The Appropriate Baby Showers Gifts
In the early days of quilting, any suitable material, from an old blanket to cotton wadding, was placed between the patched pieces and an old sheet and then put onto the quilting frame, which kept the quilt's layers stretched tight while the quilter worked away.
The next time you are trying to figure out just what to get for an upcoming baby shower, think of the impression your gift will make if it is personalized. Even if mom and dad have not announced the baby's name, you can still have the child's last name added to any gift you choose. If you decide on a baby blanket, quilt, or pillow, ask the parents what theme they have chosen so you can coordinate your gift.
Blanket Quilt I have made two of these quilts and my daughter is now making one for herself. It is fun to add the fancy pocket designs that many jeans have. And by all means use other colors if you like to your quilt. Jeans are not all blue. I have added green, white, purple, black, tie-dyed and acid washed. Then denim is a very durable fabric and is also heavy enough so that the wind will not blow it around on your picnic or at the beach.
For quilting beginners there are kits available that contain all of the material needed to create a quilt. These kits include step by step instructions to help you make the perfect hand crafted quilt for the new addition. Kits are also great because they help new quilters learn the basics of quilting, enabling them to create other, more personalized quilts in the future. While experienced quilters are often aware of the hard work and materials that go into creating the perfect quilt; creating the perfect baby blanket can still be difficult.
The preferred needle type for woven cotton fabrics is called a "sharp." Sizes 75/11 and 80/12 are good choices for piecing, quiltmaking, and binding most simple quilt patterns. Use a smaller needle (70/10) if you're piecing tightly woven batiks and a larger needle (90/14) for flannels. Dull needles can cause skipping or uneven stitches, so it's a good idea to insert a fresh needle at the start of every project.
If your fabric hasn't already been cut into squares, use a pair of fabric shears, or a rotary cutter, to do so now. If you use a rotary cutter, you'll also need a cutting mat. Otherwise, you could end up damaging whatever's underneath the fabric.
Now use a steam iron to turn and press the rectangle over the seam allowance, pressing away from the center piece. Trim the seam allowance close to the stitching line to remove the bulk in your design.
Holiday Quilts. Making quilts associated with special holidays, Easter, Christmas, Halloween, Passover, etc. People tend to dress their homes for holidays so producing quilts with holiday themes meets the need of the customer.
