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

By Christopher Baker


If you love to sew and create beautiful objects from fabric, chances are good that you are familiar with quilting. Quilts can range from smaller, utilitarian examples to massive, ornate art pieces that showcase the creator's skill and creativity. In order to make these beautiful objects, you need to purchase quilting fabrics and notions. If you are just beginning to make quilts, here are some tips and tricks you can use to find quality items that will last for years to come without destroying your budget.

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.

The way the piece is insulated will help determine how warm it will be. If you are making a piece for someone specific you can choose a batting material that will offer the level of heat they prefer. Some people will want to create an art piece instead and if this is the kind of piece that you are making you may not need to worry as much about insulation.

Thread is something that an experienced quilt maker will put a lot of thought into. Thread used to create the quilted patterns will usually be fairly visible. If you want this to be a functional piece, you will also want to make sure that the thread you use will be able to stand up to a certain amount of wear and tear.

You will also need some special equipment in order to create your piece. Often, once the fabric is all sewn together around the insulating layer, a crafter will use a quilting frame to hold the fabric taut. This will allow the fabric to be stitched in beautiful patterns.

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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