Patent Application
20190368095
N/A
Quilting is the process of sewing two or more layers of fabric together to form a quilt. These layers typically include the quilt top, batting and backing material. A patchwork quilt is a type of quilt having a quilt top that is formed of pieces of fabric sewn together in a desired design. When pieces of complex shapes and sizes are employed, the sewing of the quilt top can be quite difficult. To address such difficulties, a technique known as English paper piecing can be employed.
As the name implies, English paper piecing employs stiff paper templates to create fabric pieces in the desired shape. Initially, the fabric pieces are cut larger than the desired shape. Then, the paper template is centered on and secured to the fabric (e.g., using glue), and the edges of the fabric are wrapped around and temporarily secured to the paper template thereby forming the desired shape and leaving a seam allowance. The fabric pieces can then be sewn together after which the paper templates can be removed. Although English paper piecing can produce precise patterns, it is a rather intricate and tedious process.
The present invention is directed to quilt stamps and quilt stamp sets that can be used to simplify and expedite the process of cutting and sewing fabric pieces for a patchwork quilt. A quilt stamp configured in accordance with the present invention can be formed of a transparent material in a desired shape. A stamping side of the quilt stamp includes parallel ridges that are offset from and extend along the outer edges of the shape. The outer ridge can be formed as a continuous ridge while the inner ridge can include repeating gaps thereby forming a dashed pattern. Both the outer and inner ridges can function to stamp lines onto fabric which define where to cut as well as where to sew the fabric.
An adhering side of the quilt stamp, which is opposite the stamping side, can be configured to selectively adhere to a transparent stamping block. In this way, a number of quilt stamps of varying shapes and sizes can be selectively adhered to the stamping block. Because the stamping block and the quilt stamps are formed of transparent material, the user will be able to see the fabric as the fabric is being stamped thereby facilitating the positioning of the stamped lines in the desired location. The dashed pattern of the inner ridge will cause the inner stamped line to have a dashed pattern thereby reducing the amount of ink on the fabric and clearly representing where to sew.
In one embodiment, the present invention is implemented as a quilt stamp that comprises a transparent material having outer edges defining a shape, a stamping side and an adhering side opposite the stamping side. The adhering side forms an adhesive surface to enable the quilt stamp to be selectively adhered to a stamping block. The stamping side includes an outer ridge that extends along the outer edges and an inner ridge that is inwardly offset from and extends along the outer ridge.
In another embodiment, the present invention is implemented as a set of quilt stamps each of which comprises a transparent material having outer edges defining a shape, a stamping side and an adhering side opposite the stamping side. The adhering side forms an adhesive surface to enable the quilt stamp to be selectively adhered to a stamping block. The stamping side includes an outer ridge that extends along the outer edges and an inner ridge that is inwardly offset from and extends along the outer ridge.
In another embodiment, the present invention is implemented as a quilt stamp formed of a transparent, flexible and adhesive material having outer edges defining a shape, a stamping side and an adhering side opposite the stamping side. The adhering side forms an adhesive surface to enable the quilt stamp to be selectively adhered to a stamping block. The stamping side includes an outer ridge that is inwardly offset from and extends along the outer edges and an inner ridge that is inwardly offset from and extends along the outer ridge, the inner ridge including a plurality of gaps.
This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter.
Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:
A quilt stamp configured in accordance with embodiments of the present invention can facilitate cutting and sewing of fabric pieces for a patchwork quilt or similar type of fabric article. The quilt stamp of the present invention overcomes many of the difficulties that exist with English paper piecing and other methods for cutting and sewing fabric pieces.
Quilt stamp 100 includes a stamping side 100a (which may be considered a bottom side) and an adhering side 100b opposite stamping side 100a. Adhering side 100b is generally flat and adhesive to thereby allow quilt stamp 100 to be selectively adhered to a stamping block as will be further described below. This adhesiveness could be accomplished by forming quilt stamp 100 of a pressure-sensitive adhesive material as indicated above or by applying an adhesive material to adhering side 100b. Stamping side 100a is also generally flat but includes parallel ridges that extend along outer edges 101. For example, as shown, an outer ridge 102 can extend continuously along and parallel with outer edges 101. However, in some embodiments, outer ridge 102 could be positioned at outer edges 101.
An inner ridge 103 also extends along and parallel with outer edges 101 but is inwardly offset from outer ridge 102. The amount of this offset defines the seam allowance and therefore may typically be ¼ inch, ½ inch or another standard-sized seam allowance. Inner ride 103 includes a number of gaps (or discontinuities) 103a which cause inner ridge 103 to have a dashed pattern. As shown, gaps 103a can be positioned away from any corners 103b in inner ridge 103 so that each corner 103b will be continuous.
By configuring inner ridge 103 with gaps 103a, less ink will be stamped onto the fabric which can minimize bleeding and reduce overall costs. The dashed line that is created by inner ridge 103 also provides a clear indication of where to sew. Furthermore, because gaps 103a are spaced away from corners 103b, the dashed line will still clearly identify where the corners of the fabric piece are located. In contrast, the continuous outer ridge 102 will form a continuous line that defines where to cut the fabric. Given that the fabric is oftentimes cut with scissors, this continuous line will facilitate a straight cut.
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The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description.
