Quilting Methods

Using Different Techniques to Make Different Quilting Patterns

Quilting patterns now include everything under the sun. Modern quilts may have several different types of artwork in them, including embroidery, patchwork, appliqué work and art motifs. Each quilt is now designed according to the purpose of the quilt (i.e. wall hanging, bed cover, chair decoration, etc). Then the colors of the quilt patterns are chosen. Appliqués and motifs are widely used and are available in a huge variety of designs through your local craft store or the internet.

There are Christmas trees, Easter bunnies and Halloween ghosts as well as palm trees, baby bottles and all sorts of flowers which can be used in your quilts. These appliqués are sewn on top of the quilt. Sometimes they are attached with an adhesive by pressing them onto the quilt with an iron. This method is generally used on quilts made for wall hangings, not for ones that need to be durable. On the other hand, quilting motifs are often used when the 'blocks' have a certain theme, say a bird motif or a basket motif.

Quilting has Several Different Specialty Techniques

The "trapunto quilting technique" has recently emerged. Trapunto is the technique from Italy of slipping extra stuffing into certain areas of a quilt to bring out a raised relief of the quilt in that area. For example, Trapunto can stuff the area inside a bird or flower making that part of the quilt a little thicker and raised from the quilt surface. Shadow Trapunto is a variation of this method where one quilts a design and fills the pattern in with short lengths of wool.

"Crazy quilting" follows no strict rules. The quilting patterns with this technique need not be symmetrical therefore smaller, irregular pieces may be used to complete the quilt. In comparison to regular quilters who traditionally use cotton fabric, crazy quilters use different fabrics like velvet, satin, silk, etc and have decorative beads, ribbons and buttons included as ornaments.

"Rag quilters" make quilt patterns with the edges raggedy on purpose. The edges and sometimes even the fabric pieces are frayed, which gives the quilt a three dimensional appearance. "Art quilting" is another modern quilting style which makes the quilt look like an impressionist painting.

Another quilting pattern rapidly gaining popularity uses "photo transfers". Actual photographs are printed on fabric using special computer software. This technique is ideal for a wedding, birthday or birth gifts. A more tedious way of doing the same thing is using pictorial quilting. This is accomplished by recreating a photograph in fabric, right down to the last detail.

The Sky is the Limit