We hope you enjoy this 25 minute chat with Shankari (a.k.a. Sewl Sister) as she talks about making quilts and memory bears with a plan for zero waste. Her goal is to live in a world with no landfill fabric. We think you will enjoy her story and be inspired! Visit the Sewl Sister website at https://www.sewlsister.com/
~Sheryl Belson
This article is part of a two-part Quilting Basics series. Part one is available here.
Quilting is the stitching that holds the quilt top, batting, and backing together.
The quilting (stitching) of the three layers of fabric can be done simply by tying the three layers together with yarn or heavy thread. Most quilts are quilted utilizing one of these common methods of:
This is usually performed utilizing a domestic sewing machine (the kind that you use to sew the top). This is where the quilt sandwich (quilt top, batting, and backing) is moved “under” the sewing machine needle. To learn a few of the basics of Free Motion quilting, watch this short video by Leah Day.
Another method of quilting is using a “sit down” Long Arm machine. These machines have a large arm opening and large table surrounding the sewing machine head that allows for the ease of moving the quilt around. these are specialized quilting machines designed specifically for the quilting process. Long Arm Quilting machines have a large frame where the quilt layers are attached to rollers. The sewing machine head is driven “over” the quilt sandwich. These machines can be driven manually by the quilter or be fitted with a computer that drives the sewing machine head.
Hand quilting is the oldest method of quilting and is still done today. The quilter assembles the quilt “sandwich” and then will baste or pin the three layers together loosely to hold it in place. The quilting pattern is then marked with a removable marker. The quilter places the sandwich loosely in a frame or hoop and a very short quilting needle called a “between” is used to stitch the quilting pattern.
Quilting patterns can be very simple, such as just straight lines, or can be very fancy and intricate.
Binding is strips of fabric that wrap from the front to back of the quilt, finishing the raw edges.
Once the three layers of a quilt are quilted, the quilt is then trimmed to remove any excess batting and backing fabric. That leaves “raw edges” that need to be covered to finish the quilt.
To create the binding, strips of fabric are sewn together to be one long piece of fabric. The most common widths of binding strips are 2 ¼” and 2 ½”.
After being sewn together, the strips are pressed in half creating a “double fold.” The double folded fabric is then sewn to the front of the quilt and wrapped around to the back of the quilt.
There are many different methods of making and attaching binding. To learn more on how to Make Quilt Binding and How to Bind and Finish a Quilt here a couple of videos from Sew Very Easy:
The border is strips of fabric that surround the center of the quilt top.
Borders are used to “frame” a quilt much like one would frame a picture. The border around the center of the quilt may be a single piece of fabric or may be made of up of pieced pieces of a fabrics (blocks). Some quilts may have multiple borders to provide more interest. Not all quilts will have borders, and that decision is left up to the discretion of the quilt maker.
Quilts by Diana Quinn, Marietta. GA
Sashing is the strips of fabric between the quilt blocks.
Sometimes quilt blocks are stand alone and are not connected to adjacent blocks in the quilt. To give each block its own space strips of fabric are sewn in between the blocks and this is known as sashing. In the sashing example below, it should be noted that the square blocks (dark red) in between the sashing strips are known as “Corner Stones.” Corner Stones are used to keep the blocks aligned.
Quilting is such an artistic expression of the art and skill of sewing and there is much to say and learn about the topic. Hopefully, this discussion of a few of the fundamentals has piqued your interest in quilting. To begin learning, reach out to your local ASG Chapter to meet members who quilt or look up local quilts shops in your area and start taking classes!
~Diana Quinn, ASG Atlanta Chapter
This is Part One of a two-part series. Part Two will be published on March 26, 2021.
According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary: a bed coverlet of two layers of cloth filled with padding (such as down or batting) held in place by ties or stitched designs
A quilter’s definition is simply three layers of fabric that are stitched together that consist of:
So, if a quilter’s definition is not confined to a bed coverlet, what is a Quilt? Bed coverlets are certainly included, quilts may consist of wall hangings, table coverings (table toppers and table runners), artistic renditions of people, places or anything that the quilt artist may conceive. Bottom line, if it has three layers of fabric and it is stitched together it is a quilt!
The backing is a layer of fabric on the back of a quilt that covers the batting.
The Back of a quilt generally is a single fabric that covers the batting of the quilt making up the third layer of the quilt. Quilters choose for various reasons to have several fabrics that may make up the backing. This may be a design choice, or simply because they don’t want to purchase a large piece of fabric and may choose to stitch together leftover fabric from other projects.
A block is one square of the quilt design.
The Block is the foundation of a quilt’s design. The exception to this is a quilt that is an artistic rendition of something.
The Design of the quilt may consist of multiple blocks that are combined to make up the TOP of the quilt. Blocks may be very simple (just consisting of a single square of fabric) to very complex designs what may include 60 or more pieces.
Here is an example how different 3 “foundation” blocks can be put together to make one block that can be replicated to create an interesting quilt design.
Block 1 – Rectangle block containing two different fabrics.
Block 2 – Pinwheel Block is made up of 4 smaller quilt blocks called Half Square Triangles and those pieces are arranged to make the pinwheel. Note, that the fabrics chosen to match the same fabrics in the Rectangle block.
Block 3 – Mary G’s Block is made with a one large triangle, a square surrounded by two triangles. This block is an alternate color scheme to provide some variety. A pair of these blocks is made to be placed into the larger block.
Quilt Block – The four blocks (rectangle, pinwheel and two Mary g’s) are then placed into the desired layout.
Quilt design — multiple blocks are made and then arranged into the desired pattern. Here is how that one single block now fits into the design of the quilt top. Note that the Rectangle and Pinwheel blocks with the cheddar and cream background are in each of the blocks, while Mary G’s blocks are made up of different fabrics in the blocks.
Batting is a layer of padding between the quilt top and the backing.
The Batting provides a cushion or layer between the top and back that gives the quilt some warmth, thickness, and weight. The choice of batting in a quilt may provide varying degrees of warmth, ease of quilting, or the ability for the quilting to stand out. There are many different types of batting available in the marketplace. The choice of batting usually depends on the intended use of the quilt.
Stay tuned for Part Two of this 2-part Quilting Basics article. Part Two covers Quilting, Borders, and Sashing and will be published March 26, 2021.
~Diana Quinn, ASG Atlanta Chapter
Enjoy this 30 minute Fireside Chat to hear how Olivia Mears ignites her creativity to create ball gowns from Christmas wrapping paper, Taco Bell sauce packets, and more!
Visit Olivia’s website at avant-geek.com
~Sheryl Belson
As we reach the one-year mark of what was to have been a two-week isolation for Covid-19, it’s hard to believe that a virus could shut down our world, cause schools, restaurants, gyms, stores, and even churches to shutter their doors. So many got sick, lost jobs, experienced feelings of isolation and depression, and even lost their lives. Some have not seen family and friends during the year. How have we been able to not simply survive these times but, in many cases, to even thrive?
My friend and fellow ASG member, Kendra, and I were discussing this topic during one of our many phone calls this past year. Kendra is a nurse in a major hospital’s Covid wing. When I asked how she was doing, she explained that she had just had a horrible day in which she had lost five patients to the virus and was feeling especially down. In that moment, she felt the best thing she can do for herself was to come home and go to her “happy place”— her sewing room. She said that when she goes into her room and starts to play with her fabric, the stress and tensions of the day seem to melt away and she is renewed to fight another day.
As I talked with other friends who have weathered this Covid-19 storm, I’ve heard over and over again how sewing and ASG have made the difference for them and gave them the strength to not just go on, but to go on with a positive attitude.
So many of us rallied in the beginning when we were asked to make masks. We were compared to Rosie the Riveter of WWII, heeding the call to service not for our own gain but to help others on the front lines. Our knowledge of sewing gave us the ammunition to wage war on the virus. This didn’t just help pass the time, it gave us purpose and a feeling of accomplishment. We were so engrossed in service, we didn’t have time to waste fretting over being isolated at home.
As mask production began to taper off, we found we had time on our hands—time for us! Luckily, most of us had enough fabric stashed away to feed our sewing habit, and we began sewing for ourselves. Just about that time, both ASG National as well as many chapters kicked in with internet neighborhood groups and classes. Without having to risk possible infection, we could stay home and tune in to some great programs on sewing, fitting, quilting, wardrobe planning, sergers, and more. All we needed was a computer or a smartphone, but even a land-line provided audio access. How amazing was that! When Director Joi Bostic introduced us to Zoom at the ASG conference in Boston in 2019, who would have thought that this new concept would (within a year) be the lifeline on which so many of us now depend? Not only did it link us to our ASG organization it also provided a means to keep in touch with extended family members that we couldn’t visit.
Speaking of families, I can’t ignore the stories I’ve heard of how our ASG family has reached out to each other during this past year. Whether it was through phone calls, emails, or Zoom, our sewing sisters and brothers have reached out to keep relationships going and check on the well-being of this national family. ASG Director, Sheryl Belson, started a Saturday morning group in Plano, TX for just that purpose. What started out as a homegrown group to just check in on Plano members has blossomed to include members from across the country and has even introduced some new members to ASG. Way to go, Sheryl!
I’m reminded that my 2020 New Year’s resolution was to do more with my embroidery machine, so I started a small ASG embroidery group with 4 other women. We first met in January for an organization meeting, then February brought high hopes of doing special projects. By our March meeting, everything in our state was shut down for what was supposed to be just 2 weeks. In April we decided to go online and have been holding Zoom meetings ever since. We have now reached our first anniversary and I am thrilled to say our group is going strong with 50 members from chapters across the country. It has been an amazing experience to share our knowledge of sewing and inspiring projects with each other.
Looking back on 2020, I have to admit it brought many challenges and disappointments but, thanks to ASG, it also came with inspiration, learning opportunities, feelings of purpose, and so many new and renewed friendships. So, thank you ASG for getting me through 2020, and I know that whatever 2021 has in store, my ASG family will be here for me as well.
~Rosemary Fajgier
