Posts Tagged ‘patchwork quilting tips & techniques’
Patchwork Quilting
Patchwork quilting is many things to many people, including you.
Whether novice beginner to professional… those of us that share a passion for patchwork and quilting have a desire to create beautiful quilted art. Whether functional quilts that warm our beds, or abstract pieces of art that adorn the walls of our homes, we all bring our lives, our experiences, techniques and passion to this craft of patchwork quilting.
While I have grown very comfortable with my online name of MaggieB, which I have had almost as long as I have been quilting, most of you, if you do know me in the real world know me as Marge Burkell.
In the 30+ years that I have been involved in patchwork quilting I have come full circle. I started out all those years ago wanting to make a quilt for the new baby on the way… that baby, my daughter Allison, will turn 30 years old this Saturday! Just last year I went full circle, back to “basics” as I started a fun and wonderful quilt for my new baby granddaughter, Alexis!
Posted in patchwork quilting, patchwork quilting video | Tags: American patchwork quilting, easy quilt patterns, paper piecing quilts, patchwork fabrics, patchwork quilt trail, patchwork quilting, patchwork quilting tips & techniques, patchwork quilting video, political quilt, political quilts, quilt book review, quilting tools | 
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Patchwork Quilting of Japan
Many years throughout my professional patchwork quilting career I found myself working with, and for Japanese companies and quilters, both here in the United States and Japan.
You can see evidence of this in the quilt I submitted to the Blogger Online Quilt Festival last week, in my original Fairfield Fashion Show Finale stopping garment, as well as in my quilt patterns, if you are familiar with them.
Since I have a number of people emailing me asking various questions concerning the Japanese influence in patchwork quilting I thought I would share with you some resource terms that might be a jumping off point for you… they were for me.
So flip over to page 2 if you are looking for inspiration… Read the rest of this entry »
Patchwork Quilting from Hawaii
Hawaiian patchwork quilting designs aren’t really patchwork quilting in the truest sense. They are beautiful appliqué quilts. Done in a very symmetrical pattern the whole piece appliqués are usually handed down through generations of tradition. But here is an opportunity to make your own and design the pattern itself!
Corinne Shibley of Quilting Suite 101 gives a very concise and thorough explanation of how to do just that. What was missing are pictures of what the finished product would look like but don’t worry, I’ve got you covered on that too, along with a VIDEO, and an idea of how to use even just one block if that’s all you care to complete! Just flip over to “page 2″ for MORE! Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in patchwork quilting tips & techniques | Tags: patchwork quilting tips & techniques |
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Finishing off your Binding on your Patchwork Quilting
Back in March we talked about binding your quilts. Well I just stumbled upon a great tutorial by Amy’s Creative Side that really shows the final hand stitching very well so I thought I would share it with you.
It is the same way that I do mine. I too like to take a stitch or two in the mitered corners so that they are secure. Give this lesson a look… you will be glad you did!
Sashiko; Traditional Japanese Non-Patchwork Quilting
Sashiko (刺し子, literally “little stabs”) is a form of decorative reinforcement stitching from Japan. Originally used to reinforce multiple layers of traditionally indigo blue fabric used for various functions.
Dating to ancient times warriors wore garments reinforced with sashiko beneath their armor in war to not only protect them from harm from combatants but from chafing.
“Firemen” in Japan in ancient times had uniforms made of sashiko. The many layers of cloth, held together by the decorative stitches, would help in a most astounding way… the men that fought the fire would be literally doused with water so that their sashiko covered uniform was soaking wet, and then these men would run into the building and just knock down the walls and the fire with it. Put the fire out? No way! The buildings were just made of paper, and they just wanted to get the fire down and out as soon as they could so that it did not spread to nearby structures. The sashiko uniform helped save the “fireman” from burns.
The white cotton thread on the traditional indigo blue cloth gives sashiko its distinctive appearance, though decorative items sometimes use red thread.
There are many beautiful designs made for stitching sashiko patterns into the cloth. They are traditionally patterns that are in repetitions and can be stitched continuously, so make for very good machine sewn sashiko quilting too.
One of my own copyrighted patterns featured sashiko and I will be offering that pattern free to my readers in upcoming weeks so be sure to watch for that giveaway!
This video shows some wonderful examples, and the recommended reading will give you even MORE! Read the rest of this entry »
Patchwork Quilting Arts TV
In most areas of the United State patchwork quilting enthusiasts will be tuning into their local PBS station starting THIS week for a NEW season of Quilting Arts TV!
The producers have some surprises in store for “QATV” viewers that can’t be revealed right now, but here is a sneak peek of what’s on the schedule: Read the rest of this entry »
Organizing Your Patchwork Quilting Stash!
Serena organizes her patchwork quilting fabrics much the same way I do! Watch her video to show YOU how! One note: you can buy inexpensive roman type shades that come in lots of different widths and lengths to match the size of your bookcases. Your bookcases need not be expensive either, just be sure they will support the weight of your fabric; every 3 yards believe it or not = 1 pound! Be SURE to click on “Read More” for Part 2 PLUS even MORE fabric storage ideas!
Patchwork Quilting Spring Cleaning!
For many of us spring means cleaning…
When it comes to our patchwork quilting area of the house that isn’t always an easy thing! Here are some ideas for storing your fabrics so that you may make it just a tad easier not only to do your patchwork quilting, but to keep it neat and tidy so come next spring the job is not nearly so daunting!
Just click HERE for Fabric Storage Solutions from All People Quilt and here are even MORE ideas for storing your most precious patchwork quilting possession; your fabrics! Read the rest of this entry »
Patchwork Quilting Thimbles
There are as many opinions on which thimble[s] to use in patchwork quilting as there are quilters. Most quilters end up with a whole “collection” of them. Not decorative ones, but real, meant to be used ones, so they can find what feels “right” for them. THAT is the most important part of using a thimble, or thimbles, they have to be what feels most comfortable for YOU and work well too. I have always used leather thimbles, buying new ones as I puncture the current model.
In this video you can see that this quilter actually wears three [3] of them at once! While I have never done that, it works for her, and THAT is what matters.
As an aside… if you get, as the patchwork quilting gal in this video mentions, a drop of blood on you quilt, your own saliva will take your blood out of anything better than anything else! Simply grab a cotton swab, get it saturated with your own saliva, and use it to remove the blood spot!
ENJOY the VIDEO! Read the rest of this entry »
