Piecing

Brenda's Crafts

Piecing is Sewiing: small pieces of cloth into patterns, called blocks, that

are then sewn together to make a finished quilt top.

These blocks may be sewn together, edge to edge, or separated by strips of cloth called

sashing.

Note: Whole cloth quilts typically are not pieced, but are

made using a single piece of cloth for the quilt top. Layering: Placing the quilt top

right side up atop the batting and the backing, which is right-side out. Quilting:

Sewing the three quilt layers together, using stitches in decorative patterns, called

motifs, or in utilitarian patterns, such as straight lines, using bigger stitches. Borders:

Typically strips of fabric of various

widths added to the perimeter of the pieced blocks to complete the quilt top. Note:

borders may also be made up of simple or patterned blocks that are stitched

together into a row, before being added to the quilt top. Binding: Fabric strips cut

on the bias or straight of the grain, sewn together, making a long strip that will fit

the perimeter of the quilt,

which is typically machine sewn to the front side of the edge of the

quilt, folded over, and hand sewn to the back side of the quilt.

Quilting:

Stitching through all three layers of the quilt sandwich,

typically by hand or machine in decorative patterns, which serves

three purposes:

1) to secure all three layers to each other, and

2) to add to the beauty and design of the finished quilt, and 3) to trap air

within the quilted sections, making the quilt as a whole much warmer

than its parts; for example, a single layer or all three layers used

separately.

Quilting is usually completed by starting from the middle,

and moving outward toward the edges of the quilt. Examples: simple or

complex geometric grids, "motifs" traced from published quilting

patterns or traced pictures, complex repeated designs called

tessellations, or stitching within the seam line itself, i.e., stitching in

the ditch.

Quilting can be elaborately decorative, comprising stitching fashioned

into complex designs and patterns. The quilter may choose to

emphasize and add to the richness of the quilting, by using threads

that are multicolored and/or metallic, or that contrast highly to the

fabric. Conversely, the quilter may choose to make the quilting

disappear, using "invisible" nylon or polyester thread, and stitching in

the ditch (in the seam line).

Some quilters draw the quilting design on

the quilt top before stitching, while others stitch "freehand."

While the majority of quilt tops are pieced from many smaller patches

of fabric (patchwork quilts), in which the patterns of individual blocks,

or the pattern created by combining the blocks is the emphasis, whole

cloth quilts typically use a single, non-figural piece of fabric and the

elaborate quilting is the emphasis. Polished chintz, sateen or other

shiny fabrics are often used in whole cloth quilts to aid in emphasizing

the intricately detailed quilting stitches.

Quilting is often combined with embroidery, patchwork, applique and

other forms of needlework.

-copied from wiki

Happy Sewing!