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Quilting

Instruction

Instruction Article

Traditional quilting involves a process that has four steps: piecing, layering, quilting, and binding. Piecing is the sewing of the quilt top, which is composed of small pieces of cloth arranged in a pattern. A unit of the pattern is called a block. These blocks are sewn together, either edge to edge, or with separator strips of cloth called sashing. In some quilts, a whole piece of cloth is used for the top layer, so piecing is not done. Layering places the quilt's backing, batting, and top in place. Quilting involves attaching the three layers together as well as adding decorative elements. Binding completes the quilt by finishing the edges with a trim of fabric. Sometimes borders are added before the binding is done.

Quilting is usually done starting from the middle, going out to the edges. Most frequently, quilting is done along seam lines (i.e., stitching in the ditch).

Quilting can be done over a simple geometric grid or using more complex designs such as tessellations. The gridwork of stitches traps air in the material, making it much warmer than a single layer of fabric would be, or even the layers separately.

Quilting can also be used as a form of elaborate decoration, where the stitching creates complex designs and patterns, with or without the use of color. Many draw the design they plan to quilt on the quilt top before stitching, while others stitch "freehand".

While the majority of quilt tops are pieced (patchwork quilt), elaborate quilting can be done on a top layer composed of only a single piece of fabric (whole cloth quilt). Chintz, sateen and other shiny fabrics are often used for the top layer since these enhance the intricacy of detailed quilting.

Quilting is very often combined with embroidery, patchwork, appliqu� and other forms of needlework.