Seam ToleranceSeam tolerance (sometimes called inlays) is the area between the edge of the fabric and the seam line of two (or more) pieces of material that are sewn together. If you're new to the quilting world or want to learn more about quilting, you need to know about the Square Half Triangle, commonly known as HST. An HST is one of the most basic quilting blocks and can be used to create very complex fabrics. With this technique alone, you can create a lot of designs such as Chevrons, Flying Geese, Herringbone and ZigZag Path.
We'll show you how to make a basic patchwork quilt top, turn it into a quilt sandwich, and then hang it by machine or by hand. Patchwork quilt patterns are the easiest to make because you're learning all the basics of how to make a quilt by making one. For that reason, it can be useful to have a basic quilting book close at hand when you are making a quilt. Most quilters use a basic sewing machine to make their quilts, but you can also get specialized long-arm machines, which have a larger area to hold your quilt, making it easier to feed larger quilts through the machine.
Now that you've learned how to cut all those squares, rectangles, and triangles, we'll show you how to create some of the most popular basic quilt block patterns. We explain the basics of quilting, including the various tools you'll need (and may already have), cutting techniques, how to create quilt blocks from basic shapes, tips and techniques for joining pieces, and sewing real quilts. Learn all about the basics of cutting quilt patchwork pieces in this lesson on Precise Piece Basics. If you want to try a basic quilt block and build enough to create a small quilt, try one of these.
Basically, you'll cut a batch of fabric squares and sew them into larger squares of 4 units each; this looks a bit like a Battenberg cake. We'll explain all the basics of how to make your first quilt (by hand or machine) in this beginner's guide to quilting. If you're going to make your first quilt, start with something small that will help you learn the basic techniques.
