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Quilt Making Basics For The Beginner

These quilt making basics will give you a brief and basic introduction to quilt making. You will find it very easy to learn to quilt and also how much fun it is.

Supplies You Will Need

Iron and ironing board
Rotary cutter and rotary cutting mat
quilt pins
Sewing machine
Thread to match your fabrics
Scissors

Cutting your fabric for your quilt

The best quilt making basic idea I can give you is to be very accurate in your cutting. If you are off just a little bit your blocks will not be square. Rotary cutting is fast, easy and accurate. It’s fast because you measure and cut with one stroke. It’s accurate because the fabric stays flat as you cut.

Fabric off the bolt is likely to have jagged edges. The first step in rotary cutting is to square up the edge of the fabric.

Fold the fabric with selvages matching. Place the fabric on your cutting mat with the fold nearest you.
Align the left side of the folded fabric on a vertical line on the cutting mat. Make your first cut with the rotary cutter and quilt ruler. This will square up your fabric.
When rotary cutting, always hold your ruler firmly in place. Walk your hand up the ruler as you cut; never cutting beyond your hand position or the ruler may shift. Always be careful that your fingers are not in the way of the cutting blade
Cut in the increments called for by the pattern instructions. Strips are usually cut first and then sub-cut into squares or rectangles.

Sewing your pieces together

To join pieces of fabric by machine; match two pieces with right sides together. Align raw edges even and place pins, perpendicular to the seam line, to secure. Use your presser foot as a guide to sew in a ¼” seam allowance. The distance from the outside edge of the presser foot to the machine needle should be ¼”.

Pressing Your Fabric

Press seam allowances to one side, not open as in dressmaking. Press toward the darker color fabric, if possible, to avoid seam allowances showing through light fabrics. Press seam allowances in opposite directions from row to row. By offsetting seam allowances at each intersection, you reduce the bulk under the patchwork.

Follow your pattern closely and you have made your first block. After you have made all of your blocks you are ready to put your quilt together. Sew the blocks together as the pattern dictates.

Layering Your Quilt

Prepare a large surface where you can spread out – a large table, two tables pushed together, or a clean floor. Take the batting out of the package and unfold it to let it “relax” for a few hours.Place the backing right side down on your work surface, smoothing out any wrinkles. Center the batting on the backing, smoothing it as you go. With the right side up, place quilt top on top of batting, keeping all layers wrinkle free.

Now baste your quilt in any desired manner. You can pin all three layers together with quilt safety pins. You will need to pin about every two to three inches. I prefer to use the spray quilt adhesive. It works great and lasts awhile so you don’t have to rush to get it quilted.

These quilt making basics are very easy. Just remember to follow your pattern. There are some great places on the Internet to find free quilt patterns. The place I like best is free quilt patterns They have many free patterns with a list of places on the Internet to find more patterns.

If you have any questions or Quilt making basics ideas please contact me and I will try and answer your question or put your ideas on my site.

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