Helpful Handy Hints & Tips

Thursday 07-Feb-13

Quilt Layouts: Use an uneven number of blocks in both the rows and columns to maintain the symmetry of the quilt design. Then same block will appear in all four corners.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Saturday 20-Oct-12
What are Pre-cuts Fabrics
The most common pre-cuts are listed below

Fat Quarter:   An Australian fat quarter measures 20" x 20"

                         An American fat quarter measures 18" x 21"

Fat Eighth:     An Australian fat eighth measures 10" x 21"

                        An American fat eighth measures 9" x 21"

Jelly Roll:       Is a bundle or roll of 2½" strips x the width of the fabric (usually containing 40 strips)

Honey Bun:     Is a bundle or roll of 1½" strips x the width of the fabric (usually containing 40 strips)

Fat Roll:          Is a bundle or roll of 5" strips x the width of the fabric

Charm Squares:        A stack of 5" squares  
                                     A stack of 6" squares
                                     A stack of 7" squares 

Layer Cake:               A stack of 40, 10" squares

 Less common Pre-cuts

Turnovers:      Bundles of 6" of half-square triangles

Doubles:          10" x 5" rectangles from Charles Parsons

Candy:             A stack of 2½" squares.

Original article published in "Australian Quilters Companion No 2"
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Sunday 14th Oct 12
What are Fabric Grains?
Did you know that the type of fabric and the way you lay your fabric out can affect the accuracy of your cuts?
 
Fabric grain refers to the way threads are woven together.

All fabrics are woven in two direcions. These are called the lengthwise and crosswise grains and they make a the third grain line called the bias.

The lengthwise grain, (also called warp threads or the straight Grain) run parallel to the selvages and is the strongest grain in the fabric because it has very little stretch.

The crosswise grain (also called weft threads) run from selvage to selvage and has more stretch than the lengthwise grain.

The bias grain runs on a 45 degree angle to the selvages and has the most stretch and distorts very easily.

If you are using scraps of fabric and you need to identify the grain lines grab the fabric along one grain with both hands and give it a sharp tug, you are listing for the snapping sound it makes. Then turn the scarp fabric at a right angle and do the same thing again. The snapping sound made by the lengthwise grain will be slightly higher pitched than the sound made by the crosswise gran

Try it! This works!
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Tuesday 11th Sep 12
Trouble Picking Colour Fabric for Your Quilt

It's important to remember that Value = shades of Light, Medium & Dark do all the work but Colour gets all the credit. If you are having trouble picking colour combinations for fabrics then try using “Primary Set of Colours” examples are listed below:

Pastel Set: Pink, Blue, Lemon & Green
Bright Set: Jade, Purple, Orange & Hot Pink
Country Set: Red, Navy, Mustard & Dark Green

Find the Colour Spots on the selvedge of the fabric that you love, and choose your coordinates fabrics from these.

To create texture in quilts use a range of prints: Small, Medium & Large

Original article published in the Australian Patchwork & Quilting Vol 12 No11
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Saturday 1st Sep-2012

Measurements for finished quilts made for juried shows in Australia are:
Miniature Quilt – 20in x 20in (50cm x 50cm)
Small Quilt         – 45in x 45in (114cm x 114cm)
Large Quilts        – 80in x 80in (200cm x 200cm)     

If you want your quilt to fit into the correct category by its measurements, it’s important to take shrinkage into account before you quilt your quilt,  remember the more you quilt your tops the more the top will shrink so allow for this shrinkage to take place.

The following tables are my measurement guide before quilting is undertaken.

Measurements below are for pre quilted quilts with:
¼in cross-hatching quilting pattern allow 6in (15cm) all round
Miniature Quilt – 32in x 32in (80cm x 80cm)
Small Quilt         – 57in x 57in (144cm x 144cm)
Large Quilts        – 92in x 92in (230cm x 230cm)     


Measurements below are for pre quilted quilts with:
½in cross-hatching quilting pattern allow 4in (10cm) all round
Miniature Quilt – 28in x 28in (70cm x 70cm)
Small Quilt         – 53in x 53in (144cm x 144cm)
Large Quilts        – 88in x 88in (220cm x 220cm)     


Measurements below are for pre quilted quilts with:
1in cross-hatching quilting pattern allow 2in (5cm) all round
Miniature Quilt – 24in x 24in (60cm x 60cm)
Small Quilt         – 50in x 50in (124cm x 124cm)
Large Quilts        – 84in x 84in (210cm x 210cm)     

Original article published in the Australian Quilters Companion Vol.7.6. No.34

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