You should be able to find several indispensable facts about Quilting in the following paragraphs. If there’s at least one fact you didn’t know before, imagine the difference it might make.

For the quilting enthusiast, one of the most important considerations is the choice of fabric. Let’s face it; a quilt’s beauty is totally dependent on what fabric the quilter chooses. If a quilt is unattractive and doesn’t beg you to reach out and touch it, it probably has a lot to do with the fabric chosen to create it. Quilters in the know solve such potential problems by choosing fabrics from companies that they trust. Based in California, Hoffman Fabrics is a company who has proven their value to quilters over many years, since 1924, in fact.

Visit any quilting website that sells fabric and the name Hoffman will pop up. They specialize in high-quality screen-printed cottons and blends. Hoffman also produces hand-painted and dyed fabrics. Every year the company introduces two new lines of fabric, which they call “colorful prints and luscious Balis.” They call their fabrics “inspiring” and that is not marketing hype. One look at the abundant richness of the color and designs of Hoffman Fabrics and you will see why they have been adopted by quilters as a must-have cloth. In return, Hoffman has shown incredible support to quilters. This is evident in the Hoffman Challenge, a contest which started in 1987.

Every year, the talents at Hoffman Fabrics choose one of their upcoming fabric designs to feature in the Challenge. Quilt-makers, clothing and accessory designers and doll-makers are then challenged to use the fabric to design an original item. The winning entries are then featured in a traveling show which stops at galleries, museums, shops, and quilting guilds. The first year of the Hoffman Challenge, 94 quilters entered. Since then, up to 700 entries a year have been received. The traveling show itself is so popular that 12 collections now travel nationwide, with some stops in Canada as well.

If you find yourself confused by what you’ve read to this point, don’t despair. Everything should be crystal clear by the time you finish.

Besides the Challenge, Hoffman actively promotes the art of quilting in other ways. The company has paired with designer McKenna Ryan of Pine Needles Designs to create patterns based on Hoffman fabrics. Ryan says she likes to use Hoffman batik fabric for appliqué work because it has a high thread count that prevents fraying. The designer, like so many other quilters, is also appreciative of the depth of color and texture in Hoffman fabrics. Using these fabrics, she can design incredibly lush and intricate quilts based on nature.

Perhaps one of the secret’s to the company’s success is the family nature of the business. Three generations of Hoffmans are currently involved in the daily operations of the firm. It may interest contemporary quilters to know that much of the company’s design philosophy stems from the fifties, when Philip and Walter Hoffman, sons of the original founder, joined the company. They brought with them their love of surfing and translated it to original designs of the ocean, beaches, and surfing life. Combining their passions with a knack for seeking out unusual printing processes for fabrics, the Hoffman sons helped to create a company that is beloved of quilters everywhere.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit his soon to be top ranked Perpetual20 training site: Perpetual 20

In today’s world, it seems that almost any topic is open for debate. While I was gathering facts for this article, I was quite surprised to find some of the issues I thought were settled are actually still being openly discussed.

Quilting, like fashion, evolves with the times. Like any work of art, too, it also has its own traditional classics, innovations, and varied influences.

The inspiration for these styles is as different as the people who made them, their history, and their dependence on the materials and fabrics on hand. The following are some of the major quilting styles that had become staples.

Knowing them is a good step for a beginner. It can eventually help develop your very own style in the end.

Baby quilts

This is one of the all-time favorites. Baby quilts become treasured mementos when their users (who were once babies) become older.

Experienced quilters tell us that babies tend to like the feel of satin and the flannel-like materials. Since this would sound like the finished quilt is going to be used (and washed) a lot, make sure that you use durable materials and threads.

Rag quilts

Today’s latest in the quilting circles are rag quilts. These are quick to make and fun-looking. They are distinctly refreshing in their conscious break from traditional designs.

They tend to combine lots of medium-sized blocks sewn together, patchwork style. It mixes unusual materials often overlooked in quilting (denims, flannel, polar fleece, etc).

Patchwork quilts

This old standard beauty is made by sewing together little patches of fabrics, and in different sizes and shapes. Generally, they are to make a pattern or blocks of pattern.

The quilt blocks are then sewn to become the quilt top. The quilt is then made after this process.

Christmas quilts

You may not consider everything you just read to be crucial information about Quilting. But don’t be surprised if you find yourself recalling and using this very information in the next few days.

Another standard favorite are the Christmas quilts. Traditionally, it is always a good idea to use plain white backgrounds and utilizing blazing red and cool green fabrics.

Gold and silver are acceptable as accents. Christmas motifs (bells, holly, flowers, etc) are not encouraged, though.

Amish quilts

One of the most beautiful and inspiring quilts are those made by the Amish people. Their original patterns (tree of life, star of Bethlehem, double wedding ring, etc) have been replicated and used all over the world.

The quilts are famous for their simple yet striking designs, as well as for their intricate quilting styles. Thick batting are traditional and their finished quilts are very tidy.

Memory quilts

Like its name, memory quilts are made for remembrances and celebrations of lives of loved ones, loved events, or some memorable occasions mostly connected with the family.

Birthdays, weddings, births, deaths, anniversaries ? all the reasons to commemorate an event is memorialized in a quilt to extend that particular memory.

Cathedral window quilts

These are the quilts inspired by the beautiful shapes and patterns of stained glass windows in churches all over the world.

Most copied are the window panes. The quilts are made from muslin or cheesecloth. The choice of cloth is to simulate the translucent effect of light generated by a real church window. The window frames are made from heavier cottons or calicos.

Other quilt styles

More and more styles are coming up every so often. The last of the popular ones include the Civil War, Hawaiian, Photo Memory and the Scrap quilts.

Today, there are more quilting styles than can be listed as there are hybrids being produced almost every day.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit his Perpetual20 training site for great bonuses: Perpetual20

The boom in quilting as a hobby and craft has caused manufacturers to produce a huge variety of thread. Yet you’ll find there is such a wide selection of thread that choosing the correct thread for your quilting project can leave you scratching your head in puzzlement. You’ll find an array of choices, whether you shop at a brick and mortar store on the internet. This article will shed some light on the confusing selection of thread for quilting.

Thread for quilting falls broadly into two categories- sewing thread and thread for embellishing. Let’s discuss sewing thread first, as it is the most commonly used, especially for quilting projects. Sewing thread can be purchased in several different weights and fibers. Weights of thread can range from 28 to 60. Thread for quilting needs to be strong, and to stand the test of time, so generally you will want to choose a thread in the range of a 40 weight. Thread in the 28 weight range is most commonly used for embellishment, while 50 weight would be used for piecing. You can easily find the weight of the thread you are considering by reading the label. You may see a number like this: 40/2. The first number is the weight of the thread, the second the number of plies. In this example, the thread is a 40 weight of two plies.

Thread for quilting is most often made from cotton, rayon, polyester, metallic or plastic. The metallic and plastic thread will be used for embellishments and specialty stitches only. Cotton thread is common, and often it is mercerized. This is a process where the fiber has been made to swell and straighten out repeatedly, which removes any tendency towards fuzziness, and makes for a very high luster thread. Cotton thread is available in 30 to 60 weight.

Now that we’ve covered those aspects of Quilting, let’s turn to some of the other factors that need to be considered.

Rayon thread is also highly lustrous, and polyester thread has a colorfast, non-shrinkable finish. The metallic thread choices are going to be a bit more difficult to sew with and are not for beginners, though they make for stunningly beautiful finished quilting projects. Some brands that quilters might want to look for include the old favorite Coats and Clark, Guterman, which is a popular alternative known for its strength and ease of use (try it for hand quilting), Madeira rayon thread, which is strong enough to use to embroider on denim or leather, and Mettler, which comes in several different fibers.

It is often not a good idea to attempt to use up old sewing thread, which tends to degenerate on the spool. Unreel a bit and pull on it. If the thread snaps, it will also snap when you put it in your sewing machine. With the wide variety of quilting thread, and its relatively low cost, there’s no reason not to just buy new thread when you need a different color. You’ll save a fortune in frustration alone.

Some manufacturers also produce special threads for embellishing, and you can find these at your local quilting store. If you like to quilt by hand, you can use embroidery floss, available in a multitude of color and fiber. Learning about the different kinds of thread can enhance your love of the craft of quilting.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit his soon to be top ranked Perpetual20 training site: Perpetual 20

The following article lists some simple, informative tips that will help you have a better experience with Quilting.

There are literally thousands of quilt patterns already in existence, and more being designed everyday. If you are a beginning quilter it is best to stick to the simpler patterns. As you become more experienced, you will never run out of new patterns to try.

Some examples of simple patterns use squares. A Four Patch uses four squares of fabric sewn together to make one block. A Nine Patch uses nine small squares to make up one block. Different prints and colors can be mixed and matched to create different looks with these basic blocks. A Double Nine Patch is made up of nine 4-inch squares. The middle square is divided into nine 1 1/3 inch squares. Traditionally the large squares are cut from 4 dark and 4 light fabrics, while the small squares are cut from 4 light and 5 medium colored fabrics. Color combination may be varied to create different patterns.

The Churn Dash is another easy pattern. This block uses 3 different fabrics-2 designs and one background fabric. Variations of this pattern include the Grecian Design, the Greek Cross and the Wrench. There are three major pattern pieces: a 4 inch square, a 2×4 inch rectangle and a large triangle.

The Log Cabin design is probably the most well recognized quilt pattern. It is made of strips of fabric sewn together to give the appetence of a log structure.

The names of quilt patterns often reflect certain aspects of life. Names such as Job’s Tears, Bethlehem Star, Cross and Crown, Jacobs Ladder reflect the Spiritual aspect.

Truthfully, the only difference between you and Quilting experts is time. If you’ll invest a little more time in reading, you’ll be that much nearer to expert status when it comes to Quilting.

Love and marriage is reflected in patterns like Hopes and Wishes, Lover’s Knot, Double Wedding Ring and Cupid’s Own.

Every state has at least one pattern named after it. These include Ohio Star, California Rose and Carolina Lily.

Not all quilt patterns are suitable for beginners. Drunkard’s Path is definitely one. Once you have mastered it, it may quickly become a favorite.

Choosing fabric goes hand in hand with choosing a pattern. In fact there is great debate in quilting circles over which should be chosen first. While once quilts were made from scraps and leftovers, quilter’s today have a wide variety of resources to choose from, and may purchase fabric expressly to create a quilt from it. One thing to remember is that it is better to buy to much fabric then to not have enough. Colors can’t always be matched from different sources and runs.

Color is probably the most important aspect of any quilt. It is important to study tones, shades and hues. The easiest color scheme for a beginning quilter is probably monochromatic. This means one color, but different shades. Value is the lightness or darkness of a hue. A range of values provides contrast and depth to a pattern. A dominant color should be found in almost all of the quilt’s blocks. An accent color should be used to create contrast and a blender color contains both colors in a pattern. When in doubt try a sample block first.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit his soon to be top ranked Perpetual20 affiliate site: Perpetual 20

If you have even a passing interest in the topic of Quilting, then you should take a look at the following information. This enlightening article presents some of the latest news on the subject of Quilting.

Choosing the fabric materials is one of the most critical decisions in quilt-making. This is because there are so many things to consider ? the colors, textures, patterns, styles, characteristics, etc. ? all of which are important in quilting.

Here are some random tips.

Quality

First, be sure your quilting materials are colorfast, whether these are old scraps you had been saving to use on your quilt or new fabrics you have bought specifically for your project. Wash a piece to check if the colors don’t run.

Is the fabric strong enough? Too tightly-woven fabrics are difficult to quilt. Fabrics that are woven loose, on the other hand, are good candidates for rips, tearing, and damage.

Pure cotton had been proven to be the best materials yet for quilts. Man-made fibers (synthetics) and some cotton-combination fabrics are difficult to handle. They have a tendency to curl at the most inopportune places.

The good point, however, is that these fabrics have more options in terms of colors and designs than plain old cottons. The colors are more brilliant and designers have done more work (and experiments) on them.

If you are an experienced sewer, you may be able to surmount these handling difficulties. These same difficulties are also present in knitted, stretch and crepe fabrics.

Color and fabric design

Expert quilters always remind beginners to choose colors and combinations well. This may sound easy but once you have your finished quilt, it is not easy to undo things.

People declare the best judgment call is to trust your instincts. It might also be good to add some time-tested formulas from the arts and from general consensus.

See how much you can learn about Quilting when you take a little time to read a well-researched article? Don’t miss out on the rest of this great information.

It is said that blue-based colors are ?cold? and that red and yellow-based colors are ?warmer?. Black will dim any color next to it, and white brightens any color placed side by side with it.

Generally, people are said to be energized and active with warm colors. With cool colors ? like green and blue ? people tend to become calmer and relaxed.

This is an important consideration if you are intending to give away your quilt to someone important to you (a friend, a loved one, or your boss perhaps). It is worthwhile noting their prospective responses to your present.

If it is for your personal use, you may also have to consider your own feelings of your finished work.

Backing materials and quantity

Always try to have your backing materials similar to your top quilt material in weight and color. The rationale for this is ease of sewing. It is difficult to sew through uneven levels of materials or materials of unlike textures, thickness or weave.

Buy a little more than what you need for your quilt. This is to preclude any eventuality of your running out of materials. The extra fabric you bought will always have some use for you in the future, especially now that you are into quilting.

Your choice

In the end, your fabric choice will depend on your design, the colors you want, and the quality of your work. Of course, once you become a confident quilter, you can always choose any fabric that catches your fancy and imagination.

Quilting is such an exciting art and there is no limit to what you want to create.

Is there really any information about Quilting that is nonessential? We all see things from different angles, so something relatively insignificant to one may be crucial to another.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit his Perpetual20 affiliate site for great bonuses: Perpetual 20

This interesting article addresses some of the key issues regarding Quilting. A careful reading of this material could make a big difference in how you think about Quilting.

You may have heard the initials D.I.Y. and wondered what they stand for and what all the fuzz is about. D.I.Y. stands for Do It Yourself, and it is a hot trend in the craft world. One of the hottest trends in the world of craft, is an old, old tradition-quilting.

Quilting has it roots in the utilitarian needs of our ancestors. They needed warm quilts to sleep under and they didn’t have a lot of materials to work with. So they took whatever fabrics they could salvage or cut from old, worn clothes, and somehow managed to craft these scraps into quilts that were not only warm but beautiful. For a time, the craft of quilting died out. Busy modern women of the fifties wanted no part of piecing together old bits of fabric! But then the craft experienced a resurgence in the eighties. Many believe the burgeoning interest in quilting and other crafts coincided with the development of the computer. High tech, high touch, the saying goes. When we are surrounded with technology all day we long for tactile satisfaction. Fibers such as wool and cotton have become very popular because of this, and also hobbies like knitting and quilting, which have much to do with the sense of touch.

So far, we’ve uncovered some interesting facts about Quilting. You may decide that the following information is even more interesting.

The ironic thing is that technology itself has had much to do with spurring interest in craft and quilting. Technology has created better and easier-to-operate sewing machines, found ways to cheaply produce plastic stencils, and come up with innovations like the rotary cutter and mat that are huge time savers for quilters. The more time-saving ideas craft companies come up with, the more popular quilting becomes. Contemporary quilters have the best of all worlds-access to incredible numbers of patterns, both traditional and modern, and all the best tools the craft world has to offer.

Today’s quilter also has access to so much more information than their pioneer ancestors could ever have dreamed of. Books and patterns and websites offer a constant flow of information on the craft. Then there are the television programs. With the advent of cable’s dominance, many television channels now focus on the home. And many of these home channels have a large preponderance of shows on craft, including quilting. The information explosion is a huge boon for today’s crafters and this has driven the expanding popularity of the D.I.Y. movement.

This movement has made it hip and trendy to love all kinds of craft again, which is wonderful for lovers of craft. Once something is trendy, all kinds of companies offering new products and information are sure to spring up. Becoming hip has also assured that quilts now have a place in the finest of galleries and museums. Quilters are at the forefront of the D.I.Y. movement, constantly improving their craft and delving into its history. Our pioneer ancestors could never have imagined that there would come a day when their utilitarian, functional craft was considered not only trendy and hip, but so beautiful as to be art!

That’s the latest from the Quilting authorities. Once you’re familiar with these ideas, you’ll be ready to move to the next level.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, proud owner of this top ranked web hosting reseller site: GVO

Many crafters are drawn to quilting because of the wide variety of beautiful fabrics available. Walk into any fabric store or quilting shop, and your eyes are nearly overwhelmed with all the choices in fiber and color. Bolts of fabrics in a rainbow of colors assail the senses. The contemporary quilter is lucky indeed to have the huge array of fabrics available to her. However, this embarrassment of riches can also lead to uncertainty in selecting the correct fabrics for a quilting project.

While the craft of quilting was one borne of necessity and thus many different fabrics have been used throughout the years, far and away the most common fabric for quilting is cotton. Some historical quilts may use brightly colored wool, usually appliquéd quilts, as wool is a bit heavy to be used for pieced quilts. Cotton is such a wonderful all-purpose fabric which washes well (though be sure to pre-wash all cottons to pre-shrink it) and maintains its color and hand. Generally speaking, 100 percent cotton is going to be the quilter’s first choice. You may be tempted by the bargain blends on the sale rank at the fabric store, but think twice before you commit to these fabrics. For a little bit more money, it’s worth it to invest in quality fabrics for your quilt. After all, you’re going to be spending quite a few hours of your precious time making the quilt, so why not invest in the best? Besides, relatively speaking, fabrics for quilting simply don’t cost that much money.

Is everything making sense so far? If not, I’m sure that with just a little more reading, all the facts will fall into place.

One of the most important elements of choosing fabrics for quilting is color. Often this is a topic which confuses beginning quilters, but there’s no need to shy away from learning about color. Most people are far more adept at combining color than they imagine. First off, learn to trust your intuition (unless you know you are color blind!)-if you like the way colors look together, others probably will also. And remember that this is your quilting project and you should choose fabrics that you love the look of, and that you’ll enjoy working on. Another trustworthy way to choose the color of fabrics is to study nature. You really can’t go wrong emulating the way colors go together at the ocean, or in the forest. Go to your neighborhood park and study the various hues you’ll see looking at a tree, or the lawn.

For those who want a bit more guidance, you can do a rudimentary study of color theory. Study the color wheel and familiarize yourself with the primary colors (red, yellow, blue), secondary colors (green, orange and violet), and intermediate colors which combine primary with secondary colors. Another aspect of color for fabrics is value-light, dark and medium. The values in your fabrics should be well balanced, and not too heavy in any one value. You might also want to consider the intensity of the colors in your fabrics, which is the brightness or dullness of a color.

Familiarizing yourself with the wide variety of fabrics available for quilting is a pleasurable experience that will also enhance your enjoyment of the craft.

It never hurts to be well-informed with the latest on Quilting. Compare what you’ve learned here to future articles so that you can stay alert to changes in the area of Quilting.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit his soon to be top ranked Perpetual20 affiliate site: Perpetual 20

This article explains a few things about Quilting, and if you’re interested, then this is worth reading, because you can never tell what you don’t know.

As a craft, quilting had its heydays in the good old days when it was done by hands. Quilts then would take months and sometimes years to finish, but it was all worth it. Today, modern quilting using machines can finish a project in less than a week.

However, there seems to be a trend today for people to work on their quilts by hand, especially beginners. Speed seems to be relegated in favor of the good old feeling in the quilt-making process by hand.

Techniques

The following are a few time-tested tips in quilting by hand. Most of them were handed down by mothers to their daughters and friends to friends.

Some other techniques were copied from neighbors and other ethnic and religious groups. On their own, these communities of people developed their own beautiful quilt-making traditions and styles.

Random tips

As every true-blue quilt-makers have learned, quilting by hand needs a quilting hoop (or frame), a box needles and threads, and a steady supply of patience.

Quilting hoops and the tandem of needles and threads are standard sewing equipments. (The patience is for use in the process that could sometimes take years to complete, depending on how much time was spent on it.)

After attaching the quilt into a hoop (or frame, if it is very large), beginners are advised to start in the middle and work through to the edges. If there is appliqué used, go first around the shapes to give them a puffed-up look and make them prominent.

You may not consider everything you just read to be crucial information about Quilting. But don’t be surprised if you find yourself recalling and using this very information in the next few days.

Sew a little bit away from the line of material (about 2 millimeters) to accentuate the appliqué forms. Use small and even stitches. Never rush or you will have the unpleasant task of undoing sections that look sloppy.

For patchworks, start in the middle of the quilt and simply follow the lines of the squares.
An alternative would be to cross hatch sections or the whole quilt.

When cross-hatching, draw the lines first in soft-leaded pencils because it is difficult to keep them even at all times. Another alternative to cross-hatching or tracing shapes is stippling. This fills up entire areas and gives out a heavily-quilted texture and looks.

Mainly, this is for background filling, or even covering an entire quilt. Stippling is an organized pattern in sewing where the quilter makes smooth curves that do not meet or do a cross-over.

Materials

To keep the quilt top and the backing aligned, there is need for basting. If the two fabrics do not match up, the quilting process could be difficult, and the material could pucker up or curl.

Loosely-woven fabrics do not do well in quilting, while densely-woven fabrics and blends are difficult to work on. Go for medium-weave, middle-weight pure cotton fabrics (if possible) if you want uniform stitches, durability and relative ease in the quilting.

Threads to be used should be those for quilting. They are thicker and stronger than plain threads. For other design considerations, you can always choose what you think is best, especially if the project is simply a decorative quilt.

These are only some of the very few basics in quilting. All the other tips you will learn as you along in the happy and exhilarating process of sewing with your own hands a potential work of art.

So now you know a little bit about Quilting. Even if you don’t know everything, you’ve done something worthwhile: you’ve expanded your knowledge.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit his Perpetual20 affiliate site for great bonuses: Perpetual 20

This interesting article addresses some of the key issues regarding Quilting. A careful reading of this material could make a big difference in how you think about Quilting.

Now that quilting machines are widely available, hand quilting is often considered the last option. This is because hand quilting is associated with finger sore and pain, eats up a lot of time, and seems a laborious process. Yet, there are still a good number of quilters who devote themselves to hand quilting and, while putting up with these kinds of drawback, manage to come up with beautifully and intricately designed quilts and receive awe and admiration from peers. Their works, which yield a classical appeal, eventually become some sort of a standard.

How do they do it? Aside from not having their drive sapped by the thought of hand quilting being hard, time-consuming, and painful, they apply some techniques to make the activity more fun and enjoyable. Since then, they experience minimal, if not zero, difficulty or pain. You can do it as well, and here’s how:

1. Use a thimble. This will keep the middle finger, which maneuvers and pushes the eye end of the needle, from sore and needle pricks. There are now various options for thimbles. There are those that are designed for people with long nails and those that address sweating. In place of a commercial thimble, some quilters use homemade thimbles made from leather scraps and other like materials.

2. Quilt with a hoop or frame. A quilting hoop is more like an embroidery hoop that holds and stretches out the quilt, making it steady. This consequently keeps a proper tension and makes stitching a lot easier. But unlike an embroidery hoop, in which a fabric for embroidery is tightly tucked, quilting hoop functions best when the quilt is loosely attached. The center of the quilt must be pushed down and the sides should be hanging loosely.

If you base what you do on inaccurate information, you might be unpleasantly surprised by the consequences. Make sure you get the whole Quilting story from informed sources.

3. Keep the thread, at the most, 18 inches long. If it is too long, the thread is more likely to get tangled. It is also best to thread all the needles before beginning the actual quilting session. Doing so will keep you from stopping to thread again and again.

4. Use smaller needles. In quilting, smaller stitches are more ideal, but the problem with hand quilting is often about the stitches being large, uneven, and non-identical. Smaller needles can solve this problem.

5. Practice hand movement and rhythm to perfect stitch size and consistency. This will be at first difficult, but as you progress from project to project, you will be able to make beautiful stitches. The key here is not to be overly obsessed with the size of the stitch. Focus on the stitch evenness first; after a while, making smaller stitches will come almost naturally.

6. Stick to tools and materials that you are most comfortable working with. But try to experiment with different kinds of brand every once in a while because manufacturers are always introducing innovative products.

7. Remember that hand quilting is a continuously improving craft and that quilting techniques are developed every now and then; therefore, never stop learning from different people and other sources even if you’ve become a master yourself.

Knowing enough about Quilting to make solid, informed choices cuts down on the fear factor. If you apply what you’ve just learned about Quilting, you should have nothing to worry about.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, proud owner of this top ranked web hosting reseller site: GVO

The more you understand about any subject, the more interesting it becomes. As you read this article you’ll find that the subject of Quilting is certainly no exception.

Whether you are a beginning quilter, or an advanced practitioner of the craft, you will find many books on quilting that will help advance your knowledge. Quilting books fall roughly into several categories, and numerous titles abound in each. The categories of books are how-to, pattern encyclopedias, historical, books about the joy of quilting, and art books.

How-to books are probably the most popular, and the first stop for the beginning quilter. They range from books which discuss the overall craft of quilting and give step-by-step instructions, to books which will take one aspect of quilting and explain how to do it. The instructional books start with such basics as fabric selection and which tools you’ll need and proceed through instructions for assembling the blocks of the quilt top and the quilt itself, down to explanations of quilting, both hand and machine. Every quilter needs at least one of these books in her library, and usually will manage to collect a number of them. It’s amazing how many times you need a ready reference when you are in the middle of a quilting project.

Another type of book that every quilter will want to have on hand is an encyclopedia of patterns. These books collect many different quilt block patterns and show the basics of their assemblies. Because their aim is to cover a lot of ground, these books are valuable starting points but won’t go into intimate detail. For that you need to turn to books which feature instruction on a specific pattern. With the wide variety of quilting block patterns and techniques, you can imagine that this category of quilting books is quite extensive and stocked with titles. Books in this category may devote an entire volume to explaining the nuances of, for instance, the Log Cabin pattern.

It’s really a good idea to probe a little deeper into the subject of Quilting. What you learn may give you the confidence you need to venture into new areas.

Because quilting has its roots in American history, quilts and the craft of quilting have been studied extensively, and many historical quilting books exist. Looking at these books and seeing what our ancestors did with a fraction of the materials and supplies available today can be a great source of inspiration to modern quilters. Along the same lines are books which discuss the pleasures to be derived from quilting, both in its social form (such as quilting bees) or as a solitary pursuit. Finally, there is a whole segment of quilters who have advanced the craft into art. These quilters regularly show their work in galleries and museums, and publish books not only about their quilts, but the thoughts and processes that went into making them. Sometimes collectors of quilts will publish books, too. These art quilt books are as inspiring in their way as the historical quilting books.

A good way to choose quilting books that will become a permanent part of your library is to choose a time when you’ll have a couple hours of uninterrupted time. Go to the library, or your local bookstore, or fire up your computer and look at books on the internet. Take your time, browse, and get a feel for the vast number of titles out there. You’ll no doubt end up with a much longer list than you have time or money for at the moment, but you can purchase or check out a few titles and start a wish list for more.

Part of the joy of quilting is finding books on the topic, and luckily for modern quilters, there is a huge array of titles to choose from.

Sometimes it’s tough to sort out all the details related to this subject, but I’m positive you’ll have no trouble making sense of the information presented above.

About the Author
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