What's the difference between patchwork and quilting?
Technically, patchwork is the 'piecing' part of the project - joining together small pieces of fabric to create a larger piece. Quilting actually refers to the stitching done through all three layers of fabric and wadding; however we tend to use the term 'quilting' interchangeably these days to mean patchwork too. A quilting project tends to refer to a pieced patchwork project, but sometimes you may also see 'quilted' projects which aren't necessarily pieced, but do have the decorative stitching between all layers.
Do I need a sewing machine?
No, but it does make the process a lot quicker! All projects can be sewn by hand... most standard patchwork is done by machine, but some techniques such as English Paper Piecing are done by hand. The quilting can be either hand stitched or machine stitched, it's really down to personal preference and time.
What you'll need
There's a few things you will probably need in order to make your first project a success. I'd highly recommend investing in some cutting equipment to make your cutting as accurate as possible - this makes all the difference in patchwork! A rotary cutter, cutting mat and basic rectangular acrylic ruler will be adequate for most projects.
It's also helpful to have some long pins, ideally heat resistant ones that can be ironed over, to help with piecing, some safety pins for sandwiching your fabric and wadding layers, and some fabric clips to help you with sewing on your binding.
I'd highly recommend investing in a quarter inch presser foot for your machine too, if you think you'll want to make more than one project - they make it SO much easier to get accurate seam allowances!
Fabric and threads
We would recommend using 100% cotton fabrics, ideally quilting cottons where possible. Most quilting cottons are around 200gsm which means you can mix and match easily between designers and brands without having to worry about anything.
Thread is a contentious subject - some quilters swear by only using cotton thread like the Gutermann Natural Cotton, while others are happy to use a standard polyester thread like Gutermann Sew-All. Others will use polyester thread for piecing, but using cotton thread for the actual quilting element.
Beginner-Friendly Projects
When choosing your first project, I recommend looking for smaller sized projects and/or projects where the blocks (sections) are made up of large pieces rather than lots of little pieces. Something like a pair of oven gloves or a make up bag are a good starter project, or if you really want to tackle a quilt, choose one that is made with simple square shapes that aren't too small.
