Issue #1  March-May 2007

My Quilt Disease Newsletter will be issued quarterly.  We will provide quilt related information and tips for your education and enjoyment.

HOW TO CHOOSE AN AMERICAN HANDMADE TRADITIONAL PATCHWORK QUILT

How or Where Do You Plan To Use The Quilt?

You must decide if you are going to use the quilt as a bed covering, wall hanging, table cover.  You may decide to display it on the bed or draped across a chair.  These decisions will help you decide on the size needed.

Color and Design

Once you know where and how you will be using the quilt, you will know the color scheme and design of the area.  I personally feel a quilt of any color or design works anyplace you want it! 

User vs. Heirloom

A "user" quilt is one that will receive alot of use.  It will be handled and washed regularly.  An "heirloom" is treated with a little more "respect".  Possibly in a guest room or only for special occasions. You really don't want to "use it up" or wear it out with constant use.  This does not mean you can't use it daily but, generally, you want to keep it looking good  so future generations can enjoy it's beauty.

Types of Quilts

WHOLECLOTH quilts are made from a single piece of fabric, layered with batting and backing which measures the desired size. 

PATCHWORK quilts are the most popular quilts.  They are small pieces of fabric cut and sewn together into geometric designs which become the quilt top.   

APPLIQUE quilts are fabrics cut into designs or shapes and sewn either by hand, machine or using fusible techniques onto another piece of fabric.  Applique can range from simple to very complex.  Applique quilts generally  take much more time to make than pieced patchwork quilts. Usually they are enhanced with a lot of quilting or embroidery in the plain areas.  

All three tops can either be hand pieced or machine pieced and quilted either by hand or machine or a combination of both.

Hand Quilting VS. Machine Quilting

Either method consists of holding together three layers of fabric; top, batting and back. Hand quilting basically consists of straight, even and small running stitches following a free hand or quilting design.  The quilting design should compliment or enhance the design of the top. 

Hand quilting is a learned technique which takes much patience, experimentation and time.  For this reason handquilted quilts generally will be more expensive. This is something to consider when deciding if your quilt will be a "user or heirloom".  Traditionally, our Grandmothers hand quilted their quilts.  They either did this individually or with a group of friends.  The "quilting bees" were very popular and a social event.  If they quilted for others often a fee was charged, usually a set amount per spool of thread.

Machine quilting can be accomplished on a home machine or commercial quilting machines.  The long arm quilting machine is a large, commercial sewing machine that has the ability to move 360 degrees.  It is operated using hand controls and moves across the quilt with virtually little effort.  The length of the typical long arm machine throat is approximately 30", thus making it possile to handle even large quilts with thick batting.  The machine rests on wheels, which move effortlessly along rails embedded in a 12-14 foot table.  Most commercial quilters operate out of their homes or quilt shops.  They charge different rates; by the inch, plus batting, number of thread changes and threads.  The owner furnishes the top and back. You can choose thread colors, use of pantagraphs or custom work.  

It took me a while to decide that "machine quilting" was OK for my quilts, but now I really do enjoy the variety of threads and designs available to us. Plus, I am such a slow hand quilter this means the quilt will be completed in less time. It is permissible to combine hand and machine methods on a quilt.   As with hand quilting the design should compliment or enhance the design of the top.

Determining The Quilt Size

The starting point in determining the size of the quilt is the mattress size.  Today's mattresses are standard sizes.  As you may know if you've bought  a new mattress lately, many are thicker than their predecessors, which makes the top of the mattress farther from the floor.  This something to consider if you are purchasing a vintage quilt made for thinner mattresses.

The following chart gives Bed, Comforter, Coverlet, and Bedspread Measurements.

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