the Internet Public Library
the Internet Public LibraryQuilting is the art of joining pieces of fabric together with small stitches, often with padding in between. Quilting can be completed on whole cloth quilts (made from one large piece of cloth), or patchwork quilts (made from small pieces of fabric sewn together into one large piece, then quilted). There are many techniques for creating the patchwork portion of your quilt, such as foundation piecing, crazy piecing, strip piecing and appliqué. Both the piecing and quilting steps can be done by machine (using a regular sewing machine or larger, industrial quilting machine) or entirely by hand. Quilts can be functional or decorative, or somewhere in between.
This guide is not meant to be exhaustive, but to provide a starting point for learning about quilting. I've included some suggestions for finding print resources, links to the home pages of some quilting associations as well as to some online quilting resources.
There are many quilting books published every year, ranging from titles written to help someone who has never quilted or sewn before, to books designed for the expert fabric artist.
Quilting Subject Headings
These subject headings are the same whether you are using Library of Congress or Dewey Classification.
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Print Resources
Finding Quilting Books in Your Library
Amazon has thousands of quilting books available, many with customer and editorial reviews. Choose Home and Garden from the Subject menu, then Crafts and Hobbies, then Quilts and Quilting, or just search for quilting in the search box on the home page.
The Quilt University library includes a large selection of critical book reviews.
This bibliography, maintained by Betty Reynolds, lists fiction books which feature quilting, quilts, quilters or patchwork in their plots. The list also includes links to Amazon for reviews, and indicates publication information when available. There is also a list for children’s and young adult selections at Quilting Associations
"Studio Art Quilt Associates (SAQA) is a national non-profit organization that was founded in 1989 to serve artists working in the art quilt medium. The lack of presence of art quilts in major art publications, exhibits in museums and galleries, and critical writing about art quilts, as well as the limited awareness of the public-at-large, necessitated the founding of SAQA." This site includes membership information, a bookstore, a newsletter, contact information, a gallery of member works and a listing of museums that collect art quilts.
"The National Quilting Association, Inc., a non-profit organization run by quilters for quilters, was founded in 1970 by seven ladies in the Washington, D.C. area. The organization was established to create, stimulate, maintain and record an interest in all matters pertaining to the making, collecting, and preserving of quilts, and to establish and promote educational and philanthropic endeavors through quilts. Membership in the organization is open to all interested individuals." The site includes membership and chapter information, programs and information on their annual quilting show, and access to their magazine (Quilting Quarterly).
A society dedicated to the preservation, restoration and appreciation of crazy quilts, both new and old. Site includes membership information and an online form to join, excerpts from the Society newsletter, galleries with pictures of antique and new crazy quilts, and a list of web resources for more information.
"We are a diverse group of artists, teachers, writers, collectors and shop owners. We view quilts as an exciting emerging medium of expression and a viable contemporary art form.
We work to: educate the public and promote public interest in the contemporary art quilt;
encourage both public and private collecting of the contemporary art quilt; and to
encourage and support contemporary quilt artists." This site includes membership information, galleries, links to art quilting articles, and to other resources on the web.
The Society sponsors an appraiser training and certification program, a national quilting promotion program called "Teach America 2 Quilt...Again" and an annual national show. Membership is open to any quilters, and includes a subscription to American Quilter Magazine.
This site has links to a list of certified appraisers, information about what to look for in an appraisal, why you should have your quilt appraised, and the text of the Code of Ethics that the members of PAAQT agree to abide by.
"Our mission is to promote, to teach, to encourage the love of all types of appliqué in quilting." This site features information and links for lovers of appliqué. Included are lists of teachers/experts, with e-mail addresses when available, membership forms, chapter lists, current and back issues of the newsletter, links to other applique sites, photos and descriptions of member projects and winners of recent shows.
Online Quilting Resources
This pathfinder created by Karen McCalla
This page on the Google site provides access to quilting resources on the web in several categories, such as Applique, Crazy Quilts, Supplies, Events, History, Museums, and Publications. There is also a search function that allows users to search only the pages in the Google Quilting category.
From The World Wide Quilting Page, a list of instructions for various quilting techniques (block piecing, foundation piecing, strip piecing, rotary cutting, appliqué, machine quilting, binding and setting, figuring yardage, drafting your own patterns and caring for quilts).
Also from the World Wide Quilting Page, the Quilt Coloring Book allows you to choose a common block type, then print a 6x8 block layout, which you can then color in. Great for planning color values or complex designs.
Articles on quilting topics, free patterns, clip art, advice on care and maintenance of old and new quilts, all written by Susan Druding, who holds a Masters degree in Textile Design from University of California Berkeley.
Free patterns and articles from the current issue of the magazine, as well as archived articles and patterns, quilting links, topics of current interest (for example, redwork, mystery quilts, notable quilters) links to advertisers and online forms to order the print version. Especially nice is the Quilt Lessons page at http://www.quiltmag.com/lessons.html. This page has links to step-by-step directions for cutting, sewing and finishing more than 20 quilt block patterns.
This site is dedicated to the quilting patterns that appeared in the Kansas City Star newspaper from 1928 to 1960. These early published patterns were very popular with quilters, and are often featured in vintage quilts. A complete index of patterns published in the Star is available at http://www.pickledish.com/bin/view.pl/content/story/quiltindex.htm. Modern quilters also appreciate the history behind these designs, their simplicity and classic design lines. This site features free downloads of Kansas City Star patterns (new ones each month), articles about quilting in general, links to retailers, discussion lists and organizations, as well as online ordering of Kansas City Star Pattern books.
"Dedicated to displaying lost and stolen quilts and to providing information on protecting quilts." Maria Elkins created this page after her quilt was lost (and then happily found, 53 days later) by a shipping company. She has created a clearinghouse of information on shipping your quilts safely, as well as documenting, displaying and caring for them properly. The site also includes information about copyrighting your quilts and on avoiding copyright infringment, as well as tips and information on labeling and insuring quilts.
Provides online quilting classes for a fee. Each class includes patterns and directions, online help, chat and discussion with other students and the instructor. Classes are taught in several broad areas, including patchwork and piecing, embellishment and design, appliqué, computer aided design and color selection. The library, located at http://www.quiltuniversity.com/library.htm includes links to computer and quilting terms glossaries, a metric conversions table and a large selection of critical book reviews.
Instructions and a simple pattern to help users "get the hang of" paper piecing.
"Quiltart was established in 1995 as a means for those interested in innovative, contemporary art quilting to share, learn and grow." The site includes many rotating galleries where users can view very detailed photos of art quilts displayed at QuiltArt shows and functions, as well as descriptions of the quilts, addressing both subject and technique, written by the artists.
"Quilt Gallery Magazine is dedicated to art and contemporary quilters and quilt lovers. We offer in-depth design and technique articles, interview, reviews and a lot more."
An online resource guide for all types of quilters. Includes a very nice Resource Directory (links to other quilting sites on the web), book reviews, chats and discussions, galleries, message boards and scrapbooks, and a Quilter’s Marketplace, where quilters can sell or trade all sorts of goods.
Bulletin boards, classrooms for sharing tips and techniques, online chats, free patterns, block of the month program, reviews and shopping links.
"The aim of this web site is to provide a centralized location for resources and information about the art of crazy quilting past, present, and future - both on and off the Web."
Created in conjunction with Anderson’s TV show, Simply Quilts (currently airing on HGTV), this site features free patterns, with instructions and shopping guides, a bookstore, galleries, quilting vacations and links to other web pages.
A commercial site for foundation piecing patterns (also sometimes called paper piecing), this site has patterns available for purchase, as well as some free patterns, updated monthly. Beginning paper piecers should click on the Table of Contents link, then scroll down to find the How-To section. Included here are very clear directions for paper/foundation piecing. Some instructions are in PDF format, so you might need to have a copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader to view them (the Reader can be downloaded for free from Adobe.com).
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Last updated
Apr 24, 2001