Medieval Quilting Techniques

When most people think about quilting, visions come to mind of frontier women sitting in log cabins sewing squares of cloth together to make quilts for their beds to keep them warm on cold winter nights. But to find the real history behind quilting you must search earlier times, since many articles of clothing shows signs of medieval quilting methods.

Quite simply, quilting is the sewing together of two separate pieces of cloth with padding placed in between. Although there are variable sewing techniques and variable materials with which to line the fabrics, medieval quilting proves there hasn’t been a lot of change throughout the centuries. Many garments were made of cloth of several layers in a quilt-like fashion, usually with raw cotton layered by silk. This gave the appearance of more flowing clothing and at the same time offered needed protection from the elements.

Linen was the fabric of choice when medieval quilting was used for coverings for armor. Typically, it was filled with cotton or wool since other materials might cause the fighter to overheat. Clothing created in the medieval quilting style was often used in pageantry as well as in court settings by the royalty.

Royalty Drawn To Quilted Fabric

During the 15th century, royalty was especially appreciative of quilting, and records show that queens and their maidens were allowed three quilted blankets as well as pillows. This medieval quilting helped them to stay warm in winter and comfortable throughout the rest of the year. Many archeological digs have uncovered the fact that medieval quilting was popular even throughout the dark ages.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, court rules required that visiting dignitaries were to be gifted with quilts or quilted afghans. And it was not unusual for returning ambassadors to find medieval quilting in among their baggage. Many historical artifacts testify to the types of stitches used at the time, many of which are in use today. These include the back stitch, running stitch and double running stitch.

During the 17th and 18th century in Europe, quilting became increasingly popular with quilted petticoats, bed linens, hats and even doll clothes being in vogue. During the 19th century, quilting came to be recognized as a true art form in the United States. Many decorative quilts often tell a story behind the makers of the quilt through the pattern or colors.

While many styles came into being once quilting arrived in American — especially that of patchwork — medieval quilting was actually the foundation for the art of layering fabrics together with padded filler in the middle.

If you love tradition and are looking for a new hobby, beginner quilting is quick and easy and very rewarding. No need to get fancy with the creative patterns. The best way is to start out small and go with the basics of beginner quilting. One easy way to begin is to start with two pieces of fabric. No cutting or piece sewing required. This is an easy way to introduce beginner quilting. Take two nice pieces of cloth fabric, lay the batting in between and sew them together. It’s simple to incorporate different techniques in this easy project. The more you experiment, the more advanced your skills will become. You will not remain a beginner quilting for long. In no time at all, you will easily be creating complex pieces.

The Easiest Pattern to Make

The very simplest pattern for beginner quilting is the quilt that requires two pieces of material. The following pattern takes you through the steps in creating your very first quilt. Follow these instructions and before you know it, you will be enjoying your own handmade quilt.
First, purchase two yards of fabric. You will need at least one yard of the same design in one whole piece. One piece is for the top and the other piece is for the bottom. You will also need a piece of batting that is the exact size as the fabric. Check to see that each piece is the same length and width. After selecting the fabric pieces, run them through the wash. This will allow for shrinkage so that both beginner quilting pieces will be even.

Now place the two pieces of fabric together with the right sides of the fabric facing each other. Place your batting on the bottom of the pile and start sewing on your beginner quilting project. You will need to sew a seam around all three complete sides, but only about ¾ of the last side. Any size of seam allowance will work, but just be sure it is the same around the whole beginner quilting piece. After you have finished the sewing, you will turn your pieces out and thru the hole. The batting will now be positioned within the two other pieces. Make sure that the stitches went through all of your fabric.

If corrections are needed, simply turn inside out again and stitch again, and turn it again. Once you have stitched the fabric correctly, close the hole on the fourth side. This can be completed by hand-stitching this hole closed. Once the stitching is all finished, you will want to iron the beginner quilting piece to be sure that the batting and fabric are flat and uniform. Trim off any extra fabric around to give a more finished look. Congratulations. You have just finished your first beginner quilting project.

How to Care for Your Quilt

Now that your beginner quilting project is complete, you will need to take proper care of it so it will last. It will be best to wash the quilt in warm water using a mild detergent. If the quilt material has colors that run, only wash it in cold water. While you can use a clothes dryer, it is best to set keep it on the low heat cycle or hang to dry. High heat may cause the batting to wad in the comforter and then it will be ruined. When the quilt is not in use, package it in a blanket bag so that moths and other environmental agents cannot ruin it.

Creating your first quilt is an exciting experience for you. With the right care, your beginner quilting project can last a lifetime!

Quilting – Memories of a lifetime

The art of quilting can affect you more than you realize. The art of sewing these beautiful and unique quilts by hand has been passed down from generation to generation. Think of mothers and daughters and friends working together, fitting the pieces of fabric together to create that special wedding coverlet. This is the essence of quilting.  These family quilts have been passed down from one couple to the next to adorn the marriage bed for many decades. Imagine the warmth that this kind of tradition holds for the future. There are endless amazing stories that these old quilts could tell about quilting groups and the conversations that went on around it while it was being created.

Special Fabrics

Imagine with me if you will, a woman, a mother, carefully choosing and purchasing a certain fabric. The fabric, which has been sitting for quite a while now has no special purpose except for its beauty. This fabric is beautifully decorated with the most unique designs. She may not know what it is for but she does know that it is special. She stores it away for another time when the objective will be revealed. No one knows when or for what it will be used. Meanwhile it stays safely hidden until the perfect time.

One day while rummaging, she discovers the fabric once again.  It has been hidden for a long time. Now she has a special quilting project in mind. Her daughter is expecting a baby. This lovely fabric will transform itself thru the art of quilting into a beautiful coverlet for a little angel. Carefully she works on her quilting project. Finally, it is completed. It is constructed with the beautiful fabric that was chosen by her long ago for this special project. By quilting the baby’s coverlet, she is presenting an heirloom that will pass from one generation to the next. Her heart is as warm as the baby beneath the quilt. She has a quilt of her very own draped on her rocking chair. One that her mother completed quilting for her many years ago!

Making Hearts Glow

If you have been considering the art of quilting or possibly learning to quilt, don’t put it off. Not only can you make wonderful items for yourself, but quilting gives you the opportunity to touch someone else’s life in a special way. Quilting has passed the test of time to become a popular pastime today. Many beds in many homes are adorned with the quilts of past and present. Many people will pay hundreds of dollars for a quilt just to place it on a bed that will never get used. This is amazing. Think of the people whom you love who will actually snuggle under this wonderful quilt that you have created. Quilting truly is an art medium that ties the generations together.

If you are an avid quilter and you are new to the region of the Ozarks, you are indeed fortunate. There are a number of Ozark quilting groups available in which you can get involved. One of the better known of the Ozark quilting groups is the Ozark Piecemakers Quilt Guild, Inc. This group was formed in 1980 as a non-profit organization to provide socialization, as well as inspiration to the quilters who live in that area. This group currently boasts a membership roster of around 300. They offer a wide variety of workshops and classes, and various branches of the group allow you to practice specialty quilting techniques with others who share your interests.

Ozark Quilting Group Meeting Times

General meetings for the Ozark Piecemakers Quilt Guild are generally held on the fourth Tuesday of each month, unless a holiday changes the schedule. They offer a morning and an evening meeting so that every interested person can fit one or the other into their schedule. Non-members are invited to attend two meetings before they are invited to join the guild as a full-fledged member. Membership is set at $25 a year, and that membership comes with a host of benefits and privileges. These include use of the guild’s extensive library and a monthly newsletter that includes a free pattern, as well as the obvious benefit of getting to meet people and make friends within this Ozark quilting group.

In addition, there is also a monthly workshop available, which may be scheduled on an afternoon shortly after the monthly meeting. These workshops are led by professional quilting teachers, and offer a great deal of information and advice for quilters of all skill levels. Evening quilting workshops are also available for those who cannot make the daytime classes. There is a fee for the workshop, and members are given a reduced rate over non-members. Interested quilters can register for the various workshops up to six months in advance. This can be done at the guild meetings or by contacting the workshop coordinator.

In addition to monthly meetings and workshops, members of this Ozark quilting group can participate in classes and meetings for sub-groups. The sub-groups may focus on a certain aspect of quilting, such as wearable art or appliqué. This provides the avid quilter with yet another opportunity to mingle with other quilters who share her specific interests. Additionally, it allows all members to benefit from the knowledge and experience of other quilters. Anyone who shares a passion of an artistic hobby knows how vital it is to seek out and make friends with similar interests. It is by far the best method for inspiration. And no one can help you navigate through a particularly complex quilting pattern better than an experienced quilter who just happens to be in the same Ozark quilting group.

Avid quilters sooner or later will need to invest in a quilting frame in order to create beautiful handmade quilting projects. In generations past, once the top of the quilt was pieced and joined together, the quilter would place a piece of batting or an old blanket between this top layer and an old bed sheet. These layers would be pulled taut across a wood frame to allow the hand stitching to be done. This is how they put the final touches on the quilted piece. Today, quilters who are ready to add this finish to their own project will also need some kind of quilting frame to hold the pieces together while the hand stitching is being completed. Of course there many beautiful and functional ready-made quilting frames on the market today, but this can become an expensive investment. A great alternative is to make your own frame by using quilting frame plans.

Where to Find Quilting Frame Plans

Quilters will find a variety of quilting frame plans within a craft or quilting store or through many of the websites on the Internet. Some of these plans will be quite inclusive and offer the wood and hardware in addition to the instructions. Others will offer the written quilting frame plans, which then will provide a list of needed supplies so that you can purchase the wood and hardware on your own. Be aware that if you decide to take this route with your quilting frame plans, you will want to select a sturdy type of wood for the frame, such as oak. That way it will be able to withstand the strain and pull of the heavy fabric. Likewise, the hardware needs to be high quality, since there will be a great deal of pressure placed on the joints of the quilting frame.

The Most Basic Quilting Frame Plans

You can go a step further and simplify your quilting frame plans even more. Do this by purchasing four oak two-by-twos and several C-clamps to create your own quilting frame. Be sure that two of the boards are longer than your fabric width and covered with a loose length of heavy fabric like denim or twill. This fabric is what will hold your quilt to your frame, so take care to staple it securely to the boards. You can attach your quilt to these fabric ends either with a basting stitch or with a large safety pin to hold it taut and steady. Next, attach the other two boards to the ends of the first two, using the C-clamps. This will hold the boards and your quilt in place. Now place this quilting frame across sawhorses or chairs, and you can begin the stitching process.

A good, sturdy quilting frame is vital for quality hand stitching on your quilt. By investing in quilting frame plans, you will save money and gain great satisfaction by creating your own personalized frame.

Quilting history can actually be traced all the way back to 3400 BC when clothing and bedding was first quilted so that people could keep warm. If you think about it, layering fabric to stay warm was an excellent idea. All those centuries ago, no one had heaters or heavy coats to keep the cold out. Quilting history show that this craft that has become popular today in making beautiful bedding products, back then it was used more for creating items of necessity such as the warm clothing. Not only is quilting useful, it is great fun. Many different groups throughout history have used the art of quilting for making wonderful items. We will be looking at a few of these groups that helped make quilting history.

A Trip Down Memory Lane

To look at quilting history and discover the beginning, we need to go back many centuries. Quilting dates back farther than most people think. We usually associate quilting with the women of colonial times but as you can see, it goes back farther than that. Women would gather together to quilt and this would be about the only time they would socialize in some places. Here is more quilting history;

3400 B.C.: Egyptian statue has quilted mantle carved on it.
1600’s: Colonists brought quilted cloth coverlets and garments to America
1700’s: The wealthy had quilted pillows and other items in their homes
Very popular craft among rich ladies
1800’s: Old quilts and heirlooms were showing up in Estate sales
1930’s: Cotton bags used for carrying other things were printed and used for fabric in the Depression.

Some of the quilts from past history were not exactly made with the same fabrics as we use today. Some quilts were made with one entire piece of cloth rather than strips or small blocks and pieces. Batting was not used for the inside of the quilt. Instead of batting, old worn out blankets were used as the padding. To distinguish between summer quilts and winter quilts, you would check to see if that quilt had any batting in it. If it did not have batting, it was considered a summer quilt. Quilting history also shows that bedding was not the only thing that was created from quilting. Quilting was used in clothing as well.

Quilters are a Part of History

As you can see, quilting history dates back much farther most people realize. Quilting has survived throughout the ages of changing fads and styles. Through the years the fabric designs may have changed but the quilts have not. What makes quilting history so interesting is the fact that while the methods may change, the craft does not and is still one of the most popular pastimes in America.

A Quilting Magazine for Every Style

When it comes to selecting a quilting magazine, it may seem like there is a hodgepodge of publications available on nearly every aspect of quilting. Whether you are interested in the more historical features of quilting or the newest innovations, there is a quilting magazine that can serve your need. Traditional sewing pattern companies have come to realize the wide popularity of quilting and so they include quilting information in their publications. Still others have actually started up a separate quilting magazine dedicated to that form.

Many quilters will buy a quilting magazine just for the tips and tricks they include, because they are looking for ways to make their quilting more enjoyable. Finding a good way to get pencil marks out of the fabric can make the subscription price well worth the cost. Since many of the quilting magazines include articles written by the experts — that is, those who have been quilting for many years — the tips they can provide can save a great amount of time for new quilters.

Despite the style of quilting you specialize in, you will most definitely find a quilting magazine you can use. Some quilters enjoy what may be referred to as crazy quilting. They like to use beads and embellishments to enhance their quilts and there is a quilting magazine dedicated to their specialty. The magazine is not only dedicated to their art, but also can introduce that style to other quilters. Tips on where to shop for the best prices on quilting materials are also included.

A Quilting Magazine for Everything

For you to glean the most out of any quilting magazine you buy, it should be focused on the type of quilting that you do the most. In addition, it should offer information about other forms of quilting just in case you want to expand your sewing horizon. If you do not own your own quilting machine, then a quilting magazine that focuses on free form quilting is probably your best choice. However, if it also offers information and patterns for machine quilting as well, you may be convinced to purchase a machine.

Machine quilters have a number of quilting magazines to choose from. Most of these are published by the makers of the quilting machines. However, they also include information on needles, thread and such tips as how to hold your quilt off the ground while working on it. They may also include instructions and ideas on free form sewing, as well as tippling by hand. This will help you to create some of the patterns featured in the magazine.

While many people take part in a retreat as an escape from their everyday lives, quilting retreats are designed to help quilters escape the distractions that work to prevent them from finishing their favorite project. Quilting retreats are designed to allow quilters, who come from all over, to gather in one place to share tips, ideas and secret methods to creating some of the most beautiful quilts all collected in one place.

The majority of quilting retreats are targeted toward women, who comprise the vast majority of the quilting population. However, men are accepted at most retreat centers. While they may initially feel a little out of place in a co-ed format, once the discussions of quilting begin, misgivings will quickly diminish.

In a general sense, retreats are set up to help attendees focus totally on the matter at hand. Whether it is a religious retreat, or a retreat for different types of crafts that brings a group of like-minded individuals together aids greatly in the exchange of ideas. These retreats help teach beginning quilters many of the basics and offer tips and tricks on how to make some of the time-honored techniques work better are the main purposes of quilting retreats.

Quilters In Search Of Solitude

Different retreats are set up in different fashion. Some retreats are designed to enable quilters to work alone. Other facilities are set up for working as a group. Most rooms offer large tables to enable work on quilts to be done. In addition, quilting tables are set up in common rooms for the group effect. Many quilting retreats will also have available some of the newer quilting machines during the retreat so attendees will not have be dragging their machines along with them.

Having machines available at quilting retreats also allows quilters to learn how they work. This could entice them to buy a newer one. They can also be introduced to a machine if they have spent their entire quilting life stitching by hand. Many of the other supplies and tools used in quilting will also be displayed and are available for purchase for those who choose to try new things while attending quilting retreats.

For the many attendees, quilting retreats offer a time to join with others who share like passions, and yet with none of the distractions of daily life. They can indulge themselves in quilting and all the joy that goes with it. They have ample time to work on their latest project and also gather instruction and ideas for the next major endeavor. It is a chance to find themselves in the quilting world.

Quilting software will help you make your quilting experience even better than ever. The computer revolution has brought many advances and technology makes it easier to accomplish some of the tasks that used to take you long hours. If you are one of those quilters who possesses a strong creative streak and you are tired of following everyone else’s designs, then you need to look at this software.

Quilting software lets you to design quilts without ever having to waste a bit of thread. It is a joy to be able to see the finished product even before you begin your project. Quilting software is versatile and easy to use. You can get quite creative with your designs and all without spending a penny on fabric or any supplies. With quilting software you can add to and delete from objects in your design. Some programs even allow you to try different fabric variations together within the design. Now that’s neat!

The Best Software

The best quilting software to use is the Electric Quilt (Version 6). This is full featured software which is fairly simple to use. It offers such a wide variety of options that your design possibilities become endless. You can be a beginner or an advanced quilter either one, and can easily use this quilting software. It offers the capability of designing with many options available or you can draw your own designs. It boasts of over 20,000 items available to add to your design. There are choices for blocks, colors, fabrics, and embroidery designs. You can even add your own photos. And amazingly, you can scan fabrics into the software to undertake designing your own special projects.

Quilting software of this type is perfect for those who want to create their own designs or for quilters who would like to create designs to sell to others. Think about the all the possibilities of using this software for offering creating designs to your customers. You may never quilt again. You can do the work that you love to do, and by using the quilting software, you are equipped to easily create hundreds of different and unique designs. Who knows, you may decide to enter your new designs into a contest and come out taking the first prize!

It’s Download Time

Quilting software can be purchased from many different sites on the web. The Electronic Quilt Ver. 6 is available online as well. It is an extremely popular quilting software program. It is easy to use and quite affordable. You will earn your money back and then some once you decide to sell your wonderful designs. You have limitless options available for creating quilting designs for yourself and for others. It’s a fact that quilting software is a must-have product for anyone who is hooked on quilting!