Marking Quilts for Quilting

A quilt consists of three layers: a quilt top, batting, and backing. The actual quilting is one of the last steps in the creative process. There are many ways to go about quilting, and one method is to mark quilting lines before the stitching. In this episode, Kelly Ashton, your instructor, will discuss four such methods for marking quilt tops and the pros and cons of each tool and technique.

Marking Supplies and Tips Download

The first marking tool category is the markers and pens available for fabric use. Kelly will present the wide range of marking pens and pencils on the market today. She covers the array of colors available on how they are used to transfer stitching guidelines when creating a quilting design for your quilt blocks. These are some of the most common marking tools selected by quilters today. They produce easy-to-follow lines that rarely smudge and can be easily removed.

A subcategory is the water- and air-erasable marking pens. There are specific times when these are used and can be removed with a simple spritz of water or simply by exposure to the air over a few days. Remember that some of these inks can become permanent if they come in contact with a heat source.

The following style of marking is the pounce pad. This is a very traditional way of marking that is economical but can easily be smudged or erased with excessive manipulation. The pounce halk can be found in a variety of colors. Kelly demonstrates the transfer of a design using this method.

The third approach is the use of the hera marker. This tool creases the fabric, allowing the quilter to use the crease as a guide when stitching out the design. This is an easy method that doesn’t require chalks, inks, or pencils and is very cost-efficient.

The last method is the adhesive template. This is one way to use paper with a printed design to guide the quilting. Adhesive strips hold the design in place, and the paper is torn and removed after all the stitching is completed. This product can be a bit more expensive but allows the quilter an endless array of designs to select when marking quilt tops.

Follow the links for more great videos to learn more about tear-away quilting designs and batting choices.