Quilting Tips

One of the biggest problems in getting something finished often comes from putting projects away and out of sight. If you keep your current project where it is highly visible in your home, you’ll be more likely to pick it up and start stitching whenever you have a spare moment or two.

Patterns that are photocopied can be distorted. To ensure you have a perfect pattern check the dimensions in all directions before using.

In a rush to start that new quilt design? Take your time before cutting all those pieces and make a sample block. Maybe a colour needs changing or a pattern piece needs re-sizing. This is the time to check the details.

Cut the largest or longest pieces such as borders first. You will be less likely to find yourself short of fabric.

It's very important to have your own space to quilt. It doesn’t have to be large. It can be a corner of your bedroom or a closet close to an electrical outlet where you can sew and store your sewing machine and supplies. Sewing on the dining room table requires extra time to set-up and put- away. Your project will get finished if it can be accessible to work on when you have time even a few minutes.

For convenient pressing, set up a low ironing board and travel iron at a right angle to your sewing machine. Add a chair that swivels, and there’s no need to get up every time you want to press.

The best way to put the progress of your quilt in prespective is to view your quilt design on a vertical surface which allows you to step back and see your work from a distance. An easy way to make a design wall is to tack a king size flannel sheet on the wall. If wall space is limited a piece of foamcore or insulation large enough to accommodate your project can be propped against a table or chair, then stored when not in use.

Masking tape can be useful in a number of ways :

Marking the 1/4 inch line on your sewing maching
To provide a visual guide on your ruler and eliminate cutting errors Use to label the sewing order of blocks and rows.
Hang mini quilts on the wall
Protect the tip of your under finger when hand quilting
Make a thread catcher from a 4 inch piece of tape made into a loop
Tape your backing to a hard surface for hand basting

An alternative to liquid Bubble jet set which makes your printing permanent on fabric. Mix half Ultra Downy ( only this brand ) and half water. Soak cotton fabric for 15 minutes, rinse for 10 minutes then let dry. When dry, iron onto freezer paper which is cut into 8 ½" x 12" pieces .Print on these sheets and let dry at least one day. Finally, iron to set the colours.