(c) In Quito's Market (Detail) I enjoy getting questions where I have at least some partial answer that might help someone in their journey. Following is a recent question from a fellow portrait quilter having just seen a photo of one of my portrait quilts... From a frustrated quilter: I just saw a photo of your quilt "In Quito's Market". I do figural quilts and I have a question that nobody has been able to answer for me. My problem is that I take a wonderful top, that I have spent hundreds of hours on and can't seem to understand how to quilt it.My quilts faces get puffy because of the quilting around the figure. I have tried quilting them minimally and it doesn't help at all.There must be a secret My response... A face is usually a more central part of the quilt... anytime one quilts all around it first, there will be trouble such as you have experienced. I suggest one never create an unquilted island of anything before quilting the 'island' of as yet unquilted fabric. With art quilts where there is generally more quilting than maybe a bed quilt, it is actually pretty important to work from the central area outward... and that often means the face first... which is what I generally do. The rule of thumb with quilting faces is ... make a choice up front.... either minimal quilting or alot.... anything else doesn't seem to work well, and ofcourse the same rules of thumb about even quilting distribution across the whole surface of the piece holds true. If you do heavy quilting(almost thread painting as I often do) on the face, pretty much the same level of quilting density is called for across the rest of the quilt. One doesn't have to go the heavy thread painting approach.... so if doing minimal quilting on the face use minimal quilting elsewhere. Failure to evenly distribute quilting density is a call for ripples/ puffs. Hope that helps. Good Luck! Patt
In April, my mom and I went to Chattanooga for the weekend to take a class hosted by Spool and the BadAss Quilters Society with Melissa Averinos, who had just won the Best of Show award at QuiltCon…
In this tutorial, I will show you how to add facing to your quilt as an excellent way to finish! Don't forget to watch the video tutorial too!
Have you ever wondered how to finish off an art quilt? What do you do when binding would be too distracting? Facing a quilt is easy, and it gives the quilt a classy wrapped canvas look! I made a quilt for a couple out of the husband’s collection of Tommy Bahama shirts. They plan to hang it on the wall in their Florida home. It was either this quilt idea or trying to find a piece of art that fit the theme and wall space they had. The competition was stiff so I knew I’d have to do something that
As promised in my last post, here is a tutorial on how I like to face a quilt. Facing a quilt is a way to bind your quilt without having the binding show on the front. It allows you to take the quilting all the way to the edge, can add a nice professional and more artful looking finish, (especially to a smaller quilt) and I also find quilts seem to hang better and flatter with this method. Please keep in mind that this is just one way to face a quilt, and that there are many different methods out there. A lot of quilters prefer to use methods that create mitered corners, and you can find loads of tutorials on how to do that with a goggle search. However, I am extremely direction challenged and found them a bit too confusing for me! The method that I use doesn't give you mitered corners, but who cares as they wouldn't show on the front anyway. And best of all it is simple, straight forward and super-duper easy, I promise! I broke this tutorial up into 17 steps, (all really simple so don't be intimidated) and lots of photos, as visually I learn best that way, and I am guessing you do, too! So, here we go.... Step 1: Begin with a quilt top that you have finished quilting. Make sure to square the corners and trim off any excess batting and backing fabric. Starting at the top and the bottom edges of your quilt, cut two strips of fabric each 2" wide and a wee bit longer then your top and bottom edges. (Note: For photo purposes, my quilt is turned on its side here). With your quilt facing right side up, pin each strip along the top and bottom, lining the edge of the fabric strip to the edge of the quilt, as seen in the photo above. (Note: I like to use solids, but if you are using a print for your facing strips you would want to sew the strip right side down). Step 2: Using a 1/4" seam allowance sew both strips in place and trim the excess fabric edges flush with the sides of the quilt, as shown in the photo above. Step 3: Flip the strips up and over to the side, as shown above. (If using a print the print would now be face up). Press with a hot iron. Step 4: Begin to fold the entire strip to the back of the quilt, as shown above. You almost have to roll the area that contains the seam allowance to get it to go backwards. As you are doing this, keep pressing with a hot iron, (I like to use a lot of steam, too). The photo above shows what the front will look like once that strip is turned and pressed all the way to the back. Here, the photo above shows how the edge of the quilt will look once the strip is folded back. And this photo above, shows what the back will look like. Very easy so far, yes?! Okay, lets continue.... Step 5: Now you are going to flip your quilt over to the backside, and unfold those strips that I just had you so carefully fold and press! Using your hot iron and some steam, begin to turn and press the edge of each facing strip inward a generous 1/4" as shown above. (Be careful to just press the edge of the facing strip, and not that quilted seam allowance, as we want to keep the "memory" of the pressed fold there for later). Step 6: Flip your quilt to the front and your facing strips, too, so they are now back to where you started. Pin in place so they lay nice and flat along the quilt top, as shown in the photo above. Step 7: Cut two more facing strips, again each 2" wide, but this time approximately 1" shorter then the length of your quilt. Step 8: Center each strip along the sides of your quilt leaving approximately 1/2" on the ends, as shown above. As before, pin both strips to the sides, lining up the edges of the strips to the edges of your quilt. Note: Once the new facing strips are pinned in place you can remove the pins from the first two strips. Step 9: Begin stitching at the edge of the quilt, and using a 1/4"seam allowance, continue to stitch the length of the strip and past, going all the way to the other edge of your quilt. See photo above. Step 10: Stitch each corner of your quilt. You will want to go right across that intersection, as shown above. This is to reinforce your corners for when they are turned. I like to stitch a line forward then another one backward, for extra strength. Step 11: Trim each corner off, flush with the line you just stitched, as shown above. Step 12: We are going to repeat a few steps here... As before in Step 3, flip the two strips that you just sewed over and away from the quilt and press. Then fold and roll the strips to the back as you did in Step 4 pressing as you go. Flip your quilt over to the back and unfold your facing strips as you did in Step 5 and press your generous 1/4" seam allowance along the edge of each facing strip. But now, unlike before, I want you to re-fold and re-roll these two strips back again to the back of your quilt. Steam press again to get everything nice and flat. The above photo shows what the front of your quilt should now look like. The facing strips along the top and the bottom of your quilt top are still visible on the front, and the side facing strips are turned and pressed neatly to the back. And the photo above shows what that those two newest strips should look like on the back side. Yup... lot's of little steps here, but they are oh, so easy! And we are almost finished! Step 13: Flip your quilt to the backside, and pin those two strips flat against the back of your quilt, as shown above. Step 14: Using nice small stitches, hand stitch each strip in place along the back of your quilt, as shown above, remembering to be careful not to stitch through to the front side. Step 15: We are in the home stretch now, baby! Using your forefinger and thumb, as shown above and below, push each corner right-side out. As you do this the two remaining facing strips on the front side of your quilt will naturally flip to the back of your quilt, where they belong. Continue to push each corner out with your thumb. I then like to use a wooded chopstick to push the corner as far out as possible. Step 16: Once the corners are all pushed out and the facing strips are on the backside of the quilt, re-press along the edges with a hot iron, making sure everything is nice and crisp and laying flat, as shown above. Step 17: As before in Steps 13 and 14, pin and hand stitch the two facing strips down to the back of your quilt, as shown in the photo above. Ta - da! That's it! You are all done! Above, is what the quilt looks like from the back. Folk Art Cross Quilt No.3 And here is what it looks like from the front. Told you it was easy! If you have any questions, ask them in the comment section and I'll do my best to answer them! xo You can view more of my Tutorials HERE and my Patterns HERE.
Complete your quilted wall hanging without a traditional binding
When it comes time for me to quilt, I usually have a fear of starting. Most people don’t quilt the face at all — but my entire quilt is a portrait and I have no choice but to quilt it. …
Learn how to face a quilt with this step-by-step tutorial with photos. This technique reduces bulk in the corners and facings lay flat.
Modern Winding Ways is finished. Quilted, faced and hung. I'd love to sow you how I faced it, with a free two-faced pumpkin quilt facing tutorial.
As promised in my last post, here is a tutorial on how I like to face a quilt. Facing a quilt is a way to bind your quilt without having the binding show on the front. It allows you to take the quilting all the way to the edge, can add a nice professional and more artful looking finish, (especially to a smaller quilt) and I also find quilts seem to hang better and flatter with this method. Please keep in mind that this is just one way to face a quilt, and that there are many different methods out there. A lot of quilters prefer to use methods that create mitered corners, and you can find loads of tutorials on how to do that with a goggle search. However, I am extremely direction challenged and found them a bit too confusing for me! The method that I use doesn't give you mitered corners, but who cares as they wouldn't show on the front anyway. And best of all it is simple, straight forward and super-duper easy, I promise! I broke this tutorial up into 17 steps, (all really simple so don't be intimidated) and lots of photos, as visually I learn best that way, and I am guessing you do, too! So, here we go.... Step 1: Begin with a quilt top that you have finished quilting. Make sure to square the corners and trim off any excess batting and backing fabric. Starting at the top and the bottom edges of your quilt, cut two strips of fabric each 2" wide and a wee bit longer then your top and bottom edges. (Note: For photo purposes, my quilt is turned on its side here). With your quilt facing right side up, pin each strip along the top and bottom, lining the edge of the fabric strip to the edge of the quilt, as seen in the photo above. (Note: I like to use solids, but if you are using a print for your facing strips you would want to sew the strip right side down). Step 2: Using a 1/4" seam allowance sew both strips in place and trim the excess fabric edges flush with the sides of the quilt, as shown in the photo above. Step 3: Flip the strips up and over to the side, as shown above. (If using a print the print would now be face up). Press with a hot iron. Step 4: Begin to fold the entire strip to the back of the quilt, as shown above. You almost have to roll the area that contains the seam allowance to get it to go backwards. As you are doing this, keep pressing with a hot iron, (I like to use a lot of steam, too). The photo above shows what the front will look like once that strip is turned and pressed all the way to the back. Here, the photo above shows how the edge of the quilt will look once the strip is folded back. And this photo above, shows what the back will look like. Very easy so far, yes?! Okay, lets continue.... Step 5: Now you are going to flip your quilt over to the backside, and unfold those strips that I just had you so carefully fold and press! Using your hot iron and some steam, begin to turn and press the edge of each facing strip inward a generous 1/4" as shown above. (Be careful to just press the edge of the facing strip, and not that quilted seam allowance, as we want to keep the "memory" of the pressed fold there for later). Step 6: Flip your quilt to the front and your facing strips, too, so they are now back to where you started. Pin in place so they lay nice and flat along the quilt top, as shown in the photo above. Step 7: Cut two more facing strips, again each 2" wide, but this time approximately 1" shorter then the length of your quilt. Step 8: Center each strip along the sides of your quilt leaving approximately 1/2" on the ends, as shown above. As before, pin both strips to the sides, lining up the edges of the strips to the edges of your quilt. Note: Once the new facing strips are pinned in place you can remove the pins from the first two strips. Step 9: Begin stitching at the edge of the quilt, and using a 1/4"seam allowance, continue to stitch the length of the strip and past, going all the way to the other edge of your quilt. See photo above. Step 10: Stitch each corner of your quilt. You will want to go right across that intersection, as shown above. This is to reinforce your corners for when they are turned. I like to stitch a line forward then another one backward, for extra strength. Step 11: Trim each corner off, flush with the line you just stitched, as shown above. Step 12: We are going to repeat a few steps here... As before in Step 3, flip the two strips that you just sewed over and away from the quilt and press. Then fold and roll the strips to the back as you did in Step 4 pressing as you go. Flip your quilt over to the back and unfold your facing strips as you did in Step 5 and press your generous 1/4" seam allowance along the edge of each facing strip. But now, unlike before, I want you to re-fold and re-roll these two strips back again to the back of your quilt. Steam press again to get everything nice and flat. The above photo shows what the front of your quilt should now look like. The facing strips along the top and the bottom of your quilt top are still visible on the front, and the side facing strips are turned and pressed neatly to the back. And the photo above shows what that those two newest strips should look like on the back side. Yup... lot's of little steps here, but they are oh, so easy! And we are almost finished! Step 13: Flip your quilt to the backside, and pin those two strips flat against the back of your quilt, as shown above. Step 14: Using nice small stitches, hand stitch each strip in place along the back of your quilt, as shown above, remembering to be careful not to stitch through to the front side. Step 15: We are in the home stretch now, baby! Using your forefinger and thumb, as shown above and below, push each corner right-side out. As you do this the two remaining facing strips on the front side of your quilt will naturally flip to the back of your quilt, where they belong. Continue to push each corner out with your thumb. I then like to use a wooded chopstick to push the corner as far out as possible. Step 16: Once the corners are all pushed out and the facing strips are on the backside of the quilt, re-press along the edges with a hot iron, making sure everything is nice and crisp and laying flat, as shown above. Step 17: As before in Steps 13 and 14, pin and hand stitch the two facing strips down to the back of your quilt, as shown in the photo above. Ta - da! That's it! You are all done! Above, is what the quilt looks like from the back. Folk Art Cross Quilt No.3 And here is what it looks like from the front. Told you it was easy! If you have any questions, ask them in the comment section and I'll do my best to answer them! xo You can view more of my Tutorials HERE and my Patterns HERE.
Can you believe it... an in-person quilt show! WOW! We hope you enjoy these fabulous creations from the talented quilters of the Tucson Quilters Guild. As you can see, they have been quilting up a st
The Pattern Will be Lovely in Other Colors as Well! The sweet colors of apple blossoms are simply beautiful in this quilt. Soft pinks, roses and greens against white create a fresh look that’s perfect for spring. Or display this charming quilt all year long. Other colors will be pretty, too. We can easily imagine …
Every year, thousands of quilters and quilt lovers descend on Houston, Texas for the International Quilt Festival and Quilt Market. This year, Quilt Festival is from November 2-5, 2023. Many attendees’ favorite part of their annual trip is seeing the Festival Judged Show presented by Quilts, Inc.
Perhaps no one is as surprised at David Taylor’s quilt art fame than David himself. His plan was to become an award-winning graphic artist, but a
With the release of the DVD and digital download of “Quilting Arts TV Series 1900,” I realized I’d forgotten to share some of the photos I took of the shoot in September! Here are photos of our guest artists: Leni Levenson Wiener, Ana Buzzalino, Susan Lenz, Mary Lou Donahue-Weidman, Heidi Lund, Ann Loveless, Kristine Lundblad, Teresa Shippy, and Ellen Lindner. Other guests in Series 1900 (shot previously) include Joann Sharpe, Melissa Averinos, Wendy Butler Berns, Jane Davila, and Grace Errea. The show airs on more than 400 public television stations in the U.S.; if your station doesn’t carry it, you can purchase the DVD or download on Quilting Daily. The set, ready to roll. My shirts and jewelry hanging in the dressing room. How we keep track of what I'm wearing for each episode. The fabulous Jeanne Cook Delpit, our Bernina representative on set. Kristine Lundblad gets ready for her segment. Producer Kathie Stull and Quilting Arts editor Vivika DeNegre look at Leni Weiner’s work. Leni Weiner A piece by Leni Weiner Work by Leni Weiner Me, with Susan Lenz Susan Lenz’s acorn cap basket Lovely embellished edging by Susan Lenz One of Susan Lenz’s pieces made from vintage linens. A Bernina machine set up for one of Susan Lenz’s segments Work by Susan Lenz Work by Susan Lenz Susan Lenz prepares for one of her segments with Kathie Stull and Vivika DeNegre. Work by Susan Lenz Work by Mary Lou Weidman Me, with Mary Lou Weidman One of Mary Lou Weidman’s faces in progress. Work by Mary Lou Weidman Work by Mary Lou Weidman Work by Mary Lou Weidman Work by Mary Lou Weidman Teresa Shippy with Jeanne Cook-Delpit One of Teresa Shippy’s "Cool Rides” pieces Teresa Shippy with Karen, in makeup Me, with one of the wonderful Bernina machines! tin tile used by Teresa Shippy Rubbing by Teresa Shippy Ana Buzzalino prepares for her segment Work by Ana Buzzalino Work by Ana Buzzalino Work by Ana Buzzalino Different metallic effects by Ana Buzzalino Work by Ana Buzzalino Work by Ana Buzzalino Me, with Ana Buzzalino Ann Loveless with her work. The crew hanging work by Ann Loveless Work by Ann Loveless Me, with Ann Loveless Ann Loveless’ step-outs Ellen Lindner Work by Ellen Lindner Work by Ellen Lindner Me, with Ellen Lindner Work by Heidi Lund Work by Heidi Lund Work by Heidi Lund Heidi Lund confers with Jeanne Cook Delpit Detail of work by Heidi Lund Work by Heidi Lund Work by Heidi Lund Goofing around with Heidi Lund
In May 2011 my wonderfully creative mother died at the age of 85. Her death was unexpected but not surprising - nonetheless, it still left...
Check out these picture quilt patterns and projects from the Bluprint community to inspire you to plan your first picture quilt.
I love the modern look facing gives to a quilt. For those of you who wonder what facing is. It is invisible binding, the way you bind your quilt that it is doesn´t show from the front. I wanted to do it on my denim quit and tried to search on-line for a facing tutorial. There are a lot of different ways to do it but nothing came up in the search for a quilt with rounded corners. So in this post I share the way I did it. It is really simple and worked well.It is very important to cut the binding
It's time to quilt with the masters! Join us as we learn how to make a Starry Night quilt — one of Vincent van Gogh's most memorable works.
In April, my mom and I went to Chattanooga for the weekend to take a class hosted by Spool and the BadAss Quilters Society with Melissa Averinos, who had just won the Best of Show award at QuiltCon…
Use your scrap fabric to make this free quilted sleep mask! Step by step instructions for a beginner-friendly tutorial.
Sew a neckline facing with a beautiful finish Hey y’all, today we’re talking about how to sew a neckline and finish it off with a neck facing. I decided to do this tutorial now because of the neck facing on my new pattern, the Esma Top (pictured above and below). A facing is a strip...Read More
On Friday I mentioned that sewing certain seams annoys me. I never wrote about it because I’m too picky but based on a vote (2 for, none opposed, that’s democracy for you), we’ll discus…
My mother used to tease me and suggest that "if I put a book on my head maybe I would learn by *Osmosis" *Osmosis: unconscious assimilation I'm wondering if the same process might work with quilting? ** Do you think there is a possibility that all of those "WIP's" (Works in Progress) or the hundreds of quilt ideas floating in my head would magically get done if I put a sewing machine on my head? "Quilting By Osmosis"? Might be worth a try. Mahafaly woman/ Southern Mdagascar Image found on Pinterest
Done!
For this week's sewing 101, let's talk about facing. Facings are so easy to make and give your garment a professional finish, without a full lining. Of course you can face and line a garment,
Ultimate quilt binding tutorial with step by step instructions to show you how to make quilt binding and how to attach the first round of binding. Includes 10 tips for success and a lits of tools you'll need to make your own quilt binding.
Learn how to make your own quilt binding with this bias binding tutorial. You'll be binding your quilt like a pro in no time!
Two Christmases ago hubby bought me Quilt Design Wizard from the same people who give you EQ. Now, I love this software. It's cool that you ...
Sewing facings give the finishing touch to necklines & armholes. Learn how to sew a facing with this easy step by step tutorial.
Enoch Wood Perry: The Two Sewers (A Quilting Party), 1875 The social aspects of cooperative quilting around a frame have captured...
