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<title>Basic Quilting Techniques Course</title><link>http://www.quiltcetera.com/index.html</link><description>BQTC brought to you by QuiltCetera.Com</description><dc:language>en</dc:language><dc:creator>quiltcetera@yahoo.com</dc:creator><dc:rights>Copyright 2008 QUILTCETERA.COM</dc:rights><dc:date>2009-01-01T16:19:38-06:00</dc:date><admin:generatorAgent rdf:resource="http://www.realmacsoftware.com/" />
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<lastBuildDate>Mon, 21 Jul 2008 22:26:17 -0600</lastBuildDate><atom10:link xmlns:atom10="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" rel="self" href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/BasicQuiltingTechniquesCourse" type="application/rss+xml" /><feedburner:emailServiceId>BasicQuiltingTechniquesCourse</feedburner:emailServiceId><feedburner:feedburnerHostname>http://feedburner.google.com</feedburner:feedburnerHostname><feedburner:browserFriendly></feedburner:browserFriendly><item><title>BQTC #10 How to Chain Piece</title><dc:creator>quiltcetera@yahoo.com</dc:creator><category>BQTC #10</category><dc:date>2009-01-01T16:19:38-06:00</dc:date><link>http://www.quiltcetera.com/Basic-Quilting-Techniques/files/How-to-chain-piece.html#unique-entry-id-14</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.quiltcetera.com/Basic-Quilting-Techniques/files/How-to-chain-piece.html#unique-entry-id-14</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Chain piecing is a technique that will make piecing thousands of little tiny pieces, a much easier process. ...  The idea is to continually feed in new pieces of fabric, without cutting the thread in between.   This will create a long &lsquo;chain&rsquo; of fabric pieces each with a small joiner of thread in between.   One other advantage is that none will be misplaced, as they are all connected together!   Once you have finished a particular step, then all the pieces can be separated, and taken over to the ironing board for pressing.   Although one friend of mine likes to press them all while they are still chained together and then she snips them apart afterwards.


...Finish Sewing the first piece and without cutting thread, continue sewing 3 or 4 stitches while holding the fabric tightly towrds the back of sewing machine. 

...Begin sewing the next piece while gently pulling first piece toward back of machine. 


Continue sewing all your pieces in this manner until you have completed all-or as many as you would like to do!


Here you can see the tiny piece of thread which joins the pieces together.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>BQTC #9 Measuring a Quarter Inch Seam</title><dc:creator>quiltcetera@yahoo.com</dc:creator><category>BQTC #9</category><dc:date>2008-11-23T11:10:15-06:00</dc:date><link>http://www.quiltcetera.com/Basic-Quilting-Techniques/files/Measuring-Quarter-Inch-Seam.html#unique-entry-id-12</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.quiltcetera.com/Basic-Quilting-Techniques/files/Measuring-Quarter-Inch-Seam.html#unique-entry-id-12</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[When the foot is lowered on top of the fabric, this gives a guide which the fabric can slide along under the foot. 

...This seam allowance will be perfect if you keep your fabric just a little more to the left. ...  The truth is, when you open the two pieces of fabric, they each have to fold over the thread and then away from each other. 

...Here you can see the ruler under the presser foot, with the needle lowered into the quarter inch hole.    The right edge of the ruler is where your fabric needs to line up for your seam allowance. ...  This height will keep your fabric in place and provide you with an actual guide that the fabric with slide along. 


...Keep it forward a bit so you can easily see where the fabric needs to line up.   In the second picture, I was trying to show the height of the double sided tape which will actually keep your fabric in place. 

...Again you should apply the tape in the same way, a little bit forward, and not on top of the feed dogs.  

...I would love to hear about any other ways that creative quilters have used to keep their piecing accurate, so feel free to comment and share. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>BQTC #8 Cross Cutting fabric which is Already Sewn</title><dc:creator>quiltcetera@yahoo.com</dc:creator><category>BQTC #8</category><dc:date>2008-11-23T00:34:49-06:00</dc:date><link>http://www.quiltcetera.com/Basic-Quilting-Techniques/files/Cross-Cutting-Fabric.html#unique-entry-id-11</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.quiltcetera.com/Basic-Quilting-Techniques/files/Cross-Cutting-Fabric.html#unique-entry-id-11</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[There is a technique called strip piecing which has made quilting a much easier process for quilters.   Rather than cutting zillions of tiny little pieces, strips of fabric are sewn together and then cut again into sections of several fabrics. 

...There are 3 fabrics in your block which will finish up looking like this: 


Look carefully and you will see that this block is made of 3 vertical strip sets. 

...To make these sets, I cut long strips of each fabric and stitched them together in the color arrangements that I needed.


I also had a pink, brown, pink strip set, however it is not shown.   Once your fabrics are joined together, then you can cross cut into the smaller segments you need to build the blocks. 


Here you can see I am cross cutting these sewn together strips, just like I would cut a single fabric strip.    You can also see that I use the line between the pink and white to square the cut. ...  However if your seams wave, you will not see a straight line when you place you ruler to make the cut. 
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>BQTC BONUS Fussy Cutting</title><dc:creator>quiltcetera@yahoo.com</dc:creator><category>BQTC BONUS</category><dc:date>2008-11-23T00:05:01-06:00</dc:date><link>http://www.quiltcetera.com/Basic-Quilting-Techniques/files/Fussy-Cutting.html#unique-entry-id-10</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.quiltcetera.com/Basic-Quilting-Techniques/files/Fussy-Cutting.html#unique-entry-id-10</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[So your pattern says to fussy cut 5 inch blocks with a special design or motif in the center. ...  I&rsquo;ve put together a few pictures to guide you through this surprising simple process.


You&rsquo;ve likely seen all kinds of print fabrics which feature flowers, animals, cartoon characters, cars etc.   Often the designs are large, and won&rsquo;t fit into a traditional type of quilt block. ...  I recently did a quilt where I needed a center block to be a picture of a single flower. 


...As you can see, it features an &lsquo;all over&rsquo; type of design, with several different shapes of the same flower. 


...I needed a 5.5 inch block with this flower in the center.   The first step was to cut a strip 5.5 inches wide. 


...Next I want to center the flower within a 5.5 inch area.   I used my 6 inch ruler to help me decide how to center the flower. 
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>BQTC #7 Cutting Fabric Including Cross Cutting</title><dc:creator>quiltcetera@yahoo.com</dc:creator><category>BQTC #7</category><dc:date>2008-11-22T19:18:27-06:00</dc:date><link>http://www.quiltcetera.com/Basic-Quilting-Techniques/files/Cutting-Fabric.html#unique-entry-id-9</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.quiltcetera.com/Basic-Quilting-Techniques/files/Cutting-Fabric.html#unique-entry-id-9</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[The first step to cutting fabric for your project is to cut strips which are the width of your pieces. ...  If your pattern says to cut rectangles which measure 2.5 by 4.5 inches then your first strips will be cut 2.5 inches wide. 

...Here you can see the ruler is lined up to square the raw edge off the fabric.


...At this point you should have you fabric laid out on your cutting mat with the fold towards you and lined up along the bottom marking of your mat.   If you are right handed you will be placing your ruler on the left hand side of the fabric so you can cut along the right hand side of the ruler. ...  Once your ruler is lined up, cut the fabric along the right hand side of the ruler, holding your ruler very still. 

...I have lined up the 2.5 inch mark on my ruler with the raw edge of the fabric and cut along the right hand side of the ruler. 

...Place the ruler on the left hand side of the strip and line up the desired marking with the left hand side of the fabric. ...  So I align the 3 inch mark on my ruler with the left hand side of my fabric and cut along the right hand side of the fabric. 

...In this triangle the stable edges are the two shorter sides and the long bias edge is the unstable side and will easily stretch out of shape, so handle the bias edge with care. 
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>BQTC#6 Squaring Your Fabric and Preparing for Cutting</title><dc:creator>quiltcetera@yahoo.com</dc:creator><category>BQTC #6</category><dc:date>2008-10-15T21:01:50-06:00</dc:date><link>http://www.quiltcetera.com/Basic-Quilting-Techniques/files/Squaring-Fabric.html#unique-entry-id-8</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.quiltcetera.com/Basic-Quilting-Techniques/files/Squaring-Fabric.html#unique-entry-id-8</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[It's hard to believe that yards and yards of fabric are made up of thousands, if not millions, of tiny little threads, all tightly woven together. ...  It will have small holes pierced through out the length and this is where you will see the manufacturer or name of the fabric line, for example Moda, Northcott, or Hoffman.) 


...This would give you a straight square piece of fabric which will lay flat without twisting or turning when sewn into your quilt or garment.   This is especially important when cutting for borders, where the pieces of fabric are larger and the grain is more evident. ...  Keeping the first selvage side in your hands, fold the fabric again, with the wrong sides together, so you are holding both selvages in your hands. 

..., take the fabric closest to you, and move it as far to the left as you can, while keeping the other side in place. 

...In these examples, the top layer of fabric has been shifted to the right, in order to show the belly or bulge of fabric NOT square.


...Place your ruler over the raw edge, making sure to cover enough fabric to cut a straight line through both layers.   This will only cut off about a quarter to half an inch of fabric, and will leave you with a clean straight edge. 

...At the top you can see the see the raw edge I need to trim off in order to square the fabric.  
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>BQTC #5 Sewing Machines and Attachments</title><dc:creator>quiltcetera@yahoo.com</dc:creator><category>BQTC #5</category><dc:date>2008-09-17T01:18:14-06:00</dc:date><link>http://www.quiltcetera.com/Basic-Quilting-Techniques/files/Sewing-Machines-and-Attachments.html#unique-entry-id-7</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.quiltcetera.com/Basic-Quilting-Techniques/files/Sewing-Machines-and-Attachments.html#unique-entry-id-7</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Some will suggest that any sewing machine will do well others can&rsquo;t live without all the bells and whistles that come on most of the newer machines on the market today.   Here is my experience with sewing machines followed by a break down of some of the features you may want to consider when choosing a machine for quilting.


...It was top of the line for manual machines, and came with a quilter's package which was a big bonus for me. 

...Some advantages for quilter's are: needle threader, thread cutter, stitch in place function, separate bobbin winder, knee lifter, extension table, and decorative stitches.   Attachments that I could not live without: 1/4 inch presser foot, clear see through applique foot, walking foot, and hopping foot. ...  I know that Janome and Pfaff both offer quilter's toolbox kits which can be purchased separately if your machine did not come with them.


...However if you plan ahead, you could easily wind several bobbins worth of thread and not even have to worry about the bobbin refills.


5) Knee Lifter: This is a hands free way to lift the presser foot, which allows you to keep your hands on the fabic at all times. 

...9) Clear See Through Applique Foot: Being able to see through the presser foot is important for applique, as you need to see the edge of the fabric for accuracy. 

...If you plan to do a lot of machine quilting (vs. sending your quilts out to be done on a long arm machine) then a walking foot will be very helpful for you.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>BQTC #4 Quilting Tools</title><dc:creator>quiltcetera@yahoo.com</dc:creator><category>BQTC #4</category><dc:date>2008-08-31T14:32:13-06:00</dc:date><link>http://www.quiltcetera.com/Basic-Quilting-Techniques/files/Quilting-Tools.html#unique-entry-id-6</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.quiltcetera.com/Basic-Quilting-Techniques/files/Quilting-Tools.html#unique-entry-id-6</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[This time around I would like to introduce you to the tools that you will need to get quilting. 

...I have personally encountered many quilters who believed in the early days, that they would rather quilt like their Grandma, using templates, and good old scissors. ...  Those early projects still sit, stuffed in some closet, forgotten and neglected, because, they did not want to invest the time that was actually needed to complete them! 

...So here, I will show you just the basics, the bare essentials that you will need, and at the end, I will provide you with sources to find these products, in case they are not readily available in your area.


...My first rotary cutter was Unique brand, and came in a beginner quilter package with a ruler and cutting mat. 

...I'm sure you will discover a need for the other sizes for some future project, but the 45 mm will get you off to a great start. 

...It was quite pricey, but she can even cut fabric while sitting which could be good when cutting like a queen size quilt.


...The cutting mats must always be stored flat since they warp very easily, and you never, ever want to expose to hot or cold. 

...It can be nice when cutting an extra wide border but if you can only find the 6 inch, it will do just fine. 

...If you are itching to get started, I have just put together a Beginner Block of the Month Club for all my Visitors. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>BQTC #3 Selecting Thread for your Quilts
</title><dc:creator>quiltcetera@yahoo.com</dc:creator><category>BQTC #3</category><dc:date>2008-08-10T17:58:33-06:00</dc:date><link>http://www.quiltcetera.com/Basic-Quilting-Techniques/files/Selecting-Thread-for-Quilts.html#unique-entry-id-5</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.quiltcetera.com/Basic-Quilting-Techniques/files/Selecting-Thread-for-Quilts.html#unique-entry-id-5</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Since cotton fabric is most often the choice for discriminating quilters, it can only be paired with cotton thread. 

...Should you choose to use cotton fabric and polyester thread, you will find that poly thread is stronger and will actually pull right through the cotton when it begins to break down.


Of course, we all hope this won't happen for many many years, but when it has become a long loved keepsake family heirloom, cotton on cotton will actually be a better choice.


...For example 30 weight cotton thread will be thick, multi strand and also suitable for embroidery. 60 weight thread is often used for the bobbin when machine quilting.   It becomes nearly invisible due to the light weight but this is something you can base on your own preference.


...Machine Quilting - If I am using cotton for quilting, I like to use a weight that is noticeable. 

...The ONLY time I might use polyester thread for piecing fabric would be if I were using fabric that was a poly/cotton blend. 

...Superior threads (http://www.superiorthreads.com/) has an amazing selection of beautiful polyester threads in various weights, colors, and even variegated (a thread that gradually changes color).   I personally love using their threads for my Handi Quilter16 - a compact long arm sewing machine - and they even included some free samples with the machine. 

...This works if you can't find quite the right color or for stitch in the ditch (quilting along the seam lines). ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>BQTC Introduction</title><dc:creator>quiltcetera@yahoo.com</dc:creator><category>Course Intro</category><dc:date>2008-07-20T12:36:00-06:00</dc:date><link>http://www.quiltcetera.com/Basic-Quilting-Techniques/files/BQTC-Introduction.html#unique-entry-id-3</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.quiltcetera.com/Basic-Quilting-Techniques/files/BQTC-Introduction.html#unique-entry-id-3</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[I am dividing the quilting lessons up into easy weekly classes that you can subscribe to through QuiltCetera's Yahoo Group.


I'm constantly adding to the list of beginner quilting topics for teaching you how to quilt.


We are starting with absolute basics to cover all bases.   If you are a more experienced quilter, then consider this a review!   You may surprise yourself and learn a new trick or tip that will help your quilts come out flawless.


...    * What is a scant quarter inch seam allowance and how to measure


...This will create a solid foundation for quilters who are just starting out or have limited experience.


Are you looking for simple beginner projects to get started quilting?   Want to learn to make a baby quilt or maybe a table runner.   What ever it is you would like to learn, I would be more than happy to create a tutorial for you. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>BQTC #2 Choosing your Quilt Fabric </title><dc:creator>quiltcetera@yahoo.com</dc:creator><category>BQTC #2</category><dc:date>2008-07-21T22:57:44-06:00</dc:date><link>http://www.quiltcetera.com/Basic-Quilting-Techniques/files/Choosing-Quilt-Fabric%20.html#unique-entry-id-2</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.quiltcetera.com/Basic-Quilting-Techniques/files/Choosing-Quilt-Fabric%20.html#unique-entry-id-2</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[I've met many new quilters who bring their mothers, grandmothers, aunts or friends with them to get some 'seasoned' advice on which fabrics to choose. 

...Get an idea in your head of what you like and don't. 

...They are simply stunning, however I don't like to recommend batiks for beginner quilters, as they do not hide mistakes very well. 

...Now that you have something to work with, lets head off to the fabric store, or maybe browse through some ebay listings. 

...As an example, lets say that black is your dark, gray is your medium, and white is your light. 

...have an idea of what colors you would like, start in that particular area of the fabric store. 

...Imagine a yard (36 inches by 44 inches) of fabric cut in half on the horizontal, then again on the vertical.   This will give you four identical pieces, each a quarter yard that are actually a half yard wide rather than a tall and skinny quarter yard wide. 

...For example, if the fabric is $15/yard, and you need 3 yards, you will pay $45 for that particular piece of fabric.   Keep this in mind as you are browsing, so you will have some idea of what to expect at the till. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>BQTC #1 Choosing a Quilt Pattern </title><dc:creator>quiltcetera@yahoo.com</dc:creator><category>BQTC #1</category><dc:date>2008-07-21T22:30:55-06:00</dc:date><link>http://www.quiltcetera.com/Basic-Quilting-Techniques/files/BQTC-1-Choosing-Quilt-Pattern.html#unique-entry-id-1</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.quiltcetera.com/Basic-Quilting-Techniques/files/BQTC-1-Choosing-Quilt-Pattern.html#unique-entry-id-1</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[I've spoken with many many new quilters who can't wait to get started, but are not sure how to get going.


I've also encountered many quilters, who've jumped in with extremely ambitious patterns, spent a fortune on fabric, and found themselves stuck, overwhelmed and unsure of how to carry on.


This is the reason that I like to recommend that beginner quilters start small.


...Even a baby quilt or lap quilt is quite reasonable, and should be easy to complete. ...  Here in Canada, we pay a small fortune for fabric so unfinished projects are simply not an option! 

...Here are some great deals on quilt kits so that you can get a better idea of what a beginner quilting kit consists of.


...This is a sure sign that you will be on your way to quilting success!   You may even be fortunate to find a kit which will include a pattern and fabric together.   This is very economical, as there will be no fabric wasted and makes color selection less of a chore.


...If none of these patterns catch your eye, it will definitely give you an idea of where to begin. ]]></content:encoded></item></channel>
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