The Event Gift Dilemma - Develop A Handmade Quilt

Always use the low setting on your dryer. It is okay to hang your quilt outside for a short period of time, or you can spread it out flat to finish drying. Make sure it is completely dry before folding or storing.

If you are going to leave the Golden Retriever outdoors, make sure you build or buy a sturdy one, which will be comfy for it; Use wooden straw for it on the floor or use newspapers or both. You can also try wooden shavings. Do provide a small curtain at both ends: it too feels the cold, you know, and the breeze or wind can make it uncomfortable. And yes, if it is cold, you can use that unused blanket or quilt that you just kept it away.. maybe you would have to look for it. It would love to snuggle into the quilt, and you may have to unfold the whole quilt to find where it went into!

Turn and press this rectangle over the seam allowance, again pressing away from the center piece. Trim the seam allowance close to the stitching line.

Blanket Quilt Handmade Baby Blankets A handmade baby blanket gift speaks to the heart of any new mother. Knowing someone spent the time, thought and effort to make a hand made gift in this day and age means a lot. You can crochet, quilt, embroider a baby blanket to make it unique and special. In fact, you can make a baby blanket that requires no sewing at all, and will be just as special because you put yourself into the gift.

Unlike comforters, a quality quilt is filled with cotton. This results in a much more substantial bedcovering. When you compare a comforter and a cotton-filled quilt of the same size, you will find that the quilt weighs quite a bit more. The quilt is heavier, but it takes up less space. Therefore, you get all of the warmth of a comforter, without the bulk. And because the batting is cotton and not polyester, you won't wake up sweaty in the morning. Quilts are also much easier to store when not in use, and they can double as a picnic blanket! When was the last time you took your comforter to the park?

Now you need to sew it together with the batting and the backing. As you probably already know, a blanket isn't just made of one layer. You will have to sew it together and then stitch across the entire quilt to hold it all together. This is where you can get fancy and make pretty stitch designs. If you are looking to get this done fast, just do a basic straight stitch across the whole blanket. You will have to do this sewing by hand, so get a comfy position on your couch and get sewing!

Always use a rotary cutter with a cutting mat specifically designed for it. In addition to protecting your work surface, the mat helps keep the fabric from shifting while you cut. Start with a 17x23" mat marked with a 1" grid, hash marks at 1/8" increments, and 45 and 60 degree angles.

For a crazy quilt, large or small, you should work on a square or rectangle of muslin or plain fabric. Working 12" or smaller is recommended so that the piecing is easier to handle.