A quilt top is also called a patchwork. It forms the pretty side of your quilt using all kinds of different fabric pieces.

Most traditional quilt tops consist of several blocks and sashing. However, that is not mandatory

1. What are the different parts of a quilt?

For now, you have to know about 4 different parts of a quilt:

1. Quilt top: this is the completed top part of the quilt. 
2. Quilt block: One part of the quilt top. 
3. Fabric piece: Fabric pieces together form a quilt block
4. Sashing: Used to put the quilt blocks together (optional)

To summarize:

• Quilt top: this is the completed top part of the quilt.
• Quilt block: One part of the quilt top.
• Fabric piece: Fabric pieces together form a quilt block
• Sashing: Used to put the quilt blocks together (optional)

The best way to visualize all those different parts is from big to small, as shown in the diagram. The quilt top is the biggest part, consisting of quilt blocks. The quilt blocks consist of fabric pieces, which is the smallest unit of your quilt. The quilt blocks are sewn together with sashing, which are strips of fabric.

When you make a quilt, you work from the right to the left in the diagram

• First you assemble fabrics for the fabric pieces and sashing
• Secondly you create the quilt blocks
• Third step is turning the quilt blocks into a quilt top!

Would you like to know more?

• Learn how to make your own quilt!

Discussion points

• Do you have a nice quilt top to show? Send us an email at rianne@kickassquilts.org and maybe we’ll use the photo in an article!

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A lap quilt is a blanket of about 120 × 150 cm. They are called lap quilt because they are the perfect size to use sitting down. However, they are too small for a regular sized bed.  On the other hand, they are perfect for a children’s bed.  

Example of a lap quilt made from scraps

Common uses of the lap quilt:

• Keeping an adult or child warm in the seating position during:
  • Cold evenings
  • Outside on a porch
  • For wheelchair users 
• Keeping the elderly or sick warm
• A snuggle blanket for children
• A baby blanket and feeding blanket to keep the baby and mother warm
• First quilt for a newborn baby! And later the quilt can be used on bed

The beauty is that a lap quilt made with love and intention makes the user feel special. The patterns and colour used can be tailored to the preference of the user. It is much better than a store-bought blanket! 

Conclusion: a smaller sized-quilt to keep you warm

A lap quilt is a bit smaller than quilts commonly used as bed covers. This makes the quilt more portable and also suitable for younger children. 

A quilt has insular qualities, keeping the wearer warm for a long time at evenings or in the outdoors. Also, it can be used as a picknick blanket during the day or as a soft spot to lay on. 

Also, quilting through the three layers creates little pillows which offers tactile distraction in times of stress. 

Lastly, a lap quilt made from old clothes creates a unique item to be treasured for a lifetime. Think about it! You can even use clothes that hold good memories for the person the quilt is meant for! In this way, the lap quilt gives a new life to treasured old garments. 

Using clothes and fabrics you have prevents it from going to landfills, and also gives a new life to treasured old garments. 

How to sew your own lap quilt

Do you want to create your own ‘ Lap Quilt Sampler to Save the World?’ Our intermediate quilt class is all about making your own lap quilt! The style of this lapquilt is a sampler quilt. A sampler quilt is used in quilt tradition to teach quilting, so it’s nice to honour that tradition on this platform as well!

The lap quilt sampler teaches you:

1. 5 basic quilt blocks 
2. Colour and fabric choices, with a focus on using old clothes and upcycled fabric
3. Basic techniques to integrate quilt blocks into a bigger design
4. How to finish a big quilt to make it warm and comfortable

We call it the ‘ Lap Quilt Sampler to Save the World’ at Kick Ass Quilts because by re-purposing and giving a new life to discarded textiles you are saving the world a tiny bit. Check out the class here.

_{Drawing examples for the ‘Lap Quilt Sampler to Save the World’} 

Do you have a lap quilt to show?

Do you have made a lap quilt made from scraps, discarded fabric or old clothes? Or do you own a lap quilt made by someone else? I’d love to feature your quilt in this article. Email your photo and story to rianne@kickassquilts.org

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A Quilting bee is a social gathering where quilters work on quilts together, share ideas and create friendships by sharing about their lives.

How did the Quilting Bee emerge?

Emerged in the early 18th century. It’s a social gathering of quilters to share quilt, techniques and whatever else you want to talk about. Often the bee was a combination of a gathering of friends to catch up, and a way to finish quilts together. The original of the term quilting bee is attributed to colonial America where people depended on communal work to accomplish certain tasks such as barn raising, harvesting, and also the finishing of quilts. 

Often, quilters did the last part of sewing the layers together, the quilting, in a group. In this way, they sometimes managed to finish several quilts in one day during a quilting bee! It was really seen as a party with good food and communal meals together with husbands, friends and lovers. 

Sometimes those quilting bees were organized for special occasions, such as a trousseau for weddings or a fair. Sometimes it was a regular occasion to combine friendship with industriousness.

Where does the name quilting bee come from? 

The exact origin of the word is hard to determine, as is the case with many old things. It is either one, or a combination, of these two things:

—The name bee stems from a bee hive where bees work together for a single purpose

—Bee is a folk-derivative from the word been or bean, meaning something good or helpful

Both words indicate the communal, helping-each-other spirit of a quilting bee. This spirit is still present in the quilting bees today. 

Quilting bees in this day and age 

Today, with the rise of internet and digital communication means, quilting bees exist in 2 forms: offline & online. Usually they emerged based on thematic interests of the quilter.

Offline quilting bees

I am part of a modern quilting bee. Modern quilting is the closest description of the kind of quilts I make. We’ve met for a few years now, and  I feel at home with the group, and we’ve become friends. One of the members also makes the photos for Kick Ass Quilts!

As in most modern quilting bees, we work on our own projects, and we also teach each other new techniques. During the meeting we first have a Show & Tell where we show the quilt we’re working on for feedback, inspiration, or admiration. After that, one of us will explain a new quilt technique to try out. It’s great fun to chat and learn from each other! 

These days, quilters rarely work on a single quilt during a quilting. However, it still happens, especially when there is a special occasion or theme going on! Also, some groups make the same pattern together. It all depends on the wishes and needs of the quilters involved. It’s foremost a group of like-minded people to share the love of quilting with.

Online quilting bees

Quilting bees are often formed online. Through Facebook, email and Instagram, people connect with a similar desire to make quilting friends or to learn more about a specific quilting style. Internet puts quilters with a similar disposition in contact. 

Sometimes those bees remain online, and sometimes they move to offline places. It all depends on the geographical distribution of the members. Many quilters still prefer offline meeting to online meetings. It is important in a global and digital world to also have connection with / in the place you are living. 

Conclusion: Meaning of Quilting bee for Kick Ass Quilts

A quilting bee has always been a place where quilters help each other. In the olden days by finishing a quilt together, and in modern days by learning techniques and give each other feedback and inspiration. And mostly a quilting bee is a place for friendship and support. While working on the quilts. You can share about your life and support each other. 

Kick ass Quilts also offers a quilting bee. This bee will be mainly online because we are a global community. In the closed community of quilt college, you can connect and share with like-minded quilters. In the freely accessible library you can find inspiration from sustainable quilts made by others and also send in your quilts. 

Do you have a quilt you’d like me to use in an upcoming article? I love to use examples from the Kick Ass Quilts community when I teach quilting! Send me a message on FB or Instagram, or email me at rianne@kickassquilt.org. Make sure you mention the name to attribute with the quilt. 

Similar terms: quilting retreat, quilt holiday, quilt party, quilt guild

Questions for discussions:

• Are you part of a quilting bee? If so, how did you find the group?
• Would you love to become part of a quilting bee? If so, what kind of group?

Would you like to know more?

Sources

1. Quilts Their Story and How to Make Them by Marie D. Webster
2. https://www.favequilts.com/Beginner-Basics/What-is-a-Quilting-Bee
3. https://wordhistories.net/2018/08/10/bee-communal-work/

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The Flying Geese block is a very basic and foundational pattern to learn. You will use it often. It offers an exquisite arrangement of arrows that can often form a variety of pleasing patterns. This block is easily recognizable as a large triangle within a rectangle. You could even say the block resembles a two-tone envelope. The two colours should contrast each other well. Additionally, the width should be twice the height.

The Flying Geese block does well on its own or combined with other blocks. You will definitely want to add this lovely block pattern to your quilting repertoire, as it is often used in a variety of other blocks. These include such blocks as the Dutchman’s Puzzle, Wild Goose Chase, Pineapple, Kite Trails, Toad in a Puddle, and Jacob’s Ladder, just to name a few. It does especially well as a border pattern along the outside edge of a quilt also.

The History and Meaning Behind the Flying Geese Pattern

This pattern dates back to the 1800s, and as mentioned earlier, is a main staple for other larger blocks that contain triangular shapes. The large triangle in the centre represents “a goose in flight” while the two smaller triangles, flanking the larger one on either side, represent “the sky.”

No one knows for sure where the Flying Geese pattern block came from. In many cases, it seems, quilt names simply come from the experiences of everyday life. Quilters are artists. We take our inspiration from our homes, families, and even nature itself. Quilters of the past likely looked up into the sky and noticed the return of migrating geese. The loud calls and honks of these robust creatures would have been hard to miss as they flew overhead. With the arrival of geese, early quilt makers could anticipate warmer days and the new growth of spring.

Making Use of Scraps in a flying geese quilt

Using the Flying Geese block is a wonderful way to make use of leftover fabric strips and scraps. This block uses small fabric pieces and allows for size adaption within the pattern.

Quilting has a long tradition of zero waste. This is because quilt scraps are often saved and then reused in the making of other quilts. When we reuse our fabric scraps, we are upcycling them. The term “upcycling” refers to the sustainable practice of not only recycling materials but also putting them to a better use than what they were originally intended.

Therefore, save all your fabric scraps. You can upcycle them into something truly beautiful. You and your family will enjoy your handmade quilts far into the future, and they will stand the test of time.

Experience the flying geese quilt block for Yourself

When you go to sit and stitch your quilt, you will now know the deeper meaning behind the design. As we create new quilts, we are keeping old traditions alive; traditions of storytelling, capturing special moments in time, and the pleasure of being a bit resourceful.

Thank you for stopping by to visit Kick Ass Quilts. Check back often for new inspiration and the very latest in quilting knowledge. Also, learn how to make this attractive pattern in the Quilt College with the sampler quilt class.

Do you have a Flying Geese quilt that you want to share with us? contact me to share your creation.

Happy quilting my friends!

Sources: 

https://www.quilting-in-america.com/flying-geese.html

https://fieldguidetoquilts.com/3Triangle/3TriFlyingGeese.shtml

Pleasance’s Flying Geese

https://www.delbrookquiltcompany.com/blog/block-five-geese-tracks

The post What is the Flying Geese Quilt block? appeared first on #KICKASSQUILTS.

Some links are clickable. They will take you to in-depth articles or videos about the subject.

Is the glossary missing something? Email us through the contact form with your suggestions. Would you like to help expand this quilting glossary by creating articles or videos, also email us with your idea!

The Quilting glossary

• A Lap Quilt Sampler to Save the World: The first sampler designed by Kick Ass Quilts to teach you 5 basic patterns and the necessary quilting skills for your future upcycle quilt projects.
• Affirmation Quilts: A project to get quilts into the world as well as positive words to make the lives of the owners better. Its a collaboration with Affirmation Billboards
• Applique: Sewing pieces of fabric directly on top, or below, your quilt block. This is done in intricate shapes. Applique allows to create complicated shapes out of one piece of fabric. There are different applique techniques,  such as needle turn applique, reverse applique, raw edge applique and applique with fusible interfacing.
• Art quilt: quilts that look like paintings. They can be life-like images, but also completely abstract. 
• Binding: ‘If you love your quilt, put a ring on it’. Binding is the fabric you put around the quilt to finish of the edges. This is the last step you take to finish a quilt. This is also called border.
• Backing: the buttocks of a quilt. Usually made from left-over fabrics of the quilt top or with a large piece of fabric.
• BAP: Big ass project. One of those projects you start and will take at least aeons to finish. 
• Basting: A technique to temporarily sew layers of fabric together. This can be done with very loose hand stitches, a basting spray (some kind of glue) or pins.
• Batting: stuff you put inside a quilt, which makes the quilt warm and comfortable. This material is usually made from wool or bamboo, if fancy, or polyester, when not fancy. You can also use a blanket, fleece blankets, towels and such. Cats really love the wool batting.
• Bee:  Either called quilting or sewing bee. It’s a collection of quilters who work on their quilts together.
• Big Stitch: a sewing method where you make big stitches which stand out from the material you sew on. This is usually done with embroidery floss. Big stitch can add a nice decorative element to your work.
• Blanket Stitch: An nearly invisible embroidery stitch to secure the border of your quilt at the back. Most of the stitch is buried within the border fabric.
• (Quilt) block: usually, a quilt top consists of several blocks. A block has a particular design and can be made with a variety of techniques.
• Block Quilt: A quilt made of different quilt blocks. A block quilt either consists of the same blocks or different ones. The last kind is called  a sampler quilt. 
• Border: ‘If you love your quilt, put a ring on it’. Binding is the fabric you put around the quilt to finish of the edges. This is the last step you take to finish a quilt. This is also called binding.
• Burry the knot: Securing the know inside the fabric by pulling it gently through. Technique is used for quilting.
• Chain piecing: an awesome technique that allows you to sew pieces of fabric together in a row. This technique is useful when one has to sew a lot of the same blocks by machine because it saves time on starting and finishing the seams. When all the pieces are sewn together it looks like a festive  garland. 
• Charm quilt: A quilt where every piece of fabric is only used once.
• Cheater quilt: A piece of fabric that has a quilt design on it. You don’t have to piece the top anymore so it makes the quilting process quicker. It’s a similar technique to wholecloth quilt design.
• Crazy patchwork: pieces of fabric randomly sewn together into blocks or a quilt top. 
• Curved piecing: Sewing pieces of fabric together with nice curves.
• Deadstock: Left-over fabric from fashion houses and such. Too little is left for them to use, but it’s enough for quilters to use.
• Design wall: Made from flannel and some kind of isolation material. A design wall allows you to arrange your fabrics and quilt blocks before committing to any kind of design. An alternative for a design wall are your curtains or the floor. 
• English paper piecing: the technique of wrapping the fabric around a template. This is traditionally done with a hexagon shape, but can be done in a variety of shapes.
• Fabric stash: The fabrics a quilter has in her room ready to be turned into gorgeous quilts.
• Finish-high: that mysterious feeling you get when a project is finished against all odds or expectation. Usually, this has been a long-term sewing project.
• Finger pressing: ‘iron’  your pieces with your fingers, instead of an iron. I also find a smooth teaspoon works well.
• Flying geese quilt block
• Frankenbatting: When you have a lot of small pieces of batting left you can sew them together to make a big piece. This is called frankenbatting named after the famous sci-fi novel Frankenstein.
• Foundation paper piecing: this quilting technique uses paper, a thin fabric or some other material, where the fabric pieces are sewn onto. This helps accuracy when making complex designs. 
• Fusible interfacing: A quilting aid you stick to fabric to help strengthen the shape of fabric pieces. This material has to be bought, so be mindful of how you use it.
• Fussy cutting: Cutting out and using a specific piece of the fabric because you like the pattern, or it has a certain image.
• Galloping horse rule: It is a tool used by quilters to check if your quilt is precise enough. The rule goes as followings: If somebody on a horse galloping past your quilt can’t see the mistakes, there are no mistakes!
• Kick Ass Quilt: Quilts that embody the values of Kick Ass Quilts of Sustainability, mindfulness, connection and joy.
• Labeling quilts: The act of putting a label on your quilts so future descendants and quilt historians know why, how and when your quilt is made!
• Lap Quilt: A quilt of about 120 * 150 cm to use sitting down or for small children
• Lining: fabric that is placed behind your fabric on display to give some extra strength or to prevent the top-fabric from moving. This is done with stretchy fabric, for example.
• Log Cabin Quilt Block: A quilt block inspired by log cabins. It’s shape is interlocking rectangulars. 
• Medallion quilt: A quilt with a large centre block with applique or pieced borders. This style originated in Europe.
• Mindfulness: A peaceful state of mind as antidote to the chaotic world we life in. Can be reached through mindful quilting.
• Mini Quilt: A quilt you can finish quickly. Afterwards, it can be used for decoration, a pet blanket or to display items on. 
• Memory Quilt: A way to keep memories close to you by using significant clothes and textiles into a quilt. 
• Nappy liners: nappy liners used for cotton diapers are a perfect background for foundation piecing.
• Needle turn applique: sewing pieces of fabric onto a background fabric. While sewing, you fold the seems under to hide them. The stitches to secure the piece are also hidden.
• Neglected floss: The embroidery floss not used when a project is finished.
• Notions: The tools used to quilt with (eg, rulers, pins, etc.)
• Offcuts: The fabric that is left after cutting a pattern piece out of a big piece of fabric.
• Open seams: one seam at each side of the stitched line. This is a good technique to deal with bulk in complex patterns.
• Orphan blocks: Leftover blocks from quilt projects. They are called orphan blocks because they do not belong to any quilt project and usually hang around in drawers and on chairs without a purpose. 
• Panel Quilt: Using one piece of gorgeous fabric as the center piece of your quilt.
• Patchwork: a quilting technique in which several pieces of fabric are sewn together to form the block.
• Pattern matching: Making sure that the pattern of 2 pieces of fabric continue when you sew them together. 
• (Fabric) piece: cut-out fabric sewn together to form the block.
• Piecing: sewing together all the fabric pieces to form a block.
• Quilt A Long: A joined quilt project where you work on the same projects as a group of people. This can be online, offline or a combination.
• Pressing seams open: A way treat your seams. This technique reduces bulk at the back of your quilt top.
• Quilt: An object created with the quilting technique, having several layers of fabric which are kept together with thread.
• Quilt as you go (QAYG): this is a quilting technique where quilt blocks  quilted and sewn together before the whole top is done.  
• Quilting bee: a gathering of quilters where they quilt together, share stories and generally have a wonderful time. 
• Quilt sandwich: Name of the 3 layers of a quilt together. A quilt sandwich consists of the quilt top, batting and backing.
• Quilt top: usually the side of the quilt with the design you had in mind, which consists of all the blocks sewn together. The quilt top is the one on display.
• Quilting: sewing through all the layers of the sandwich. This is done to add to the aesthetic of a quilt, and to keep all the separate layers together, making the quilt durable and soft.
• Rag quilt: a quilt where the seams are on the outside. The seams are snipped and will fray after putting the quilt through the washer and dryer. This creates an interesting look.
• Raw edge: an edge where the edges of the fabric is not turned under. Basically, the edge of the fabric is left open. This will fray with time, which adds a nice element to your work.
• Reduce, reuse and recycle: a sustainability concept guiding best ways to treat waste.
• Reverse applique: instead of sewing fabric on top of a background the pieces are sewn behind the background fabric.
• Right side of the fabric: the pretty side where the pattern and colours are most visible.
• Roman Square Quilt Block: The Roman Square quilt block consist of strips of fabric attached at the long side. The Roman Square is very suitable to use scrap fabric
• Sampler quilt: a quilt consisting of different  blocks. A sampler showcases blocks with a certain theme or displays the skills of a quilter. It can also be used to practise certain techniques. 
• Sashiko: A traditional Japanese embroidery technique. Modern quilters enjoy using it to sew through the layers of a quilt. 
• Sashing: strip of fabric in between quilt blocks. This is to space out the design and creates the traditional quilt look.
• Scrap Quilt: Quilts made from leftover materials.
• Seam allowance: When you sew pieces you need some fabric on each side of the line you sew on, so the finished work won’t fray. The part of the fabric you don’t see is called seam allowance. The standard is 1/4 inch, which is about 0.6 cm.
• Seam: When you piece fabric together, you need some fabric on each side of the line you sew, so the finished work won’t fray. The seam is around 1/4 inch or 0.6 cm.
• Show & Tell: Name of the event and quilting bees to show each other the quilts made. It’s a time of encouragement, tips, and compliments.
• Solid fabric: a fabric of one colour without a pattern.
• Stash: the collection of fabric and materials a quilter has.
• Stitch in the ditch: quilting in the seam where two fabrics meet, aka ‘the ditch’. This makes the quilting near invisible.
• Sustainability: Create live, society and business in such a way future generations can life the same life as we are living, globally.
• Sustainable Fashion: A fashion industry and practises that is healthy for people, planet and profit. 
• Tying a quilt: instead of quilting by sewing through the three layers, knots are made with pieces of thread in key places of the quilt. Sometimes buttons are added as well.
• Upcycling: Re-purposing old clothes and other fabrics into useable objects.
• Walk by method: A design trick to test your quilt lay out on a subconscious level.
• Wholecloth quilt: A quilt with the focus on the quilting. Usually it’s done with white thread on a white background. However, modern quilters use any kind of thread and colour combination. It’s comparable to sashiko.
• Y-seam: joining three pieces of fabric together where the seams have a Y-shape. This requires a certain technique, called the Y-seam technique.

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