Quilting has developed over hundreds of years; originally it was a practical way of using up random fabric scraps to save them going to waste and gradually it became an art form in its own right.
In the early days of quilting, any suitable material, from an old blanket to cotton wadding, was placed between the patched pieces and an old sheet and then put onto the quilting frame, which kept the quilt's layers stretched tight while the quilter worked away.
A frame is not essential for quilting, but is extremely helpful - particularly for the stitching element of quilt-making.
Using a frame means your quilt is less likely to pucker or wrinkle.
Wonderful top quality frames are available to buy, but they are large and costly.
So why not make your own? Homemade quilting frames can be made for a fraction of the price and if they are constructed properly, they do the job just as well.
First, you need to find two boards, ideally of a hardwood such as oak.
It is crucial that they are longer than the width of your quilt.
Next, you need to staple or stitch a piece of durable material around the boards, such as heavy cotton or denim.
Form the fabric into a slack tube, loose enough to leave a flap of fabric to which the quilt ends can be attached, while ensuring that the material is firmly fixed to the boards.
Pin or sew one end of the quilt to the flap of fabric on one of the end boards, then roll the quilt across towards the center.
Do the same with the other end, and then use four "C" clamps to fix two other boards (of equal lengths) to the sides of the frame.
You now have a basic quilting frame and are ready to start creating!