Well, I’m not sure I can top last week’s absolute banger of a blog, which I thoroughly enjoyed writing, and I hope you enjoyed reading. I mean who doesn’t love a bit of dictionary talk?!? Okay, Maybe just me!
This week I want to discuss the three layers of a quilt, which is the typical quilt sandwich. Of course, quilts can have more than three layers. Some patterns, like crazy quilt blocks are built onto a layer of foundation fabric making that quilt, whether quilted (all three layers sewn together with continuous stitches) or tied ( the layers are held together with thread ties all over the quilt), four layers. Or some carefree quilters leave their papers in a foundation or English paper pieced top, offering up a fourth, crinkly layer.
Usually, though, three layers suffice:
The image shows a quilt laying top up. The quilt has navy borders and intricate Zinnia blocks with a barn and tractor with birds in the air blocks, too.
Top: typically thought of as the front of the quilt and is the top layer; usually the most intricately pieced and takes the most time; the show piece of the quilt.
The image shows the back of the quilt shown above. The back is blue and white bird and flower fabric.
Batting: the middle wadding layer that adds the warmth and loft (the thickness and texture of the quilting) to the quilt
Back: As the name suggests, the back of the quilt; often one fabric.
The image shows the quilt from above with the left corner folded onto the top of the quilt showing both the backing fabric and most of the front.
Once the three layers are made or cut, then the layers are sandwiched and quilted. In my studio, I load the back and top seperately onto the longarm leaders and add the batting layer between. The three layers all come together on the top leader of the quilt frame, and as I quilt them, they become one quilt. Then I trim and bind it, so that the edges of the quilt are neatly finished and protected.
The whole process of making a quilt layer upon layer is magic! Beautiful fabrics cut up and sewn into new shapes, while the quilt stitches hold the layers together and add dimension to the design. And always the utility—layering and quilting fabrics adds strength and longevity to the whole piece of art.
Sending Quilty Love,
Ginger
P.S. I worked on this blog and wrote a lot about each layer of the quilt, and in the interest of my readers, I decided to split the blogs up into two or three instead of one long one. I didn’t realize I had so much to say about quilt layers!
Reading Now: I am still happily working on You Can’t Go Home Again, and I picked up The Jane Austen Book Club from the 25 cent shelf outside at Reader’s Corner. And I read The Hangman, which I picked up at the bookstore, too. I actually picked up a lot of books…maybe I should do a blog about my TBR pile(s)? Let me know if that is something you would like to read.
Kindness is everything. Listen to NPR for balanced, well researched news.