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One of the great things about quilt making is that there are so many different ways to do it. When people ask me how to make a quilt, I always tell them that there is more than one way to go about it. It depends what kind of quilt you want. My favorite ones, especially for beginners, are patchwork quilts. If you want to know how to make a patchwork quilt, it is simple. You just have to make a lot of patches and sew them together.

Again, there are dozens of ways to do this. A friend of mine recently wanted to know how to make a baby quilt, so I showed her this method. In her case, I wanted to have the patches all made out of a soft, uniform material. If you want to know how to make a quilt for a baby, you should probably learn how to knit or crochet. If you make patchwork quilts out of more elaborate materials that can come apart, it can cause harm to babies. You do not want them choking on the patches! On the other hand, if you crochet the individual patches, you can make something that is safe for babies. Another advantage to using this method as your first lesson in how to make a quilt is that it will give you a great place to learn crochet skills. After all, if you mess up on individual patches it is no big deal. You start over. The quilt itself is unharmed, because you do not sew the patches together until the very end.

Once you have learned how to make a baby quilt, you might want to go on to bigger and more ambitious projects. The principles to how to make a quilt remain the same no matter what you do. In my opinion, patchwork quilt are the most fun. When you get a little more advanced, you might want to use cloth patches. One time, I taught my whole family how to make a quilt. We each made our own patch, then we all get together to sew them into one. By the time we were done, we had made a great quilt together. Not only did they learn a new skill – how to make a quilt – but it was a bonding experience for all of us. If your family does not do crafts together, I highly recommend that they take it up.

Tags: cloth patches, Crafts, how to make a baby quilt, how to make a patchwork quilt, patchwork quilts, quilts

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Are you a needle crafts buff? Embroidery is, arguably, one of the most refined of the needle crafts. The very fine thread allows for detailed designs which are almost like paintings. Variations in the number of threads and length of stitches, along with raised work and knots can form intriguing, beautiful effects. Perhaps the most satisfying aspect of this craft is the embroidery design. There is no reason to stick to purchased designs. If you embroider, or would like to learn, you probably have a good eye for color and composition as well as a fair amount of patience. You’ve got the artistic flair, so just take the artistic license and create your own embroidery design. Let’s look at a few pointers and ideas.

Toss around some ideas for designs that appeal to you. If you aren’t feeling inspired, go online or visit your library for pictures of embroidery pieces as well as tapestries. Examine the elements of the picture which produce certain effects that catch your eye. See how the ornate borders of 17th century tapestries might be adapted to a small picture frame design. Look at various techniques for coloring a flower that looks three dimensional.

Landscapes, florals and geometrics are good choices for a beginning designer. Keep your embroidery design on the small side for starters. It’s common for beginners to bite off more than they can finish before frustration over spoiled stitches or undesirable effects sets in and the project is dropped. An embroidery design of 4 inches by 6 inches will deliver plenty of knowledge and beauty to build on your next design.

If this is your first embroidery design, a sampler of stitches is another good choice. A sampler serves two purposes. First, you get a chance to perfect your stitches and compare effects of different stitches side by side. Second, you can fool around with color combinations and effects of metallic threads in your compositions.

When you’ve got an idea you like, use a ruler to mark the finished size on your sketchpad. Use pencil (so you can erase) to sketch your embroidery design. Use light strokes until everything is just the way you like it. Use colored pencils to fill in your design. If you have a rose or other element with shading in your design, be sure to use different shades for the three-dimensional effect.

Next, use transfer paper or a transfer pen to trace the design onto your linen. Use masking tape to tape both linen and paper firmly in place until your transfer is complete.

Use good linen for superior results. The high thread count of quality linen allows for precise placement of stitches and will block well.

Now the fun begins! Get your hoop, threads and needles out and begin your masterpiece. Creating your own embroidery design is a satisfying hobby that can last a lifetime. You just keep getting better!

Tags: artistic flair, artistic license, Crafts, detailed designs, embroidery design, needle crafts, paint, painting, paintings

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