Frequently Asked Questions About Quilt Patterns & Books
Do I need a pattern to make a quilt?
While a pattern isn’t strictly required to make a beautiful quilt, we highly recommend using a pattern to beginning quilters who are still mastering the skills they need to tackle the specific details and troubleshooting of creating a quilt without a pattern.
Even with a pattern, quilt-making is a personal reflection of the quilter’s style and can be easily customized or embellished.
Do you need to pre-wash quilt fabrics?
This answer will vary depending on the quilt project and the quilter’s preference.
If you are making a quilt that you expect to have lots of wear and tear, then it’s best to pre-wash your fabrics. The fabrics will shrink when the quilt is washed and do not always shrink evenly, resulting in a potentially wrinkled look.
If the quilt is meant to be an art or decor piece, then pre-washing is not necessary, since the quilt won’t see as much practical use.
If quilting with batik fabrics or flannels that are not precuts, however, pre-washing is recommended. In batiks, dyes can run and there is often residual wax in the fabric from the manufacturing process.
Flannels have a looser weave than other cotton fabrics. This results in the possibility for more dramatic shrinkage, which would change the measurements of your quilt! The only time to avoid pre-washing is when using precut sets, as this shrinkage and washing can warp or fray cut edges.
What do different thread weights mean?
Simply put, the larger the weight number, the thinner the thread is.
The standard sewing machine thread weight for quilting is a medium weight, or 40-50 weight. These can be made with all kinds of fiber content and range from neutral to transparent, to metallic!
Fine weight threads are 60-100 weight and are preferred for small projects where tiny stitching is desired, or machine embroidery where the fine thread will be layered in a satin stitch to create a cohesive image.
Heavy weight threads are anywhere from 3-12 weight, but 12 is generally the largest thread that will still work well in a sewing machine. The larger sizes are typically used for hand embroidery designs or when working with a particularly heavy, thick fabric like denim.
What is the first step in quilting?
Choose your supplies.
This generally starts with a pattern so that you can see how much fabric is required, and what the finished design will look like, so you can choose the fabric colors you want to be reflected in the quilt. Using a pattern will also help organize which quilting notions will be most helpful to you.
Once you have all of your materials and supplies, then it’s time to start measuring, cutting, and sewing!
What does it mean for a quilt to "be quilted"?
Quilters sew together their quilt top, add borders, then layer their batting and backing fabric, and the entire blanket is “quilted” which is the process of stitching designs through all the layers. Quilters can do this at home themselves (though it’s tricky on a normal sized sewing machine!), take it to a quilt shop, or to a long arm quilter service which uses a special sewing machine that can handle large projects like a finished quilt.
How much fabric do you buy for a quilt?
Other than following the fabric requirements on a given pattern, here is some advice from Jennifer Bosworth, CEO of Shabby Fabrics:
Rule of thumb:
If you like a fabric, get a yard.
If you love a fabric, get 2 yards.
If you can’t live without a fabric, get 5 yards.
Why? Fabric patterns are short-lived and can often not be re-ordered, so there's no guarantee that the fabric will ever be available again. If in the future you decide to use that pattern for a quilt and need more than you thought you would, buying extra ensures that you'll have enough.
What kind of sewing machine is best for quilting?
There are hundreds of sewing machines on the market, each with a varying number of features. Depending on what kind of sewing you plan to be doing, you might decide that you need a machine with lots of bells and whistles.
With sewing machines, you certainly get what you pay for, so expect to invest in something that will last a long time. However, getting a fancy machine isn’t required for successful quilting. Remember: quilting was traditionally all done by hand!
If you want to embark on a quilting journey with simple stitches in beautiful designs, all you need is a machine that can do a straight stitch with an adjustable stitch length. Buy from a local quilt shop and they usually will service the machine and offer a warranty.
We sew using a BERNINA 770 QE in our videos and we love it!
How many types of quilt blocks are there?
There are hundreds of quilt block patterns, each with its own name! There are a few block patterns that are more traditional and commonly used which we define for you on the Shabby Fabrics website. Some of those blocks are: Sawtooth Star, Ohio Star, Log Cabin, and Four-Patch. Hopefully these definitions get you started and help build your quilting vocabulary.
What is quilt binding?
The binding of a quilt is made up of the small strips of fabric that are sewn all the way around the edges, unifying the top, batting, and backing of a quilt.
What is a Quilt Block?
A quilt block is the main part of a quilt being a square of fabrics sewn together in a design and combined with other blocks that make up a quilt.
A block may be made up of smaller square shapes, or more intricate designs like a Dresden Plate, Log Cabin, Sawtooth Star, or one of hundreds of other quilt block patterns that have been developed over the history of quilting.
What is quilt backing?
Backing is the fabric used on the back side or under side of a quilt. Some backings are pieced together until they are the correct size to match the quilt top, and some fabrics are made especially to serve as backing fabric, measuring 108” across instead of the typical 43”-45”.
What materials do I need to get started with quilting?
To get started with quilting, you will need fabric, a rotary cutter, a cutting mat, quilting rulers, quilting pins, a sewing machine, and thread.
What are the different types of quilting patterns and designs?
There are many different types of quilting patterns and designs, including traditional patterns like the Log Cabin, Nine-Patch, and Double Wedding Ring, English Paper Piecing, applique, piecing as well as modern patterns and designs.
How do I measure and cut fabric for quilting?
To measure and cut fabric for quilting, you should use quilting rulers and a rotary cutter. It is important to ensure that your fabric is square and that your cuts are accurate. Our preferred brand of rulers is Creative Grids.
How do I assemble a quilt top?
To assemble a quilt top, you will need to sew together the quilt blocks or squares. This can be done using a sewing machine or by hand.
How do I quilt the layers of a quilt together?
To quilt the layers of a quilt together, you will need to sew through the top, batting, and backing of the quilt. This can be done using a sewing machine or by hand.
How do I bind a quilt?
To bind a quilt, you will need to sew a strip of fabric around the edges of the quilt. This can be done by machine or by hand. The most common width of strips are 2-1/4" or 2-1/2" strips.
How do you start quilting as a beginner?
The best project to begin with to learn how to quilt is a quilt block. There are many ways to use a quilt block in a project when you're finished; You can make a pillow, wall hanging, or make more to stitch together into a larger quilt. The possibilities are limited only by your imagination! We recommend using a pattern to start but there are lots of ways for you to add your own personal touches. Be sure to check out our Learn to Quilt video series to follow along with Jen as she walks you through making your very first quilt with helpful tutorials, tips, and tricks!
