All About Handmade Quilts

Handmade quilts immediately evoke images of roaring fires, crisp snow days, family heritage, and loving care. 

Originally, quilts provided opportunities to recycle scraps of cloth to produce maximize functional use of fabrics. 

Quilting craftsmanship and creativity have raised handmade quilts to a veritable art form with mural and collage depictions of daily life.

Today's fabric recycling may produce favorite memory quilts compiled from worn or outgrown denim jeans or t-shirts.

Many quilters exclusively use new fabrics to match decor when creating handmade quilts.

Quilt construction

Patchwork quilts are compiled from quilt blocks that are typically geometrical in design.  

Quilt blocks may simply be single piece rectangles, embroidered, or multiple fabrics pieced together to create the block design.  Quilt blocks are sewn together first, then assembled into strips.  Next, the strips are sewn together to create the quilt top.  Quilting occurs when the quilt top, filling, and quilt back are sewn together.  Quilting frames are used to expose a portion of the quilt at a time.  

Quilt edging depends on the quilt pattern. Most are worked into a straight edge rectangle.  Scallop edges are often used on circular pattern quilt blocks, such as Double Wedding Ring, and pointed edges may be use with diamond patterns.

Crazy quilts utilize irregular patchwork rectangles or freestyle and asymmetrical designs.

Quilt blocks can be used to create accessories such as pillows, pillow shams, wall hangings, lap blankets, totes, etc.

Quilt styles

Quilt styles are limited only by imagination: 

Baby quilts repeat the nursery decor with favorite characters or record birth information.

Baby quilts provide colorful visual stimulation in the nursery. Alphabet quilts offer a tactile learning tool for youngsters.

Wedding quilts remain popular to bless the happy couple in their new home.

Quilts can commemorate a variety of family events with a memorable keepsake.  

Photo memory quilts have gained popularity since advent of technology to transfer photo images onto fabric.  

Creating quilts with motif blocks, such as cats, horses, tractors, dolls, wildflowers, can become a treasure to your favorite collector.

Popular quilt patterns

 Regular quilt block patterns include:

 Star

Bear's paw

Fan

Jacob's ladder

Log Cabin

Wedding ring

Double wedding ring

Double Irish chain

Allover quilt patterns include:

Single stars, such as state stars

Floral patterns, including Hawaiian ginger, hibiscus and anthurium motifs

Free quilt patterns

Quilt patterns are available from many sources, including books, magazines and through the Internet. Many quilt patterns are easily downloaded free of charge. 

Remember that quilt pattern does not guarantee written instructions.  Some quilt patterns give only the block and assembly diagrams.  

Beginners should look for patterns that list fabric requirements, cutting instructions and complete sewing directions. 

Websites that offer free quilting patterns may also have links to quilting tips and how-tos.

Free quilt pattern sites may require membership to use the site and may even require a membership fee.

Many quilt sites offer custom ordering to have your dream quilt hand-crafted by quilting experts.

More information on quilts