While quilts all have some standard features, like pieced-together blocks, top stitching, batting and backing, it’s an extremely creative art form. When it comes to design and sewing, you’re only limited by your imagination and sewing skills. However, there are four basic quilting styles that every beginner should learn. Once you master these techniques, you’ll be well equipped to create your own imaginative designs with our quality quilting fabrics in Albuquerque, NM.

Pieced together

This is the classic quilt style that comes to mind when you think “American quilting.” Pieces of fabric are sewn together and pressed, then quilted all over the top. These can be done in traditional styles, or modern, adventurous design.

Applique

Applique quilts allow quilters to move beyond rectangular or triangular shapes, which makes for a lot more imaginative quilting. There are two basic ways to do it: raw edge and interfaced. Raw edge appliques require you to trace your design on fusible webbing, adhere to your fabric and cut out the shape. Then you can iron on the applique, which will be held down by the fusible webbing until you quilt the top.

Interfaced applique quilts hide those raw edges. You accomplish this by cutting out fabric and interfacing, sewing them together and then turning them inside out, so the edges are hidden. This is a neater, more professional way to applique—but it’s also a lot more time consuming than raw edge.

Paper pieced

Paper pieced quilts are good ways to use up your fabric scraps, and they can make the piecing process easier, too. First, you print the templates, cut the fabric and sew them to the “wrong” (printed) side of the paper. That allows you to create a perfect block, with the seams hidden between the fabric and the paper.

English paper pieced

This is performed similarly to paper piecing, but in this case, you’ll “wrap” the fabric around the paper template, press and sew. After you piece together the fabric, you can remove the paper, leaving behind a perfect quilt block (or hexagon, or circle, depending on your pattern).

Whatever method you prefer, it’s worth trying all of these approaches with scrap fabric to see which ones work for you. Certain quilting methods will work better with certain designs—that is, pieced quilts are great for geometric blocks, while the others are excellent for more creative or abstract designs.

If you’re not sure how to get the hang of each method, don’t despair. The Quilt Works Inc. offers numerous quilting classes, so you can learn from an expert. Once you pair our expertise with our quality quilting fabrics in Albuquerque, NM, we’re positive you’ll come away with the fundamental skills and supplies you need to make a beautiful handmade quilt.

For more information about our classes, fabric and quilting supplies, visit our website, stop by the store or get in touch with us today. We’re happy to do whatever we can to make your quilting experience as easy and enjoyable as possible.