Learn Free-motion Quilting on any sewing machine using a straight stitch using the Octi-Hoops is a post from: Watthamai Crafts

Quilting The Kaye Wood Way – Hexagons is a post from: Watthamai Crafts

Add some really true blue colors to that quilt and fabric that makes you feel extra comfy. With heart felt trueness - there's no better feeling than to be able to utilize one's own self created product.

Today machines have overpowered our lives beyond imagination and yet if you were able to have something that you can claim to be handmade wouldn't express be an achievement of sort.

Quilters like us can have that distinction, yeah almost handmade, as we would require a sewing machine. If the craft of quilt making is to be kept alive then the responsibility will have to be shouldered by some of us thus a start to finish education in very essential for that.

Quilts can be either the simple ones or the more elaborative designed ones, the latter being for the more experienced quilters. Starters always have a query as to what's the simplest form of quilt making and it is - a basic block quilt.

But what they forget to inquire "How to make block quilt for starters?" Sorry if you are looking for an as easy answer, there can be a whole think fat book written on this matter and I can talk about it for ages. Right now though no lengthy explanations, here is a primary guidance for those looking to start and finish a hassle free project.

List of tolls and supplies required :

* Customary sewing machine

* Spray starch

* Rotary cuter

* Embroidery needles - general size 12

* Iron

* Needles

* Cutting mat

* Quilt batting

* Fabric in 4 colors or 4 shades.

* Pins- beaded head

* Design for block quilt

* Rotary ruler

ASSEMBLING A BLOCK QUILT:

Block quilt is nothing but a quilt that is simply designed. In simple terms, one design on a selected block in sewed on after the other in similar fashion till the desired size is accomplished.

A block can be called as the unit for the quilt. Here below are some steps that could make your block quilt making experience much easier.

1) Get the fabric ready: washing the fabric separately is a prerequisite. That is if you want to ensure that there is no color loss or shrinking fabric dilemmas later. Let it dry dey and then proceed to iron the material once you have sprayed starch to it. Make sure that the material is entirely dry and hard sans wrinkle.

2) Cutting of fabric: Take the fabric and put over a place mat in the form of a heap one over the other. Then take a measurement scale and slash 2 inches X 2 inches pieces using a rotary cutter. Create as many pieces of out the fabric depending on the dimension of the quilt that you'd like o make.

3) Assembling a Block: Once you have the pieces stitch them all to make a bid square or a simple block. Carry on sewing to make multiples of identical blocks.

4) Piecing: This process will see you create the wanted dimension of the quilt once all the blocks have been stitched together.

5) Batting: The batting material should be placed above on the piecing. The upper side of your piecing should face the mat while the sewed portion along the batting. Take the lining material above it.

6) Quilting: take the help of a sewing machine to stitch all 3 layers with one another. For first time learners its recommended that stitching take place on and around a primary block while those who have prior knowledge may select extravagant patterns.

7) Binding: All sides of your fabric should be binded.

Beginner Quilting – Beginners Guide To Make Block Quilt is a post from: Watthamai Crafts

Necessity made me start my quilting business. My job was cut when the State of California downsized. I wasn't thrilled with the job anyway, but it paid the bills. So, with my kids grown and in college, I decided to look at the setback as an opportunity. I knew I loved quilting, so I explored starting a quilting business.

That was in 2004. It's been a whirlwind of learning and success ever since! If you have been thinking of starting a quilting business but are afraid that today's economy will not support it, think again. Think about your own economy rather than the country's.

If you could stand to have some extra money, start a quilting business to earn some. Remember, even in bad economic times, there are people who are virtually unaffected by the times. And, depending on the quilting business you choose, the economy might help your business.

For example, if you are a quilter who ha s lots of remnants or fabrics you just haven't used, why not sell those to other quilters? If you offer them at a discounted price, you create a win-win situation. You make money from your quilting business, and quilters save money by buying from you.

Statistics show that even though quilters prefer buying supplies from retail stores and quilt shows, the number of quilters buying supplies online has grown. In 2003, only 17 percent of quilters said they bought more than half their supplies online or through mail order. Just three years later, that percentage had jumped to 20 percent.

The 2006 survey shows statistics for quilters who bought more than half their supplies online. That survey doesn't even explore how many quilters bought less than half their supplies via the world wide web. I'm sure that number is much larger!!

There are many ways you could choose to start a quilting business - thanks to high speed internet. High speed internet allows users to download files more quickly and safely than dial-up connections. This means that if your quilting business involves selling quilting patterns online, your customers could buy the pattern and download it right away. No shipping and handling charges (or extra work for you) since the pattern won't have to be sent by postal carrier!

More quilters surveyed reported having high speed internet access. In 2006, 73 percent had high speed internet access. In 2003, only 62 percent reported high speed access..

Another good thing about starting a quilting business online is that your business will be truly global. Quilting is not just an American hobby. Quilting supplies and services offered through online quilting businesses reach much farther than the United State's slumping economy. Don't let a nation's economic woes create a slump for you or your quilting business!

Internet businesses are great for a quilting business because the owner can dodge the expenses associated with renting or leasing store space, an added utility bill, etc. When you work from home, you are already paying those house expenses. Plus, you won't feel the pressure to "sink or swim" that a retail storefront carries with it!

If you do decide that an internet quilting business is the way to go, keep track of your home expenses. If you dedicate a certain area of your home to your quilting business, chances are that you can deduct some of those come tax time.

Quilting Business: Start Your Own is a post from: Watthamai Crafts

What Pressing is Not

Pressing the seams in your quilt is not the same as ironing. Although you will be using an iron and an ironing board, it is absolutely critical to remember that you are not ironing (that is, running the appliance over the seam with gentle pressure) but just coaxing the seam down in order to seal it and make it less visible.

Pressing the seam is often thought of as a way of strengthening the seam, but this is not really the case. No strength is added to the seam itself by having it seam pressed down; instead, pressing the seam will mean that should any stitch come undone, the cotton batting in the quilt will not push up through the seam. This can be said to strengthen the integrity of the quilt somewhat, but it does not make the seam itself any stronger.

What Pressing Is

Pressing uses the weight of the iron itself to create seam allowances that might otherwise result in lost fabric. In a work such as a quilt, which requires many pieces put together, lost millimeters on each piece can mean a big difference in the end product. Pressing quilt blocks as they are made eliminates this problem.

Pressing will also create a good loft which will come in handy when it comes time to attach the pieces. Finally, pressing will help give the quilt a uniform appearance and feel. The fabric should never cover the seam on a properly pressed quilt.

Types of Pressing

There are two types of pressing; side pressing and open pressing. Side pressing is simply pressing the seams to one side, and is generally advocated by most quilting instructors.

Open pressing involves application of the iron both to the back and the front of the blocks. This can take twice as long as side pressing, but those who use it say that it greatly helps in the appearance of the quilt. This style is most appropriate when using machine stitched pieces, which are stronger than those done by hand; the stitch is less likely to come undone, and therefore hiding a hole will not be necessary.

Pressing Technique

When you are pressing blocks in the full quilt, the seams should be pressed towards the dark patches. If your quilt involves a more intricate pattern, with spirals and compass shapes, then try pressing in a clockwise pattern; at the very least, make sure that your presses are all uniform in direction. This will lessen the bulk in the middle of the pattern when all the seams are pressed.

Pressing seams is probably one of the dullest aspects of quilting, but it is important to make sure that you do it accurately. It will help to maintain the integrity of the quilt and can also make piecing that much easier.

One last hint, don't use steam! The heat from the iron will be sufficient for pressing. Moisture may cause colors to run, and will make the blocks more susceptible to distortion.

Proper Seam Pressing in Quilts is a post from: Watthamai Crafts

Here in a picture quilt shall be a great way to do that. A picture quilt serves the purpose of keeping memories for us intact and later narrates them as if it were just yesterday.

Another name which picture quilts are known by is photo quilt, while the name - memory quilt is there because of the purpose and the making procedures. Kindly don't get confused when the terms photo quilt, picture quilt and memory quilt come up as they are all the same.

If I were to be asked then picture quilt of all the different types would be the one I shall like to have. Let me share a personal tale with you here, once I sat for 5 days to build a picture quilt for my granny and those 5 days were very trying.

Reason was not pain in making that design I choose but because I couldn't stop my hands while making it for her and then when I finally presented it to my grandmother she cried endlessly. These are precious things that you should make and be proud off as well.

I hope you are dreaming off the emotional talk I have made, I think you are as upbeat as I sound to craft a picture quilt so here's how

MATERIALS REQUIRED:

* Needles and pins

* Photo scanner

* Threads

* Sewing machine

* Select the fabric or else cut portions from your old worn out clothes

* Photos

* Fabric paper

* Printer.

* Cutting mat, Rotary cutter, and ruler

THE PROCEDURE:

We should try and give more importance to the design pattern and relevance to memories while making the picture quilt. In this summary we shall learn how to craft a printed and scanned picture quilt, but there are other things you can do to make one. Having a predetermined design and theme will help you make one without confusion.

There is no limit to imaginations and if you like to be creative then making one with a marriage, family reunion or graduation theme will be the prefect way to start. The color scheme will help enhance the effect of the final product.

Carefully choose the picture and make sure it has high resolution so that the photo does not get lost in the beautiful shades of the picture quilt. Generally the square should be 6 X 12". Pick the photos and cut them in the shape you'd like them to be placed on the quilt.

Place the photos in a way as to match your pattern of quilt. Then cut the fabric in the same size (printed or printed). Now place the photo and the fabric on a plain board. Ensure that the photos are of high resolution and fabric material is ironed as well as cut into shape.

Now follow the steps that you would do for a normal quilt making - batting, piecing, quilting and in the end binding. What you have in hand is that ultimate and unforgettable picture quilt ready to hold your find memories.

Beginner Quilting – Instructions For Picture Quilt Making is a post from: Watthamai Crafts

These quilts can be easy as well as hard to make, hard because there is no certain pattern that you have to follow so those who are accustomed to copying certain patterns will find it hard to do while those who are creative and let imaginations guide their work will find this pattern fun to do.

Another great advantage of appliqué quilts is that they are inexpensive to make as material required is sourced from scrap like things, and the patterns are not defined or limited any mixture of patterns can result in a appliqué quilt.

Appliqué quilt making in its process teaches you all the other methods of quilt making as well. Be it stuffing batting in for creating 3-D effects , or yoyo quilts, embroidery designs or picture quilts all these methods can be learnt and perfected while learning the art of appliqué quilts. And in all this the fun part will always be there.

These quilts could be used by anyone, for a newborn baby or young kids or something you like to use to comfort your pets. Itching to learn this quilt type, well here is the method.

Normal Stitching Machine

* Sewing needles - Common size 12

* Iron

* Cutting Board

* Rotary ruler

* Spray starch

* Rotary Cutter

* Needles

* fabrics as per preference of color orscraps of fabrics.

* Pattern for appliqué quilt

* Quilt batting

* Pins- beaded head

* Fabric for lining or backpack

* Some decorative material and pictures

Learn The Art Of Applique Quilt Making :

1) Readying the fabric: You must prewash the material. This will ensure that color is not lost or material doesn't shrink later on. Let the material get dried up fully and then iron it firmly. The material should be sans any wrinkles.

2) Cutting of fabric: Choice of pattern could be customary or your own unique one. My idea at the first experience was a black color background and with a printed flower fabric that I cut to add to the black fabric.

So it won't be a bad if you would like to replicate my idea to make your appliqué quilt, girls especially would like it. If have some other pattern in mind then start with that pattern.

3) Build a Block: Take all the square you have and stitch them into a large square. If you have a guidebook or whatever ensure the instructions are followed as written. These steps indicated here is a general step-by-step procedure for all.

4) Piecing: Take all blocks and sew them till you have in hand the size of your quilt. Here in you can add a few decorative thing like old ornaments or fancy bookmarks that will enhance the beauty of the quilt.

5) Batting: Put your batting material over the piecing. The upper side of piecing should be one on one with the mat while the side stitched should run besides the batting. Then put selected lining material above it. Batting is available in different types and thinkness, select one that suits your fabric the best.

6) Quilting: Once done you have 3 different layers with you, stitch all these 3 layers with one another using a sewing machine. Like said before a lot can be done with pattern variations but sticking to a basic easy pattern is advisable for starters to begin with.

7) Binding: Binding is the last step where in all sides are stitched with material like piping.

Here you have your appliqué quilt ready for use.

Beginner Quilting – Learn the of Applique Quilt Making is a post from: Watthamai Crafts

Now we are turning the tables again, and the tote bag is here to stay. Even the grocery stores are offering them for sale. This is a great place to start for a craft business.

If your passion, is painting, sewing, quilting, appliqué, embroidery, or even stamping, then you can create the most gorgeous tote bags, for yourself, for unique one of a kind gifts, or to sell at craft shows or online. They are lightweight, and strong, and they really are an open canvas.

With all the latest and greatest craft supplies out there now, you can get printable fabric that you can put in your computer printer. You can print a photograph from your computer, right onto this fabric, which you could then appliqué to the tote, it is washable. This could be a great craft business idea. This works well with pet photos. Everyone loves their pets, and would love to show off their pets picture done up nice on a tote bag.

Make one for yourself and make sure to use it everyday, and you will get people asking about your tote. This is great free advertising.

Stamping also works well on blank totes. The ideas are endless, but make sure and take a picture of your original totes and keep in an album for potential customers to see. Tote bags are a great form of usable art, and pretty soon you will see your artwork on display everyday as tote bags. What a great feeling that would be.

If you love this idea, then why not get your tote bags in bulk?.. Some craft store sell them, but I find them to be most affordable online. You can purchase all different styles depending on what artwork you will put on it. Go ahead, and make some useable art and help keep the planet green.
blank tote bags online now

Tote Bags, Start a Craft Business, and Save the Planet One Bag at a Time is a post from: Watthamai Crafts

Besides being a blanket to keep you warm, comfortable and cuddly during those bitterly cold winter months when nothing but a warm quilt and a hot cup of coffee would be the most looked forward to thing in life, the quilt also qualifies as an important contributing element in bedroom décor. The reason for this is that quilts come in a range of bright stimulating colors that can greatly brighten and thereby liven up the ambience of your bedroom. For instance, there are bright red quilts with floral of blue and yellow or there are multi-colored square patched designs that give the appearance of an appliqué blanket and there are also baby and children quilts with cartoon animals in bright backgrounds.

Quilt coverings come in basically two types of covers – cotton and silk. Cotton covered quilts, while displaying bright stimulating colors, lack the subtle gloss and shine that silk covered quilts can give. However, both kinds of quilts are popular and preference over one another is solely due to the personality and inclination of the buyer. In order to provide that warm comfortable feeling, quilts are filled with cotton or foam and this makes them really cuddly – even dogs and cats love to bury themselves under the quilt along with their owners.

Quilts are truly home décor items in themselves as it adds to the richness of the best rooms. Of course there are also sober colored quilts for those wish to give their rooms a regal splendor, but by and large quilts are noted for their bright stimulating colors. .

Check out the amazing variety of genuine branded quilts on our website and choose the ones that would best gel with the décor of your house. You can also avail of the fabulous discounts that go along with the purchases.

Discount Quilt Fabric is an online store of Discount Quilt Fabric focusing on Discount Quilt Fabric Quilt Fabric and all other designers Quilt Fabric.

Discount Quilt Fabric is a post from: Watthamai Crafts

But, maybe you may feel like you're struggling for some inspiration. There're lots of places you can get ideas for your booth. Here are three that I think you'll find useful.

Existing Displays

Look around in the stores where you shop for displays of items similar to yours. Stores know that their business hinges on their products looking good to customers. They have to have good displays or they'll be going out of business.

Take a look at what they've done. How are the products arranged? How many colors do they use? Do they use more than one type of product?

If possible, take pictures and keep them in a file. Before you know it, you'll have a great folder to go through for getting ideas.

Magazines

Magazines can help you stay up with the trends. You can see what's hot and what's not. The nice thing about magazines is that they have lots of pictures.

Tear out the pictures and add them to your file. The more you look at them, the more you'll see patterns that stores and shops use for creating good displays.

You'll get ideas for how to display your product so customers know how to use it. Or to help them see how it will fit into their lives and what it will do for them.

Friends, Family And Other Crafters

Don't pass up your family and friends. Get them to give you feedback on your ideas. Set up a display at home, and when they come over, ask them about it.

Does it catch their attention? Is there something missing from the display? You'd be surprised how just a few comments from someone can be very enlightening.

The tendency is that we get so involved with our crafts, that it's hard for us to see the forest for the trees. Getting the feedback of some honest family members and friends can get us on the right path.

Look At What's Worked In The Past

Not only should you be looking at what others have done, but you should be looking back at your own. You should be keeping track of what has worked for you in the past so you can refer to it.

When you go to a craft show, set up your display and take a picture of it. How well did it attract people's attention. Did it draw them in and encourage them to pick the items up?

Keeping track of displays that have worked, and the ones that haven't will help you to repeat your success. You can look at what's worked and see how you can improve on it.

By constantly reviewing your work and that of others, you begin to get more and more of an idea of what really works, and what doesn't.

Inspiration For Your Craft Booth is a post from: Watthamai Crafts

To go from hobbyist to professional will require a little adjustment in the beginning as you would have your workspace already setup and have been manufacturing already but on a smaller scale. As you increase your production you will also need to think out increasing your storage space.

You will need to consider where to set up your office so that you can take care of the running of the business. Try not to have your office and work room in the same room. The tasks are different and will require their own attention.

You're Confidence Level

An important part of building your business is your confidence, you need to have confidence in what you create. Believe that you can not only create the beautiful things that you do but also be able to sell them. You need to begin to change your mindset from being a person that creates a homemade product to a person that creates meticulous handcrafted products.

Handmade Products Are Sought-after

Handmade products provide customers with a quality item that is not mass produced; they are unique and can be personalized to suite an individual. Handcrafted products are normally sold at a premium as people are generally willing to pay for that unique and special item.

Do Your Research

What research do you have to do before you start your business? Here are some things you will need to look into to get an idea of how to set you your own craft business

- Make a list of the types of shops and galleries you would like to see your products sold in. Look at the type of customers that are in the shop and build yourself a customer profile.

- Attend your local markets, arts and craft shows and basically any events that would have a craft booth display set up. Take notes along the way for ideas. Talk to the exhibitors when they are not busy and tell them what you want to do, ask them about their experience both good and bad. They are the experts and generally will be willing to share their knowledge with you.

- Don't forget to take plenty of notes along the way so that you can review them later. Ideas will spring from your notes so write those down immediately as well. These notes will be the foundation of your business to come.

How To Start A Craft Business is a post from: Watthamai Crafts

Whenever any special occasion comes, it also came with the celebration at that time. No celebration is considered complete with party and no party is complete without gift. Gift doesn’t mean buying expansive thing and deliver it to the host. A gift indicates the love and care that you have in your heart. If a homemade or self made gift is presented to the person, it seems more valuable.

Gifts that are homemade not only reveal your ability it also indicates your love and affection. Homemade gifts are inexpensive but they are fun to make, also, it is priceless for love and creativity that goes into them. To make homemade crafts you need not any special and expansive things. You can make your gift even with the waste things and with vegetables. Some of the effective methods with the list of items are mentioned below.

Vegetable craft

Vegetable art is a simple and less time consuming. Even children can make different and beautiful items with the help of vegetables. For making crafts you need some vegetables, a piece of cloth and fabric colors. It is your option you can make length or breathe wise slices of capsicum or any vegetable that is chosen by you. You can make beautiful patterns with the help of vegetable.

Take a capsicum and cut in two pieces. Take fabric color and apply the paint on cut edge of capsicum. You can take any color of your choice. Now, make the petals of flower with this by pressing it on the cloth. Take lady finger and cut in length wise apply green color to it for making leaves of petals of flower. You can punch this flower design any side of cloth either in center, middle or side of the cloth.

Homemade Art and Craft is a post from: Watthamai Crafts

Talk about Your Child's Artwork

One way to encourage children to have an interest in the arts is by taking an interest in their art. When you dismiss their creative efforts with arts and crafts for kids, you are sending them a message that these things are not important. If you don't care about their efforts, why should they care about the efforts of dead strangers?

Instead, when your child shows you something he or she has created using arts and crafts for kids, talk about the results. Ask your child questions about the color or the subject. Treat their artwork as the work of a creative mind because that's exactly what it is. Then when you go to the art museum discuss the same types of questions about the art there. Your child will be much more engaged in the conversation.

Appreciate Art from Your Child's Perspective

Children are generally very practical when it comes to art. If you've seen their creations using arts and crafts for kids, you know most of them stick to realism. That's why they may not always be impressed with some of the art you're going to encounter in the local museum. If you child dismisses an important work of art as ugly or stupid, don't chastise him or her. Instead, ask for concrete reasons for the dismissal. Say, "What don't you like about it?" instead of "Don't say that! This is a valuable piece of art!"

Remember that not everyone is entitled to an opinion and that includes your child. The more he or she feels able to express that opinion the more creative he or she will become and the less likely he or she is to hate the museum.

Learning to Love Other Types of Art

While arts and crafts for kids can help your child gain an appreciation of artwork, there are other ways to instill a love of other types of art. For example, if you want your child to love literature, don't hand him or her a dusty book. Instead, read to them from the book or watch a well-done film version or listen to the story on tape. These alternative approaches will make the literature more accessible to children and you can help explain what's happening step by step.

Learning to Love Art

One of the best parts of arts and crafts for kids is that they can give your children a reason to love the best of the world's culture and art while possibly giving them the skills to make their own contribution.

How Arts and Crafts For Kids Can Inspire a Love of Art is a post from: Watthamai Crafts

Quilting Video: Fusible Applique is a post from: Watthamai Crafts

Cards have got to be the most popular of all easy at home crafts. Any kind of paper can be used to make a card but construction paper works best. Any other sturdy material can also be used. Markers, paints, glitter and gems are just a few of the things you can use to decorate your card nicely. This is a perfect task for very young children to get started in crafts.

Many people are so concerned with the gift that they do not take the time to focus on the gift box. Decorating a gift box is a fabulous way to add some flare to it while increasing the delight of the recipient. Cards can actually be folded into a small gift box with just a few folds. Try searching online for step by step instruction if you should require it. Paint balloons on a birthday box or snowflakes on a Christmas gift box. The smallest touch can add a lot of personality.

Window painting makes a fun holiday craft for any holiday. Stick with the theme by using paints or spray made for window crafts. Be sure it is this type so that you know it will wash off after. Paint pumpkins and witches for Halloween or pretty pink hearts for Valentine's Day. This type of activity is fun for adults and kids so why not do it together? It's a good way to spend some quality time as a family getting ready for your favourite holiday.

For Valentine's Day, try making a love bug for that special someone. Cut out a large heart from pink or red construction paper. Use a different piece of paper, usually a black or brown one, and cut it out in the shape of a bug body like that of a butterfly. Glue the body on to the heart so that the heart becomes the wings. You now have a love bug. Decorate the wings however you like.

Hanging ghosts are an easy favourite for Halloween. All you need is small white treat bags or an old sheet you can cut into large squares. Stuff the bag with anything from paper to leaves to fill half of it before tying it off. The untied portion should hang loose and the tied part becomes the head of the ghost. Draw on a face or spooky words for additional décor.

Holidays are fun for so many reasons. From painting Easter eggs to making your very own Christmas ornaments, the holidays are wonderful for bringing out the kid in everyone. It doesn't take much to get creative. Start with the right materials and don't allow yourself to be limited.

Holiday Craft Ideas is a post from: Watthamai Crafts