Quilt Making Tutorials

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Sew Help me!
Tips, Tutorials, and Techniques for Quilters

Need help from a quilter? This page lists free articles and how-to information on a number of quilt-related topics, including quilting and sewing tips, terms, and techniques for the beginning quilter. There are a few not-so-serious articles in here, too:-))

Quilt Making Techniques

Applique using Fusible Web
Just learning fusible applique? Here are some tips and techniques to make this quick method a bit easier. Lots of inspirational pictures!

Bias Binding Basics
This tutorial discusses not only three types of bindings and when they should be used but also six other edge finishes.

Binding Your Quilt

Coloring a Crayon Quilt
This surprisingly ordinary method makes an extraordinary quilt.

Copyright Concerns
Respecting the talent of those who share their creations keeps them designing.

Easy Prairie Points
Prairie Points are a great way to call attention to the border of a quilt – and they can be used as an accent inside the quilt, too! Here are several ways to make them and ideas for using them.

Fabric Postcards – 4 x 6 Works of Art
Fiber Art you can mail!

Foundation Piecing
The same as paper piecing, but different. Use a preprinted panel to make this Christmas Stars Tablerunner.

How to use Bubble Jet Set to put photos on fabric
Use this chemical to treat cotton, flannel, and fleece in quantity for fabric transfer.

How to Make a Baby Blocks quilt with no Y seams
Use your 60-degree ruler to take your quilt making into a new dimension!

How to Make a Faux Cathedral Window Block (video)

Machine Quilting Basics
An overview of the process

Quillow Quiz
How do you make this quilt in a pillow?

Redwork Tips

Setting a Quilt or Block on Point
Complete with a no-math chart.

The Seven Deadly Sins of Paper Piecing.
Okay, maybe they aren’t deadly but mistakes are sure annoying! Here are tips on how to avoid them and become a Perfect Paper PIecing Person.

T-shirt Quilts
Make a quilt of memories

Three Dimensional Quilt Blocks
Start with the basic 3D Bow Tie and go to the Dimensional Square-in-a-Square, the Faux Catherdral Window block, and the Dimensional Pinwheel

“Tie”ing Up Loose Ends – Using Men’s Ties
Ideas for using men’s neckties in quilts and other creative sewing and craft projects.

Using Fibonacci in Quilts

How To:

Quilt Tips and Tutorials

Adding a border
You have finished your quilt top. Now how do you decide what borders to add? Here are some guidelines for choosing the perfectly straight, pieced, mitered, or scalloped border and methods for creating it.  An illustrated two-part article on how the border affects the look of the quilt.

Applique techniques and tips
These tips will have you appliquéing like a pro in no time! Here are tips for both hand and machine appliqué by needle-turn, freezer paper, fusible and more.

Binding Basics
This article answers the questions, “What is the difference between straight grain, cross grain and bias binding?  How do I apply them and what do I do about the corners?”

Includes a chart on fabric requirements for both bias and straight-grain/cross-grain binding. for various size quilts. This is a handy chart to print and save to calculate the amount of fabric needed to bind a quilt.

Calculate the amount of fabric needed in a quilt.
Answering the age-old question, “How much fabric do I need for my quilt?” This is a great little calculator to estimate how much quilt material you will need if you are creating your own quilt If you aren’t sure how big to make your quilt, there is also a chart of a standard mattress, pillow, and quilt sizes and a free pattern for making a “hot dog” pillowcase with all seams enclosed.

Catching the Muse
Unleashing your own creativity to create a quilt design that represents your unique style.

Challenge Yourself
Stretch those quilting wings!  Here are some tips for getting out of your comfort zone one small step at a time.

Choosing the Perfect Sewing Machine
Tips for choosing the machine for you, including a list of questions for your dealer to print out and take with you.

Color in Quilts
What makes one quilt sing and another just hum? Here is a three-part article on choosing the color and fabric that will make your quilt special.

  • The Colorwheel can help
  • Common Color Associations

Establishing a Quilt Guild
Do you know a group of people who would like to form a quilt guild? Perhaps you are interested in converting your existing informal quilting bee into a formal guild. It’s a bit of work, but worth it in the end!

Fleece Facts
How to sew with fleece

Hanging your Quilt
This article explains how to make and attach a hanging sleeve to a quilt.

How to Make Microwave Heating Bags

How to Read a Quilt Pattern
Here is the key to understanding the secret language used in quilt patterns.

How to make a Snail Trail Block

How to Sew with Minky
This plush microfiber is wonderfully soft and easy to sew once you know its secrets.

How to Use a Strip Cutting Ruler
including the Stripology Ruler and the June Taylor ruler

How to use a Quilt Panel
21 Ways to easily make an amazing quilt from a preprinted panel, large scale print or border.

How to Make a Controlled Scrappy Quilt

Inexpensive program ideas for your guild

Jelly Roll Ideas
You love the jelly roll you just bought – but what to do with it?

Labeling your quilt – How to make a quilt label
A quilt isn’t finished until it is labeled.  Here is the Who, What, When, Where, Why and How of making a quilt label.

Log Cabin Quilt Tutorial
Probably the block most often used to teach beginners, here is a complete tutorial along with a little history.

Making a Silk Purse out of a Sow’s Ear
Using antique and vintage quilt blocks in new settings.

Organize your Quilting Space
Are you sick of the mess?  Here are some tips for creating a relaxing and efficient sewing space.

Picking the Correct Sewing Machine Needle
Which sewing machine needle do you use for your project? Here is how to choose the correct needle for everything you do. Here are tips on how to choose the correct sewing machine needle for your fabric and your project.

Photo Transfer Tips and Projects/Printing on Fabric

Preparing wool items for storage

Quality makes a difference!
Here is how to choose the best fabric for your quilt.

Quilty Sayings, Dedications, and Poems
Here are quilting-related sayings for use in your guild newsletter or quilt labels.

Quilt Tips, Terms, and Definitions
All the quilting lingo demystified.

Repair, Restore, Conserve – What to do with an old quilt and how to do it. Coming Soon.

Save your money for quilt fabric!
Here are great tips for using everyday items in original ways to save time and money in quilting.

Sewing with Flannel
Tips and Tricks for washing, cutting and sewing flannel projects.

Thread Theory
There are so many different types of threads available!  How do you choose which one is right for your project?  Read this article on choosing fabric for your project – and your sewing machine.  This two-part article includes a listing of Threads and Their Uses, listing threads by type, characteristics, and recommended uses.

What is this UFO doing in my closet?
Finishing Quilt UFOs. Do you have a stack of unfinished quilt objects like orphan blocks in your home? This article will help you organize and FINISH them!

Quilt Humor

Quilters love to laugh!

Are you a fabriholic?
Here is a self-test you can take! (Yes, just for fun.)

Behind every great quilter, there’s a….
My thanks to the shop fans on Facebook for these terrific answers!

Burma Shave
Do you remember the verse by the side of the road?

Hoppy Easter
Jokes, puns and cartoons for quilters

How to know you are living in the future. 

Just what kind of a quilter are you?
The fortune-telling quilter can tell you!

Murphy’s Laws for Quilters
Did you know Murphy had a set of laws just for quilters? Here they are!

Quilt Games
Looking for something to break the ice at your next meeting? Here are game ideas.

A Quilted Halloween Story
Can you discover the secret?

Quilters Survival Basket
Need a gift basket for that special quilter in your life, or a retreat treat? Here it is!

Stain Removal Guide
(just kidding)

You know you are a quilter when…