Quilting can be challenging and not knowing the terms can make things even more frustrating. These are just a few of the terms that are used most often.

Wash the fabric before anything else, otherwise this will lead to 'bleeding,' where the material loses its dye when wet. The fabric will then rub its dye onto other pieces of fabric, also known as 'crocking.'

Some quilters use a 'Hera marker' to make a crease in a fabric. This is a small tool with a sharp edge to it. People used to use their fingers to make a crease but this tool makes it more accurately and easier. Once the crease has been made, 'rotary cutters' are the next have to have tool. Its round sharp cutter cuts through several pieces of fabric at once and cutting is done in one smooth motion as apposed to scissors that created jagged edges by stopping and going.

Before doing the applique, place the blocks of material onto a plain white flannel sheet and hang it on a wall. The 'Design wall' gives you an idea of your finished product and the flannel material makes it easy to rearrange the blocks.

Then 'basting' by tacking down fabric with a temporary stitch or pins occur, the pieces are then applied onto a larger background which is called applique. The 'batting' is put in between the two layers of fabric and to make a clean finished edge, use 'binding.'

When sewing the binding onto the material, the 'feed dogs' will help grab the fabric which is the metal teeth under the foot of the sewing machine. To help keep the batting in tack, go 'in the ditch' and sew next to the seam.

'Outline quilting' is done to enhance the objects and the more detailed sewing is done with 'sharps' or long needles. After your finished your quilt, get rid of those 'UFO's!' Before you get too excited, UFO's are unfinished objects.