QUILTERS ARE SPECIAL PEOPLE

August 2009

25 August 2009 - Jo Williams

QUILTERS ARE SPECIAL PEOPLE

I’ve dabbled in quilting, not enough to be an avid quilter, but enough to appreciate the art. One of the things I’ve come to appreciate is that quilters are a special lot of people. Many of the quilts I’ve seen are nothing short of masterpieces, made not only with skill and passion, but with lots of love.

The Internet as a resource

The online community of quilters is a great resource for everything from inspiration to tips and advice. Quilter Blogs is a website with links to more than 600 quilter’s blogs. At Quilting Galleries, you can locate quilting bloggers by country and province or state. Love to Know has a wiki with links to quilting blogs by category of quilting.

Quilters’ Guild of the British Isles is a great place to find out more about the world of quilting and a resource for all quilters, no matter what your experience.

If you’re somewhat new to quilting, or an occasional quilter like me, Quilting 101 is a good resource, full of tips and how-to’s.

Getting Started

You’re going to need some basic quilting supplies. Patterns, fabrics, batting, threads, scissors, quilter’s pins, sewing machine and needles are the start. I recommend spray starch to keep the fabric in shape while you’re working with it. I like to use repositional spray adhesive to hold the pattern down while I cut. With small pieces, the pins can distort the pattern, making measurements less accurate.

If you find yourself becoming one of those passionate, special people who become avid about quilting, you’ll want to invest in the tools that will add to your success, as well as make your work easier. Quilting rulers are very handy, as well as fabric markers, and lots of other quilting accessories. Rotary cutters and mats make the cutting process a snap.

Enjoy this slide show of quilts from around the world, posted on The Quilt Show Blog. And Happy Quilting!

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