Jake Saab asked:


You have created flowers, basket, handles, etc, so now it’s time to assemble your crafty quilt. Let’s get started.

How to Assemble:
You are assembling the crown of your quilt at this point. If you haven’t started your craft project to create the Spring Basket, leave this work to those who are at the crown. To collect your crown use your threads that counterpart and begin blind stitching across your fabric, sewing your flower onto the fabric, as well as two of your foliages. Sew to the center bloom as well, and stitch en route for the wrong side (left) of your created 3-block baskets. Stitch to the right and finish your final blocks. (3)

At the lower region of your basket, affix your blooms so that they join with the handles. Now, snip your lighter shades of filaments/strands, and shades of pink (6) silkworm fibers (Floss), cutting lengthwise so that it is corresponding with the measurements lengthwise of your arm. You want to create strands (3) on each section of fiber. Divide and use needle and thread (large eye needle) along with the length of your three filaments and stitch so that it forms a circle. You are making your granny knots, to create the French version that will stretch about your center flower and the dark flowers you have created.

Again, trim your darker shades of six-pink, filaments, and silkworm fibers, cutting it along the length so that it is equivalent to your arm span. Generate 3-filaments on each section of your fibers. Partition and make use of hand used needle and filament, stitching the length the three threads. Stitch until it shapes a loop. Starting at the shades of green, snip the narrow sash pieces and cut the pieces into 1 1/2 x 10 1/2 inches. You are making your D-block. Snip another three narrow pieces until you achieve measured parts at 1 1/2 x 28 1/2 inches. You will use these parts to make your E-block. Alternatively, snip your D-block, cutting three from your pattern and form 4-D narrow pieces. You want your ducks in a row. (I.e. Blocks) Use only 2-blocks to form a row at this time and begin stitching the blocks forming 3-E narrow pieces. This is the middle region of your coverlet, or quilt. Use the variety of floral prints and snip the inside borders of your narrow pieces. Snip at least two narrow parts at 1 x 23 1/2 inches. Use the parts to create the F-borders at the side. Now, snip another one x 29 1/2-inch narrow pieces to create G-borders at the lower and upper region of your quilt.

Continuing, sew the border sides to the center of your coverlet. Continue to sew the drop and greater borders. Begin at the floral region, i.e. the print textile press with your iron. DO NOT IRON rather gently press? Lift; relocate, etc.

Now, you are ready to craft your binds for your quilt. Use your floral materials and sew the greater, drop, and sides of your borders. Now fill it in with the center of your quilt patterns.

You have done a great job, so now it is time to finish your work. Use your backing cloth, batting, and crown of your coverlet and coat. To prepare your coverlet, pin baste to layer, followed by hand sewing or machine sewing your quilt. Use your machine at the crown to sew the untreated edges. If you have extra batting, cut it. Do the same for backing cloth. Now bind and snip your satin, yellow ribbon to form your bow. Cut six even parts. Finish by tying your ribbon, forming a bow and stitch by hand your bows, one for each side of your handles on your basket.



KENNETH

Mario Churchill asked:


Many people have hobbies. Retirees and housewives often have hobbies to help keep them occupied during moments of relaxation or boredom. But not many people realize that you can make money from most hobbies. By taking your hobbies and turning them into cash at flea markets and swap meets, you can easily earn a modest income while having fun.

Crocheting is one of the highest paying hobbies. Crochet thread is often inexpensive while still being durable, washable, and delicate in appearance. Crocheted table cloths, curtains, and bedspreads can be completed within a month by most experts in the craft, and can be sold for hundreds of dollars depending on size and pattern.
Other home decoration hobbies like wreath making, basket weaving, or wood working can also be turned into easy income. Quilting is also a great hobby to make money from. Since fewer and fewer people know how to quilt, a hand made quilt is hard to come by, and therefore valuable. You can often make at least a fifty percent profit on your completed quilts. Baby quilts are also very popular.

Sewing and knitting of any kind can be very profitable hobbies. Knit sweaters, baby hats, booties, mittens, and other items can be big sellers at flea markets and swap meets. Clothing items can also be sold at these locations very easily. Well made home sewn clothing is often stronger than the cheap clothes that you can get at the local department store, but can be sold for the same price or less while still earning the seamstress quite a bit of money. Wedding dresses, bridesmaid dresses, and prom dresses can be huge income earners for the expert seamstress.

One of the best hobbies to make money from is gift baskets. Decorating jars and other containers using appliqué, ribbons, and paint can be combined with the creative mixture of perfumes, bath oils, and bubble baths to make very pretty, country style gift baskets. These bath baskets are great for gifts all season round, including mother’s day, birthdays, and Christmas, making them a very profitable hobby.

Gardening is also one of the more profitable hobbies. If you like to garden but don’t really need everything you plant, you can take the left over to a farmer’s market. You can also simply set up a stand on the side of the road in some communities. Fresh produce is a great commodity, and can earn you a hefty income in the spring.



BORIS

Penny Halgren asked:


Like many other crafts and hobbies, quilting has survived the test of time. Some quilt historians date the beginning of quilting back to the middle ages, when quilted clothes were made for warriors sent to battle in cold climates. According to history, fabrics were layered and stitched in the same quilting method used today to keep the layers intact and keep the warriors warm.

You might note several differences:

· The quilting was done by hand (as was the construction of the clothes)

· There were no fancy designs of either the quilting pattern or the clothes

· Probably this clothing was made by local tailors (who generally were men)

Quilting today is much more fun and includes both men and women! Because there are more than 20 million quilters in the US, fabric stores have dedicated sections of their shops to quilting fabric. In many communities, it is easy to find a quilting store or two (or three) - a shop that caters just to quilters. And finding quilting fabric online is getting easier by the day.

With a wide selection of resources, the next question is whether you will enjoy quilting. The art of quilting has something for almost everyone.

Traditional patchwork quilts are still very popular. They provide a framework for design while allowing the quilter to use fabric selection to vary the overall look of the quilt. Contemporary quilts, or art quilts, are also popular, and provide a canvas for designing quilts that has no bounds.

Many quiltmakers still rely on hand sewing which makes quilts portable. Your quilt project easily goes into the waiting room of doctors and dance classes, travels with you in the car on long trips, and turns idle time into productive time.

Other quilters complete their entire quilt project on the machine - from piecing blocks to machine quilting and finishing the binding.

Whether your quilt is made by hand or machine, the sense of pride you feel when your quilt is finished is at least equal to the feeling of love, admiration and appreciation that the person who uses or receives the quilt feels.

And you become a thread in the history of time - linking past generations with the future.

Happy Quilting!

Penny Halgren

www.How-to-Quilt.com

Inspiration and Education for Beginning Quilters

www.Rag-Quilt-Instructions.com

Fast, Fun and Funky Quilts



DYLAN

Kay A asked:


My basement floor is unsealed, it produces a dust like substance. I use the space as a quilting studio and this dust gets on my batting and fabrics. I cleaned the floor repeatedly but the “dust” problem just comes back. Is this a by product of concrete curing? The house is only 5 years old.

HECTOR

Vincent Platania asked:


Needlework is one of the most cost effective and fun hobbies a person can have. The person creating the needlework focuses on a pastime that is both creative and relaxing at the same time. When the work is completed there is a beautiful creation that can be worn or used in the home as a decorative item. As time requires everyone to live a busy and chaotic lifestyle this type of hobby is becoming more and more scarce. If you have the time and patience you can develop the skills to turn a hobby into a marketable product that is of a higher quality than the over produced machine made items that are found most often today. This should allow the person practicing needlecraft the ability to claim a space in the home that is just for needlework. A place to keep your tools and supplies is absolutely necessary to turning this hobby into a great home business. If you need to get your hobby room in order here are some great tips.

No matter the type of needlework you are doing, quilting, sewing clothing, craft items or beautiful embroidery you will need to keep your space separated into areas for each task. You will no doubt have special tools and equipment that are used for each task of your fabric hobby.

You will have to wash many of the items that you use in your fabric hobby before you use them. Some fabrics must be shrunk before you are able to cut them. If you work a beautiful piece of embroidery onto a fabric that has a stain or smudge of dirt your work will be ruined. You should make sure that part of your home’s laundry area is set-aside for the special fabric cleaners that you use. Cleaners for spot removal and delicate items should be stored separately from the regular laundry detergent that is used in the home. You should keep your hand wash cleaners near the kitchen sink so that you can take advantage of the larger sink capacity and the counter space in the kitchen. Keep some towels nearby for this purpose.

An area to dry the fabrics after they have been cleaned is very important as well. Some fabrics will need to be stretched out on a rack for drying. You should make sure that your drying area is kept away from things that can cause the fabric to become dirty again while it is being dried. You don’t want the smell of last night’s dinner to become infused in your freshly washed fabric. You will be able to dry some of your fabrics in your dryer, but they will need to be immediately hung up or folded to keep the wrinkles away. Other fabrics should not be dried in the dryer and will need to be kept in a safe area.

Fabrics, once they are dried will also need to be pressed. You can accomplish this task in your laundry room or in the sewing room. The size of the fabric will determine whether you can use an ironing board or will need a larger area like a table to press the fabric. You should use a non-stick pressing sheet when you press your fabrics. This should also be kept near your sewing machine in case you must make some touch ups to a piece of fabric that you are working on.

You should also have an area that is designated for cutting patterns. You can use a table and chair, but make sure that it is comfortable for you. The most important thing about your cutting area is that it is the correct height for you to work comfortably and it has adequate light. Use the same table that you use for pressing in your sewing room.

The assembly of your fabric items will need a special area as well. You will need a spot to sew together pieces of a quilt or making a counted cross-stitch piece. A spot that has a comfortable chair and a table for the pieces of your work works the best. The space should be well lit to reduce eyestrain when you are working on very small areas and a place to keep the tools that you will need.

When you have a well thought out workspace you will find that your work is much easier to accomplish. All of the tools that you will need will be close by and everything will be well organized. The work will proceed much more efficiently if your workspace is planned and thought out. It is worth the time and effort to create a workspace for your sewing hobby.



ESTEBAN

abhay.jan2009 asked:


Many people have hobbies. Retirees and housewives often have hobbies to help keep them occupied during moments of relaxation or boredom. But not many people realize that you can make money from most hobbies. By taking your hobbies and turning them into cash at flea markets and swap meets, you can easily earn a modest income while having fun.

Crocheting is one of the highest paying hobbies. Crochet thread is often inexpensive while still being durable, washable, and delicate in appearance. Crocheted table cloths, curtains, for more details visit to www.positive-idea.com and bedspreads can be completed within a month by most experts in the craft, and can be sold for hundreds of dollars depending on size and pattern.

Other home decoration hobbies like wreath making, basket weaving, or wood working can also be turned into easy income. Quilting is also a great hobby to make money from. Since fewer and fewer people know how to quilt, a hand made quilt is hard to come by, and therefore valuable. You can often make at least a fifty percent profit on your completed quilts. Baby quilts are also very popular.

Sewing and knitting of any kind can be very profitable hobbies. Knit sweaters, baby hats, booties, mittens, and other items can be big sellers at flea markets and swap meets. Clothing items can also be sold at these locations very easily. Well made home sewn clothing is often stronger than the cheap clothes that you can get at the local department store, but can be sold for the same price or for more details visit to www.profit-pulling-niches.com less while still earning the seamstress quite a bit of money. Wedding dresses, bridesmaid dresses, and prom dresses can be huge income earners for the expert seamstress.

One of the best hobbies to make money from is gift baskets. Decorating jars and other containers using appliqué, ribbons, and paint can be combined with the creative mixture of perfumes, bath oils, and bubble baths to make very pretty, country style gift baskets. These bath baskets are great for gifts all season round, including mother’s day, birthdays, and Christmas, making them a very profitable hobby.

Gardening is also one of the more profitable hobbies. If you like to garden but don’t really need everything you plant, you can take the left over to a farmer’s market. You can also simply set up a stand on the side of the road in some communities. Fresh produce is a great commodity, and can earn you a hefty income in the spring.

www.activities-little-fingers.com

www.arts-crafts-for-all.com





OTTO

saramah asked:


I have lots of fabric that would be good for quilting. I am having a garage sale and would like to sell quilting blocks of the material. As I am not a quilter I don’t know what the best size to sell the block in would be. Can you help?

NOAH

Empress ~of~Roam asked:


I started quilting over the summer, but my needles and quilt T pins are quite dull. Can they be sharpened? They were quite expensive to purchase and I’d **** to spend that extra money if they could somehow be revitalized.

GEOFFREY

Terry R asked:


I am making hearts decorations for a Vintage Christmas Tree. I want to tea stain the old quilting material that I will be using. Also need to know the best way to get the tea stain on the material..

BOOKER