Patchwork is the art of joining small pieces of material in patterns using diamonds, triangles, squares, and similar shapes. It is important that all pieces are cut accurately, allowing 1/4 inch for seams, and that they are joined together with the running stitch as evenly as possible. The success of the finished design depends not only on careful cutting and sewing together but on the color harmony of the whole. If scraps from mixed colors are used they should be chosen with taste and equally distributed in all sections of the quilt.

For patchwork quilts here are 7 simple rules to follow:

1. Draft your pattern, allowing 1/4 inch all around for the seams.
2. Use a number 60 thread and a number 8 short needle. A long needle is not necessary, for very few stitches are taken on such small pieces before drawing the needle through the material. Use white thread unless the patches are cut from very dark cloth. Unlike applique, patchwork does not require thread in matching colors.
3. It is important to have small pieces pressed smoothly to facilitate cutting as well as stitching together. Place the pattern on cloth and trace around the outline with a hard lead pencil. Cut out each piece as accurately as possible.
4. Separate the patches according to size and shape, and string them together. Some quilt makers prefer to sort them as they will be needed in assembling each block.
5. Sew patches together with small running stitches and secure each short seam as it is finished with at least two back stitches. The seams should be 1/4 inch deep, and sewed as straight as possible.
6. In piecing the block, sew several patches together at a time to form a small section of the design. Fit sections together and see that the corners of adjoining pieces match exactly. In order to have it perfectly accurate, tack the corners together with a few over-stitches. Sew the sections together with the usual 1/4 inch seam.
7. After the block is pieced, press it on the wrong side with a warm iron. Press the seams flat not open.

If the quilt is made from many colored scraps, remember to alternate light and dark shades. Distribute patches according to color rather than print of material. It is better to finish sewing all the separate blocks before setting them together. In that way, you may be surer to get a uniform distribution of the colors.

By: Lamar Dean

About the Author:

Quilts are an old art form with much meaning to modern people. They are all about the joining of individuals into a whole, telling stories, commemorating special moments in life, and of course, being warm and cozy. It is only natural, then, that quilts can play an important role in weddings, as everything from handmade gifts to ceremony chuppahs to decorations at the reception.

If you are a relative of an engaged man or woman, a wedding quilt is one of the most heartfelt gifts you can give. The quilt will become a treasured heirloom from the wedding, just like a family veil or a piece of pearl bridal jewelry. Not every mom, grandma, or aunt has an antique set of pearl bridal jewelry or a Belgian lace veil handcrafted by nuns to pass down to the bride, but anyone can give the gift of a wedding quilt. It can be a family quilt with a wonderful rich history, it can be one lovingly crafted by the giver, or it can even be a beautiful art quilt picked up at a craft show.

For those talented enough to make a quilt as a wedding gift, a great place to look for ideas is one of the traditional wedding ring quilt patterns. You can make a quilt which is large enough for the newlyweds’ bed or one on a smaller scale which is intended as a wall decoration, depending on your time, experience, and ambition. If your hope is that the couple will use the quilt daily or display it prominently in their new home, it is a good idea to get a sense of the color scheme of their house.

The wedding ring pattern is only one idea. Another great option is to make a pictorial album quilt depicting the life history of the bride or groom, from the time she or he was a small child, through meeting their intended, and up to the wedding. This type of quilt can be made by one person or as a group gift from the family, with each person making one of the squares with a story inside it. For inspiration, take a look at the antique Baltimore album quilts.

A fun take on the wedding album quilt idea is to have the guests at the reception each decorate and sign one square which will later be assembled into a keepsake quilt. Set out fabric markers, the squares, and a request that each guest take some time to make his or her section as beautiful as possible. The assembled quilt will make a really neat alternative to a traditional guest book.

Family quilts can also be incorporated into weddings. One of the most customary ways to do so is by using an heirloom quilt as the chuppah for a Jewish ceremony. If you have a meaningful quilt in your family but will not be using a chuppah, other options would be to hang it behind the altar on the wall or a freestanding frame, use it as an altar cloth (if the officiant permits it), or to display it in a place of honor in the entrance to the ceremony or reception site. It is a really nice idea to write up a brief description of the quilt and its history to include in your wedding programs so that your guests will be able to appreciate why it is such a treasured family heirloom.

By: Bridget Mora

About the Author:

Perhaps one of the greatest skills of African Americans before they were liberated from their shackles of slavery was the art of textile weaving. However, this was an ability that was not well known as historians lent their focus to their languages, practices and religious beliefs. Initially men would uphold the tradition of textile weaving, however after the Africans were sold as laborers on American soil, many things changed.

African American slaves were made to work plantation lands for their slave masters in order to supply the world’s demand for crops such as sugar, tobacco, indigo, rice and many more. The Africans were over worked and inhumanely treated. Thus somewhere during this process the men no longer adhered to the tradition of weaving African American Quilts. This was now taken up by the women.

Due to the slave trade their textiles were also bartered heavily throughout the Caribbean, Central America, and the Southern United States. Thus the traditions of each distinct region became intermixed. So when early African American quilting became a tradition it was already a combination of textile traditions reflecting the artistic expression of African aesthetic, religious and cultural traditions.

Buying an African American Quilt illustrates one’s appreciation for cultural history. In the days of slavery African American Quilts were used as methods of communication. Many of the abolitionists would weave maps and star points that would serve as guides to slaves so that they could free themselves of their oppressive masters. Several quilts also demonstrate a fusion of cultures from the Africans who were traded to Caribbean and South American plantation owners. This synchronisation of culture and religious practices were also demonstrated in their artistic expressions on these quilts.

Other African American quilts tell of their religious practices and beliefs. For instance the use of shapes such as diamonds and circles symbolized life stages, with the points of the diamond for instance representing birth, growth, death, and re-birth. These African weavers who believed in the existence of evil spirits also used these quilts as a manner of expressing this and often creating distractions for the spirits.

African American Quilts were perhaps not given the due credit as a form of artistic expression that came from the African who was enslaved. Investing in an African American Quilt means that the owner appreciates the talent and artistic representation of these people.

By: Sarah H

About the Author:

Good Morning,

I have been mulling over the question of how one learns to appreciate art, fabric art in particular, and how to educate the public about art quilts.

First of all, art quilts as an art form is a relatively new concept in the art world. Textile art has existed a long time in the form of woven tapestries or sewn garments. Quilts have also existed a long time and have even been decorated with embroidery even as they were used as bedspreads on beds for warmth. Some garments were quilted and used under armor and other outerwear to keep people warm.

Traditional American quilts flourished in the 1800s and were mostly used for practical purposes although they were very artfully hand sewn and embroidered. A lot of women made quilts for their trousseaus and also telling family histories such as births, marriages and deaths. Still, they were mostly treasured as family heirlooms handed down for several generations. Today, museums and private collectors pay huge sums for antique bed quilts so in that sense, they are now art.

The modern art quilts (to be hung on the wall) evolved in the early 70s, through the 80s and the 90s. Many women were interested in their grandmother’s quilts or quilts their mothers made for them and had learned sewing and hand embroidery since they were young, but wanted to find new ways of expressing their creativity using fabrics of all kinds. The notion came that maybe we could make quilts that would strictly be for decorative purposes to be displayed on the walls in homes, hotel lobbies, offices, restaurants and other public spaces.

There was a lot of experimentation taking place at this time using traditional cutting or sewing techniques and designs in new expanded ways where blocks were not all the same but different. Some artists even used blocks of different sizes to be sewn together in creative ways. Many started coloring, dyeing and printing their own fabrics which then were cut up in various ways and reassembled to form a new graphic image. Some used one piece of fabric and embellished it with more fabric sewn directly onto the top, either appliqued by hand or machine. Some added colorful hand stitching as part of the design.

Sewing techniques became innovative also because of new sewing machine technology where lots of machine stitching and embroidery became part of the overall design, not just used to quilt two layers of fabric and the batting together. This trend continues today with many fabric artists using free motion (random stitching) to highlight areas of design or even be an intricate part of the graphics.

Also as the interest grew in sewing and new fabrics came on the market, new kinds of threads emerged on the scene. Metallic threads in all colors meant that some very interesting effects could be achieved by machine quilting in specific areas. All kinds of threads came along with different kinds of qualities that could be used in creative ways.

The latest trend is the renewed interest in yarns of all kinds which many fabric artists like to incorporate onto the surface of their art quilts. Specialty yarns of all kinds and colors can add exciting textures to the designs. Additional embellishments used nowadays are beads, ribbons, trinkets and even new kinds of fibers. Some artists are even incorporating materials and techniques from other artforms.

So how are these wall quilts art? They are art because they’re original visions manifested in various ways using fabrics much in the same way as an artist would use brushes. They are art because they express high levels of creativity of images never before seen. They are art because of the innovations in techniques they represent. And they bring tremendous amounts of beauty to our often denatured, sterile and concrete-filled asphalt jungle environment.

I remember a few years ago when I saw my first real art quilts displayed at a local center where I frequently went for meetings. It was a private display of three very large art quilts depicting various scenes inspired by the Holy Writings of the Baha’i Faith. I literally stopped in my tracks when I entered the room! The atmosphere and energy were totally changed just because of those beautiful works of art. I will never forget that moment and I am sure that is one of the reasons I decided that I wanted to create something similar.

So, how do you learn to appreciate this new art form? Go to quilt exhibits, local and national, as often as you can. Almost all traditional quilt exhibits now include some form of art quilts as a special category. Prizes are given and artists are given recognition. Many have written books about the techniques they’ve invented or perhaps they’ve come up with a variation of a cutting technique. Find quilting programs on your local TV network or cable, many now devote one or two programs per week to fabric art.

In general, read art books that you find in the local library. Go to museums and regular art exhibits. Take art classes and art appreciation classes to get a good basic background about art in general. Then you will begin to appreciate the work involved and the time it takes to create an art quilt.

Happy Looking!

By: Katrina Sjoberg

About the Author:

Most schools have various fundraisers to compensate for the constant budget cuts that have been occurring for many years. Simple supplies, programs and even staff salaries have been affected by these budget cuts, so many schools must have big fundraisers to make up for that loss of money. The most common type of fundraiser is an event that has items that are donated to be placed in a silent or live auction and the highest bid gets the item. This will give ideas for the kids in each class to come up with a great class project items that can be placed in the auction. It will discuss beautiful vases that use mosaic tiles and porcelain tiles done by older students and a handprint quit from a preschool age class are just a couple of the ideas.

Most parents treasure anything that is made by their child but when it is an object that is auctioned off and it may cost them quite a bit of money they may be a bit more selective in what they want. That is why it is important for a classroom project to not only be done by the children but also be something that people would want to have anyway as well. Getting a beautiful vase and having the kids bring old plates, mugs or colorful tiles in would be a great start to doing a mosaic project. The older students enjoy breaking these items to create the different pieces to be adhered to the vase. The end result is a gorgeous piece that you would have bought from a store and each child had a part in putting it together.

Other projects that may be great for the younger children are things that need a considerable amount of adult help but also have the children’s help too. If there is a parent that can sew quilts this is a great idea. Have each child put their handprint on a quilting square and then have their name placed by it. Having this handprint quilt usually can bring in a lot of money for a fundraiser.

Other great ideas are to have painted furniture with the children participating in the decorating of it. For a kindergarten class, a child sized table and chairs painted in white is a great base for some thumbprint art. Have each child put their painted thumbprint on a section of the furniture and then have an adult turn that thumbprint into a cute animal using pen accents. The child’s name will also be placed by this print. For older kids having them paint a special picture or object on an Adirondack chair for the garden is a great idea and results in a colorful, vibrant piece for your outdoors.

All of these projects are special because the kids were involved and should bring in great auction bids and raise a lot of money for their school. The kids are even more excited if you are the winner of their class project that they are so proud of.

By: Connor R Sullivan

About the Author:

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints wants to encourage its members to express their creativity and develop their talents. The church owns a museum in Salt Lake City called the Museum of Church History and Art which houses information about the history of the Mormon people. It also has art from members of the Church all around the world.

The artwork displayed varies in form from paintings and sculptures to children’s drawings and quilts. Every year they hold an international art competition with a theme. People from all over the world submit their creations and the winners have their art displayed at the museum and on the museum website.

I personally know two people who have created artwork that has been displayed in the museum, one created a marble sculpture and the other a painting. You don’t have to have a special position or live in a certain area for your artwork to be considered, but it generally needs to contain religious elements or be a reflection of individual testimony and faith.

The museum changes their exhibits regularly; previous, upcoming, and current exhibits can be viewed on their website, but it is definitely no substitute for visiting. They have a small store where artwork and other items may be purchased.

One exhibit that remains constant is portraits of individual prophets, past and present. The museum has also housed artwork done by prophets and apostles, such as the artwork of Boyd K. Packer. But whether viewing items created by someone well known, or someone unknown, the viewing experience is inspiring.

Art is an expression of faith and a celebration of beauty. It is one way members of the LDS faith choose to honor God.

By: Trent Bowen

About the Author:

Country decorating can be fun, creative and frugal because the items that work in country decor are either handmade like quilts, rugs, wood items, and folk art, or natural items like dried flowers, branches and flowers. Many of these type of items you can make or find at little or no cost.

Quilts, for example, can be handmade by you with fabric scraps or worn out clothing. If you don’t know how to make quilts, you could check out a book from the library and learn how. You may even be able to find one at a yard sale or thrift store, if you’re lucky. If you can’t find or make quilts, check thrift stores for beautiful crocheted afghans; I have seen many and these would be equally as beautiful in your country decor. Just be sure to find colors that match your scheme. You can drape quilts or afghans over your sofa, or hang on a quilt rack. I have even seen them hung on a wall, like art.

Throw rugs are a wonderful way to vary your decor. If you want a change, just switch rugs or add one in a new area. Rugs can be braided or crocheted with scraps of worn out clothing or fabric. If you don’t know either method, there are books out on the subject and you could also do a search on the Internet for instructions. I have found many throw rugs at thrift stores and yard sales. Whenever the price is right and I like the look of a rug, I’ll buy it so I can make a fresh look when needed.

Wood items are abundant at thrift stores and are very reasonable. There is a huge variety too; I have seen wood fish, shelves, mini rocking chairs, coasters, placques, bowls, boxes, figurines, letter holders, spice racks, planters and a lot more. Sometimes I’ll find a scratched wood item that I like and I’ll still buy it because I’ll take it home & fix it up with paint. These can be decoratively painted, or just touched up. You can also learn how to make your own wood items by taking a class or studying a book.

Usually folk art is very simple, so it is possible to make your own! Look around at other folk art to get ideas for your own original design, then go to the craft store & get artist paper (like 140 lb. watercolor paper), lightly sketch your design, then paint. If you really believe that you aren’t able to do this, then again, check thrift stores! I see charming prints and original art for very reasonable prices. Another inexpensive option would be to frame calendar pages. Look for pretty frames at the Dollar Store.

The nice thing about natural items is that they are free. Hopefully you have your own yard where you can gather pine cones, branches, flowers, and leaves. If not, maybe you have a relative or neighbor that will let you takes some naturals from their yard. Branches and fresh flowers can be placed in pretty vases (check thrift stores!) or canning jars, pine cones look beautiful in big wooden bowls, as do leaves. The possiblilities are endless; just use your imagination for containers and combinations.

You don’t need a lot of money to create a charming home! Have some fun and start hunting for or creating the things that would make your home special.

By: Monica Resinger

About the Author:

Start by thinking of some situation in your life that you would like changed. Let us say you wish you had a car in good enough shape to drive you comfortably up the coast where you would like to spend a few days doing nothing but walking, resting and dining at that special inn you heard about. But, in reality, your transmission just went bye-bye and on top of your recent dental bill all the vacation money is spoken for.

Now is the time to go browse the giveaway magazine sections of your local library or recycling store. Skim through to find ones with even one or two images that relate to your theme and generate a gut response. Don’t think anything through at this point. Bring the stack home. Sit down with about ten sheets of paper or an old book to use for your paste-ups. You will be pasting right over whatever is on the paper or pages, so it doesn’t have to be blank. It is nice if it is all the same size for later binding, however.

Then, browse your magazines for symbols of cars, coastlines, inns, roads, paths, food, teeth, transmissions and anything else that relates to your dream and dilemma. Cut out those pages. Try not to waste time reading articles as you browse. Then start cutting and gluing your first healing art collage journal page to depict the present state of things.

At a certain point, the page will be full, and it will be saying something like, “Yes, this is the mess you are in now.” Go on to page two. This time let your imagination get a little wilder as you dream up how this predicament could possibly lead toward your goal. This page is step one of the problem resolution. It is all the better if you have a magical element on this page. Let us say that picture of a perfume bottle you came across (yes, you will often go back to your stack) makes you think of putting a genie in it. Find a genie-like image and paste that up. Then, on the next several pages, continue working with all of these elements. Depict how you received the perfume bottle, how you discovered its genie, how you communicated your wish, what deal you made, what happened next…all leading to the end result of that trip up the coast.

It is okay if it takes you twenty pages to get there. The more playful and yet logical you are in what appears to be a very silly, unlikely-yet-somehow-possible scenario, the easier it will be for your mind to get out of its ordinary track and see everything in a new light. Once your image journal pages have shown you finally having dinner at the inn, staple those pages into book form if loose, and put that healing art collage journal where you can look through it every day until the changes start happening in your life.

No, you might not meet a genie, but someone name Jeanie who wears too much perfume may come into your life to tell you how she has an “in” with the mechanic who is working on your car’s transmission. Your dentist tells you about the Thousand Mile Smile contest he entered you in because that photo he took after he removed your braces won you a trip out west. It is not exactly as you depicted in your collages, but if you look for the similarities, they will be there!

I have worked with this process many times with much more serious issues than the desire for a vacation. The results have always impressed me. I have seen a friend win $5000 by affirming that “Divine Spirit ” would provide the money needed for a down payment on a house, then receive a call from Mr. Divine (that was really his name!) of the “Spirits Group” of Smirnoff’s Vodka to announce that he had won. Another friend who had been experiencing long delays in an adoption process collaged a new baby entering her life through the front door of her house. The adoption process then went through.

Image is a very powerful guide. Madison Avenue would not spend millions on finding just the right images to move us if this were not so. You now have the power to make these images work for you and bring resolution, release or reward into your life. So, get those scissors out and cut loose. Healing art collage can work in all the areas of your life.

By: Carol Bridges

About the Author:

In the olden days, women would gather around a quilting frame to spend the afternoon socializing and helping someone finish a quilt. These events were called quilting bees.

Today we still make beautiful hand made quilts for the enjoyment of handling the material, knowing that it will be highly valued by the receiver and practicing an almost lost art. Men enjoy this form of art as well as women.

Quilting frames are a devise used to hold the parts of a quilt together while the quilter stitches through the material. Most frames are made to work only a portion of the quilt at a time. A unit for a king sized cover is still 107 to 110 inches long. The artist sits facing the project and makes tiny, uniform stitches in the design of their choice. If the frame is a good one, the layers will be held correctly in position and not move. If the layers move, the artist must adjust the project before continuing.

Many people make their own frames. Sometimes they cannot find one to buy in the right size and sometime the style or price is not what they want. Most of these handmade frames are made from wood in various styles and designs. Some are made to take apart for storage and some are permanently assembled. Many quilters design a frame using saw horses cut to the chair height they prefer.

The newest style of a homemade quilting frame is one made from PVC pipes. These are white plastic pipes used for pumping. They are inexpensive, very strong and very light. They come in an assortment of links.

There are craftsman who make beautiful and practical frames. They use strong, durable wood that looks great. These are treasured and handed down from one generation to the next.

Handmade quilting frames are a part of the romance of this almost forgotten art.

By: Mindy Martha

About the Author:

Quilts are not just pieces of fabrics sewn together. It is an artistic piece and a symbol of just about anything, to which it tags along a number of uses. In different circumstances, quilts are pieced and sewn together for many different reasons. Being pieced together out of the many scraps, a quilt is typically sewn to provide warmth and comfort. The very first step in quilting is to think of its purpose. There are more uses than what a person could think of. All the same, a quilt is being used as the following:

Bed Cover. Commonly, quilts are made for warmth and bed decoration. Quilts could instantly change the look of a room. Yes, quilts as bed covers could stand out and make a big impact on the overall look of a room. Quilts are also made as fabulous wall-hanging and as a curtain, if the batting is thin. Curtains and Wall-hangings. Quilts are made as curtains, specifically with thin batting. It is also made as a hanging sleeve, where we usually place bills and keys. Presto! You got an instant work of art! Throw Pillows. Scraps of fabrics sewn together with thick batting inside could make a throw pillow. It could be kept on your sofa or even on the bed side to use even when you just want to curl up. Tablecloth. Quilts that are being sewn thinly or just the basic quilt tops are being made to serve as tablecloth. Consider it on your dining table or even on side tables. Investment. Yes! Most of the quilts made were passed over as an heirloom. Carefully look after the quilt and it can be passed down through your family, generation to generation. Not that pricey, but could be grand and regarded with high sentimental value.

The uses of quilts do not just stop there. Ever heard of “cutter quilts”? These are vintage quilts that are worn out seriously. When quilts are worn out, most tend to disregard those and put them aside. However, there are pieces of it that are still in great shape and need only a teeny idea to keep them around. There are many ways to be done for cutter quilts. Consider the following:

Table mats. You have the option to make it as place mats on your dining table, dressing table, or your coffee table. A little imagination and creativity would help you do the thing. Tote bags. Tag along with embroidered quilted tote bags. Usually for women on the go. Cosmetic and toiletry bags. You don’t have to be somebody to have one. Have your own, personalized cosmetic and toiletry bag out from cutter quilts. Picnic rug. Instead of setting aside worn out quilts, put them into use by having picnic rugs. Teddy bear. Stuff your cutter quilts and make it into a teddy bear. Less but could be pleasurable. Wall Art. Frame a section and hang in simple frame on your walls. Consider making a set and it will look very effective.Christmas stockings. Why go shopping for Christmas stockings? Why spend when cutter quilts only need your artistic ability to make some simple Christmas stockings to hang on your wall? Who knows, your kids might love it too. Oven gloves. Ever thought of such? Protect your hands from being burnt by having your own oven gloves made from cutter quilts. You have the option for thick batting as well. Equipment Cover. Hardly used home equipments could be covered with cutter quilts. Have it fitted and make one for rarely used equipments. You could opt to have it embroidered. It shows your creativity and protects your equipments as well from obtaining dirt and dust. Book Cover. It will make a book look more personalized and classy.

There are more uses of quilts and cutter quilts other than the ones mentioned. There are a variety of quilts made into fabric jelly rolls that offers good value for home. Always remember, quilting is a process and as a process, changes are considered most of the time. As the craftwork is being done, a quilter has the possibility of discovering more uses for quilts, even for cutter quilts.

By: Consollete Mae

About the Author: