Hot Quilting How-Tos


How To: Quilt as you go with your sewing machine
Quilt as you go is becoming one of the most popular quilting methods out there and this video will show you how to do the technique using only your sewing machine. This method allows you to create a quilt in no time flat. You'll need lots of fabric strips, squares or triangles. You'll also need baton and backing, thread and of course a sewing machine. You'll see this project appear before your eyes and your friends will be impressed and amazed!

How To: Hide an ending knot in your quilt
This video teaches how to hide an ending knot in your quilt in order to keep it looking neat. You wrap the thread around the needle, pull it tight, push the needle through about a half inch of the surface of the quilt, and once it comes out the other side, tug on the string gently. There should now be a knot underneath the top layer of fabric. Cut off the tail end of the thread. If the piece of thread is showing through the fabric, poke your needle inside the quilt and push it past the thread...

How To: Quilt a 45 degree angle
Watch this short quilting video to cut a 45 degree angle precisely. When sewing quilts with large triangle patterns, cutting your fabrics precisely can be vital to the geometric vitality of your quilt. Follow these instructions to keep your colonial quilt from drifting off center.

How To: Quilt a wide binding
Watch this instructional quilting video to sew a wide binding on your quilt. A 3" binding is recommended when you're learning to use these tools but after that you can create wider & narrower bindings. Here's info for wider bindings.

How To: Do the 'quilt as you go' method
Looking for a new way to do your quilting? Why not try the 'quilt as you go' method! With this method you don't finish the whole piece at one time, but instead take various pieces of fabric and use them one by one. This is a great method if you happen to have a big bag of fabric odds and ends you didn't know what to do with. You'll need a piece of backing, thread, pins and of course a sewing machine. Watch and learn how to quilt as you go!

How To: Miter a corner on quilt binding
Watch an experienced quilter show a quick and easy way to miter the corner on the binding of a quilt. Quilting is a precise craft, but a mitered corner works best with a some accurate estimation. Follow this two step process to sew a neat and sturdy corner on quilt binding.

How To: Use a rotary cutting mat
This video quilting tutorial shows how to use a rotary cutting mat and how to choose an appropriate mat for your quilting needs. A rotary cutting mat is really important to make cutting easier and to protect your furniture from getting damaged by cutting. Learn how to choose a rotary cutting mat and how to use one by watching this instructional video.

How To: Quilt mitered corners
Here's a new way to look at making perfect mitered corners the first time, every time. This instructional quilting video demonstrates how to sew consistent mitered corners on your quilts in a few steps. Use a "Minute Miter" tool to hold the fabric in place. Learn why this seamstress says, "no snouts allowed."

How To: Use a June Tailor Shape Cut ruler
Here is how to make strips and squares using the JT ShapeCut ruler. Follow these instructions to measure and cut a precise design. With the June Tailor Shape Cut ruler, you can lay a piece of fabric on a grid and slice the fabric into geometric squares.

How To: Sew 3D faux cathedral window quilt blocks
Watch this instructional quilting video to sew three dimensional faux cathedral window quilting blocks. These easy to make blocks add great accents to any quilt. The cathedral window quilting block is actually made up of four smaller patches with another square sewn inside. The 3D effect requires some careful folding. Pin down the frame of the window to give it a curved edge. For the center patch you can use patterned fabric or a photograph.

How To: Load a quilt onto a frame
Need to load a quilt onto a frame but aren't sure how to do it? This ten-minute free video quilting lesson, which breaks the process down into its simple steps, will remedy that situation post haste.

How To: Quilt as you go
This quilt as you go method is really becoming popular and this video shows how you can get in on the action. It's a simple method and you'll see your craft coming together quickly before your eyes. You'll need some backing, many pieces of fabric - widths can be different, but they'll need to be the same length. Check out the quilt as you go method and show off your new found skill! Quilts are a lovely craft and make for an even better gift!

How To: Square up a quilt to get it ready for binding
Before binding a quilt together, the edges of the quilt need to be squared so the quilt will lay flat and look crisp and professional. This video quilting tutorial shows how to square the edges of a quilt before finishing off the quilt.

How To: Make a t-shirt memory quilt for beginners
It's always a dilemma when you're organizing your closet and deciding whether you want to keep or throw out a meaningful old t-shirt that you don't wear anymore. Many of our t-shirts have been with us through thick and thin, so preserve their memory (and stop creating more waste) by reusing them.

How To: Finish irregular quilt edges
This tutorial demonstrates how to finish your quilt that has irregular edges using a facing instead of binding. Review this quilting instructional video to quilt a complex border finish. The facing method allows you to avoid mitering every corner.

How To: Read a ruler
In this video, we learn how to read a ruler. First, grab you ruler and look on the top and the bottom of it. The top is divided into different marks that shows inches, half inches, and quarter inches. If you aren't familiar with reading this, just use the markers at the top to help you count between 1/4, 1/2, 1/8, etc. The other side of the ruler is used for centimeters, which you usually will not use in the United States very often. Learning how to read a ruler can help you get better with f...

How To: Make a no sew fleece blanket
In this tutorial, we learn how to make a no sew fleece blanket. First, you will need to purchase fleece in a large size, large enough to be a comfortable blanket. Next, lay the fleece flat down and cut fringe down on two sides, four inches apart. On the other two sides (opposite from each other), cut fringe one inch between each other. Next, tie your one inch fringes into individual knots. These are great blankets to make for charity, because they are not only soft and warm, they are inexpens...

How To: Make a sleeping bag
Make a sleeping bag for the homeless out of a quilt. Featured on Thread Heads.

How To: Tie a surgeon's knot for a quilt
This is a video of how to make a surgeons' knot when tying a quilt.

How To: Use advanced quilting techniques
Advanced quilting tips. Learn expert techniques on how to quilt in this free crafts video from our experienced quilter.

How To: Stitch in the ditch to sew binding on a quilt
Get started with stitching in the ditch by attaching the "Zip Bind Tool" and mitering the 1st corner with the "Minute Miter." This instructional quilting video demonstrates how to sew a neat binding onto your quilt using a few innovative tools.

How To: Create fiber art journal pages or fabric books
In this tutorial, we learn how to create fiber art journal pages with Elin Waterston. First, think about the theme of your book then layout what theme you want for your book. This will carry out through your entire book, so choose something that works. Stick text onto the fabric, then add stitching to help the fabrics to stay together. This journal is a fun project to do by yourself or with other artists. Make sure you unify your book with the subject and take your time in making the theme ti...

How To: Make an easy fabric panel quilt for Project Linus
Project Linus is an organization that provides security blankets for seriously ill or traumatized children. In this tutorial, learn how to make an easy fabric panel quilt to donate to a child in need. Project Linus is a great organization that provides warmth to every child, no matter what the season. So, if you would like to donate to this worthwhile cause, follow along with this video and learn how to make an easy but comforting cover that any child will love.

How To: Measure borders when quilting
When measuring for borders on your quilt, begin by spreading your quilt out on your work surface making sure that it is laying flat but not pulled tight. With a tape measure, measure from one edge to the opposite edge across the length of the quilt. You should measure along two or three different seam lines and cut the border material to correspond with your longest measurement.If you would like a two-inch wide finished border then you should cut your border material two-and-a-half inches wid...

How To: Bind fabric on a quilt
This quilting tutorial demonstrates how to easily join the ends of your quilt binding so that no one can tell the last seam from any other. Review this step by step process to avoid future difficulty when joining binding strips on your quilt. You don't need a ruler and you don't need to do a lot of measuring to try this quilting trick.

How To: Use the 1/4 inch foot
Learn Pat's tips for using the 1/4 inch foot on your sewing machine.

How To: Quilt bubbles
Learn how Pat machine quilts bubbles.

How To: Quilt boutis provençal
For boutis, stuffing is inserted between stitched layers through small openings made by separating the threads of the backing fabric. Once the stuffing is complete the threads are pushed back into position to close the holes. Marie Yolande demonstrates the "white on white" process with contrasting colored threads for better clarity. Click the RealPlayer or Quicktime link to start the video. Quilt boutis provençal.

How To: Make an easy abstract quilt or blanket
This is the perfect tutorial for beginners who are interesting in learning how to quilt. Start with a basic abstract pattern and your favorite colors of fabric (you can use scraps if you wish as well), then follow the video and make your first quilt!

How To: Make a simple tie blanket
In this video, learn how to make a cute baby blanket with nothing but a piece of fabric and a pair of scissors.

How To: Transfer photos onto fabric
In this video you will see how to transfer a photograph onto a piece of flannel fabric. You will have to treat the flannel with Bubble jet Set 2000 to help the photo stay on the fabric longer. Use an inkjet printer to make sure the ink soaks into the fiber. Tape the treated flannel onto the printed picture and run the paper through the printer again. The printer should print directly onto the fabric without trouble!

How To: Measure your quilt for perfect borders
You can easily "square up" your quilt by adding borders that have been measured for perfection. The trick is to leave extra space where the fabric will stretch the most. Watch this instructional quilting video to account for small changes that occur in the sewing process to sew an exact border on your quilt.

How To: Get ready to machine quilt
Make your sewing space perfect for machine quilting. Watch an experienced quilter set up and make the first few machine quilting stitches. This video is helpful for those who work in a combination of hand sewing and quilting with a sewing machine.

How To: Begin couching with a longarm quilting machine
Learn how to use the couching technique to create depth and dimension to your quilts. Add borders and trim to intricate quilted patterns. You'll need a large eye needle and various couching material, such as yarn, ribbon and scraps of fabric. Couching adds texture and finish to quilted fabrics.

How To: Tie fringe onto a quilt
This video quilting tutorial shows an easy way to attach fringe onto a quilt. Tied thread fringe is a great way to add simple decoration and definition to a quilt. Learn how to tie fringe onto a quilt by watching this instructional video.

How To: Use a quilting ruler
This video quilting tutorial shows how to choose and use an appropriate ruler for quilting. Certain kinds of quilting rulers are multipurpose and will be able to perform any beginning quilting function. Learn how to pick out and care for a quilting ruler by watching this instructional video.

How To: Learn trapunto for quilting
Be sure to click on Chapter Two for the entire tutorial! In quilting, trapunto is creating raised images or sections of fabric on the surface of the quilt with batting. Learn about applique trapunto in the first part of this two part tutorial.

How To: Burn silk and color fabric for quilting
Learn more creative quilting methods by burning silk edges and adding color to fabric with colored pencils.

How To: Attach binding to a quilt
This video demonstrates how to attach a binding to a quilt. At the point of the video, your quilt should be complete up to attaching the binding. It should already be pinned and basted. You should have quilted together all of your squares into your desired pattern. Your batting should be cut. You should be in the final stages of assembling the quilt.

How To: Bast a quilt for free-motion quilting patterns
In this Arts & Crafts video tutorial you will learn how to baste a quilt for free-motion quilting patterns. This video is presented by craftygemini. This method of loading your quilt onto your quilting frame is known as floating where the quilt top and the batting are floated. Neither the top nor the batting are rolled and pinned onto leaders like a backing fabric. First go to the top center point of the quilt top, put the pressure foot down and take a stitch. Bring the bottom thread up, hold...