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A Beginning Crafter's Guide to Buying Quilting Fabrics and Notions

By Christopher Baker


Making functional and beautiful items for your home is something that many craft makers love to do. If you have been thinking about making a quilt for your home, there are some specific quilting fabrics and notions that you will need. If you have never shopped for them before, here are some things that you may want to keep in mind.

A quilt, at its most basic, is made of two layers of fabric with a layer of insulating material sandwiched in between. Typically, the back of the quilt was made from a larger piece of fabric or even several pieces of fabric sewn together to achieve the desired size. The front of the piece was made of smaller pieces of differently colored textiles that were sewn together to make a pattern.

If you look at many modern quilts they seem more like art pieces but they were not always so refined. In the beginning, when people were trying to find ways to keep warm, they started creating quilts that they could use to do so. Now, intricate stitching and carefully selected materials are used to create stunning pictures but early quilts were often patchwork affairs that used up left over material.

To create one of these objects, you will need a number of different fabrics. You will need material for the back of the piece as well as textiles that will be used to create the front pattern. You can either choose a pre-packaged kit or you can choose to pick out your own fabrics and create your own piece. You may want to look at fabric stores before buying so that you can get a good sense of what different fabrics will look and feel like.

Insulating your quilt is more important in a functional quilt than it would be in a piece that was meant to be used as art. If you want to make sure that the piece you make is very warm, look for batting that is designed for colder weather. It may not be thicker than batting used in quilts for moderate climates but it will be warmer.

Thread is something that many quilt makers do not think about. There are metallic options as well as matte threads that are available in an entire rainbow of colors. If you aren't sure which brand you want to use, it may be a good idea to speak to an experienced quilt maker about the benefits and drawbacks of various brands.

Once a quilter has sewn the layers of fabric together and has sandwiched the batting in between, it is time to create the patterns on the front. This is done by holding the fabric taut and sewing patterns from thread. The easiest way to do this is by using a quilting frame. There are many different options available and they range in size from small and compact to models that are large enough to hold a large piece while it is being worked on.

There are many places to find notions and equipment. You can look at crafting or fabric stores. There are also websites that will allow you to choose from a wider range of options than you may be able to find locally. Then, you can begin to create beautiful pieces that you can hand down from generation to generation.




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