Quilting, like any craft, has many different terms. Most definitions are somewhat self explanatory, but it's also important to understand exactly what they mean. The following are the top ten terms I think it's important for any quilter to know:

1. Patchwork. When two or more pieces of fabric are sewn together, you get patchwork. Most patchwork contains far more than 2 pieces of different fabric (quilter's generally use more than 2, though). Multiple pieces of fabric that are sewn together to make what is referred to as a quilt top.

2. Appliqué. This term is referred to sewing one or more pieces on top of one piece of fabric. Imagine cutting out a star and gluing it to a piece of paper. The concept is the same with appliqué.

3. Color Value. There are three basic values. Light, Medium, and Dark. Color value comes into play when you want to highlight certain aspects of your design. For example, if the stars you were appliquéing down were both dark fabrics, you would lose the effect of your appliqué. But when you use a light color for the stars, they stand out against your dark background, providing the contrast you're after.

4. Backing. This refers to the fabric you have chosen for the backside of your quilt. It can be all one type of fabric, or more patchwork.

5. Batting. Batting is what is sewn into the middle of your quilt. It is defined as cotton, wool, or synthetic fiber wadded into rolls or sheets, used for stuffing furniture and mattresses and for lining quilts. Every quilter develops a preference.

6. Quilting. Quilting is the act of sewing multiple layers of fabric together. A quilt is actually a three layered sandwich. The quilt top faces up, the batting goes in the middle, and the backing faces down. By hand or with a sewing machine, you sew all the layers together.

7. Stitch in the Ditch. This is a type of quilting that refers to stitching in between the different pieces of patchwork. Generally, this type of quilting is hard to see, and is very easy to do-you just follow the seam lines!

8. Free Motion Stitching. Done by hand or by machine, this quilting is used to create alternate designs that compliment your design or can provide added detail. Imagine drawing-except that you're using thread instead of a pencil.

9. Binding. Binding is a strip of fabric that is folded over to protect the edges of your quilt and secure the layers together at the very edges.

10. Fat Quarter. I threw this term in because it baffled me when I was a newbie quilter. A fat quarter is a piece of fabric that has been cut into an 18" x 24" piece of fabric. It is a ¼ yard cut so that you have more than 12" of width to the piece of fabric. Many patterns list these in their fabric requirements, and the cutting directions included are based on their specific shape.

There have been entire books, and even parodies making fun of all the different terms we quilters use. They aren't complicated. A few terms, such as those mentioned above, are nice to know as a newbie quilter.

Fortunately, with proper instruction, quilting is as simple as following a proven set of steps. Take the first step and learn how fun and easy creating heirloom keepsakes can really be. Go now to http://www.DiscoverHowToQuilt.com.