press it.
• Steam iron – An iron is essential for all forms of patchwork, quilting and appliqué. In most cases it will be used dry but a steam function may be needed at times. See Pressing Fabrics.
• Ironing board – Use a standard ironing board with a tapered end for ironing creased fabrics and pressing work at all stages. A small or portable ironing board is useful for placing near the sewing machine for pressing patches as they are sewn. Boards are also available with a rotating surface.
Gizmos and Gadgets
There are some wonderful specialist products available for patchwork, appliqué and quilting. Many of these items are not essential but can make tasks easier and quicker. Whether you buy them or not depends on your budget and how much you think you will use them. A few are listed here.
• Magnets (1) – Magnets are useful for keeping errant needles and pins under control and having several means that you can keep pins on one, needles on another and safety pins on a third. Be sure to keep magnets away from computerized sewing machines.
• Seam ripper (2) – No one plans to unpick their work but mistakes happen and a seam ripper is useful for removing stitches without damaging fabric. Most sewing machines have one in the tool kit. They can also be used for holding down patchwork pieces as you sew them.
• Point turner (3) – This is a gadget with a sharp point that is used to make sure corners are pushed out properly when ‘bagging-out’ a quilt or project. A knitting needle could also be used.
• Measuring gauge (4) – A useful gadget marked with the commonly used seam allowances.
• Seam guide (5) – This little brass circle with a hole in the centre can be used to draw a 1⁄4in (6mm) seam around a shape, especially for templates.
• Quilting clips (6) – These are plastic rings that clip together and hold a rolled-up quilt together while you are quilting.
• Double-bladed stencil knife (7) – This is a useful gadget if you want to make your own quilting stencils. The double blade cuts a narrow channel.
• Elastic threader (8) – Available in different sizes, these can be used to thread elastic or for webbing when making bag handles.
• Bias bars (9) – These are also called bias press bars and are useful for bias-strip appliqué – see Using a Bias Bar for use.
• Bias maker – This is handy for making bias strips as the edges emerge from the gadget already turned under – see Using a Bias Maker for its use.
• Tweezers – Useful for fine positioning of embellishments, particularly beads.
• Tack gun – A handy gadget for those who hate tacking (basting) a quilt sandwich. It shoots little plastic tags through the quilt layers, securing them ready for quilting.
Materials
This section looks at the materials you may need for patchwork, appliqué and quilting, including fabrics, threads, wadding (batting), interfacings, stabilizers, fusible web and embellishments. Obviously, a whole book could be devoted just to this subject so further reading is advised.
Fabrics
Fabrics are what draw people to patchwork, quilting and appliqué – glorious, versatile fabrics in all their many types and hues. Who is not drawn to crisp, clean cottons and linens, softly shimmering silks and satins or plush, strokeable velvets and cords? The fabrics used for patchwork and appliqué can come from many sources. Originally, they were recycled from old clothing and household linen but today are more likely to be bought new from patchwork and quilting stores and increasingly via websites. Pure 100 per cent cottons are top of the list for patchwork and quilting but there are other fabrics that can be used, particularly for appliqué and crazy patchwork. Some of the common fabric types are described below but quilt artists are increasingly stretching the boundaries on fabrics and materials that can be used.
Just as fabrics chosen for quilt tops vary, so too can backing fabrics. A quilt backing is usually chosen to coordinate or link with the front of the quilt and may be calico or a plain or printed cotton in a similar weight to the quilt top. Increasingly, though, quilt backs are being pieced to make them nearly as interesting as the front of the quilt. See Estimating Fabric Requirements and Choosing Backing Fabric for more on backings.
Fabric Themes
When buying fabric, especially when visiting websites, you will often see that it is themed. Themes reflect popular tastes and can help you select fabrics that work well together. Themes come and go but popular categories might include reproduction, patriotic, Asian, floral, animals, children, batiks, seasonal and contemporary.
Themed fabrics: (left to right) batiks, nursery and reproduction
Fabric Types
Cottons – Cotton fabric is the first choice for quilt making because it is easy to work with, does not fray too badly and drapes well. Cottons dye and print readily, resulting in plain colours, mottled, marbled and colour-on-colour effects. Cottons can be solid-dyed, tie-dyed and random-dyed, not to mention wax-dyed, the process that creates wonderful batiks. The range of printed cotton available today is overwhelming, and prints can be tiny or large, subtle or bold, monochrome or multicoloured. You can also dye and print your own fabric.
Silks and satins – These are a little more temperamental than cotton but well worth using for the wonderful sheen and glamour they create. Silk dupion is a good material to try as it irons well and comes in a good range of colours, including shot effects with two colours. Silks and satins are more prone to fraying but careful handling reduces this, as does using a wider seam allowance of 1⁄2in (1.3cm).
Sheers – There are many sheer and transparent fabrics that can be used, particularly for shadow appliqué work, including voile, organza, net, nylon, organdie, tulle, chiffon and georgette. They are usually soft and delicate but not the easiest fabrics to work with. Fraying can be a problem and they are not durable enough for normal patchwork but they can create some lovely special effects. When pressing, always use a cool iron and a press cloth on top of the sheer fabric.
Metallics
