No matter where you live, whether in Europe, Asia or North America, you will likely fall in love with a patchwork quilt, whenever you see one. There is a basic charm in the quilt pattern that literally warms up your heart. This is why patchwork quilting is the favorite pastime of many people across the globe. Besides making excellent bedding for yourself, you could always make sentimental gifts for others. Whether it is for a wedding gift, for a baby, a birthday or an anniversary, the quilt is an excellent offering which says, without any words, “I love you.”

Setting up a micro-enterprise of patchwork quilting is an excellent choice no matter where you live in the world, since the demand for this product is very high. Normally, you could start your business with small orders received from your friends and relatives. You will find that expansion in this business is quite rapid since everyone loves the quilt pattern sewing, especially if it is stitched by hand. Machine quilting too has a good market, though less than the handmade ones. If you want to expand faster, then you could simultaneously launch your business on the internet.

If you are one among the millions across the world who are in love with patchwork quilting, then you could use your passion to generate income through setting up a home business. Even though the patchwork quilt is an ancient concept, its popularity makes it a great product for today’s market. The beauty, warmth and the fact that one is considered a symbol of love should ensure that your business will be profitable for you.

By Crafts Editor

If you are using a kit, then making a quilt is pretty self-explanatory. You just need to follow the instructions. There will also be helpful tips and guidelines that you can use to help finish your quilt in a timely manner. The fabric pieces that are included in quilt kits are pre-cut, so you don’t have to worry about cutting out blocks to use. It is very important that all of your quilt blocks are uniform in size, so that the edges will match up nicely when you sew them together. When you are doing your first quilt, it is nice not to have to worry about this step. You can move on to cutting out your own quilt blocks as you grow more comfortable with your skills. When you are making a quilt from a kit for the first time, it can be just as rewarding as making one from scratch with only a pattern to follow.

After you have made several quilts and have figured out some of the in’s and out’s of how to make a quilt, if an idea pops into your head or you see a combination of colors and patterns that you like, then you can either head to the store to purchase the materials needed to complete your upcoming project or you can use the supplies that you already have on hand.

Quilting is a fun hobby, yet when you want to make a quilt it is easy to be overwhelmed at first by the sheer number of patterns out there. It can also be on the expensive side to set up your quilting area so that you can quilt when you get time without worrying about if you have the right materials on hand. However, the joy you will experience in completing a quilt will be equal to the joy felt by the loved one who will receive it.

By Crafts Editor

The YMCA or local church groups in your area will most likely have groups for quilters that meet every week or so. When you search the Yellow Pages in your area, you can talk to the leaders of these groups and ask about the skill levels of each of the members so that you’ll feel more comfortable before your first meeting. You may also be able to get a schedule of the projects that the group is working on, so you’ll know which sewing skills you’ll need to work on for the month. Members can share patterns with one another, as well as showcase their work at meetings, and if you decide to work with a partner or smaller group within the organization, you may find that your skills are enhancing in no time.

There are also a number of books for quilters that will help you to enhance your skills. If you’re a visual learner and need to see instructions in written form, you should definitely check out the books that are available from the American Quilters Society. You’ll find great titles like ‘Needle Felting: Simple Techniques, Beautiful Projects’ published by That Patchwork Place, or you can order Susan Schrempf’s ‘Simple Silk Ribbon Embroidery by Machine’. These and similar books will help you with specific quilting skills, and the pictures in the book will give you a good idea of what the finished product is supposed to look like. You may also want to visit local bookstores like Barnes and Noble, Waldenbooks, or Borders to find quilting books that you’ll find helpful.

If you need to find more patterns that are for quilters of all skill levels, you may want to check out www.quilterscache.com. There are so many selections for you to choose from, including the Rise and Shine quilt, which is a great quilt to use on the beds of your children, or in the guest room. You may also want to try the Apple Core table runner, which will look great in a country-style kitchen or dining room.

There are more resources for quilters available on the internet as well; check out informational websites like about.com or www.associatedcontent.com for straightforward information about quilting that will help you to improve your skills. Good luck!

By Crafts Editor

The Great American Quilt Factory has a number of great handmade quilts, as well as clothing and aprons that are made of the same type of quilting materials. For instance, you can find the Sassy Apron, which is an ideal gift for friends or loved ones that spend lots of time in the kitchen. You may also want to consider purchasing the book ‘Comfort Quilts from the Heart’, which has lots of patterns and pictures of blankets and crafts that you can use for inspiration. Entire kits are ideal as well if you’re just starting to learn to quilt, so you can make geometric patterns from great fabrics. You can also use the resources from the Great American Quilt Factory to make some new items to add to your wardrobe. Patterns from companies like Amy Butler will give you the instructions to make shirts and tunics, as well as summer clothing for children. The company is based in Denver, so you can call customer service when you visit the site to find out more about ordering information and shipping costs.

Handmade Quilts can also be found at a number of smaller shops that are based on the Web. If you visit Ebay often, you may want to search the arts and crafts sections of the site to find smaller stores that sell quilts that you may enjoy. In most cases, you can arrange to have the blanket shipped to you within a day or two, but you’ll have to bid for the item in order to ‘win’ it. There are also books about how to make handmade quilts on the site, so if you want to try your hand at sewing a blanket yourself, all the resources you’ll need are on one site. www.shopping.com is also a great resource for finding out more about handmade quilts; the needles, thread, and frames that you need can be found on the site as well, and you’ll get all the information you need to compare prices from other online sources as well.

Other individual sites that sell handmade quilts include Up and Away Quits and Beaver Creek Quilt Company; you can search for these companies using your internet browser to find an even bigger selection for you and your family.

By Crafts Editor

Although it probably seems very intricate and complicated, quilting is actually a no frills hobby. There are a few essential items that you must understand, yet once you have them down, you will be ready to quilt! The first thing you will want to do is to find a quilt shop in your area. If you cannot locate one, any craft store with quilting supplies will do. If you are a visual learner, then you should consider getting a few quilting books. Books might have step-by-step instructions and even quilt patterns that you could follow once you are a little more advanced. The very first tools that you will need to get are the needles and thread.

Make sure to get actual quilting needles; they are larger and stronger than regular needles. When you buy your thread make sure it is quilting thread, and it is the highest quality you can find. The thread should be waxed and strong so it passes through the fabric with ease. Other quilting supplies you’ll need are a sewing machine, quilting ruler, and rotary cutter. Even if you are sewing your patchwork quilt by hand you’ll need a sewing machine to attach the pieces at the end, as well as to finish off the sides. The ruler and rotary cutter will make cutting your fabric a breeze.

Once you’ve gotten all of your quilting supplies together, you can choose your quilting fabric! Your quilt shop will probably have an abundance of fabric choices but don’t be afraid to step out of the box and look around at other places. You can also try starting out with a kit. Quilt kits are great for beginners because they have all of the supplies inside, except for the sewing machine of course, although sometimes the quality of the equipment isn’t the best. Also consider joining a quilting circle because other quilters should be able to help you along the way. Before you know it you’ll be creating a masterpiece!

By Crafts Editor

By the time the women had all of their chores and rearing duties finished, it was probably well after dark and the only light source would have been from a candle or the fireplace, which would have been much too dim for stitching. So, this debunks the myth that the beautiful quilting style we see today was started by quilters in the colonial days. Besides, in those days there was very little fabric available. It is a myth that quilting was a pastime in colonial days. If there were quilts made, then they were likely very simple quilts and were made out of necessity, not enjoyment.

If a house had extra room for a quilting frame, then it would be left set up. But since most houses had very little spare room, women were forced to cram in their quilting frames when and where they could. However, women were really starting to enjoy the quilting process so they made time and used the quilts for creative expression. This is when the quilt became a hobby for the American Quilters.

It just so happens that today getting together to make a quilt is much more of a “social gathering” than it was in the times of the earliest American Quilters. Today, when women do gather to sew a quilt, it is with much more ease because of all the available resources for the craft. From the quilt kits to the quilting fabrics, quilters have it much easier today. Making the notion that quilting was a “fun social gathering” much more applicable to modern times.

By Crafts Editor

One of the best sites to visit for more information on quilts is the American Quilters Society. You’ll learn about all the different types of designs there are when it comes to making an American quilt, and you’ll get step by step instructions on patterns like Fat Quarters and machine techniques that will help you to create intricate designs in the center of your quilt, or on the borders of your new creation. Information about colors and fabrics that are used for quilting is featured on the site, and you can also get the patterns you need for quilts that are just for kids. You can even use the page to order more books about quilting so that you can see pictures of the finished product as you’re learning how to sew; books like ‘101 Fabulous Fat-Quarter Bags with M’Liss Rae Hawley’ or ‘100 Tips from Award Winning Quilters’ by Ann Hazelwood are both great buys and will help you to improve your quilting skills in no time. The American Quilters Society will also offer information on quilts that are featured in a number of museums around the country, and will give you a little history on how these specials were ‘invented’ and what they have been used for in the past.

You can also learn more about the American quilt and all the patterns that come along with this art form by visiting www.quilterscache.com. There are a number of designs to choose from, including the White House Christmas Tree quilt pattern, which you can use as a great gift for the holidays. The Apple Butter Quilt is also a popular, and looks best with rustic or country-style furniture. All of the patterns are free, and you can even purchase other sewing products from the site, so that you can get all your quilting supplies from one place.

If you need to find more American quilt supplies and books, you can visit sites like www.amazon.com or www.overstock.com in order to find discounted reading materials, catalogs, fabric, and even machines that will help you to improve your quilting skills. You may even be able to find American quilt materials at your local Hobby Lobby or Wal-Mart; patterns for the quilts you want to create may be available at these locations as well.

By Crafts Editor