Quilting

Quilting is the art of joining pieces of fabric together with small stitches, often with padding in between. Quilting can be completed on whole cloth quilts (made from one large piece of cloth), or patchwork quilts (made from small pieces of fabric sewn together into one large piece, then quilted). There are many techniques for creating the patchwork portion of your quilt, such as foundation piecing, crazy piecing, strip piecing and appliqué. Both the piecing and quilting steps can be done by machine (using a regular sewing machine or larger, industrial quilting machine) or entirely by hand. Quilts can be functional or decorative, or somewhere in between.

This pathfinder is designed to help you find sites on the web, print sources and organizations that offer information, advice and patterns for quilting.  This guide is not meant to be exhaustive, but to provide a starting point for learning about quilting.

Internet Resources

Quilting at About.com
http://quilting.about.com/?once=true&
Provides articles on quilting topics, free patterns, clip art, advice on care and maintenance of old and new quilts.

The Alliance for American Quilts
http://www.quiltalliance.org/index1.html
"The Alliance for American Quilts is a non-profit organization founded in 1993 to unite the varied elements of the quilt world around a shared vision. This website brings together quilt makers and designers, the quilt industry, quilt scholars and teachers, and quilt collectors in the cause of documenting, preserving, and sharing the American quilt heritage."

QuiltArt
http://www.quiltart.com/
Quiltart is the Internet's largest mailing list for contemporary art quilters.  "Established in 1995, Provides a means for those interested in innovative, contemporary art quilting to share, learn and grow."

National Online Quilters
http://www.noqers.org/
"Here you will find information about quilts, get to look at some awesome creations in patchwork and appliqué done by members over the years, try your hand at a mystery quilt, and lose yourself in the heady feeling of cotton fabric."

International Quilt Association
http://www.quilts.org/
"Organization to foster the appreciation of quilts and quilting as an art form throughout the world and to provide necessary recognition to quilters as textile artists."

Studio Art Quilt Associates
http://www.saqa.com/
"A non-profit national organization that recognizes quilters."

Quilt Guilds Worldwide
http://www.quiltguilds.com/
Website devoted to helping quilters find local quilting guilds as well as quilt shows and programs.

The World Wide Quilting Page
http://www.quilt.com/
The world's largest and oldest quilting site.  Offers a large variety of topics and links to various quilting needs and interests.

Quilt Collections

American Memory: Quilts and Quiltmaking in America (1798-1996)
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/qlthtml/qlthome.html
"Showcases materials from two American Folklife Center collections (Library of Congress), the Blue Ridge Parkway Folklife Project Collection (1978) and the "All-American Quilt Contest" sponsored by Coming Home, a division of Lands' End, and Good Housekeeping."

Quilting Blogs and Blog Communities

My Quilt Blog
http://www.myquiltblog.com/portal.php
This resource is a free blogging community with close to 500 members. The community is for quilters who would like to write about and share their quilting experiences.

Quilting and Patchwork
http://www.quiltingandpatchwork.com/
This author of this blog shares relevant news articles, tips, and other useful information for quilters.

Center for the Quilt Online - Weblog
http://centerforthequilt.org/webblog/index.php
Blog of quilt-related conferences, events, open houses, etc.

Print Resources

There are many quilting books published every year, ranging from titles written to help someone who has never quilted or sewn before, to books designed for the expert fabric artist.

Finding Quilting Books in Your Library

Depending on the system of classification used in your library, books about quilting can be found in a number of locations. Libraries using the Dewey Decimal System will probably keep most of their quilting books at call numbers beginning with 746 (Textile arts). In libraries using the Library of Congress classification system, it will probably be helpful to look in the catalog under the subject heading "Quilting." Remember, you can always ask a librarian for assistance!

General/Beginning Quilting Books

Pahl, E. (1997). The quilter's ultimate visual guide: from A to Z--hundreds of tips and techniques for successful quiltmaking. Emmaus, Pa: Rodale Press.

Quilting 101: a beginner's guide to quilting. (2003). Mankato, Minn: Creative.

Advanced/Specialized Quilting Books

Barry, P. C. (2007). ABC's of long-arm quilting. Iola, Wis: KP.

Michler, J. M. (2008). Crazy quilting: the complete guide. Iola, WI: Krause Publications.

Hall, J. (2006). The experts' guide to foundation piecing: 15 techniques & projects. Lafayette, CA: C&T Pub.

Nickels, S. (2003). Machine quilting: a primer of techniques. Paducah, KY: American Quilter's Society.

Sloppy, E. (2003). Strips & strings: 16 sparkling quilts. Woodinville, WA: Martingale.

Periodicals

American Quilter's Society. (1985). American quilter. Paducah, KY: American Quilter's Society.

Fons, M., & Porter, L. (1999). Fons and Porter's for the love of quilting. Birmingham, AL: Oxmoor House.

McCall's quick quilts. (2004). New York: Primedia.

McCall's quilting. (1993). Birmingham, AL: Symbol of Excellence.

Bauermeister Groelz, B. (2000). Quiltmaker. New York, NY: Primedia Enthusiast Media.

This pathfinder was updated by Lauren Foster for Dr. Eileen Abels Info 780 Course at Drexel University, Spring, 2008.