Quilt-It!

Girl Scout Quilting Project

          Quilting, like every other activity, has developed its own language and terminology.  This is important, since it helps quilters communicate accurately with each other and allows them to follow directions.   Learn what the quilting terms mean, and practice using then.

Rounded Rectangle: Quilting Terms * APPLIQUE: Sewing or fusing a cutout piece of fabric onto a quilt block. * BASTING STITCH: A large running stitch, about 1/2 to 3/4 inch long. * BATTING: The material put in the middle of a quilt such as cotton, wool, or polyester. * FAT QUARTER: 1/4 of a square yard of fabric, 18 x 22 inches, compared to a regular 1/4 yard cut of material, 9 x 44 inches. * FINGER PRESS: Using one's thumb or fingers to press a seam allowance flat. * HEM STITCH: Sew with tiny stitches through the fabric for finishing a binding or closing an opening. * PIECING: Sewing pieces of fabric together along their edges to form a quilt block. * QUILT: A cloth item that is made with a fabric top (called the quilt top), a middle layer of batting, and a fabric back. * QUILT BLOCK: A construction unit of a quilt top. Many have specific names such as 4 patch, Bear's Paw. * QUILTING: Hand or machine stitching of patterns using small stitches through the quilt layers. * REDWORK: Embroidering a quilt block with a figure or shape in a single color, using only an outline stitch. * RIGHT AND WRONG SIDES OF MATERIAL: The right side is the brighter side; the wrong side is the duller side. * RUNNING STITCH: Basic sewing stitch, up and down along the seam line with a stitch length of 1/8 to 1/4 inch. * SEAM ALLOWANCE: The distance between the seam and the edge of the material, usually 1/4 inch. * SEAM LINE: A line on the fabric along which you will sew, usually 1/4 inch in from the edge of the material. * SELVAGE OR SELVEDGE: The outer edge of both sides of a woven fabric, cut off before the material is used in the quilt. * STASH: A collection of material, usually leftover from quilt projects. * TYING: Securing the quilt layers with knots tied at frequent places in the quilt.

 

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Created by Sharon L. Thompson and Richard B. Thompson

Tucson Quilters Guild

For the Sahuaro Girl Scout Council

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