Quilting is the art of stitching together a sandwich of fabric: a decorative quilt top (either a single fabric or a patchwork of many), batting or insulating material for warmth, and a backing. Traditional quilts often feature geometric, grid-based patterns, while art quilts are original visual compositions that explore ideas, emotions, or imagery.


Quilting has been practiced worldwide for thousands of years, with distinct regional styles and techniques evolving. North America’s quilting tradition began in the 1770s and continues to thrive today, with an estimated nine to eleven million active quilters in the U.S. and Canada, according to the Craft Industry Alliance.


Note: Technically, quilting only refers to the stitching that holds the quilt sandwich layers together. In everyday usage, though, the word refers to both the piecing of the quilt top and the quilting stitches. That is how the word is used in this resource.

Materials and Tools:

  • Batting: The “filling” of the quilt sandwich is available in cotton, polyester, wool, and various blends. Click here for a tutorial about the types of batting and when to use them.
  • Fabric: Quilting cotton (a tightly-woven, medium-weight, 100% cotton fabric)is usually used for quilt tops, backing, and binding. Learn more in this Beginner’s Guide to Fabrics for Quilting.
  • Iron and ironing board.
  • Needles: Size 5-10 Sharps for hand piecing and size 8-10 Betweens for hand quilting.
  • Marking tool: A pencil, a temporary fabric marking pen, or a hera marker.
  • Pins: Sharp, straight pins.
  • Ruler: A 6” or 6’½” x 24” clear, gridded quilting ruler. Optional, but highly recommended for precise measurements. (Tape measures stretch!)
  • Scissors: For snipping threads and cutting fabric. Optionally, you can use a 45-mm rotary cutter and a cutting mat to cut fabric, minimizing your fabric cutting time and providing more precise cuts.
  • Sewing machine (optional): Ideally, with a ¼-inch quilting foot or walking foot for stitching your quilt sandwich.
  • Thread: Cotton and polyester thread - 50-weight 100% cotton thread for piecing and 40-weight or heavier polyester thread for quilting. 

Terminology:

Click here for a comprehensive list of common quilting terms. Basic terms are listed below:


  • Backing: The fabric used for the back of the quilt, often a single fabric, but may be pieced from multiple fabrics.
  • Batting: The layer enclosed between the quilt top and backing, which provides warmth, softness, and the "loft" that makes quilt designs stand out.
  • Binding: A strip of fabric used to cover and finish the edges of a quilt sandwich.
  • Blocks: Squares or rectangles of fabric arranged and sewn together to make a desired quilt top pattern. Blocks range from simple squares of fabric to complex pieced or appliqued units.
  • Border: Strips of fabric between the binding and the center of the quilt top that frame the quilt’s design. You can have more than one border. 
  • Four-Patch: A block or unit comprised of four equal-sized squares, often with alternating color placement.
  • Hanging sleeve: A fabric "tube" sewn to the back of a quilt to allow the quilt to be hung on a wall. 
  • Patchwork: Technically, patchwork is the result of piecing, although the terms are often used interchangeably.
  • Piecing: Stitching together small pieces of fabric of different colors, patterns, or textures into units and then blocks.
  • Quilting frames and hoops: Wood or metal devices used to hold a quilt sandwich taut and stable for easier quilting.
  • A quilt sandwich refers to the quilt top, batting, and backing layered together before quilting. 
  • Quilt top: The decorative top layer of a quilt - the side meant to be shown to the public. 
  • Sashing: Strips of fabric between quilt blocks, generally in the rows and columns of a quilt.
  • Seam allowance: The width between the fabric edge and the stitching line when pieces of fabric are sewn together - usually 1/4" for quilting.
  • Units: Components or shapes, like a flying goose or a half-square triangle, assembled to build more complex quilt blocks. 
  • Walking foot: A sewing machine presser foot with grippers on the bottom that work with the machine's feed dogs to evenly feed multiple layers of fabric and batting beneath the foot. 

Process:

  • Assemble your quilt blocks.
  • Arrange your completed quilt blocks as desired and, if not using sashing, sew blocks together in rows, then sew the rows together.
  • Add sashing (optional):
  • Assemble rows of sashing.
  • Assemble block rows with sashing between blocks.
  • Sew sash rows to block rows.
  • Add borders (optional): Cut horizontal and vertical strips for borders and sew to the quilt top.
  • Layer your backing, batting, and quilt top to create a quilt sandwich. 
  • Quilt as desired, stitching by hand or machine.
  • Trim the quilt sandwich, cutting away excess backing and batting, squaring the corners, and ensuring the sides are straight.
  • Piece together a long strip for binding and sew it to your quilt to finish the edges.

Variations:

There are many ways to construct a quilt top. A few are listed below:


  • Appliqué: Fabric shapes are cut out and stitched onto a base fabric to create new designs - everything from intricate patterns to decorative pictures.
  • Crazy quilts are pieced with irregularly shaped pieces of fabric. A wide variety of unusual fabrics like velvet, satin, and silk can be utilized, and the seams and individual pieces are usually embellished with embroidery, trim, lace, beads, and/or buttons. Batting is often omitted.
  • English paper piecing (EPP): Fabric pieces are wrapped and basted around reusable paper templates. Wrapped shapes are hand-stitched together with a whip stitch and the templates are removed.
  • Foundation paper piecing (FPP): Fabric pieces are machine-sewn directly onto a paper pattern, following the printed stitch lines in a specific order. The paper is eventually torn away so the patterns are not reusable.
  • Sampler quilts have distinct rather than repetitive quilt blocks, showcasing a variety of quilt patterns, techniques, styles, and fabrics in one project
  • Whole cloth quilts are made from a single piece of fabric, so the design is created through quilting rather than piecing.

FAQ's:

  • What is the difference between traditional, modern, art, and contemporary quilts? 
  • Traditional quilts emphasize symmetry, repetition, and repeating geometric block patterns arranged in a regular grid. Conventional fabrics and construction techniques are used, and colors are often placed repetitively.
  • Modern quilts focus on asymmetry, negative space, and minimalist designs. They often feature bold, vibrant, or monochromatic color palettes with high-contrast combinations, along with abstract shapes, improvisational piecing, and a mix of quilting techniques.
  • Art quilts are original artistic creations that prioritize concept, design, and aesthetics rather than traditional block structure or functionality.
  • A contemporary quilt is any quilt made in the present day. The term is a broad one, encompassing modern and all other current quilting trends and embracing a wide variety of styles, materials, and techniques.
  • What is a design wall? It is a vertical surface used to position and view fabric choices to see how they might appear in a quilt or to experiment with block placement. (see more here).
  • What types of packages does quilt fabric come in?
  • Standard yardage: Purchased by the yard and usually 44” to 45” wide.
  • Jelly Rolls: Pre-cut rolls of 2 ½” wide fabric strips. 
  • Honey Buns: Pre-cut rolls of 1 ½” wide fabric strips. 
  • Layer Cakes: Pre-cut bundles of 10” x 10” squares. 
  • Charm Packs: Pre-cut bundles of 5” x 5” squares. 
  • Fat Quarters: 1⁄4-yard of fabric cut crosswise from a 1⁄2-yard piece of fabric for a finished size of approximately 18” × 22".
  • Fat Eighths: 1⁄8-yard of fabric cut crosswise from a 1⁄4-yard piece of fabric for a finished size of approximately 9” × 22".
  • Should I pre-wash my fabric? This is a personal preference. The key is to be consistent - either wash or don’t wash all of your component fabrics. 
  • What is directional pressing? Ironing seams in a designated directions to limit bulk in certain areas of a block. Commonly used in diamonds and other center-intersecting blocks.
  • What are the three common quilting techniques?
  • Hand Quilting: Using a needle and thread to stitch the quilt layers together, often with the fabric held in a hoop or frame. 
  • Longarm Quilting: A large, powerful sewing machine with an extended "arm" (or throat) and ample space to hold and manipulate large quilts. The sewing machine head is attached to a carriage that runs on rails, allowing it to move precisely and freely in any direction. 
  • Machine Quilting: Using a domestic sewing machine to stitch the layers of the quilt. Free-motion quilting is a specific method of machine quilting where you use your hands to move the "quilt sandwich" to create designs, instead of relying on the machine's feed dogs to move the fabric.
  • Do I need a fancy sewing machine to quilt? No! Any decent, well-maintained machine is sufficient. However, sewing machines made for quilting offer larger throat space (the area between the needle and the machine's body)for easier maneuvering of bulky fabrics, high-speed stitching, stitch regulators, and a wider variety of stitches and decorative patterns. So, you may want to upgrade your sewing machine if you become an avid quilter.
  • How do I clean quilts? 
  • Hand wash with mild detergent and cool water in a bathtub or large container. Allow the quilt to soak for about 30 minutes, then drain and refill with fresh water for multiple rinse cycles until the water runs clear. Use a bed sheet to help lift it from the tub and support it as you remove excess water, then lay it flat to air dry.
  • Machine wash in a front-loading or commercial washing machine on delicate in cold water. Use a mild detergent and a color-catching sheet. Air-dry flat, or tumble dry on a low, delicate setting.
  • For antique, vintage, or heirloom quilts, refer to this resource from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
  • Who can appraise my quilt? For insurance or market value, you can get your quilt appraised by a professional. Check out the Professional Association of Appraisers - Quilted Textiles or this list of appraisers compiled by the American Quilters Society.