Quilting For Dummies

Quilting is a fun hobby -- but where do you begin? Get the know-how you need to create beautiful quilts and decorative quilted items If you're interested in taking up quilting as a hobby or simply looking for new project ideas, Quilting For Dummies is for you. From selecting fabrics and designing a quilt to stitching by hand or machine, this friendly guide shows you how to put all the pieces together -- and create a wide variety of quilted keepsakes for your home. You may think you need some sewing experience before you can start cutting and piecing, but that's simply not the case. You can use this book even if your sewing expertise stops after threading a needle. Quilting For Dummies starts at the beginning, helping you to gather the right quilting tools, fabrics, and thread. From there, you'll design your quilts and sharpen your sewing skills. Finally, you'll see how to piece your quilt together and add all the finishing touches. The book contains illustrated examples, step-by-step instructions, plenty of projects and patterns, plus helpful advice on Performing simple stitching maneuvers Selecting the right quilting fabrics and threads Creating new templates to produce original patterns Designing your masterpiece Learning new sewing techniques and quilting fundamentals Making sense of quilting software Saving time with rotary cutters and other cool tools Quilting by hand or machine Getting creative with applique Choosing new sewing machines and materials Quilting For Dummies also features more than a dozen patterns for projects to get you started and information on quilting software and internet resources. Discover quilting timesavers, ideas for displaying your creations, how judges of quilting contests review the quilted art, and so much more!

Quilting is a fun hobby -- but where do you begin? Get the know-how you need to create beautiful quilts and decorative quilted itemsIf you're interested in taking up quilting as a hobby or simply looking for new project ideas, Quilting For Dummies is for you. From selecting fabrics and designing a quilt to stitching by hand or machine, this friendly guide shows you how to put all the pieces together -- and create a wide variety of quilted keepsakes for your home.You may think you need some sewing experience before you can start cutting and piecing, but that's simply not the case. You can use this book even if your sewing expertise stops after threading a needle. Quilting For Dummies starts at the beginning, helping you to gather the right quilting tools, fabrics, and thread. From there, you'll design your quilts and sharpen your sewing skills. Finally, you'll see how to piece your quilt together and add all the finishing touches.The book contains illustrated examples, step-by-step instructions, plenty of projects and patterns, plus helpful advice on* Performing simple stitching maneuvers* Selecting the right quilting fabrics and threads* Creating new templates to produce original patterns* Designing your masterpiece* Learning new sewing techniques and quilting fundamentals* Making sense of quilting software* Saving time with rotary cutters and other cool tools* Quilting by hand or machine* Getting creative with applique* Choosing new sewing machines and materialsQuilting For Dummies also features more than a dozen patterns for projects to get you started and information on quilting software and internet resources. Discover quilting timesavers, ideas for displaying your creations, how judges of quilting contests review the quilted art, and so much more!

Introduction.Part I. Gathering Your Tools and Getting Ready.Chapter 1. The Art of Quilting.Chapter 2. Threads, Needles, and Gadgets - And All ThatJazz.Chapter 3. The Piece de Resistance: Fabric.Part II. Planning Your Masterpiece.Chapter 4. A Patch in the Fabric of Time: Designing QuiltBlocks.Chapter 5. Creating and Using Templates.Chapter 6. Playing with Blocks and Borders: Which Way ShouldThey Go?Chapter 7. Using Your Computer as a Crystal Ball.Part III. Sharpening Your Sewing Skills.Chapter 8. Cuts and Creases: Pressing Matters.Chapter 9. Positively Perfect Piecing.Chapter 10. Do You Know the Way to Applique.Part IV. Ahead to the Finish: Quilting the Pieces inPlace.Chapter 11. The Plan of Attack: Deciding How to Quilt YourQuilt.Chapter 12. Assembling the Quilt Sandwich.Chapter 13. Ready, Set . . .Quilt! The Inns and Outs of QuiltingYour Masterpiece.Chapter 14. Finishing Touches: Bindings and More.Part V. Completing the Circle: Projects to Try.Chapter 15. Fabulous Skill Builders.Chapter 16. Mixed-Technique Projects.Chapter 17. Projects for the Machine Queen.Chapter 18. Small-Scale Projects.Part VI. The Part of Tens.Chapter 19. Ten Quilting Timesavers.Chapter 20. Ten Tips for Displaying Your Art.Chapter 21. Top Ten Criteria Quilting Judges Use.Appendix. Resources for Quilts.Index.