The Easy Guide to Machine Quiltmaking

The Easy Guide to Machine Quilt Making Front Cover

Your complete patchwork and quilting primer with over 30 block designs.

The complete beginner’s guide to machine quiltmaking, from best-selling author and trusted teacher, Carolyn Forster.

Discover 1 classic quilt block worked 30 different ways, for a cohesive range of inspiring, beginner-friendly designs!

Carolyn has taught hundreds of beginners to quilt, and this book follows her tried-and-tested method for getting started. Using one classic block design (the Sawtooth Star), a multitude of inspiring techniques and a clever use of fabric, discover how to sew over 30 different star blocks with ease. Build up your skills as you go, and create a stunning and unique heirloom quilt to be proud of.

Skill-Building Structure As you work through the 30 blocks you’ll discover new patchwork techniques to build your skills gradually. From the simple Four Patch and Flying Geese units through to the stunning Split Quarter Square Triangles, you’ll cover core patchwork methods that are essential for making your first quilt, and all your future projects too.

Complete Quilting Guide Once you’ve made up your star blocks, discover how to put them together. There’s advice on different layout options and adding sashing, coping strips and posts, plus a complete guide to quilting, binding, labelling and more.

Mix and Match Designs All the blocks in the book are 12-inches (30-centimetres) square, so it’s easy to mix and match your favourites to create your own unique quilt. Plus, with just a few quick-to-learn sums, Carolyn shows you how to turn the blocks into any quilt size you like.

Carolyn’s friendly, tried-and-tested techniques make this the perfect beginner’s introduction to making quilts.

TO PURCHASE 
Ask at your local patchwork and quilting shop.

FOR DELIVERY TO THE UK
Search Press
Lady Sew & Sew
Amazon

FOR DELIVERY TO THE USA
Amazon

SIGNED COPIES
Available directly from Carolyn Forster

The Easy Guide to Machine Quilt Making Front Cover

Table of Contents

Click chapter headings to expand details

Introduction 6

  • Why l’ve chosen the blocks I have
  • How to use this book

Choosing a sewing machine 10

Tools for cutting and piecing 12

  • Basic sewing kit
  • Cutting tools
  • Piecing tools

Choosing fabrics 16

  • Will it ‘go together’?
  • Greyscale, and light and dark fabrics
  • Background fabric
  • How much fabric do I need?

Quilt sizes 27

Fabric grain 28

  • Key terms
  • Using fabric grain for piecing

Cutting fabric 30

  • Before you begin
  • Preparing the fabric for cutting
  • Trimming the fabric for cutting
  • Cutting for your quilt top
  • Sewing and pressing patchwork
  • Pinning Patchwork
  • Sewing patchwork
  • Pressing patchwork

How to read this chapter 44

  • Before you begin
  • Gallery of stars
  • Square Key

Unit 1: Flying Geese 46

  • Method 1: Stitch and Flip
  • Method 2: Four at a Time
  • Method 3: Three Separate Triangles
  • Star 01: Sawtooth Star
  • Star Variations 02-06: Basic Star
  • Star 07: Rising Star
  • Star 08: Imperfect Star

Unit 2: Checkerboard Patchwork 58

  • Sewing Separate Squares
  • Sew and Cut. Four-Patch
  • Sew and Cut: 16-Patch
  • Star 09: Four-Patch Star
  • Star Variations 11-13: Checkerboard Star

Unit 3: Half Square Triangle 68

  • Method 1: Sewing separate triangles
  • Method 2: Two at a Time
  • Method 3: Sewing with 3½in (9cm) squares
  • Star 14: HST Corners
  • Star 15: Checkered HST
  • Star 16: HST Pinwheel
  • Star 17: HST Broken Dishes
  • Star Variations 18-21: HST Star

Unit 4: Squares on Point 82

  • Method 1: Sewing Separate Shapes
  • Method 2: Stitch and Flip
  • Star 22: Star of Virginia
  • Star 23: Mosaic 19
  • Star variations 24-30: Square on Point Star

Unit 5: Split Quarter Square Triangle 94

  • Method 1: Sewing Separate Triangles
  • Method 2: Just Three Squares
  • Method 3: Four at a Time
  • Star 31: Martha Washington Star
  • Star Variations 32-34: SQST Star

Joining quilt blocks 102

  • Alternating-plain-squares setting
  • Hourglass / QST setting
  • On-point setting
  • Framing blocks
  • Sashing and posts

Adding borders 121

  • Fabric quantities
  • Sewing

Tools tor basting / tacking and quilting 124

  • Notions
  • Thread
  • Backing fabric
  • Batting / wadding

Lavering and basting / tacking 128

  • Holding the layers together
  • Hand basting / tacking
  • Safety-pin basting / tacking
  • Table-top basting / tacking

Machine quilting 136

  • Marking
  • Setting up for quilting
  • Straight-line quilting
  • In-the-ditch quilting
  • Free-motion quilting
  • Decorative stitches
  • Long-arm quilting
  • Fastening off and joining in thread

Binding your quilt 146

  • Choosing your fabrics
  • Preparing the quilt for binding
  • Make it or buy it?
  • Calculating binding
  • Making binding tape
  • Slip stitching
  • Binding methods

Labelling and aftercare 155

  • Laundering quits
  • Labelling your quilt

Quilt recipes 157

  • Paisley Quilt
  • Star Light, Star Bright Quilt
  • Hourglass Quilt
  • Sea Mist Quilt

Glossary 160