Linda Seward in her publication 'The Complete Book of Patchwork, Quilting and Appliqué' tells us that in Quilt Lore it is
believed that Patchwork evolved in America as a sensible method of teaching young girls the basics of sewing, that is,
cutting, stitching and successfully combining fabrics. This was to ensure they would be proficient in this task as adults
when supplying their own family's needs.
Cottons, Velvets and Silks
When thinking about putting together a patchwork quilt it is advisable to consider the weight, construction and care
requirements of the fabrics. If using fabrics which are all 100% cotton this is not a really a concern. However, if you
want to experiment with different types of fabric for example velvet and silk you may want to consider these points. When
fabrics are of a similar weight and construction they are easier to join together and you know one fabric with not pull or
weaken the other.
Pieced quilt
A pieced quilt is one composed of patches of fabric. How you piece the patches is matter of preference and is an
opportunity for you to experiment with various patterns to form the patchwork quilt. Different quilters use different
strategies for piecing so have fun and play around with the pieces to see what works for you.
There are basic different points to note depending on whether you are piecing by hand or machine. Detailed steps for
piecing can be found in many quilting books. I enjoyed using Linda Seward’s; 'The Complete Book of Patchwork and
Appliqué' which takes you step by step through both methods with clearly drawn diagrams to accompany each point.
Katherine Guerrier's, 'The Encyclopaedia of Quilting and Patchwork Techniques' is also easy to use and understand with
colour photographs to highlight the piecing process.
Hand or machine piecing
Whether to piece by hand or machine is entirely a matter for you. The shapes and type of patchwork quilt you wish to make
will probably influence you. Hand sewing is obviously slower but as a way of practising your stitching and keeping busy
hands occupied while you relax it is a good method. Machine sewing is quicker and definitely for the sewer who is not that
interested in hand sewing and is anxious to complete their project.