The Baby Shower Gift Dilemma – Create a Handmade Quilt
Have you been searching for just the right baby shower gift for your best friend, your sister, or maybe even a colleague from the office? No matter where you have looked, the idea of finding another outfit that the new baby will outgrow in weeks, or another pile of odds-and –ends from diapers to rattles is just not what you had in mind for a useful and meaningful baby shower gift, then this article is for you. Create a handmade baby crib quilt that will amaze the new mother-to-be and all of the guests at the baby shower.
You don’t have to be an expert quilter to make a special handmade baby crib quilt. First, you need to choose the perfect fabric for the baby crib quilt. If you’re unsure of what design you might prefer, either take a trip to your local fabric store, or go on line to the one of the many retail dealers for their collections of ideas and baby crib quilt patterns. If this is your first attempt at the art of quilting, it is best to keep your pattern simple. Choose colors that are appropriate for the baby’s gender, unless you do not know that, than yellow or white is a safe choice. Be sure you wash and lightly iron all fabrics before you start to cut.
There are many sewing tips that quilting experts would pass on to a novice, who may just be starting out, possibly making their first quilt. Here are some important quilting tips: Sew seams carefully, so that you match each corner and every triangle tip is pointy. You can save time and increase accuracy by chain sewing your pieces together. Your piecing will improve if you take the time to press your quilt blocks as you make them. Pressing is an extra step in the quilt making process , but one that will payoff when your block fit together, nest, just like they should. Make sure that you are sewing an accurate quarter inch seam allowance for your quilt blocks. If this allowance is not precise, when it is time to sew the blocks together, they will not align properly. Set your sewing machine to the standard seam allowance used for quilts, which is an exact quarter inch seam. One way to improve a block that is either too large or too small is to use the freezer paper method and square up the block before sewing it together. Gridded freezer paper makes the job easier, but the plain freezer paper will work to help make the block more even.
At this point you are ready to either hand quilt or machine quilt your baby shower gift. Place the backing fabric right side down on the floor or large clean area. Put the batting down next. Place the pieced quilt on top of the batting right side up. Pin the fabrics and batting together starting from the center and working out. I recommend that you stretch all three layers before pinning. Using an old table and some large butterfly clamps, stretch your blanket securely in place to the table before you pin the layers together. Also there are curved quilting pins available at the quilt shops that will make the pinning task easier to complete, due to the shape of the pin. They are rounded at the bottom and perfect for the task.
You can either hand quilt or machine quilt your baby shower gift. Following the perimeter of the shape or you can choose to use a quilter’s pencil and template and draw a design and quilt the design. Either way, you will be stitching through all three layers, which not only fasten the layers together, but create a design, as you quilt.
Your baby shower gift will be complete when the edges are finished and the binding is sewn in place. Of the two types of bindings, crosswise grain and bias, the former is a good choice because there is less risk that a split would damage the entire side of the quilt. Crosswise strips also stretch well enough to curve when needed along the outer edge of the quilt.
Your search and dilemma is now over. You have the perfect shower gift, a handmade baby crib quilt, which is the perfect baby shower gift for that new mother-to-be, created by you.
Take time to quilt.
Don’t have the time to create your own masterpiece, come and choose one of our handmade children’s quilts, a lasting keepsake, a unique birthday gift, or Christening gift, for that special “little one.”
Visit my website: www.uniquebabyquiltboutique.com and chose of one unique handmade children’s quilt from my collection for your child’s birthday or other special event.
Sharon Camp has been quilting for over 30 year
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The Baby Shower Gift Dilemma – Create a Handmade Quilt
Evolution of Wall Hanging Quilts over Centuries
Wall hanging quilts have undergone substantial changes over centuries though the purpose of it has remained unchanged. Primarily meant for decorative purpose, these quilts are often used as protection against heat or cold. These special quilts are created with immense interest and patience for their outstanding appearance.
Wall hanging quilts are also created with additional care as these are meant specifically for decorative purposes. The designs are visually more appealing as compared to quilts used in beds or as rugs. Either in bright or contrasting shades these quilts always attracts attention. In an otherwise dull room a well crafted wall hung quilt could brighten up the entire interiors. Though the actual purpose of such a quilt is decorative, in many cases they are hung from doors and windows as protection against intense heat wave.
As wall hanging quilts are often thicker than curtains and made of fabric, they are excellent heat absorbers. Houses in areas of intense heat often use these decorative quilts to keep out external heat waves. Similarly in winter months this quilts help to keep room interiors warm and comfortable.
Basic difference between quilts and curtains is that the former is heavier, fuller and cannot be drawn apart. Quilts are always woven on a cloth or linen base and comparable to carpets. However they are lighter than carpets and could be put to many uses. The wall hanging varieties are the most exclusive types and might also be presented as worthwhile gifts. Decorative quilts are always in great demand because of their brilliant craftsmanship.
Wall hanging quilt have undergone considerable changes to suit current needs of buyers. In earlier times these quilts were made from natural fibers like silk, rayon, wool, and cloth. As the availability of these fibers was restricted within specified geographical regions, weavers had to pay a high price when bought from distant lands. On top of the high price of materials the labor cost hiked the prices of this wall hanging quilt beyond the reach of common people. These could only be bought by royals and wealthy merchants.
With passage of time significant changes were observed in the making of this hanging quilt. Natural fibers have been replaced by artificial yarns making availability of raw materials easy and affordable. Man made fibers being lighter than many natural fibers, makes a hanging quilt light and easy to put up. Production of artificial yarn in region is independent and could be manufactured in any location. With lower resource cost the price of quilts could be kept within affordable limits of a common buyer.
Another distinct advantage of artificial fibers is their durability and resistance to decay. Quilt weavers now use both type of fibers for making the perfect product. Greater the percentage of natural fibers used, higher is the price of a quilt. Purchasers can now choose quilts as per their requirement and capacity. The range of wall hanging quilts have increased manifold both in terms of variety and price.
Merlina wall hanging quilts are the best example of fine arts and its dexterity.
Her each functional homemade quilts with latest motif are of few examples of artistic excellence in quilt designs
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