Have you just started your newest hobby of quilting? Are you encountering issues that you just don’t know how to fix? These quilting FAQs are listed to help if you are having quilting problems or keep encountering a situation that you can’t quite figure out how to fix.

Feel free to ask questions in the comments or reach out through our Contact Form. We will be sure to answer you and post your question here to share with others as well.

My quilt edges are wavy, how do I fix this or stop it from happening on my next project?

Sometimes this happens if your borders are too long or you stretched them to make them fit when sewing them. To correct this, you must measure vertically through the center of the quilt, then cut the two side borders that exact same length. Pin the center, the ends and in between and ease the edges of the quilt to fit. Follow the same procedure for the horizontal measurement. This helps keeps your quilt square.

However, the edges can still get wavy if you apply your binding incorrectly. As you sew the binding onto the quilt, pull the loose end of the binding snug. This will ease in some of the fullness at the edge of the quilt.

My squares don’t line up properly, what am I doing wrong?

When sewing rows of squares together, press the seams on one row to the left and the seams on the next row to the right. Now pin each junction with the seams “butting up” to each other, instead of on top of each other. This is also known as nesting your seams. Also, make sure you are sewing slowly. 

When I am shopping and see some fabric I love, how much should I buy?

Ahh, the age old struggle for quilters. It’s difficult to know how much to buy when you don’t have a project in mind. When I really love a fabric – which is often – I usually get anywhere between one to three yards. That way I have enough to place some in the body of the quilt and enough for the borders. It’s also enough for smaller projects or to use as a backing for baby quilts when I buy in that range.

Can you please explain some of the common acronyms and terms that are used? Its a whole new language!

Here are some of the most common ones that I see in patterns, blogs, and on social media.

• HST – Half square triangle, which looks like this:

• HRT – Half rectangle triangle; which is a block that looks like this:

  

• WIP – Work In Progress; these are the quilts and quilt projects that you have not yet finished.
• FQ – Fat Quarter; These are usually cuts of fabric that measure around 18″ x 21″. Each shop cuts their fat quarters slightly different, so be sure to read the measurements.
• FE – Fate Eighth; These are usually cuts of fabric that measure around 9″ x 21″. Each shop cuts their fat quarters slightly different, so be sure to read the measurements.
• Jellyroll – These are usually a collection of fabrics from one designer. The strips measure 2.5″ x 42″. The length may range from 40″ to 44″ but they are always 2.5″ wide. Usually you get 40 or 42 strips in the jellyroll.
• Layercake – This is usually a collection of fabrics from one designer. The cuts are 10″ x 10″ squares and typically you get 40 or 42 cuts of fabric.
• Charm Pack – This is usually a collection of fabrics from one designer. The cuts are 5″ x 5″ squares and typically you get 40 or 42 cuts of fabric.
• Pre-cut – This is general term for precut fabric types such as jellyrolls, layercakes, FQ, FE, and charm packs.
• WOF – Width of Fabric; this is how wide the fabric on the bolt is. Usually it is anywhere between 40″ to 45″. However there are wide fabrics that you can buy that are 108″ wide and make great backing fabrics.

What are some tools that you recommend for a beginner?

I’ll have to do an additional blog post about this, but if you are just getting started I recommend not investing too much until you know it is a hobby that you are going to stick with. That being said, if you don’t already have  a sewing machine, you can buy one or borrow from a friend to try it out first. Then the other few items I would suggest would be:

• Rotary Cutter
• Seam Ripper
• Self healing Cutting Mat
• Square Quilting Ruler
• Quality Quilting Thread
• Iron

Remember, you can always buy more once you are sure quilting is your jam, but you don’t want to purchase too much before you have given it a try!

Pattern Recommendations for New Quilters

If you haven’t picked out your first pattern, check out our blog post about 10 new quilter friendly patterns. We recommend starting with something simple in a baby or lap throw size. This will allow you to learn without becoming overwhelmed.

Again, feel free to ask questions in the comments or reach out through our Contact Form. We will be sure to answer you and post your question here to share with others as well.