Acrylic Quilting Ruler An acrylic quilting ruler is used for cutting even strips and squares of fabric in numerous layers with the help of a cutting mat and rotary cutter. Appliqué Appliqués are pieces of fabric applied to other pieces of fabric, using fusible webbing or stitching. The stitching can be done by hand or with a machine. Buttonhole, satin or blind stitches are the usual methods used. Backing Backings, or linings, are the back layers of a quilt. Usually, they are plain. Backings can be either one large piece or many pieces that are sewn together. 11 Background It is the base fabric or diminishing color fabrics in patchwork where appliqué shapes are sewn. Basting Spray basting, thread basting and pin basting are the common methods of basting. This process involves holding the quilt top, batting and backing together to sew it all together. Basting Spray Basting spray is an aerosol spray that is used to hold the quilt top, batting and backing together during quilting. It is also used for holding appliqué pieces in place, and as a stabilizer for material during machine embroidery. Batik This method is mainly used for creating beautiful patterns. The fabric will need to be treated first with a resistant before dying. The resistant is usually some kind of wax. It prevents the dye from coloring portions of the fabric so that the underlying color will remain undisturbed. Treating the fabric many times with different colors of dye and using different wax patterns creates beautiful designs on the fabric. Batting Batting is the middle layer of the quilt “sandwich.” It is usually cotton, wool or polyester, and varies in thickness. Polyester batting makes for a cleaner look to the quilt, as it is easier to handle. Cotton batting has a penchant for falling apart and bunching up, so it is a more difficult-to-use option. Bearding Bearding is the process of pulling the batting fibers through the tops and bottoms of the quilt, through the holes created during sewing, to produce a whiskered effect. Beeswax Beeswax is used to strengthen thread, reduce tangling and fraying. Pulling a thread across the surface of a block of beeswax coats the thread and allows it to run more smoothly through fabric. This is a method to be used with sewing by hand. Betweens Hand quilting will use this tiny needle with a small eye. Bias View When you stretch the fabric, the greatest amount of stretch should be given to true bias other than the rest of the fabric. It gives extra care while piecing. Bias view is the diagonal of a fabric piece. A true bias should be at 45 degree angle to both the lengthwise and crosswise grain lines of the fabric. Grains are the lengthwise and crosswise threads of a woven fabric. Bias Binding In binding, the fabric is cut on the bias in against to crosscut or lengthwise. For binding non-rectangular quilt tops and curved edges, bias binding is needed. The edge of the quilt that has bias thread is stronger. The wear and tear on threads on the length of the quilt will be more if the threads are put diagonally in-line with the quilt top. This method is almost similar to the French Double Fold binding. Binding There are different types of binding. Bias binding and French Double Fold binding are the most popular. In binding, you will use a strip of fabric for covering the raw edges of the quilt sandwich so that the quilt will be finished off. Blanket Stitch The blanket stitch is an L-shaped hand or machine stitch. It is used for stitching the borders to the background fabric of the appliqué. Block It is the basic unit of a quilt top. It can be a pieced block or a solid piece of fabric. Blocks can be either square or rectangular or appliquéd pieces. Blocking Blocking is the method used to bring a quilt block back to square. For this, you will need to pin the square to a gridded ironing board and use a steam iron. “Squaring-up” is another method of blocking. To do this, you use a square acrylic ruler to mark the fabric in a square and cut off the excess. Border A border is the outer boundary of a quilt top. Borders can be either straight sections of fabric or strips that are put together. A border can act as a frame for the inner design of the quilt, or be part of the design itself. Broadcloth This is a cotton fabric having weft strands and thicker strands. It is a heavy fabric, and usually a solid color. Quilting Terminology Quilting Terms C to G Quilting Glossary H to P Quilting Terms Q to Z Tools Types Machine Quilts Fabric Guide Caring More Quilting Tips Quilting Machine Benefits Quilt Sandwich Quilt Pattern Tips Large Quilt