Quilt Lessons - page 2
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Block (Quilt Block)
Quilts are made up of blocks. Blocks can be any size, and pieced in any way. Common sizes of finished blocks are 8" or 8.5". A quilt block can be pieced (made up of small fabric pieces stitched together), or a full piece of fabric. A quilt block can be embellished by applique, embroidery, or quilting stitches.
My Pups & Pals quilt is made up of 9 quilt blocks.
Color And Design
Change the mood of a quilt by changing color scheme and fabric design. The same quilt pattern can look completely different by merely re-arranging blocks, and switching fabrics. Many quilters use a planning board. A board can be covered in felt, so fabric swatches stick - or use pins to attach fabric pieces. Move the fabrics around, or change up the fabric pieces a feel for color. Create seasonal quilts by using seasonal fabrics or designs.
Today's scanners are wonderful. You can scan in your fabric and use a drawing program such as Paint Shop Pro, or a quilting program, to create various blocks. This way, you can see the outcome before ever beginning to actually sew.
The following images are items I made using the Laced Star design. The pattern is available on this site. Go to: Laced Star Quilt and Laced Star Placemat.
Cutting Techniques
The following are just a few of the many cutting techniques used in quilting.
Cutting tools are extremely important in quilting, because precise cuts are necessary. I recommend using a large sewing ruler, rotary cutter, and cutting mat when cutting straight cuts. These tools assist in creating fast, precise cuts. See the ad at the bottom of the page.
Crazy Quilt
Crazy quilting is a wonderful method for creating fun blocks very quickly. These blocks use small and irregular pieces of fabric, so this is also a great way to use up your scraps. The first piece is placed on a backing piece of fabric. Subsequent fabric pieces are pinned into place at random, covering previous seams and raw edges. Stitching is done on the right side of the block. When finished, crazy quilt blocks are often embellished with yarn, embroidery stitches, buttons and other items.
To try out crazy quilt, go to: Crazy Quilt Pot Holder.
Double Cutting & Triple Cutting
Double cutting, double-triple cutting, and triple cutting are methods of creating interesting, contemporary style quilt blocks. They look complex, but are actually very easy to make. Fabric is stacked and then cuts are made through all layers. The pieces are moved from one block to another, and interesting designs are created. It is simply a matter of re-arranging the cut pieces. Some quilters call this “stack and whack.”
Double Cut: Two Blocks
1. Lay one 10" square of Print 1 directly over a 10" square of Print 2. Both fabrics are right side up.
2. Make two cut lines through both layers. They do not have to be parallel, but should be straight lines (refer to photos on right).
3. Re-arrange your pieces so that the center pieces of each square is placed with the other square (refer to following photo).
4. Stitch the sections of each block together. You now have two stitched blocks. Press seams toward the darker fabric.
NOTE: It is not necessary for the seams to be perfectly matched up. These are "crazy blocks", so imperfections are OK. When you square down the block, sides will be straightened and size will be corrected.
5. Lay one stitched block directly on top of the other, both right side up and lying in the same direction (refer to following image). Previous cuts (now stitched) should be vertical.
DOUBLE CUT: Cut two horizontal lines across the block, cutting through both layers of fabric (refer to following image).
Re-arrange pieces so that the center of one block is now the center of the other block (refer to following image). Stitch sections together and press seams.
You now have two completed double cut blocks. The image shows the two blocks, stitched together.
Double Triple Cut: 2 Blocks
We are still using the same two fabrics. Follow directions in steps 1-4 above. Follow the directions under "Double Cut" except make THREE cut lines instead of two at step 2. Use one 10" square of each fabric; create two triple cut blocks.
Re-arrange the segments and stitch pieces together.
