How to Patchwork with Easy Techniques, Instructions, Designs and Free Patterns (2025)

Picture courtesy ofGinaellen of Dreamstime.com

INTRODUCTION ON HOW TO PATCHWORK

Learning how to patchwork is nodifferent to how it was learned back in the 1800s when patchwork firstcame into vogue. And the basic tools have remained the same; needles,thread, pins, fabric, templates and a pair of scissors.

Today there are lots of craft shops whooffer patchwork lessons, or you might even think of taking a patchworkholiday. There are lots of places on the Internet offering patchworkholidays. Two very good ones are those found in Scotland and France.

HOW TO PATCHWORK AND USING THE RIGHT NEEDLES

Needles for hand-sewing should be shortand fine, known as "betweeners" as these needles slip into and out ofthe fabric with ease. If you are a total beginner you will probablywant to start with No.8 needles, as these are more manageable whenfirst starting out.

However, as you get more practice and become moreproficient, you can then use No. 10 needles which will allow you tomake even smaller stitches. If you are going to use your sewing machinefor quilting, then the size of the needles you will use will bedetermined by the thickness of the material.

HOW TO PATCHWORK AND USING THE RIGHT THREAD

Thread used should bequilter's thread which comes in all sorts of different colors. Thistype of thread is stronger than ordinary thread and it is less likelyto break or knot. However, it is best to use synthetic thread withsynthetic fabrics, and 100% cotton thread, or a cotton-polyester threadwith cotton fabrics.

You can also run yournormal machine thread through beeswax, which you will find in yourlocal craft shop, to strengthen the thread and prevent it fromknotting.

Select a color thatmatches the darkest fabric that you are using. If your patchworkproject has a number of different colored fabrics, use a neutralthread that will blend in with all the fabrics of your project. Suchcolors that work successfully here are ecru or gray. However, you willbe the best judge here for what will match.

HOW TO PATCHWORK AND USING THE RIGHT PINS

When pinning your work never usestationery as they are too blunt, nor should your use rusty pins, asthey will mark your fabric. Use dressmaker's pins that often haveglass-heads as they are sharp and easily pierce through layers offabric.

HOW TO PATCHWORK USING A QUARTER SEAMER

The quarter seamer is an ideal tool tohelp you rule your seams accurately and quickly. It is usually made ofperspex and is a quarter of an inch wide on all four sides.

HOW TO PATCHWORK USING A CLEAR RULER

You will need a clear, plastic ruler.This is a great little gadget as there is no chance of shaving off apiece of the ruler when you are cutting through layers of fabric. Makesure that it is well marked, and ideally it has both imperial andmetric measurements, as they are still both used in patchwork.

HOW TO PATCHWORK USING FRAMES AND HOOPS

Hoops or quilting frames should be usedto contain your fabric, which then makes it easier to get thosestitches as neat as you would like. Both of course have theiradvantages. The hoop is ideal for pieces that are small and can betransported from place to place. Larger projects such as bedspreadswill need a quilting frame. This then limits where one can quilt and isnot that easy to take from place to place.

HOW TO PATCHWORK AND CHOOSING THE RIGHT FABRIC

When you start your project you will betempted to buy all sorts of patchworkfabrics. However, you should choose yourfabrics wisely as wool, stretch-fabrics, open-weave and crepe fabricsare really not suitablefor patchwork. And where silk will give you aluxuriant finish, it slips a lot when you work with it, and makes it adifficult fabric to use as a novice. Whatever you choose, you shouldmake sure that the different pieces of fabric are of all a similarweight.

Medium-weight 100% pure cottonfabricsare the simplest to start off with. Avoid those fabrics which arelightweight and heavyweight fabrics such as velvet and curtaining, asagain they are more difficult to work with. However, cotton has atendency to fray, and this is something you must be aware of whensewing your projects.

All fabric must be washedbeforehandto pre-shrink and also to make sure that there is no bleeding of dyesin the fabrics you have chosen. When you wash your fabric choose a milddetergent and avoid conditioners. When washing your fabrics wash thelighter fabrics separate from the darker colors.

COUNTRYFARMLIFESTYLES TIP - If you have a problemwith any of your colors bleeding, then try adding either vinegar orsalt to your final rinsing water to fix the dye. Re-wash to see if thishas sorted out the problem. If us doesn't, don't use it, rather find analternative.

HOW TO PATCHWORK USING TEMPLATES

Patchwork templatesare the patterns of thepieces that you are going to stitch together. These can either bebought through our CountryCorner Storeor you can also make them at home using plastic and cardboard. Theproblem in making them at home is that there is always the possibilitythat they have not been made accurately. If this is the case, then youwill spoil your project as a small error on a small piece will soontranslate to a larger error on a large item like a quilt.

When you see a patchwork template there will be 2lots of lines. One line will be made up of dashes, and the other linewill be a solid line. These lines show both the stitching and cuttinglines respectively. However, there are times when you will find that atemplate will only have a solid line, indicating where to cut. You willhave to add a seam allowance to these templates, 6mm is the normalallowance.

HOW TO PATCHWORK AND CUTTING YOUR FABRIC

Use a fine, sharp pencil to mark yourfabric on the wrong side. A lead or pale colored pencil works well,with silver and white showing on dark fabrics. When you cut your fabricuse either a very sharp pair of scissors, or use a rotary cutter andboard. Rotary cutters are excellent for cutting strips, straighteningfabric edges and even cutting out various geometric pieces. It alsomakes for more accuracy when you are cutting out several layers offabric at a time.

Always cut your material on a mat, asthese blades are very sharp and your husband will not be amused if youcarve up the dining-room table in the interim! These mats have beenmade to ensure that your blade stays sharp and the mat also helps togrip the fabric whilst cutting. If you can find a 'self-healing'cutting mat, these are the best to work with.

A smaller pair of scissors is idealwhen you want to trim threads, clip points or seam allowances.

Cut your squares and rectangles out onthe straight grain. Right angle triangles should have the right angleon the straight grain, while other triangles and irregular shapesshould have the straight grain running through their centers.

HOW TO PATCHWORK AND PIECING YOUR FABRICS

After you have carefully cut out yourfabric shapes, it is time to start piecing them together. This caneither be done with hand-sewing or by machine, and in no time at allyou will have a patchwork quilt!

Now there are 2 different patchworktechniques that can be used; the English Method, orthe American Method.

The English method can betime-consuming, but you end up with a very professional looking finalproduct. How this is achieved is by tacking the fabric pieces directlyonto soft cardboard template shapes before assembling it into apattern. This method is only suitable for hand-sewing.

The American Method is to mark theseams directly onto the fabric pieces and sew them directly together.The advantage of this method is that this can be used for both machineand hand-sewing.

Both methods rely totally on care andaccuracy with the the marking and cutting of the fabric. Attention tothis kind of detail will make a big difference to the finished qualityof the project.

When hand-sewingplace the pieces right-sides together, and use a small, even runningstitch, securing every few stitches by a back-stitch, making sure thatyou have a 6 mm seam.

When machine sewing,use an average sized stitch comparable with the fabrics that you areworking with, and again leave a 6 mm seam. To strengthen the seams, donot press them open. Press them to one side, preferably toward thedarker piece of fabric so that they don't show through. Whereverpossible join fabrics in units to form strips.

Join squares in straight rows withineach block, then join blocks into strips. At cross seams, alternate thedirection of the seam allowance to distribute the bulk of the fabricmore evenly.

You may need to trim the seamallowance. This is particularly so when you find that you have a numberof seams converging to a point. Press each seam as it is completed.

HOW TO PATCHWORK AND FINALLY FINISH OFF WITH QUILTING

Often, after a patchwork project hasbeen finished, people like to add more interest to it by quiltingit. See this page for more details on quilting and how to finish offyour project with binding.

Looking for a freecraft forum? Visit our new craft forum and make acontribution today! We look forward to meeting you.

Remember too that if you are lookingfor books, magazines, patchwork kits, tools or online supplies for yournext project visit our OnlinePatchwork Shop and our OnlineQuilting Shop.

HOW TO PATCHWORK: SOME FREE DESIGNS FOR YOUR PATCHWORK QUILT

Here are 6 designs for simple strippatchwork that we hope will inspire you for your next project on how tomake a patchwork quilt.

RECOMMENDEDBOOKS ON LEARNING HOWTO PATCHWORK

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