InstructionS & Tips

Hand Appliqué for Cotton

Speaker and member Becky Wilson shared these hand appliqué resources at the Feb. 2, 2021 meeting:

Controlling Color Bleed

Janice Arvesen used instructions from Suzyquilts.com to remove excess color from her red and white quilt.

Janice Arvesen used instructions from Suzyquilts.com to remove excess color from her red and white quilt.

Janice Arvesen used Suzy Quilts instructions to remove the bleeding in her red and white quilt. It absolutely worked but took several soakings. Janice did not use Synthrapol, just Dawn, which is much less expensive. Another source is:
Man Sewing's When to Use Retayne and Synthrapol (PDF).

Label your quilts

Janice Frisch — quilt historian, lecturer, entrepreneur and BQG member — wants no quilt to go anonymous! She outlines what information is needed on your label on her Tangible Culture website.

Prepare Quilt for Submission to BQG Quilt SHOW

For submission to the BQG Quilt Show: sleeves, labels, and submission pillow cases:
How to Make a Sleeve and Labels (PDF).

Quilting pattern for the back of your quilt

Courtesy of Gyleen Fitzgerald of Colourful Stitches, here’s her Baby’s Got Back (PDF) instructions to make the back of your quilt as interesting as the front.

Quilt binding

• Quilt Binding choices from Generations Quilt Patterns.
• Jenny Doan's instructions on YouTube (Missouri Star Quilt Company) for how to bind with a sewing machine.
• Lorena's Quilting instructions on YouTube: Using back fabric to bind your quilt.
• Karen Blocher, NQA Certified Quilt Judge, National Association of Certified Quilt Judges, explains how to create award-winning bindings: Blue Ribbon Binding© (PDF).

BQG Youtube videos

Here are our YouTube videos, featuring Lisa Dodson, former BQG President and Former Quilt Show Co-Chairs Kathy Kessler and Pat Surra, courtesy of Jean Bansemer, web writer for free-quilting.com: Free Christmas Quilt Patterns, Free Purse Quilt Patterns and Free Table Runner Quilt Patterns.

Choosing your next sewing machine

Margaret Fette of The University of Sewing in Bloomington provides tips when it comes to Choosing Your Next Sewing Machine (PDF).

Fat Quarter

A fat quarter is a full quarter of a single yard of fabric (36" x 44"). It measures about 18” x 22” based on fabric off of a 44”- 45” wide bolt. Make a fat quarter by taking a half-yard of fabric (18” x 44”). Make sure the grain runs the length of the fabric. Fold in half and cut so your final piece is 18” x 22”. This makes a versatile square that can be easily cut into geometric shapes.

If you ask for a quarter yard at the fabric store, you’ll get a piece 9" across and 44”- 45” wide, depending on the bolt. It’s usually used for making strips.

Fiddle Quilt

Activity quilt approximately 18” x 20” for people living with dementia, explained in Community Quilts.  Nancy Zieman's website has instructions.

Oops! Do you need to remove a stain?

Check out this Guide to Removing Wine, Blood, Lipstick and other Stains! (Thanks to Girl Scout Anna for her suggestion.)

Estimate Thread Needs

How much thread do you need to quilt? See the Superior Threads chart.

Patterns and tips from Bonnie K. Hunter

Find free patterns and tips galore on Hunter’s web and blog.

Quilt Sizes Chart

Visit Suzy Quilts for her guide for standard-sized mattresses, suggestions for custom measuring and estimating backing and batting needs. For quilts intended to be used on a bed, consider a few extra inches in length to cover pillows. General guidelines:
Fiddle Quilt: 18” x 20”
*Baby Quilt: 30” x 40”
Lap/Wheelchair: 35” x 45”
*Crib: 36” x 52”
Throw: Suggested sizes are 50” x 65” or 54″ x 74″
Twin: 70” x 90”
Double/Full: 85” x 108”
Queen: 90” x 108”
King: 110” x 108”
*Not to be used with infants because of the danger of suffocation. Smaller quilts make great wall hangings.

Cap InstructioNS

Courtesy of RJ Trubitt, how to knit caps for patients: Olcott Caps and Kids Caps (PDFs)

Links are provided for informational purposes only and do not imply an endorsement by the BQG. If you have a suggestion to add, email webmanager@bloomingtonquiltersguild.org.

Photo credits: courtesy of members