The Old Age Craft Of Quilting
Quilting is a craft that has been around for centuries. For hundreds of years, the Chinese have used quilted cloth for their padded winter clothing. The Crusaders found that the quilted shirts worn by Arabs offered a great deal of protection under their chainmail. They even brought the idea back home in the 13th century. The process was adapted by European women for the use in creating bedcovers.
Quilting came to America with the Pilgrims, in the 16th century. Lack of resources made it necessary for the settlers to recycle their clothing and other fabrics, they made quilt tops, cutting the fabric into smaller pieces and patching or clouting it over and over until it wore out completely. These first quilts were more practical than pretty, but as the settlers prospered the designs became more colorful and elaborate. Appliqué also became a popular way of decorating the quilts and the patchwork quilt was officially born.
Around this time quilts became associated with the celebration of important events. Specific designs were created for specific reasons. The Double Wedding Ring design was used to mark a marriage or anniversary. This design was made from interlocking rings, each constructed from tiny patches. It was a very time consuming project, and usually was worked by multiple quilter’s at the same time.
These days’ patchwork quilts are traditionally made from scraps left over from past sewing projects. Not all scraps are suitable for this purpose. Loosely woven fabrics, such as muslin, are weak and prone to distortion, while very tightly woven fabrics, such as ticking, are not flexible enough and hard to stitch. Cotton is the best fabric to use, especially for inexperienced quilters. Once a quilter is more experienced they may add other fabrics like silk, lightweight wool and so on.
The color of a quilt is up to the creator. Most quilters plan their project carefully, or follow an established pattern. Making test patches is a great way to experiment. Colors are usually sorted into tones, light, medium and dark. Using tone helps to create depth and design. Textured fabric also creates different effects.
Pre-wash all fabrics in mild detergent and warm water before starting a quilt. Any fabrics that may run should be washed separately. When the fabrics are dry they should be ironed, either with a steam iron, or a dry iron and a clean damp cloth.
Quilts are made of three layers. The top piece is the layer that is decorated and most elaborate. The middle piece is a layer of batting, or wadding, that provides warmth. The third piece is the backing. These three layers are held together with lines of stitching. These lines may be worked in a grid, in straight rows or elaborate patterns. Originally they were sewn by hand with a needle. Today some quilters still produce quilts this way, while others prefer machine quilting.
In the pioneer days the only equipment needed to produce a quilt included a needle, thread and material, and hopefully a pair if shears and a thimble. A wooden frame would be constructed to allow the quilter to use both hands, or to enable more than one sewer to work at a time. Quilting bees were popular social gatherings. Today many quilters prefer to use a large wooden hoop to make their projects more portable.
The Top Advanced Woodworking Schools
There are many advanced woodworking schools but here are three available. The first of our advanced woodworking schools to look at is the Lohr School of Woodworking. J.D. Lohr’s “Practical Woodworking” is a forty eight hour course that teaches you all the skills necessary to become a truly master woodworker. Students of all levels can benefit from this class, but it is truly meant to be enjoyed by advanced woodworkers. As with any woodworking instruction, students will be working with power tools so caution is first and foremost.
The school boasts four table saws, three jointers, three drill presses, two thickness planars, two wood lathers, full dust collection, spindle shapers, bandsaws, jig saws, scroll saws, as well as dozens of routers and jig accessories. In addition to these the school is fully stocked with all the assorted high quality tools you need to really bring your woodworking to another level. They offer a 48 hour boot camp so that you can go and get your skills up without having to wait years and months. This school is highly recommended.
Advanced Woodworking Schools
Next on our list of advanced woodworking schools is the Homestead Woodworking School. This school, located in Newmarket, New Hampshire, offers classes for all skill levels. All of the instructors are professional woodworkers in addition to be teachers and each offers there own areas of specialization to help you get the most out of your woodworking talent.
They offer many different courses throughout the year so check their website to find a class that is good for you. In addition they offer a comprehensive ten week course that takes you from the history of woodworking to its practical applications.
Connecticut School of Woodworking
The final school on our list of advanced woodworking schools is the Connecticut Valley School of Woodworking. This school offers classes starting with the fundamentals working up to professional furniture finishing techniques. They boast an extensive list of classes and instructors, so check their website to find what most applies to your skill level and interest. Any of these three schools would be a good choice, but give them each a call to find the right one for you.
