Speaking the Language of Quilting

As a new school year is about to begin, I am preparing my classroom for my 38^th year as a classroom teacher.  Teaching our young men and women has been, next to raising my own family, the most rewarding experience of my life.  Many of our students come into the classroom today speaking languages that are not only different than English, but though beautiful to hear cause the child great hardships in classroom.  Each needs to learn the basics of the language before the content can be mastered.

The same would be reflected in the quilter’s world.  If you come to the world of quilting as a sewer, many of the following terms will sounds familiar.   Sewing is not the basic class for quilting, so the following definitions will make it easier to understand the world of the quilter and the basics of the language that they speak.   I have started the beginning of the ABCs.  Here are some of most important vocabulary terms listed in alphabetical order and their definitions.

The ABCs of Quilting

Applique – The application of a different, smaller design made of one fabric onto a larger background fabric in order to create a decorate motif on a quilt.

Backing-   The bottom layer of the quilt.  This material can be plain to show the stitching or a “busy” patterned material so that you can hide the stitching.

Batt – A roll of fluffy material that is used as the middle layer between the top or design layer and the backing of a quilt.

Batting – The fluffy material that is used as the middle layer between the top or design layer and the backing of a quilt.  The words “batt” and “batts” are interchangeable.

Between – A quilting needle that is short and sturdy used for hand quilting of a quilt

Bias – A diagonal that is formed when lengthwise threads are placed parallel to crosswise threads   Binding – The method of finishing the edges of a quilted piece using a bias strip of material of a quilt.   Block – A section or portion of a quilt

Bunching – a time-consuming quilting procedure where rows of stitches are placed very close together to create a special effect of a quilt.

Butted border – In the process of creating smooth corners on quilt borders, this is a way to join border strip of material with vertical or horizontal seams.

Contour quilting – This process uses rows of stitches repeating the outline of the quilt design or pattern, such as in patchwork or appliqué. Each row is spaced the same distance apart.

Corded quilting – A cord is used to define the outline of a quilt design and  two rows of stitches are used to create a channel to define the cord and hold it in place.

Crazy quilt – This type of quilt consists of a combination of quilt appliqué and embroidery.  Irregular-shaped scrapes of material are sewn into larger piece defined as a row which can be formed into a type of collage-looking quilt.

Crosswise Grain – The threads of the fabric that run from selvage to selvage and at right angles to the lengthwise threads.

Oh yes, there are more quilt terms.  Check back on my blog to learn more of the basics of the language of quilting.

 Time to quilt.