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Patchwork Blocks: What Is The Significance Of Patchwork Quilting Blocks?

Author: Allan Wilson

Article:
There is a lot of controversy regarding the significance of patchwork quilt block in quilting. Recent views do show the importance of the quilt block sizes in order to accurately draft and finish a quilt. A few points will make this issue clear.

Simplifying quilting:

Quilting can be very easy to accomplish if you understand appropriately the way a patchwork quilt block works. Quilt block grids simplifies your work to a large extent by enabling you to plan out the size, and your design, specially if you are working with different grids.

Many quilters also agree that by understanding the definite technique of quilt blocks, it is easier for them on the whole to arrange the overall design. Quilt block construction also helps you plot your block sizes. Besides these obvious advantages, patchwork quilt block helps with the measurements regarding the fabrics accurately.

It makes sense, to choose a block size, which can be easily measured with rotary rulers. Block dimensions can also be accurately determined while planning your quilt. These dimensions can be either in whole number or otherwise. Usually, fractions, which can be accurately measured with rotary rulers, can be chosen as block dimensions in your design.

Quilt block sizes:

Quilt block sizes or patchwork quilt blocks come in variety of blocks. You can have either the one patch quilt block, or else you can have the multiple quilt blocks. The four-patch quilt block and nine patch quilt blocks are amongst the most popular because of their simplicity.

However, the five-patch quilt blocks and seven-patch quilt blocks can be challenging to draft for novices. Thus, the type of patchwork quilt block you want to draft depends upon your level of expertise. Patchwork quilt block helps one to determine the finished size for the unit.

For instance, a five-patch block can be planned in terms of the number of up girds and down grids by dividing the blocks in ten.
Patchwork quilt blocks therefore do matter when you wish to organize your quilt better and add your final finishing touches to perfection.

How to cut patchwork shapes for quilting:

Cutting patchwork shapes can be a huge challenge for beginners.
The intricacies involved are likely to stump even the most creative of all quilters. However, cutting patchwork shapes can be made simple, if not enjoyable if you follow a few basic guidelines.

Tips for cutting patchwork shapes:

The way you need to cut your patchwork shapes depends a lot on the shapes involved. Figures like squares; triangles, and bars are most commonly used in patchwork quilts. Some important guidelines can be followed while cutting each of these shapes or patterns. Let us take the case of an equilateral triangle. Here, You need to first measure the distance of the finished size from midpoint of its base to the tip of the top. Then rotar ruler needs to be used for aligning the fabric appropriately.

The first cut can be made here by cutting along the right edge of the ruler. The same procedure needs to be followed after rotating the ruler along the bottom edge of the strip. This will give you your triangle; with equal measurements. With the same technique, you can cut as many triangles as you want, to finish your design. As it can be seen, accurate measurements are required to cut the shapes perfectly. Like the equilateral triangles, you can cut many shapes like squares and rectangles.
However, since such shapes have four sides, the technique of cutting here, varies significantly.

A few precautions:

While cutting shapes, you need to follow a few precautions. You need to place your fabrics on a good foundation. Avoid placing your fabric on very smooth surfaces. Mostly rotary cutters are used for cutting such shapes. Ensure that their blades are sharp. Sharp blades prevent the shapes from getting ragged edges. You also need to avoid generalizing your cutting script.
Add your own innovative ideas to create new and improved shapes.

Thus, you can also be an expert quilter by learning to cut patchwork shapes accurately. All you need to get going is a bit of skill and a whole lot of practice. .

 

 

About the author:
Allan Wilson owns and operates http://www.fab-quilting.com where you can find lots of quilting information. http://www.fab-quilting.com">Quilting

 

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