Quilting Patterns and The Great Depression

Quilting Patterns and The Great Depression
By Jan Myers

The Great Depression was an era that created quite a challenge for women who desired to quilt. Not only was money very tight in households, but there were limited supplies nationwide. Women had to turn to creativity and resourcefulness in order to create beautiful quilts. Some popular quilts of today were actually born from The Great Depression.

The Great Depression, for those of us who weren't around at the time, was an economic slump in North America, Europe, and other industrialized areas of the world that began in 1929 and lasted until about 1939. Begun with the collapse of agricultural prices in the 1920's, it's most well-known for the 1929 collapse of Wall Street. It was the longest and most severe depression ever experienced by the industrialized Western world.

Bankers and other previously weather individuals who lost everything jumped to their deaths from buildings. Workers who could find jobs still struggled to be able to feed their families. With the total collapse of the economy, people found creative ways to brings in small amounts of cash while businesses had to become creative to survive by vying for a portion of that hard-earned money from their customers.

So it's easy to see why companies selling quilt fabrics, threads and tools had to find a way to create value in their products and encourage quilters to continue to spend such hard-earned cash. Luckily for them, quilts were a necessity that had to be created by hand because the severe economic times limited the ability to purchase them.

Women magazines began offering similar quilting patterns for free with each issue to increase their readership. After all, most household budgets could not afford to purchase a magazine, yet alone several quilting patterns.

So to continue selling magazines and to promote the purchase of fabrics, many vendors chose to offer free patterns that would encourage the purchases. Patterns such as the Star of Bethlehem, Wedding Ring, Grandmother's Flower Garden and even Dresden Plate are just some of the patterns we still use today that were actually the result of The Great Depression.

Often women would share one magazine. They would trace the quilting patterns or even a picture from a quilt photographed for the magazine to make their own patterns at home. The most popular magazines would occasionally offer iron-on quilt patterns. These were extremely well received since several women could share not only the cost of the magazine but could share the iron-on patterns for their quilting.

Thus, offering free quilting patterns actually became a common marketing tradition that is still used today.

I found it particularly interesting that what was used to market to women and sell women's magazines in The Great Depression is still used today. Many companies even offer free patterns in their magazines for quilting and other crafts.

We offer the same service at www.QuiltingResourceCenter.com to people who sign up for the patterns, even if they don't belong to the members-only section of the website. Of course, those who do join the members-only site regularly receive original patterns created just for our members.

But caveat emptor – let the buyer beware – really applies here when surfing the web for "free" quilt patterns. There are a few sites that offer free patterns and even manage to often score high in page ranking on Google that are merely scams to capture and sell email addresses. So be careful when you choose to subscribe to such a free service. Be sure it's a website or company that really is in the quilting or sewing industry, not in the data collection and resale business or you could be subject to a flood of email marketing you think you've never requested.

All that aside, isn't it fascinating that this particular marketing technique of giving away free patterns that we use so freely today really came into use during The Great Depression? You know what they say, "The more things change, the more they stay the same."

Happy stitching!

Jan Myers is the author of numerous articles and books on topics from organizational development and leadership to quilting. It was her avocation, the love of quilting, that inspired the popular online membership site for quilters known as the "world’s largest quilting bee" at www.QuiltingResourceCenter.com. Jan hosts several blogs, one of which is Quilters' Broadcasting.

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http://EzineArticles.com/?Quilting-Patterns-and-The-Great-Depression&id=703043

For information about freedom quilts, visit
http://quiltinfosite.com/freedomquilts/

Machine Quilting: Hit The Accelerator

Machine Quilting: Hit The Accelerator
By Wade Robins

Machine quilting is becoming more and more popular by the day. Long gone are the days when you would sit down with a quilting frame and manually hand sew it until you are satisfied that it is well designed and will stand the test of time. If you still do use that method then you should really try machine quilting for size. If you do not like it then it is your choice, but you owe it to yourself to try out the technology that may just save you a lot of time and make it more enjoyable as a pastime. Some quilters love machine quilting, especially those that are new to the hobby, but some prefer to stick to the traditional methods of quilting instead. The choice is yours!

Hand-Sewing Vs. Machine Sewing

You have to be creative if you want to create works of art via quilting. There are various patterns that you can follow but it is much more satisfying to come up with your own designs and create a style for yourself. Hand sewn quilts are symbolic of the effort that individuals are prepared to put into their handiwork and if you make your quilts that way then you should be proud of yourself. However, you may well have to wait for weeks and weeks before you can finally add the finishing touches to one quilt. With machine quilting, however, you can easily create beautiful quilts in just a few days. Machine quilting is the in thing at the moment as a direct result of that. A machine can power a needle quite easily through several layers of fabric and gives you the freedom to choose the type of stitching that you want without having to manually learn how to do it!

Machine quilting

can offer some distinct advantages over hand sewn quilts. Firstly, the finished project will look more professional because it is easier to create straighter edges and basic designs with a machine than it is when stitching it by hand. Machine quilting also ensures that the final product is much stronger than a hand sewn quilt could ever be. The machine will actually pull the material tauter than one individual could ever do and thus the stitches are guaranteed to have a strength that only a machine could bring! This is much better for the longevity of the quilt.

Both hand sewn quilt and quilting machines have distinct advantages over the other, but in the technological world that we inhabit, technology wins every time. Unfortunately for old arts, if you cannot do it with a machine then many things would not actually get done at all. Machine quilting makes life so much easier and the results are just as fabulous.

You can also find more info on Quilting Software and Quilting Supplies. IHeartquilting.com is a comprehensive resource to known about quilting.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Wade_Robins
http://EzineArticles.com/?Machine-Quilting:-Hit-The-Accelerator&id=591882

for information about fish quilt patterns, visit
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Enhance Your Quilting Experience - Quilting Kits

Enhance Your Quilting Experience - Quilting Kits
By Wade Robins

If you have decided to make a go of quilting then you may want to check out all of the aids available to you on the market. There are many products that you can choose from out there but a good one for any beginner is a quilting kits. Quilting kits will provide you with everything you need to make a beautiful quilt first time around. Quilting kits will provide you with full and comprehensive instructions as well as ready-made material squares, quilting materials and other essential parts of the quilt. Whilst it does not contain the thread used to quilt, everything else that you would ever need is contained in the quilting kits.

Quilting Kits: The Contents

Quilting kits contain everything you need to make attractive and useful quilts. There will almost certainly be a top and bottom of the quilt in there that are already cut to size. As a result, any beginner can learn how to sew quilts effectively and quickly because the most difficult parts of getting started are already done for them. It can be difficult to cut level and equal top and bottom layers. It is fairly simple to stitch the layers together after initially cutting them to size so you do not have to worry about having an uneven quilt with any of the quilting kits available out there. If you have experience with quilting then quilting kits will actually enable you to have it completely finished in just a few hours.

All sections of material have to be equal, or as close to equal as possible in order to work properly. If you not achieve the correct sizing the first time round then it is possible to alter the materials but you would end up with a series of smaller squares and thus a smaller quilt! Quilting kits provide the altered pieces for you and thus save you a lot of time and effort trying to perfect the art of cutting the materials down to size in the right way! Even the simplest of squares are hard to cut, but the more intricate the design the more expertise it will take!

Quilting kits are excellent for any quilter, regardless of what level they are on at the moment. However, they are also extremely versatile and can be used for various other things as well as the obvious quilts. You can make baby clothing and blankets, wall hangings, rugs, quilted cushions and pillows and much more from decent quilting kits. With this sort of flexibility, you cannot go wrong!

You can also find more info on Quilting Software and Quilting Supplies. IHeartquilting.com is a comprehensive resource to known about quilting.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Wade_Robins
http://EzineArticles.com/?Enhance-Your-Quilting-Experience---Quilting-Kits&id=615672

For information about easy quilting patterns, visit
http://quiltinfosite.com/easyquiltingpatterns/

Your Guide To Quilting Material

Your Guide To Quilting Material

Your Guide To Quilting Material
By Wade Robins

There are many beautiful factors associated with quilting that can leave you to enjoy your hobby as a result of the complete and utter freedom that it lends you. One of those factors happens to be quilting materials. There are no rules that dictate the quilting materials that you must use when sewing patterns and designs. Instead, you can choose the materials that you want to use and incorporate various textures into your designs. Cotton, wool, velvet and various other fabrics are all commonly used by quilters the world over.

The tools that you are using to make your quilt can have just as much impact on the final results as the quilting materials that you are using have. The needle, for example, is of paramount importance in ensuring that your quilt is of a high quality. The shorter the needle, the more control you have over it and the better it will be at piercing the cloth accurately. You may, however, need a larger needle to push through the quilting material. However, regardless of the needle you actually us, you should always make sure that it is sharp.

Quilting thread is one of the essential quilting materials. You should use it to decorate your quilt as well as hold it together and it should therefore be of the special variety that is much stronger than ordinary cotton. Not only will you be embroidering through three layers of material, it will be pulled from pillar to post and must be strong enough to withstand that. Any quilting materials that you use must be strong enough to withstand such force. A wax coating on the thread will enable you to pull it through easier as well so this is always an option worth considering. Of course, the colours of any quilting materials that you use are completely up to you, but it is always worth considering specialist materials.

There are certain factors that you need to take into consideration before purchasing any quilting materials. Firstly, you will need to take the aesthetic appearance of any look that you hope to achieve into account because obviously the final look and feel of velvet will be very different to the look and feel of cotton. You will also need to consider the intended use of the quilt too because a delicate one is unlikely to survive very long on a child’s bed, whereas tough quilting materials will withstand almost anything!

Quilting materials are massive as far as the choice and range is concerned. All tastes are catered for and all level of expertise are too. However, you have to learn to run before you can walk so choose cotton or something as malleable before using denim for example. Quilting materials are widely available so search for bargains before sitting back and enjoying yourself.

You can also find more info on Quilting Designs and Quilting Machine. IHeartquilting.com is a comprehensive resource to known about quilting.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Wade_Robins
http://EzineArticles.com/?Your-Guide-To-Quilting-Material&id=624930

For information about Dresden Plate quilt patterns, visit
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Creating and Selling Craft Patterns

Creating and selling your own craft patterns for fun & profit!
Crafters are creative and talented people who thrive on the thrill of seeing the finished product. As a crafter myself, I enjoy seeing the talents of other come to life at craft shows and patterns that I discover in magazines and books.

If you are a crafter and have always wanted to get your ideas published here are some ideas and suggestions for writing and getting your ideas sold.

My favorite craft is to crochet, but I also make candles and soaps. I like following the directions on some of the many craft patterns out there but a lot of times I will be creative and make up my own. I have started to compile my patterns into a notebook and share them with others.

In order to get started you must first write down everything you know about the item that you have created. First start with what materials are needed. For example if you are creating a crochet project, write down the type of yarn you used, the size of the needle and any other materials that were needed. If you are doing a general craft, make sure to specify what the materials are such as glue, paper, etc. Try to be as detailed as possible to make it easy for crafters to locate the materials they need at the store.

Once you have a list of materials required, start out listing the basic steps and instructions for your craft project. For example if you are creating a candle craft make sure to provide safety tips and instructions, along with suggestions on how to prevent errors. A good suggestion is to review other craft patterns you have read to see how they were prepared.

The next phase is to write out your craft pattern in detail, providing step-by-step instructions. Make sure your information is clear and precise and to the point. Try to provide photos or illustrations of your project that makes it much easier for the reader to follow.

Once you have the pattern written down, test it out to make sure that you are able to follow all of the instructions. Even better, ask a fellow crafter to review it to see if the pattern is easy to follow.

The next step is to get your pattern published. There are several magazines and Internet sites that are looking for patterns. You can learn how to submit your work through publications such as Writer's Market or the magazine Writer's Digest. If you have a subscription of your favorite craft magazine, check out their requirements for pattern/author submissions. If they don't have anything listed contact them via phone or email and ask if they are accepting new projects and what their guidelines are. Some may require a photograph along with the finished written craft project so be sure to be prepared.

The amount of money a publication will pay you for your patterns will vary. You can even consider publishing your patterns yourself if you want. If you decide to take the step into self-publishing your patterns, check out the self-publishing books on Amazon or through your local bookstore. Also ask other crafter how they have started in the business of creating and publishing their patterns.

Crafting is a big business and with a little creativity and inspiration you can become a published crafter!

About the Author

Writer of Gel Candles How To Make For Fun & Profit & How to Sell On Ebay and Other On-Line Auctions. How To Self-Publish Your Book and Get It Sold! Writing and auction tips and more available on my web Site! I also create my own craft patterns, books and e-books!

For information about double wedding ring quilts, visit
http://quiltinfosite.com/doubleweddingringquilt/

Nifty Kids - bright clothes for bright babies, shop for baby clothes UK.

March 16, 2004--Nifty Kids, a UK based online retailer of quality baby clothes, today launched its new updated website.

Specialists in bright, colourful clothing, many taken from the leading Australian range Brightbots, Nifty Kids has all a bright baby could need! Protective swimwear, cute booties, joggers, dungarees, baby quilts, the majority made from 100% cotton and manufactured to high standards.

All major credit cards are accepted through the leading industry payment system Worldpay, while the site has been specially built to make it easy to use. Payments can be made offline if required.

Designed to have every type of baby clothes a fashion conscious parent would desire, we hope that you like our range.

Why not try us out? Go to www.niftykids.co.uk TODAY!

For information about discount quilts, visit
http://quiltinfosite.com/discountquilts/

The http://www.patternreview.com sewing community helps sewers share their experiences and learn from each other on the internet

http://www.PatternReview.com is a growing online community focused on categorizing, managing and sharing sewing experiences and opinions. The website which was launched in November last year is free for all of its users and boasts a growing number of sewers and reviews.

Deepika Prakash, a sewing enthusiast and a software developer, saw the challenge and difficulty in easily obtaining information from popular sewing message boards for making sewing decisions and created http://www.PatternReview.com to allow sewers to post and read opinions in an easy to navigate and categorized manner. The site initially allowed users to share reviews on their favorite patterns but over the last six months has evolved to allow users to also review and discuss sewing machines and sergers, sewing related websites, sewing books and magazines as well as fabric and sewing stores.

“The user response to http://www.PatternReview.com has been overwhelming and I receive e-mails from sewers almost on a daily basis thanking me for building and maintaining this site”, says Deepika. She has been rolling out new features and has most recently added functionality which allows users to create pattern review requests, maintain their personal pattern catalogs, create pattern wish lists, as well as buy, sell and exchange patterns with other users. This last feature was added to save sewers the added expense incurred in selling patterns via ebay or half.com.

http://www.PatternReview.com also features a weekly celebrity chat on Sunday evening at 9 PM EST and in the past has featured designers such as Peggy Sagers and Christine Jonson. Chat transcripts from previous chats are also available on the website. http://www.PatternReview.com is also running a Stash Contest to help sewers reduce theirs stash. Stash Contest winners receive prizes from contest sponsors.

“I developed http://www.PatternReview.com so that sewers could easily learn and share their knowledge, experience and opinions with each other. As the site grows I hope more and more sewers will benefit from it”, says Deepika. Looking at the user testimonials published at http://www.PatternReview.com it looks like the site is achieving this goal.

For information about denim quilts, visit
http://quiltinfosite.com/denimquilts/