Quilting Supply & Quilt Shop Directory For Quilters

HomeQuiltin is a full service online Quilt Shop & Quilting Supply Directory. We are truely dedicated to piecing the wolrd's quilters together !

Here we offer quilters, quilt shop owners and quilting service providers a vast platform in which to congregate and show or share their quilting knowledge and skills. Please take some time and browse through our Quilting Articles Quilt Shop and Quilting Supply Directory Just for Quilters

Start Your Own Machine Quilting Home Busuness.
Helpful guide shows you how to start a machine quilting business from start-up to running and marketing your new business.

How To Start Your Own Quilt Shop.
Comprehensive business guide shows you how to start, run, and market a successful quilt shop.

Get 201 Vintage Pioneer Quilt Patterns and Step-by-Step Instructions
from America’s Foremost Quilt Designers For Less than $0.10 a pattern!
Perfect for a novice or a pro Quilter. Whether you are a novice or an accomplished, experienced quilter, this wonderful book will give you everything you need to know in order to make over two hundred quilts from the designs of quilts made by actual American pioneer women!
Step-by-step instructions, cutting designs, materials suggestions, and yardage estimates.

Here are some Quilting & Quilt Articles & News...

What are Quilts?

Quilts are bed coverings made up of three layers: a quilt top, a layer of batting, and a layer of material for backing. The layers are usually combined using the technique of quilting. Quilting is the process of using a needle and thread to combine two or more layers of cloth. This step may be only functional, or if more elaborate, for decoration and design.

Tying is another method of connecting the layers in quilts together. This method is usually chosen when a quilt is needed quickly for functional purposes. The three layers still need to be prepared and basted. Thread or yarn is used for the process. Square knots are used to finish off the ties, which are placed 3-5" apart all over the quilt. A quilt that is tied is sometimes called a comforter.

Once upon a time quilts were created for necessity. Today creating quilts has become an art form. Gifted quilter's are called fabric artists instead of the outdated seamstress or quilter. Not only are bed quilts popular, but quilted clothing and wall hangings as well. Handmade quilts may sell for hundreds of dollars and hang on museum walls, not just bed frames. Amish quilts from Pennsylvania and Ohio are especially sought after, as are vintage and antique quilts.

If you are lucky enough to have inherited or purchased such an heirloom, taking proper care of it will maintain and perhaps increase its value. Quilts should never be stored in plastic bags, cardboard boxes or wooden trunks. Quilts should be aired at least twice a year, but not in direct sunlight. Very old quilts should be aired flat to avoid stressing the stitches. There is always a risk in washing antique fabric. Spot test it first. If you are using a machine, wash in cold water with a mild detergent and a gentle cycle. Dry your quilt on a flat surface. Using a fan and rotating it will speed up the drying process.

Quilts throughout history tell the stories of their times and makers. This is especially true during the depression when fabric was scarce. Some historians even believe secret messages and codes were hidden in handmade quilts at different times throughout history. One such story relates to the Underground Railroad. A certain quilt pattern would mean it was safe for escaping slaves to continue on their journey. Not all historians believe this theory, however it is true that signature quilts were a popular method of raising funds both before and after the Civil War. Signatures were added after a donation was made. These quilts were also known as friendship quilts.

While not all historians agree on this usage in the past, it is becoming increasingly popular today. Memory quilts and t-shirt quilts are popular and treasured gifts. Technology has even made it possible to add photos to fabric. Quilts are still used to raise money at raffles and charity events. Quilt guilds are being created and growing at a rapid rate, preserving and passing on treasured patterns and techniques.

History Of Quilting Quilting is a craft that has been around for centuries. For hundreds of years, the Chinese have used quilted cloth for their padded winter clothing. The Crusaders found that the quilted shirts worn by Arabs offered a great deal of protection under their chainmail. They even brought the idea back home in the 13th century. The process was adapted by European women for the use in creating bedcovers.

Quilting Basics There are many decisions to be made before a quilting project begins. The first is choosing what design you will use. This choice may vary from project to project. Traditional quilting involves following the outline of the block's design. You would stitch 1/4 inch from each seam line on your pieced or appliquéd patch. This would be just outside the pressed seam allowances.

Quilting Pattern For Your Needs Quilting has enjoyed an incredible upsurge in popularity over the last couple of decades. This is a boon for the quilting enthusiast, because it has resulted in a huge number of patterns that are now available. Even a brief look around the internet or your local bookstore will prove to you that it's a confusing world when it comes to buying a quilting pattern. The new quilter may well be wondering what kind of quilting pattern is best suited for her needs.

Quilting Books for Quilters Whether you are a beginning quilter, or an advanced practitioner of the craft, you will find many books on quilting that will help advance your knowledge. Quilting books fall roughly into several categories, and numerous titles abound in each. The categories of books are how-to, pattern encyclopedias, historical, books about the joy of quilting, and art books. How-to books are probably the most popular, and the first stop for the beginning quilter.

Get Free Quilt Patterns Back in the early days of American history, women made quilts with scraps of whatever fabric they had on hand, using quilting patterns they had memorized or shared freely with each other. That trend continues today within the quilting community, and if you are in the market for free quilt patterns, you'll find a wide variety of them available from many different sources. Many online sites offer free quilt patterns as a way to get you to visit their site

Quilting Tips For Begining Quilters