Quilting

A piece of fabric that runs the complete length or width between block rows of a quilt. Short sashing is placed perpendicular to the continuous sashing in order to separate the blocks inside each row.

A material having a life-expectancy of three years that is used for storing quilts.

Stitching that does not follow any set lines.

The stitching that is sewn underneath a main motif.

The method of joining the quilting layers with safety pins.

The method of joining fabric layers together with long hand stitches to prevent shifting.

A type of design in quilting that looks like a rope that is twisted.

A kind of outline quilting that is commonly applied on applique quilts. The applique motif is quilted-in-the-ditch and then the following line of the stitching is placed parallel to the first line. This process is repeated for the 3rd, 4th, 5th...stitching lines while always maintaining the same space distance between the lines.

A type of quilting that involves complicated quilting designs. Also known as fancies.

 Filler refers to the type of quilt batting used to line the inside of a quilt.  Examples of filler include: wool, synthetic fiber, or cotton.  These items are wadded into rolls or sheets and used by quilters to line quilts.

The method of stitching complicated and curving designs by a machine.

A type of stitch that passes into each layer of a quilt.

A kind of outline quilting completed along an applique edge or seam. Marks are not used for this type of quilting.

A kind of relief quilting that places a measured piece of cording or thread into a quilted channel. This particular relief quilting started in England, but was later made famous by the Italians and hence sometimes called Italian quilting

The act of quilting sections of a quilt before they are assembled.

Loose non-structured lines of stitching that do not usually touch each other.

Followig the edge of an applique pattern or patchwork with stitches.

 Quilt batting is the wool, synthetic fiber, or cotton wadded into rolls or sheets that quilters use to line quilts.

Quilting is the act of stitching three layers of a quilt together – creating a kind of sandwich that features a decorative design.  The act of quilting can be completed by a machine or by hand. 

Machine quilting involves a ‘walking foot’ in order to feed the layers of the quilt through the machine.  Free motion or freehand quilting is completed with a darning foot.  Frequently individuals who choose to use a machine will pair the threads to the fabric that is being quilted.  When pairing is not possible, invisible monofilament is used instead.

Hand quilting is often completed on a quilt frame or quilting hoop with needles called ‘betweens’ and thread.  To quilt, one hand is placed under the quilt in order to feel for the needle, and the other hand creates the stitches on top.  The best hand quilters will create small, consistent stitches that run over the quilt.  Straight and uniform stitches are key to make a successful quilt.  In general, the stitches should be the same size on both the top and bottom of the quilt. 

The design on a quilt is made through a ‘shadow line’.  A different shadow line is created depending on whether when uses a machine or one’s hands.  In machine quilting, the line will be straighter and rougher looking that quilting by hand, which gives a puckered dotted line.  Each method is not better than the other – they each just have a different appearance.