Often considered as a fine and intricate piece of art, quilting has steadily grown in popularity over the years. Indeed, this craft can be done by hand or through a machine and can help you make a variety of items such as clothes, blankets or even decorative accents for the house.
While it may seem intimidating and complicated at first, quilting is actually extremely easy to indulge in once you get the hang of it. Budding quilters will be glad to learn that most sewing courses do cover the art of quilting. The great majority of sewing machines are also equipped for quilting purposes and boast of features such as an over-sized table, built-in work light, and the likes.
Of course, it goes without saying that sewers will require a few extra accessories and tools to start quilting. So, read on to familiarize yourself with everything that you’ll need to quilt to your heart’s content.
Traditional Sewing Machine
If you’ve already got your traditional sewing machine and if you’re on a limited budget, you may not want to purchase an additional sewing machine designed for quilting. In fact, contrary to popular belief, sewing machines can very easily be used for quilting.
Most of them boast of built-in features to help you indulge in your quilting. These include, but are not limited to, built-in work light, oversized work table, free arm feature and the likes.
Traditional sewing machines are available in either computerized or mechanical versions, hence allowing you to make your choice according to your budget. Bear in mind that computerized machines are more suited to advanced sewers while mechanical ones can perfectly suit the needs and expectations of a budding quilter.
Long arm quilting machine
Long arm machines are specially designed for quilting and designed to very easily accommodate your quilting frame. These machines can even be used to help you quilt several fabrics at a time.
Admittedly though, long-arm quilting machines can be more expensive than regular machines. On the other hand, these will certainly help you finish your quilting project in no time- which is quite a plus if you’ve got several projects to complete.
A nice example of long arm sewing machines is the Brother PQ1500LS. This kind of machines is also enhanced by additional features like a variety of stitch designs, hence enabling quilters to create intricate and much more varied patterns.
Quilting by hand
Of course, it is entirely possible to quilt by hand- a craft which traditionalists still insist on doing. It is, however, quite time-consuming and requires additional tools and accessories. As far as the quilting thread is concerned, it is best to go for 100% cotton since these are more flexible and supple than mixed threads or polyester.
You will also need to invest in a good, sturdy quilting frame that will keep your fabric in place while you sew. Some quilters also like to use thin quilting pins to complement large-eyed needles: shaped like hair clips, these pins are used to hold the four edges of the quilt together, which largely facilitate the sewing process.