, tack the corners together
with a few over-stitches. Sew the sections
together with the usual 1/4 inch seam.
7. After the block is
pieced, press it on the wrong side with a warm
iron. Press the seams flat not open.
If the quilt is made from
many colored scraps, remember to alternate
light and dark shades. Distribute patches
according to color rather than print of
material. It is better to finish sewing all the
separate blocks before setting them together.
In that way, you may be surer to get a uniform
distribution of the colors.
Learn How To Quilt For
Patchwork Quilts by following these simple
steps.
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