Dianna Harper, Author at Pine Needle Quilters

A Guide On How To Quilt

Dianna Harper - September 13, 2017 - No Comments

Many sewers begin their journey by wanting to sew a quilt for themselves or their loved ones. A quilt which when done well is a treasured gift which is past down like an heirloom. But these should not just become aspirations as at the beginning it looks like a huge task. It is not such a tough task as you think if you can follow the instructions.
A few tips that you should keep in mind is that start small and with a simple design, do not attempt to start with a quilt for a cot, but instead try cushion cover or something on those lines which will give you the confidence to do something bigger.

Choose fabric: You can choose many fabrics for your quilt which can be of a single color or multicolored. IF you are selecting fabrics which are different, then you should match the colors and designs so that they go well with each other. You can now cut the materials to any size you desire, but they should be squares using a scissor or any other tool. Arrange all the squares into a pattern which that looks good to you.

Sew the sides: After you arrange them into rows, take each row and pin the sides so that you can stitch the sides using a sewing machine. Stitch all the rows and flatten them out so that they are in the same direction.

Add the border: Now that all the squares are stitched together, you can add some highlight by creating a contrasting border, have all four sides bordered or any two of them stitched.
Layering: You can use a bamboo batting to layer your quilt, put it on top of the stitched fabric, now add another layer of fabric for backing and sew them together and you have now learned how to quilt.

Tips On Machine Quilting

Dianna Harper - August 26, 2017 - No Comments

After many days of effort, you are now past sewing the quilt top and are now ready to start the process of quilting. It is essential that you do everything right as you do not want to undo all the effort of sewing the quilt top by messing up now. To ensure that all the time, money and effort that you have put into this project does not go waste, here are a few tips that can come handy when you are machine quilting.

Needle: The needle you use on your machine is very critical to the success of your project. So it is a great idea to start with a new needle, are you asking yourself why. The answer is that first of all an old needle will not last the entire workload of quilting, and it is also seen that as the needle gets old, it starts to miss stitched. So to prevent problems in the future, it is best to start out with a new needle. Also, ensure that the needle is down when you are facing the quilt through at the end of the line. When the needle’s position is down, you are ensuring that the stitch is straight and not crooked.

Walking foot is best: If possible use a walking foot instead of a usual one as that will help to pull the quilt in a straight line through the sewing machine. If you have a standard foot, worry not as you can reduce the dial pressure and that helps in smooth sliding of the quilt.

Use cotton threads: For quilting, it is best to use cotton quilting thread which is of high quality. The thread count should be between 45 to 50. For machine quilting, the weight of the thread does not matter when compared to when you are hand quilting, so you should use a 40 50 cotton thread to get smooth lines.

How To Sell Your Quilts

Dianna Harper - June 22, 2017 - No Comments

If you have decided to sell the quilts that you have made, there are numerous options available. You can start with local shops and then move ahead of the ladder and sell at handicrafts events.Online sale through social media is also another great way to start selling your work.

Social media: A great way to interact with your future customers. You can use your creativity to tell a story of how you started this work; the more inspiring the story is, the better your work sells. Also, you should mention what differentiators you have from others who display their art. A visual representation will work wonders for your sales.

Pictorial representation: You may have the most beautiful, well-designed quilts. Unless these are visually represented, they will not grab the attention of the customers. You should get professional photographers to click high-quality images of your product if you are planning to sell it online. That image should bring out all the qualities that your product has that can lure the customers to buying it.

Showcase your work at shows: If you want the locals to appreciate and buy your work, then you should display them at the local shows. A craft show in your location or any art gallery can be chosen to present your product. Even an apartment clubhouse is also a great starting point.