Patterns  Do you know where a "Light in the Valley" quilt pattern can be obtained?

I did an online search, and I only found pre-made quilts with this name....

What's this block?  ANSWER
Hi, Peter.

I don't know the name of this particular quilt block. But it's similar to the "Square Deal" block.

Let's put it out there ...

What Size Should a Crib Quilt Be?  With the pattern I made, the blocks come out to be about 45 X 45. I haven't added any borders yet. Will it look funny if it is a square?
The finished ...

Sewing a King Size Quilt  Hi!
I'm fairly new to quilting and have made a few smaller sized projects. I would like to make a simple quilt for my king-sized bed, but I am unsure ...

Layering a Quilt  What is the best way to layer a quilt? I can never get all 3 layers to lay flat. I always end up with ripples or bunching. Are there any special tools ...

Starts and Stops  I showed a couple of wall hangings and the criticism on both of them was "Watch your starts and stops," even though I buried every thread there was. What ...

Photos on Fabric  Hello. I am looking for recommendations for the best product to make photos transfered on fabric colorfast. How do you keep them from fading after added ...

Quilt Squares  How do I figure out how many quilt squares I need for a king-size comforter? My sister wants me to do a quilt for my nephew that will be home from Iraq ...

Quilting Frames  What would be the best type of frame to use to quilt a king size quilt? I live in a rather small apartment, and have usually done lap quilting. But ...

Walking Foot  I am new to quilting. I need information whether to raise or lower feed dogs when using a walking foot. I am quilting a baby quilt with bears on it....

Quilting Frame  I am still a beginner quilter. I am in the process of making a quilt all by hand. But, I would also like to try by machine because it takes less time. My ...

Quilt Materials Question  I am trying to organize a quilt fundraiser for our primary school. We have 23 classrooms and I want each classroom to create their own quilt square. They ...

Quilt Batting for Hot Weather?  I am going to make a lap quilt for my daughter who lives in southern Arizona. How do I make this quilt so it will not be too warm to use?
ANSWER ...

Quilted Bag - Apple Core/Indian Hatchet Block  I have spent ages searching for a pattern for a bag (purse) using the apple core block (aka indian hatchet or spools). I want it to be closed at the top,...

Sewing Quilted Blocks Together  Hello. I've just made 12 blocks and have already quilted each one separately, using batting and muslin. What's the best way to sew these blocks together ...

Inaccurate Rotary Cutting   I LOVE YOUR SITE. I just found it. I have a problem with trying to rotary cut my squares. The ruler or Rotary cutter always slips. Do you have a technique ...

Colors Running on a Quilt  I prewash my fabric before I sew my quilts, so I was surprised to see that the color from the red fabric in the quilt I had on the back of my couch has ...

Paper Piecing  I am just about to start on my first project and can't wait to get going. But, I plan to sew by hand, not machine, and I'm confused about whether to use ...

Muslin for a Backing?  I am a newbie quilter, and I finally finished the top of my quilt. Now I'm looking for a backing. I noticed at Joanns that they have a 108" wide muslin ...

*Knots when quilting  I have finished the quilt top and have it pinned to the backing and batting and I am ready to start quilting. Question: What do you do with the thread ...

Quilt Block called Disappearing Nine Patch  I am looking for a quilt block pattern that is called Disappearing Nine Patch, and a picture if possible. An elderly lady used to have the pattern and ...

Sewing Diamonds Perfectly  Please give me a "tip" or "rule" to use when sewing diamonds together when making a star block. I have had to rip out the seam numerous times to get it ...

How to Wash a Quilted Blanket  Dear Gloria,
Thanks for your reply. I would like to wash my blanket in a commercial washer, but my biggest worry is shrinkage. Will the detergent you ...

Patchwork Block Quilt  I'm making a patchwork block quilt. Each square is three layers: Top, bottom and batting. Every other square is made from nine smaller squares for the ...

Marking Designs for Hand Quilting  I am doing hand quilting on my blocks and the fabric is light in color. I tried chalk, but couldn't see it. I have a quilter's gray pencil and used it ...

Fat Quarters Christmas Tree  I want to fold fat quarters into a Christmas tree shape. How would you do that? I saw it in a quilt shop, using 3 fat quarters for the top of the tree ...

Sewing Machine Brands  Hi! I was wondering which brand of sewing machine you prefer for machine quilting? I have signed up for a beginner's quilting class (which has not yet ...

Cutting Squares and Triangles  If you are using 5" squares on point, how big should the squares be if you are cutting them into triangles to fit with the 5" squares?
ANSWER
Triangles ...

Print a Picture on Material  How do I print a picture on material? I remember reading about printing a picture and using freezer paper to iron it on material. Am I remembering ...

Border for Baby Crib Quilt  I have 12 nursery blocks and I need to add two borders. I have two fabrics and I do not know how wide to make the borders to have it look even. I want ...

Quilting with a Serger  Gloria,
First let me thank you for this wonderful website. I have never quilted before but have always wanted to learn. I am just in the elementary ...

Prevent Fraying Fabric?  Help! I'm having trouble with fraying fabric. After I remove my fabric from the washer, it looks like a twisted, knotted rag! I trim off the tangled ...

Divide and Conquer Quilting   Explain divide and conquer quilting to me, please. ANSWER
The divide and conquer quilting method makes quilting a lot easier. Instead of quilting ...

Sewing Machines at a Quandry?  I feel like I'm buying a car. You can't get prices for what a sewing machine costs. I know it depends on the dealer. I have come down to two choices: Bernina ...

Hand Tied Quilt  Okay, I'm an absolute beginner. My husband's family has a tradition of using yarn to bind all of the layers of the quilt together instead of sewing a ...

Pressing Blocks  Is there a special way to press blocks? I was told to get help or I would stretch them? I am confused. ANSWER
If you press your blocks correctly,...

Dresden Plate   What size is the best to make and how much material is needed? ANSWER
The Dresden Plate is considered "challenging" to most beginners. I don't usually ...

Kids' Classroom Quilt  I work at a recreational park, and we host a number of summer/day camps for young children throughout the summer. This year, the girls and I thought it ...

Jelly Rolls  I have always wanted to know how to sew jelly rolls.
ANSWER
I love jelly rolls, because I can literally hold an entire fabric collection in ...

Adapting Stretchy Fabric?  I have been saving my son's t-shirts since he was small. They are mementos of family trips etc. I thought it would be cute to make them into a quilt,...

Charm Squares  Can you please give me the dimensions of a charm square?
ANSWER:
Sure. A charm square measures 5" x 5". These are great for making scrap quilts ...

Binding  What seam allowance do you use for binding?
ANSWER:
The standard seam allowance for binding is 1/4".

Why are My Squares Too Small?  I just sewed my first block. I followed the instructions which called for some solid 3-inch squares and then some of those squares laid right sides together ...

Crosswise Strips  Hello, my name is Melody and my sister purchased a kit for me as a gift. However one of the instructions in the kit was to cut crosswise strips.
I have ...

Signatures on a Quilt  My sister and I are making ny daughter and her new husband a signature quilt for a wedding present. We had all of the guests sign with Pigma pens. How ...

Muslin   I'm a new quilter and want to make a half square triangle quilt. One triangle would be a print and the other a solid. Would it be okay to use muslin ...

Bamboo / Cotton Batting  I have some 50% cotton 50% bamboo batting (needle punched), sandwiched between 100% cotton fabrics. How densely do I need to quilt it for a child's quilt ...

Non-Bias Binding  How important is it for the binding strips to be cut on the bias? Would you buy the same amount of fabric to make bias strips as you would for cross ...

Lengthwise Grain of Fabric  What makes the lengthwise grain of the fabric stronger than the crosswise grain?
ANSWER:
That's an excellent question! There's a few reasons ...

Jellyrolls  How many different fabrics are in a jelly roll?
ANSWER
That depends on the manufacturer. Usually jelly rolls contain 42 strips. In some jelly ...

Set a Color Paint  How do I go about purchasing the Set a Color Paint and book by Elin Noble by mail order?
ANSWER

You can order the book and paint set from the ...

Quilt Labels on the Computer  I like to make quilt labels on my Double Jet HP Printer - Love the way they look - but know they are not waterproof - is there a product you can buy to ...

Train Quilt Pattern  I'm looking for a train quilt pattern. My son loves trains, and I want to use this theme. Do you know where I might locate a locomotive quilt pattern?...

Strip Tube Ruler  To get an 8 1/2" block, the pattern instructions are to sew (2) 2 1/2" x 42" strips to a 3 1/2" x 42" strip. These strips are then sewn to an identical ...

Machine Quilting a Log Cabin  I'm making a King sized Log Cabin Quilt. I'll use Warm and Natural batting. How would you machine quilt it... and how far apart?
ANSWER
Since ...

Generic Walking Foot for a Bernina  Where can I find a generic walking foot for a Bernina 930?
ANSWER
I found a generic walking foot for a Bernina at AllBrands. But, it was easier ...

Quilt Binding Instructions  I've seen quilt binding instructions on the web. But I'm still confused about the details. It seems so complicated. Can you help?
ANSWER
Quilt ...

What are these Blocks?  Hi Gloria:

Hope you can help. My friend in tour guild Barbara Bodnar says you helped her with log cabin fabric requirements.

Attached are 2 pics ...

Strip Piecing  I just discovered your site and it is a wonderful resource; thank you. I do all my piecing and quilting by hand and am wondering if there is any reason ...

Stitching in the Ditch  Hi. I am having trouble stitching in the ditch. I am starting in the middle of my quilt, and it seems like I have way to much fabric. It is bunching up ...

Trees  What is the easiest way to make trees for a block? I do not have a triangle ruler.
ANSWER
Ida, you don't have to use a ruler to make trees....

Quilting Whole Cloth Quilts  My question is when you hand stitch a whole cloth quilt how many stitches should you stitch per inch?
ANSWER
Quilting whole cloth quilts has ...

French-fold Binding  I am new to this quilting, and have managed to put the layers together. It's now the border that's causing me a problem. In the magazines Ive looked at,...

What is Sashing?  What does the quilting term "sashing" mean?
ANSWER
Sashing strips, also known as lattice strips, are used to separate quilt blocks. Here's how ...

How Many Squares?  How many 22" X 22" squares can I get out of a yard of fabric?
ANSWER
If your fabric width is 45"-46" wide, you can cut (TWO) 22" x 22" squares....

How to use Do-Sew  I did a quilt block "Mending the Broken Heart" with Do-Sew and at a recent Expo and I am now not able to find the directions. I remember cutting the heart ...

12-Inch Card Trick Block  I am making a card trick block. I can't seem to get the measurements right for a 12-inch square. Could you help me?
ANSWER
Here's the directions ...

Sashing for a Quilt  My quilt blocks are 18-inch squares. If I put a 4-inch sash around these blocks and stitch in the ditch, do I need to quilt the sash areas?
ANSWER ...

Should I Cut Off Selvages?  Should I cut or tear off the selvage or leave it on for quilting pieces?
ANSWER
When you're cutting strips along lengthwise grain, you should ...

Selvage  I know about cutting your fabric on the selvage. Once it's cut, do I need to worry how my squares are turned to sew together?
ANSWER
You don'...

Prewash My Fabric?  Is it necessary to prewash my fabric?
ANSWER
The debate about whether to prewash your fabric is still going on. Some quilters do it; some ...

Backing Yardage Amount  How much 44" backing fabric do I need for a finished 44" x 53" quilt? Believe it or not the instructions did not include the backing yardage amount. Thank ...

How Many Blocks for Full Size Quilt?  How many blocks does it take to make a full size quilt(four patch)?
ANSWER
The number of blocks depends on the size of your finished blocks ...

Birthing a Quilt  Do you have to use batting to complete a quilt, or can you just birth a quilt without batting?
ANSWER
A traditional quilt consists of three layers,...

Quilting  Do you put the border on before you quilt the quilt?
ANSWER
If you're going to add quilt borders, do it BEFORE you start quilting. You can start ...

Invisible Thread Use  Can I use invisible thread on both the top and bottom of my quilt?
ANSWER
I wouldn't recommend using invisible thread (monofilament thread) on ...

Fusible Web  What is the best type of fusible web to use appliquéing on quilts? I have tried Steam a Seam, now using Misty Fuse. Have you had experience with either ...

Prewashing Fabric  I am making a quilt using pre-cut jelly roll strips, but I had to buy some yardage of some cream-colored cotton to piece between the jelly roll fabric....

Twill Fabric  I have a pattern that calls for Twills - What is a Twill?
ANSWER
Twills are fabrics that have diagonally woven weaves. Tweed, serge, denim, chino,...

Needle Comes Unthreaded  I have a Baby Lock Model BLQP. I'm working on my second queen-sized quilt using the free-motion foot. Today I'm very frustrated. I was told to(and have ...

Even Feed Foot?  I am making a patchwork quilt with very low level batting. Can I use the regular walking foot to "stitch-in-the-ditch", or should I purchase an even feed ...

Diamond Square Quilt Block  I need the measurements for a 6-inch diamond square quilt block, including seam. What are the dimensions for the middle square? What are the dimensions ...

Lengthwise Rotary Cutting  You recommend in several of your answers to cut fabric lengthwise. I understand the concept but I have no idea how to do it. I have only cut crosswise ...

Hand Quilting  Gloria, I have just finished redoing 2 quilts (older ones that I had been given years ago) and completed both with hand stitching. As we spend a few months ...

Quilting Supplies  What do I need to start quilting? No one seems to know. We need to get the basics. We are starting a class in our community of Gitsegukla for ladies and ...

Nine Patch Quilt  How much fabric would I need to make a full-sized nine patch? Is there somewhere I could get a pattern (preferably free)?
ANSWER
Nine Patch quilt ...

Charges for Making a Quilt  How do you determine the amount to charge per hour for putting a quilt together?
ANSWER
There are three main considerations in determining how ...

Preventing Bleeding Fabric  I have just finished a queen size rose album quilt that needs to be washed since I have handled it so much. My problem is that there is a burgundy fabric ...

Card Tricks Quilt  I wish to make a King size quilt using this pattern. Could you help me with the amount of material required? Thanks.
ANSWER
In order to give ...

Prewashing Flannel  I am planning on making a flannel rag quilt blanket, well comforter, and I have read on the directions that you should NOT prewash the flannel first.
I ...

Disappearing Ink Marker  I used a disappearing ink marker to mark my quilting pattern on my quilt top. After quilting, I sprayed the quilt top with water. Some of the quilt markings ...

Sashing Strips  I am making a quilt from my mom's clothes. I cut hearts from her clothing and put them on 8" squares. I want to do sashing around each square. How wide ...

Darning Foot  I received my darning foot today from the White Sewing Co. The back says something about a spring, but the contents inside do not have a spring. There ...

Table Runner Backing  I am a newbie. When making table runners, what is the easiest way to cut the backing so its big enough?
Do I lay the top on the material right sides ...

New Quilter  Many years ago I saw a pattern for making your own quilt using a sewing machine. I vowed that one day I will make my own! Can't remember where the pattern ...

Quilting Blocks  I have a question. How many 9-1/2 blocks do I need to make for a queen quilt? I want to make the Friendship quilt block pattern or Path and Stiles blocks....

First Quilt Square?  I have decided to jump into the quilting world but I don't know which pattern I should start with. Do you have any suggestions?
ANSWER
There are ...

Bearding  Help. I purchased alpaca needle punched batting. Not supposed to beard, but it did! I have over 100 hours in this quilt.
Is there anything I can do ...

Reasonable Starting Size  Hi, Gloria. I know a lot about sewing, so I've got that down pat. However, I have always wanted to make a quilt. What would be a reasonable size to ...

Cutting Fabric Wrong  A friend of mine said she would teach me how to make a quilt so she showed me the "basics" and gave me a mystery quilt to cut out and make. I have cut ...

Quilt Tops  Hi, I just found this site and have been reading FAQ's. I am new to quilting. I see a lot of quilt tops on Ebay for sale. So, my question is how do you ...

Hand Quilting  I love to hand quilt. But, I hate to piece together the material (whether by machine or hand) to get to the point where I can hand quilt. Can I get ...

Thread Tension for Quilting  I want to free motion quilt a cream colored area with cream colored thread on top and blue in the bobbin to match the backing. Will that work? On my ...

Quilt Topper  I bought a magazine regarding a quilt topper and all the instructions and all the steps. I am a beginner and would like to understand what is a quilt ...

Darning Foot  I am trying to attach my darning foot, but it will not stay in place. I followed the directions carefully. It seems to spring off. It is a brother XL ...

Hand Quilting  What's the minimum space to have between the lines for hand quilting?
ANSWER
Jeannette, the spacing of your quilting lines depends on several ...

Websites or Books
on Crazy Quilting?  Of course, like so many others, I am new to quilting. I would like to try making a crazy quilt. Do you have any suggestions for reference material or ...

Wavy Flag Pattern  I am attempting to sew a quilt top replicating the American flag. The quilt I am fashioning has "wavy" stripes, so that it looks as if it is moving. I ...

Machine Quilting  I have my quilt sandwich safety pinned and I want to start machine quilting. I know that I start from the middle and work out. Am I supposed to remove ...

Thank You  Your site is great and I really appreciate your being so detailed and helpful. Thank you!

Appropriate Bias Tape Widths  I am just finishing up my first simple quilt. The measurements are
86" x 86" and I'm wondering which width double fold bias tape to use. I know I can ...

Curved Foundation Piecing Book  A couple of years ago, one of my quilting magazines had a review of a book specifically about foundation piecing curved shapes. I requested it from my ...

Charm Squares  What is the measurements of a charm square?

ANSWER
Charm squares usually measure between 2" and 6" square. They're popular for making small ...

Printing on Fabric  How do I print onto fabric with a printer?
ANSWER
Here's a few books that show you how to print on fabric. Thanks for your question.
Photo ...

Cutting Borders on
the Lengthwise Grain  What a wonderful site this is. So many interesting questions. You have already answered many of mine. I am making a quilt that has a border with a one-...

Quilt Sashing  Hi, Gloria! Thanks again for your wonderful site.
I wanted to ask you about quilt sashing guidelines for a large quilt. Should you cut the strips the ...

Stitching Quilt Layers Together  I have a Brother machine. How can I stitch through all thicknesses without material bunching up on top?
ANSWER
No matter what brand of machine ...

Width of Fabric  Dear Gloria,
I am a very new quilter. In fact I haven't sewn my first block or even cut it out. I have a lot of questions but my first question is, what ...

Using a Walking Foot  I am new to quilting, but have a passion for it. Yesterday I bought a walking foot thinking it would prevent my fabric from pleating at the end. However,...

Converting Fat Quarters to Yardage  Dear Gloria, this site is wonderful!!!!!!!
I am new to quilting and would like to use a pattern that calls for fat quarters. I want to convert the fat ...

Cut on Point  What is cut on point?
ANSWER
Some quilts are sewn "on-point" rather than in straight rows. Blocks sewn "on-point" need corner triangles to ...

Joining Blocks  I am working on a quilt consisting of 16" blocks. My problem seems to be keeping the blocks straight. There is no sashing between the blocks. Is there ...

Cutting the Fabric Appropriately  In which direction do I cut the fabric - with the writing on the right side of the folded cloth? I am very confused.
ANSWER
Here's a link to ...

New Quilter  Hello,
I found your web-site yesterday and would like to make my first quilt. Thanks for such a great detail for beginners.
My best friend has 3 daughters,...

Measuring for Quilt Back  I know how to measure for quilt backs using 42-inch wide fabric. How do I calculate fabric for a back when the backing fabric is 108 inches wide? Thank ...

Converting Twin Directions to Queen Directions  The pattern I have is for a twin size quilt and I want to make it a queen size. How do I convert the yardage needed for a queen size.
ANSWER
Since ...

Stitching  Do you backstitch? What size stitch is best to use?
ANSWER
I don't backstitch when I sew my quilt blocks together. That's because my seams intersect ...

1st Machine Quilting Project  Thanks so much for your website! I have a question. I made the sample quilt following all the instructions. I ironed, taped, and safety pinned all the ...

What is the Name of this Block?  What is this block? It is pieced like Dutchman's puzzle but the center blocks have the sky fabric the same as the geese in the outer blocks. Making sort ...

Using a Walking Foot and Uneven Stitches  Hi Gloria.
I'm not a novice quilter, but I'm not sure exactly how to use the "bar" that came with my "walking foot." Does it go on the left or right ...

Utility Quilting  At a quilting class, the instructor told us to "utility quilt" the large center part of a table runner. Can you give me some more information about this ...

Thread Knots  Gloria, Thank you for your answer but I forgot to tell you I wanted to hand quilt my top not use the machine.How do you hide the knots so they won't show?...

Rod Pocket for Wall Hanging  I am making a stained glass wallhanging and need to make and attach a rod pocket onto the back of it. I don't know how long and how wide to make the pocket?...

Ironing a Quilt  Before sewing the binding around my mini wall quilt, I ironed out the creases in the fabric. I noticed that it flattened some of the batting so most ...

Hexagonal Paper Piecing  Dear Gloria,
I am interested in making a quilt by cutting hexagonal shapes and piecing them together. I am not sure if it is called paper piecing.
Also ...

Circle Centerpiece  My quilt had 24 wedges sewn together which leaves a 2-inch center. I need an easy way to sew the center piece so the edge of the circle has a finished ...

Quilting with Machine  when I am quilting all three layers together on a quilt, the fabric on the back always seems to somewhat gather. I have tried every setting on my machine ...

Thread Color  I am making a Rainbow color quilt. It has 5" blocks of various individual colors (i.e. red/blue/yellow/etc.) What color thread should I use?? Thank You....

Flying Geese Units  I have yet, in the past 7 years of quilting, (and I consider myself a pretty accurate piecer) been able to master making a star block, which uses flying ...

Quilt Sizes  What do you consider the quilt sizes to be for a Twin, Full, Queen and King?
ANSWER
Standard quilt sizes vary, depending on which quilt chart ...

Rag Quilt Sizes  How many 5-inch squares does it take to make a twin size bed rag quilt. Also how many 5-inch squares does it take to make a full-size bed rag quilt? Thank ...

Cutting  Hi Gloria. I love your website, I think it will help me a lot with my new adventure in quilting. I have sewn before but I feel so dumb about cutting quilting ...

Lengthwise or Crosswise Sashing and Border  Having lots of small pieces of fabric I decided to make some quilts for a homeless shelter. I have finished two tops and am pleased with them. Now I am ...

Fat Quarters Christmas Tree  Did anyone ever get back to you about how to fold 4 fat quarters into a Christmas tree? I, too, saw it at a quilt shop but the owner would not divulge ...

First Quilt  Hi. I live in Auckland, NZ. I have just taken up quilt and patchwork classes, and I am on my 4th week. It runs for 6 weeks, but I just wish it would last ...

Storing Quilts in Plastic  I was wondering about storing quilts in those space bags advertised on TV, the ones where you suck all the air out after zipping them closed?
ANSWER ...

Fussy Cutting  Please tell me what in Heaven "Fussy Cutting" is? I would appreciate it so very much.
ANSWER
Fussy cutting means you select and cut out a specific ...

Dry Cleaning a Quilted Blanket  I just finished a patchwork quilted blanket that has flowers with petals all over. As I made the mistake of only prewashing some of the fabric on this ...

Card Trick Block  I am looking for the instructions for making the block called card tricks.
ANSWER
Here you go! I'm including two card trick block patterns. The ...

Making a Rag Quilt  How do I get a straight edge for my squares, and what is the easiest method for cutting 5x5 squares?
ANSWER
When you're making a rag quilt, use ...

Bad Odor in an Old Quilt  We retrieved an old quilt from a basement where it had been stored for many years. The house had been abandoned and was very trashy and smelled terribly....

Hand Quilting - The Backside Stitching  I recently completed a Sunbonnet Sue quilt and was quite happy with the results. When I first started the quilt, my stitches were 9 per inch. As I continued,...

What is a String Quilt?  I heard the term "string quilt" the other day? I don't have a clue what a string quilt is. Could you please give me more information? I'm intrigued. Thank ...

Pressing Seams  I am a beginner and am working on the 3'rd block of the sampler (the 4 patch block). I'm confused about pressing the seam on this block.
The first two ...

Fair and Square Quilt Block
(4 1/2" Square)  I have a patterned piece of material that I need to cut to 4 1/2" so that the pattern will show. What size do I cut the side pieces and the little squares ...

Quilt Pattern Name  Is there such a name for a quilt as Chickadee pattern? I have seen a pretty hand sewn pattern that appeared to be gathered up almost like a circle. Then ...

Quilting Flannel  Is there a difference in flannel and quilting flannel? I have a project that I am getting ready to start and it wants fat quarter flannels. I am a beginner ...

Material Puckers  I sewed together the log cabin block from your beginner quilt lesson, and some of my material is puckering. Is it the way I am pressing the fabric? Or,...

Strip Quilt Challenge (Rail Fence)  I've been given this challenge using 40 - 2 1/2" strips of fabric and doing the rail fence. I have only learned how to make coasters thus far.
My mentor ...

Right Side Up for Batting?  Is there such a thing as the "right side up" for batting? If so could you explain please?
ANSWER
Both sides of your batting have the same finish....

Quarter Square Triangles  I am trying to make a quilt and I am new at quilting. But it said it was for beginner. It starts with a nine patch which I square up to 9 1/2. Then on ...

Sewing Pre-Quilted Blocks  I was given 18" square blocks already outline quilted. They are all "sandwiched" with top, batting and bottoms. I would like to set them together with ...

Quilt from T-shirts  I want to make a quilt using front pieces from my late partners t-shirts, many of which are printed. How do I stabilize the fabrics so they won't stretch ...

Sewing Blocks Together  I have completed my blocks and now need to put them together to make the quilt. I know you have to arrange them first. But then what is the easiest way ...

Quilt Binding  Are the instructions in your sampler quilt for binding a general rule of thumb for all sized quilts or does the binding need to be wider for larger quilts?...

Baby Comforter  I have some cute baby fabric and I wanted to just make a comforter instead of a quilt. Do you have instructions for something like that?
ANSWER ...

Walking Foot vs. Applique or Darning Foot  I'm a new quilter and just found your site today. This is a wonderful resource with so much helpful information. Is the walking foot to be used only for ...

How Much Fabric to Buy  Can you help me figure out how much fabric I will need to make a queen size quilt using your pinwheel block pattern? I love your your website. I am a ...

Basic Sewing  So basically you piece together your top piece, then sew it onto top batting which is on top of bottom sheet by sewing in the ditch along all the seams ...

Baby Clothes & Blankets  I have saved all my grandaughter's receiving blankets and infant clothes in the hopes of making a quilt for her.
I have a lot of sewing knowledge, but ...

Backing Material  I am confused on which backing material to buy for the backing, or what is normally used. I keep seeing the muslin material on sale, and there is a lot ...

Bias Tape  How much bias tape can you get out of 1 yard of material if you are cutting 2 inch strips? Is there a formula for figuring this?
ANSWER
When ...

Quilt Binding  I am getting ready to put the binding on my quilt. I have read your lesson on binding. I am confused on the raw edge on the back. How do I not have one?...

Quilt Size  What size is a queen size quilt?
ANSWER
Depending on which source you consult, a queen size quilt measures between 88"-90" wide by 90"-108"...

Sampler Quilt - Making Quilt Blocks Larger  I like the idea of increasing the sampler quilt blocks to 12". Could you give us the cutting and yardage charts to make the sampler in yellow, blue and ...

Fabric Crayons for Coloring Fabric  A friend told me of coloring fabric with Crayola crayons, somehow setting it in the fabric to make a quilt. Do you know of this technique?
ANSWER ...

Quilting Fabric  I am familiar with cotton quilts, but a friend of mine recently went to an auction and bought a quilt called an "Amish Broken Star." But it was made out ...

Fabric Yardage for Sampler Quilt  Dear Gloria, I admire and appreciate the beautiful, clear instructions you share with us. I can't find the page where you tell us how much fabric to buy,...

Triangle Points  I know how to put two squares together, draw a diagonal line from point to point, then two lines down each side 1/4", then sew the lines and finally cut ...

Triangles  For a 10 1/2" finished block, what size do I cut triangles for half square and quarter triangles?
ANSWER
How many patches are in your blocks?...

Basting a Large Quilt  Why, oh why do I have such a terrible time putting my queen-sized quilt layers together? I try to get down on hands and knees to baste it, but after doing ...

Creativity, Patience, Vision, and Love, but No Skills  I want to make a quilt of sorts for my niece, but I don't know how. This is my plan/vision and my hope is that perhaps with your expertise you could give ...

Batting for Machine Quilting  I am a beginning quilter. I do not like hand quilting at all as it seems to be very difficult for me to get small enough stitches. So I would rather machine ...

Thread  I am unsure of what type of thread to purchase when quilting with 100% cotton. I really don't know what colour of thread I would buy when there may be ...

Quilt Borders  Hi! I have made my 6 1/2 inch squares. I want to put individual borders on each square. What is the best way to do this?
ANSWER
You would use ...

Quilt Wall Hanging  I am on a committee that is establishing guidelines for our next quilt show, and we are trying to come up with an average size of a wall hanging.
We ...

Quilt Backing Yardage  What are the approximate yardages of fabric for backing for twin size, full size, queen size and king size quilt? I know there is a general yardage figure ...

Hand Quilting  What is the best way to tie off a length of thread when hand quilting?
ANSWER
I use the following technique to tie off stitches when I'm hand ...

Finishing My Quilt  Hi Gloria,
Could you please tell me the best way to finish my first quilt? I have the binding on and am working on hand sewing the binding to the back ...

Cutting Backing   What would be the best way to cut backing for a king size quilt (84"by l08")?It will be machine quilted and the backing needs to be 6-8 inches larger than ...

Quilt Edging  I am using 1" edging for my quilt (store bought). I have ripped it out at least 6 times because it keeps becoming what I describe as twisted as I sew. How ...

Sewing Hexagons and Triangles Together  Hi Gloria. In what order should I sew six square triangles to a central hexagon in order to obtain in the end a bigger hexagonal block (see picture)? I ...

Quilt Design  I want to make a Quilt with a 2 block design. A 12" Sawtooth Block, and a 12" Snow Ball Block. I want to alternate the blocks and separate them with a ...

Choosing the Right Batting  How do you pick your batting? I've made several (simple) quilts/blankets for my grandson and I'm never sure how to pick out the right batting. Thank you....

Size of Wallhanging  What are the typical sizes of wall hanging quilts?
ANSWER
If you can hang your quilt on the wall, you can call it a wall hanging. Wall hanging ...

Embroidered Patches   I have been collecting embroidered patches for over 30 years. I would like to make a patchwork quilt with them. I have never made a quilt or known anyone ...

Converting Quilt Measurments to Different Sizes  I have a magazine, American Patchwork & Quilting by Better Homes and Gardens, and it is the August issue. On the cover is this beautiful coral colored ...

Quilt Block Names  Browsing newsletters online, I glimpsed a block called "Unity." Also, there was another one called "Disappearing Nine Patch."
Do you have any idea where ...

Bamboo Quilt Batting  I have read a little about bamboo quilt batting. I find bamboo only combined with cotton. I have not found anyone yet that has tried it. Is it as warm ...

Quilting Foot   I was wondering which quilting foot on the sewing machine would be better to use. I have a darning foot I purchased and then the 1/4" foot. I read that ...

Morning Star Quilt Sashing Strips  I have a block that is 6 1/2 ". I know that sash needs to be one third, making the block 8" not the divisible by 3. What do I do? ANSWER
When figuring ...

Odor in Cotton Quilt  My quilt has an odor that I cannot distinguish. I washed it 3 or 4 times. I used baking soda and soap, but odor is still there. The quilt is okay in every ...

Best Quilting Magazines for Beginners?  I'm wondering which quilting magazines are best for beginners? I'm looking for ones that contain easy projects. I also want to learn new things about quilting....

Cutting Sashing  Do you cut sashing lengthwise or crosswise or does it matter? ANSWER
It's best to cut your strips on the lengthwise grain. The lengthwise grain,...

Pinwheel Block   I have all the pinwheels done. Now, what is the secret to having the center, where 8 fabrics and 4 seams all come together? What's the secret to them ...

Prewashing Fabric  I have washed several blue print 100% fabrics in Woolite. The water is still a light blue. What can I use to set the color in these quilt pieces so they ...

Dog Ears  I am new to quilting and have a lot to learn. On your show you mention saving the dog ears. What are they saved for? Thanking you in advance for your help....

Backing and Border in One?  Hi Gloria. I have followed your instructions and am now up to putting the 3 layers together. I have enough fabric to make the backing in one piece and ...

What is Fusible Batting?  I've heard a lot of talk about something called fusible batting. I don't know a thing about it. What is it? Can beginners use it? Is it expensive? Please ...

Strip Quilt Cutting of Quarter Square Triangles  Is it possible to strip quilt quarter square triangles? I am an real beginner, but of course I chose a pattern that uses quarter triangles. It is a patriotic ...

Quilts using Neckties and Old Shirts  I have several old neckties and a bag of dress shirts. I want to make a quilt using these. How do I get started? Any help would be appreciated.
ANSWER ...

Batting  Is it best to take the batting out of the package to let it breathe? If so, how long do I need to do this?
ANSWER
The simplest way to handle ...

Quilt Top Measurement after Sashing has been Added  At the end of the lesson for adding sashing, it is indicated that the quilt top should measure approximately 16 1/2" X 24".
Taking into consideration ...

Warmth of Quilts  I am planning to make a whole cloth quilt for myself. I get very warm when I sleep. I want to get a bat which is easy to work with and not too warm. Wool ...

Machine Quilting Queen Size  This site has great ideas to upgrade my old knowledge. Thanks a bunch! I was quilting 30 years ago, and I am just returning to the hobby. Quilting the ...

Quilting the Layers Together  This is my first quilting project, so please forgive my lack of knowledge. :) In your directions on quilting the layers together, you show which direction ...

Mitered Border  How do I make a mitered border? ANSWER
A mitered border gives your quilt a clean, professional look. But, I must warn you. Mitered borders are more ...

Family Tree Quilt  Can you please tell me how to make a family tree quilt? Show me a diagram on how to start. Thanks. ANSWER
There's more than one way to make a family ...

Difference Between Patchwork and Quilting?  I'm confused. What's the difference between patchwork and quilting? I thought they were the same thing. But, I've been told they're not. Can you clarify ...

Quilt Backing  Is it okay to make a quilt top and use it for a quilt backing? I worry that when I'm quilting the quilt on a machine, the quilt backing may not be strong ...

Prewashing Quilting Fabric  Why prewash?
ANSWER
It's really a matter of personal choice. Please read my Prewashing chapter for pros and cons of prewashing fabric.

Star Cornerstones  I would like to make the cornerstones on my quilt to be stars. Is there a formula for what size square to sew to the corner of a strip. I want to make ...

Batting  What do you do if your batting is not wide enough for your quilt top? Can the batting be pieced together to fit?
If this is possible, how do you do this?...

Quilting Lessons  I am trying to make the quilt. The first two quilting lessons seem easy, because I can follow the diagrams. However, the other lessons don't have diagrams....

Quilt Size  Years ago, a member of my husband's family gave me a number of hand-sewn, embroidered Sunbonnet Sue blocks. I put them away for about 30 years and found ...

Hand Quilting  How far apart, or what size should hand quilting stitches be? My first attempt isn't very regular, and I find it hard to do the rocking stitch thing. I ...

Old Bernina  I've just started quilting and finished my first by hand (cot size). But, now I have inherited my mother's old (as in 40 years old!!!) Bernina. It's ...

Pinwheel Quilt  I want to make a king size Pinwheel quilt. Can I make 12-inch blocks? Would the original strips be 8" x 16"? ANSWER
Yes, you can make 12-inch Pinwheel ...

Sewing Machine  I am just reading the information. I have always wanted to learn to quilt. My question is do I have to get a quilting sewing machine or can I start with ...

Cutting Things the Right Size  I am ready to give up, and I have not even sewn anything yet. How in the world do you make sure you have a perfect rectangle?
I cut things and they end ...

What to Do with 4-Inch Quilt Blocks?   I just ordered a bunch of 4-inch quilt blocks from Ebay. They are all kinds of purple. I want to make them into a quilt for a friend.
However, I am ...

Size of Fat Quarter?  How big is a fat quarter? ANSWER
A fat quarter usually measures 18" x 22". If you took a half yard of fabric (18" x 44") and cut it in half again ...

Using Clothing for Part of Quilt (Memory Quilt)  My sister just passed away and I would like to make a quilt for her 11 year old daughter with some of her favorite clothes as part of the quilt pieces....

Dresden Plate Photo  Well here is my attempt at a Dresden Plate. I used an 8" template and a background fabric of 21" square. ANSWER
Great job, Miriam! Your Dresden Plate ...

Beginner Hand Sewing  Do you have any recommendations on books or websites about beginner hand sewing? ANSWER
Since this is a quilting site, I wasn't sure if you wanted ...

Sewing Machine  What sewing machine can I use for quilting? ANSWER
Thanks for the photo. You're a very pretty lady. It's nice being able to see who I'm writing ...

Quilting Business  I'm a 46 year old single mom of a college student. I work full time, but need to earn extra money and enjoyed sewing when I was in high school. I would ...

Quilting Fabric   I've bought almost all my quilting fabric online from quilt shops. Two of them sold off-grain and over-printed fabrics. One was labeled Hoffman and the ...

Frog Quilt Pattern?  In your "About Me" photo, you are holding a beautiful quilt. Is the quilt pattern still available? If so, please let me know how to get it. I would very ...

Templates  I have a Better Homes and Gardens 501 Quilt Blocks book with lots of blocks I would like to try. However, the template pieces are tiny and do not include ...

Making Quilt Blocks Larger  I would like directions for 12" blocks instead of 6". These would be for the Fair & Square, Rail Fence, Log Cabin, Four Patch, Flying Geese and Pinwheel....

Seam Allowance  Do you add 1/4" seam allowance to the measurements before you cut? Or do you cut to the measurements and sew 1/4" toward the edge? My first block was short ...