Quilting For Dummies

Quilting is a fun hobby — but where do you begin? Get the know-how you need to create beautiful quilts and decorative quilted items  If you’re interested in taking up quilting as a hobby or simply looking for new project ideas, Quilting For Dummies is for you. From selecting fabrics and designing a quilt to stitching by hand or machine, this friendly guide shows you how to put all the pieces together — and create a wide variety of quilted keepsakes for your home.   You may think you need some sewing experience before you can start cutting and piecing, but that’s simply not the case. You can use this book even if your sewing expertise stops after threading a needle. Quilting For Dummies starts at the beginning, helping you to gather the right quilting tools, fabrics, and thread. From there, you’ll design your quilts and sharpen your sewing skills. Finally, you’ll see how to piece your quilt together and add all the finishing touches.   The book contains illustrated examples, step-by-step instructions, plenty of projects and patterns, plus helpful advice on  Performing simple stitching maneuvers   Selecting the right quilting fabrics and threads  Creating new templates to produce original patterns  Designing your masterpiece  Learning new sewing techniques and quilting fundamentals  Making sense of quilting software  Saving time with rotary cutters and other cool tools  Quilting by hand or machine  Getting creative with applique  Choosing new sewing machines and materials  Quilting For Dummies also features more than a dozen  patterns for projects to get you started and information on quilting software and internet resources. Discover quilting timesavers, ideas for displaying your creations, how judges of quilting contests review the quilted art, and so much more!