Carol's Christmas Treasures

First you “piece” - that mean’s create a top layer by sewing together bits and pieces and sometimes scraps of fabric.  The patterns can be random or fixed traditional layouts.

Then you make the “sandwich” -

The  top “pieced” layer
A middle layer of batting - this can be cotton or wool - some people use polyester but we won’t talk about that here.
And finally a backing layer - this is sometimes plain muslin - my choice - or extra wide matching fabric - in any case it should have no seams at all.

Holding the sandwich layers together is a matter of preference.  Some quilters baste, some use spray adhesives that wash out easily, some just pin.  It depends largely on the size of the quilt.

Then you QUILT - sewing through all three layers.  Quilting can be done with a sewing machine - there are special machines called “long arm quilters” or it can be done by hand.  Hand quilting has become something of a lost art.  There are very few of us hand quilting any more.  It takes time, lots of time.  But the difference in the final appearance of the quilt is extraordinary.   Machine quilting creates the same look as a mattress cover.  Hand quilted quilts look like the traditional covers on great-grandmother’s bed.

The final step is binding the quilt.  Sewing strips of fabric to the edges to enclose the three layers and hide all the cut edges.

Here's my grandmother "piecing" a quilt top. 

Quality Control provided by Harry and Bud.  You can see the unfinished layers of quilt top, batting and backing. Don't worry, all the quilts are washed after testing.