How to sew quilt fabric

Learn how to Twill Fabric and add beautiful bespoke details to your products and garments. Quilting can be a wonderful way to update an item and take your sewing projects to the next level.Start by thinking about the fabric you wish to quilt, this will depend on the project you are working on. It is possible to quilt a large variety of fabrics, such as cotton, poly cotton, upholstery, denim, wax cotton, leather, suede the list is truly endless.Depending on the fabric you choose you will also need to make a decision as to whether you require wadding batting? Or whether you simply plan to quilt the fabric as a single layer? If the fabric is lightweight you may need support from interfacing or another fabric such as calico, lining, exterior fabric?

Think about what you want to achieve, the look you have planned for your garment or product and how much support your fabric needs. Test scraps of your fabric with different backings before you start, this should help with the decision making process; which option looks and performs the best.We recommend that you quilt your fabric BEFORE cutting it out in your desired pattern or shape. Quilting can shrink fabric and can be fiddly if you are quilting a small area. Therefore it is always best practise to quilt an area of fabric large enough for your pattern, plus a bit extra for shrinkage. Cut out a piece of fabric ready.Start by drawing quilting lines onto the RIGHT side of the fabric you wish to quilt.

Using a removable pen or chalk, test this pen before use to check that it can be removed and will not damage the fabric you are working with.We prefer to start drawing the quilting lines with a 45 degree angle, however you are welcome to start the lines where you desire you do not have to work with a diagonal angle, you are welcome to quilt straight lines up and across the length of fabric. To achieve a 45 degree angle, position the ruler diagonally along the top edge of the fabric. Your ruler may have a 45 degree marking that you can work from, alternatively if you are working with a ruler similar to ours, simply position the diagonal lines of the inch centimetre markings onto the top edge of the fabric, make sure the diagonal line of the inch centimetre is straight along the fabric.It is also important to consider the size of the quiltings lines you desire.

This is again a function and design decision, think about the look you want and the function of the item. Quilting lines closer together will provide more structure than those further apart.Generally speaking the smallest quilting lines we use are, and the largest we commonly use are. However we have completed larger quilting lines for large projects, such as tote bags and garments.Draw the next quilting line the chosen distance from the first line, onto the fabric. Use a ruler to measure this, the ruler we are working with in the images will allow you to line up the previously drawn line with the measurements on the ruler. This will provide a quick and easy method to draw lines the desired distance apart.To complete quilting lines in the opposite direction position the ruler so that the measurement markings on the ruler are parallel to the original lines. Ideally you want to draw squares with the quilting lines it doesn’t matter where you begin on the fabric.