from
Cheryl Hammond of El Paso, TX
I go to my local hardware store, and have them cut Plexiglas
squares to use as squaring-up rulers for my quilt blocks. They
only cost a couple of dollars for even the biggest sizes, and
they will put in a hole for me to hang them when not in use.
This sure beats the cost of rules intended to square up quilt
blocks. |
from
Madelyne Kiernan of St James, NY
When assembling scrap blocks for a quilt, I lay out my blocks
and take a digital photo. The photo shows if I have too many
dark blocks together or too many light ones together. I
rearrange the blocks and take another photo. |
from
Linnea Egbert of Mesilla, NM
The cut-away centers of cardboard picture frame
mats are usually discarded by frame shops, and my local frame
shop is happy to give these away to be recycled. I pick up the
large ones & cut them into 9" x 12" pieces. I then
wrap fabric yardage that is folded once again lengthwise (to
about 11" wide) around the board and secure it with a pin
As the board is 9" wide, a simple count of folds on one
side will give you a quick estimated yardage, with four folds
equaling one yard of fabric. This will keep your stash in order
when you are pulling fabric for a project, and they stack or
stand on end to view easily. It takes time when you first
organize this, but is easy to do after when you bring new fabric
home. An added benefit: my frame shop only uses acid-free
matting - a must for fabric storage on paper boards. |
from
Pat Winters of Yorktown, VA
I join binding strips on the diagonal. When the seam allowances
are pressed open, little 'dog ears' extend from the edges of the
strip. I do NOT cut those off yet. The little extensions alert
me to where the seams fall, allowing me to avoid placing seams
in the corners of the quilt top. |
from
Carol Nelms of Franklin, PA
To keep your machine running better, each time you change the
bobbin, remove the throat plate, and clean the entire area with
a small lint brush. Do not use the cans of compressed air, or
blow into the machine yourself, as these methods can push lint
in further, and can create moisture inside the machine. |
from
Judy Thornton of Milan, MI
Use an empty fabric bolt board, pin 3 wide elastic bands around
the board. When you travel to classes, slide your rotary rulers
under the elastic bands and the strength of the board will
protect your rulers from breaking. |
from
Linda Chase of Harlingen, TX
I purchased two ready-to-assemble wooden shoe organizers with 15
cubby holes each - they are the perfect size for stacking fat
quarters. I fill them according to color or theme and it really
looks pretty in the room, adding to my organization as well as
my décor! |
from
Teresa Vicars of Nickelsville, VA
I use water soluble thread to baste my quilts. When I am done
quilting, I just soak quilt in the washing machine, run the spin
cycle, and block to dry. I don't have to pick out all those
pesky threads! |
from
Sharon Farrelly of Wethersfield, CT
I buy magnetic bowls from the auto supply store
for my pins. It sticks to my ironing board, and the pins don't
fall out. |
from
Cathy Bruning of Mesa, AZ
To keep marking and cutting tools, and even prepared binding
handy "at a glance", I use an over the door shoe
storage holder. The many clear plastic pockets keep everything
within easy access on the back of a door, or even hung on the
wall near my work space. |
from
Janice M. Crowley of Winneconne, WI
Store your quilt batts in heavy plastic bags. Gather the open
edges of the bag around the hose nozzle of your vacuum and suck
out all the air. Give it a good twist and rubber band the top of
the bag. Compacting your batts make them easier to store, and
takes up much less space! |
from
Marjorie Goble of Hudson, NC
I use my machine quilting gloves to clean my
cutting mat. I put a glove on, rubbing the rubber finger tips on
the mat in a circular motion -- all of the bits of thread,
fabric, and batting roll up "cocoon-like" and are
easily thrown away. Works better than anything else I've tried! |
from
Linda Jones of Ft Wayne, IN
When strip piecing, keep the needle down when you come to the
end of a patch, and butt the edge of the next patch right up to
needle - saves lots of thread this way! Just clip between
patches when you are finished. |
from
Brenda J Dakai of Shawano, WI
My red tomato pincushion was awkward to use as it would always
tip over when I was putting pins in it. To solve the problem, I
pushed the pin cushion into a small jelly jar or canning jar.
Any small jar will work as long as the pincushion fits snugly.
No more rolling or tipping over! |
from
Dot Blevins of Salem, OR
For a multi-purpose sewing machine mat, buy a
cut-to-size piece of rubber shelving (from a home improvement
store), and mark the front edge at 1/4", 1/2", and
1" increments, using a permanent marker. Slip it under your
machine to reduce vibration and prevent it from moving. You can
also check quick measurements as you sew, and the mat is even
washable! |
from
Marjorie Goble of Hudson, NC
I use my machine quilting gloves to clean my cutting mat. I put
a glove on, rubbing the rubber finger tips on the mat in a
circular motion, and all of the bits of thread, fabric, and
batting roll up "cocoon-like" and are easily disposed
of. Works better than anything else I've tried! |
from
Candace Ross of Coral Springs, FL
Each time I make a quilt I randomly sew my 'leftovers' together.
Once I have enough put together to cut bias strips, I use the
lengths of scraps to cut the most interesting
"mystery" quilt bindings. The results are amazing and
always add an unusual twist to my projects. |
from
Karen Wawrosch of Fortson, GA
Save egg cartons to store your beads when working
on a beading project; it makes choosing colors much easier, and
you can buy more beads with the money you save on those fancy
containers! |
from
Genise Luecke of Shawnee, KS
To help organize my sewing area, I used a couple of cup hooks
attached to the underside edge of my cutting table to hang a
silverware tray from an old discarded dishwasher. The tray is a
perfect place to hold my rotary cutters, spare blades, pencils,
chalk, and scissors. It keeps them all within easy reach, yet
off of my table. |
from
Tonia Ward of Kettering, OH
Whenever I make a quilt, I take small pieces of each of the
fabrics I used in the quilt, fold them and then place the pieces
under the label. That way, there are always pieces of the
fabrics in the quilt available, and as you launder the quilt,
the repair fabrics fade at the same rate as the rest of the
fabric. |
from
Madelyne Kiernan of Saint James, NY
I use empty paper towel tubes as handy storage for
patterns and fusibles that I do not want to fold. They are easy
to label and take up little storage space in my sewing cabinet. |
from
Vickie Cooley of Rockledge, FL
To organize my projects and get more accomplished, I cut all the
pieces for one scrappy block and place them in a sandwich bag.
When I have a little extra time I will grab a bag and make a
block. Before I know it I have enough blocks for a quilt. |
from
Belen Saavedra of McAllen, TX
Whenever I need to keep two pieces of fabric together before
stitching I use a simple glue stick instead of pins. This keeps
the fabric together until they are ready to be sewn. The glue
stick does not hurt my fingers, and washes out just fine. (Editor's
Note: While most glue sticks are safe for fabrics, be sure to
test your particular brand on a scrap first to avoid any
unwanted result!) |
from
Linda Gale of Omaha, NE
When sewing and quilting, at times you'll need to
exactly match the fabric design. Here's a tip: Press a straight
fold on the right side of Fabric 1, where you want to match the
design. Overlay this fold on the right side of Fabric 2 and
position so that they match exactly. Pin carefully. Using water
soluble thread as the top thread in your machine, zig-zag down
the fold, just catching the folded edge. Change back to regular
thread. Open fold (your fabrics are now right sides together,
like a regular seam, with Fabric 1 on top) and stitch down
crease. Pull seam gently to spread zig-zag if needed. Gently
spritz the finished seam's water-soluble zig-zag stitches. Like
magic, the stitches dissolve and your fabric is perfectly
matched! |
from
Sue Munn of Marion, IN
Round wooden toothpicks are a useful tool for needle-turn
applique--moistening the tip can help grab a seam allowance to
turn under, especially when coming up to a point. They're easy
to find in the grocery store or dollar store, and because they
come in a neat little plastic box, they are very -convenient to
put in your sewing kit. |
from
Marcia Huckabee of Logan, NM
Have leftover blocks from your quilt projects? You can use them
to make preemie quilts to donate to your local hospital. They
only have to be about 20" x 20". Use flannel for the
backing, and leave out the batting between the block and the
flannel, as the batting will make the quilts too warm. Their
small size also makes the fast & easy to quilt on your
regular sewing machine. The parents and staff will appreciate
your kindness. |
from
Carolyn Vagts of Clarkston, MI
I always use batiks for fusible appliqué, because
they do not fray like regular cottons and you can get a crisp
sharp look. This makes batiks especially great if you're new to
fusible appliqué techniques. The detail is wonderful, and the
colors and textures of batiks are outstanding for art quilts,
regardless of the quilter's skill level. |
from
Marilyn Higgins of Concord, NC
I use a front door peep-hole (available in hardware stores), to
view how my quilt will look at a distance, and from various
angle. It gives a good perspective of the quilt, including block
placement, color balance, etc. |
from
Vera McPike of Kansas City, MO
I use bath tissue tubes to roll my binding around until I am
ready to sew it on to a quilt. I can lay the roll on the floor
next to my machine and slowly unroll the binding as I sew. You
can also use paper towel rolls and trim them down to size for
easier handling. |
from
Judith Austin of Lynchburg, VA
Due to carpel tunnel strain, I had trouble with
rulers slipping while rotary cutting, especially with long
rulers. The best cutting aid I've found is to place a cast iron
steak/bacon press on top of the ruler. It has a wooden handle
and is commonly used in the restaurant business to keep steaks
from curling up. I bought mine from a restaurant supply house.
When using longer rulers, I use two or three weights long the
length of the ruler. I'm now able to cut using only my right
hand this way, without holding (or even touching) the ruler with
my left hand. That ruler doesn't budge, and my cutting is more
accurate, much quicker and much safer. |
from
Teresa Kulcak of Damon, TX
I use gallon size storage bags to separate my small scraps of
fabric by color, so that when I need a certain color for my
quilt, I only have to go through that one color instead of all
my scraps. |
from
Carol Tolpa of Chelmsford, MA
I keep a white file card, cut to about 2" square, with a
hold punched in the center, on the spool holder (or bobbin
winder) of my sewing machine. This card has two uses: I place it
in back of the needle when threading; it is much easier to see
the needle hole with a white background. I also write on this
card the size and kind of needle I currently have in the sewing
machine, since I sew with different kinds of fabric and need to
change my needles as I change my fabric. I then record on this
card the date that I use a new needle on this card, reminding
myself to refresh the needles frequently. |
from
Wendy Allen from Bowie, MD
Running the vacuum cleaner over all those threads
and snippets we collect on our floors only results in a tangled
mess on the vacuum roller brush! Now I use two lint roller
refills placed on a paint roller handle, screw in an extension
pole and I roll my floor at the end of my sewing day. I use my
rotary cutter to carefully make a cut along the roller, to
expose a fresh layer of adhesive. This also cuts through all the
threads, so that the layer of paper comes off without the
tangled threads. |
from
Donna Anderson of Dyersburg, TN
Quilt your tops with several different colors of variegated
threads - it makes the back so much prettier! |
from
Pam Black of Lake Kiowa, TX
I use a clear acrylic clipboard at classes and on retreats as a
substitute for a bulky light box. I just clip (or tape) the
pattern to one side, hold the clipboard over a light source or
window and trace away! These are available at discount and
office supply stores. |
from
Sandra Pryor of NY
Use a piece of sueded microfiber fabric as a mini design board
to organize appliqué pieces for sewing. The appliqué pieces
will cling to the microfiber, keeping them neat and orderly
until you are ready to sew them on. Home décor weight remnants
of microfiber fabric work very well. |
from
Jane Mockford of Austin, TX
To help a youngster learn to guide fabric using a sewing
machine, first remove the thread and bobbin. Then, draw straight
lines on a piece of paper and have the youngster
"stitch" over the lines. Next, draw some curved lines
to be followed with stitching... no frustration with needle
coming unthreaded while learning to guide "fabric"
under the needle... then add thread and real fabric as
confidence is gained! |
from
Kay Rivard of Naples, FL
Instead of using pins to secure your binding for hand sewing,
try silver hair clips. One snap and they are closed securely
over the turned under binding. No finger pricking when using
these instead of pins! |
from
Janice Gillis of Milwaukee, WI
I've successfully used contact paper cut into shapes like hearts
or circles as a guide for marking my tops for quilting. Each
design can be moved and reused many times more than freezer
paper, and there's no need to iron it onto the basted/pinned
quilt sandwich. |
from
Marianne Stine of Smithmill, PA
I have a set of triplet grandchildren (one boy, two girls) and
I'm encouraging their embroidery skills early. I draw a picture
on the fabric then hold it up to a window and trace the image on
the back. This gives the little ones a guide when coming up from
behind to keep on the line. My grandchildren are only 4-1/2 yrs
old, and this tip works! I supervise them closely while they sew
and we all have a great time. |
from
Marcia Huckabee of Logan, NM
Don't hide those pretty 108 to 120" fabrics on the back of
your quilts! Use them for borders without seams. A 3"
border for a 90 x 90 inch quilt takes only approx 1/3 yard. I
buy extra to allow for squaring up. You can use the extra for
cornerstones or binding on another project. Backing fabric also
works well for non-bias binding. |
from
Anne McBain of Westwego, LA
Try using a clear red plastic report cover to find the value of
fabrics - it's larger and less expensive than the value-finder
tools designed specifically for quilting! You can find them in
any office supply store |
from
Dana Smith of Sevierville, TN
A weekly pill-organizer with 14 separate compartments is perfect
for storing extra bobbins. It keeps them from tangling or
unwinding. Any pharmacy or dollar store will have them. |
from
Pam Noma of Watsonville, CA
Pressing small turned edges on appliqué pieces with a hot steam
iron can result in scalded fingertips. Here's a simple solution:
As you press, gently blow air BETWEEN the front tip of the iron
and your fingers. This gentle breeze will keep your fingertips
cool. |
from
Gloria Urban of Vineland, NJ
Pre-load several needles at once before beginning a quilting
session by sliding them onto the wire of a needle threader,
inserting the thread through the threader and pulling the
needles down the thread on the spool. When you need a threaded
needle, just cut off the appropriate length of thread with one
needle on it, leaving the rest of the needles hanging on the
spool. |
from
Bonnie Kelley of Murphy, NC
I purchase inexpensive sheep fleece from a local weaver who
raises sheep and use it to stuff my pincushions. It helps keep
my needles sharp. |
from
Linda Grupa of Houston, TX
I put a magnet in the bottom of a small tin box with a hinged
lid (like the ones the mints come in) Place your straight pins
on top of the magnet to keep them neat, safe and secure. Great
for taking to class, retreats or travel. |
from
Mary Elebario of Tucumcari, NM
I bought a tool bin from the hardware department, with 24
compartments all the same size, and extra removable dividers to
customize sizing. I marked the dividers A through W, marking the
last bin XYZ. I then store my quilting gadgets alphabetically,
going to drawer B for a blade for the rotary cutter, to M for
markers, W for walking foot, etc. This keeps me from having to
look in all the boxes or bags to find my tools! |
from
Pat Garber of Richmond, VA
Rotary cutting blades are one of the more expensive items we
purchase on a regular basis. To prolong its use when the blade
gets dull, I turn it over and put it back in the rotary cutter.
It will cut like a new blade! |
from
Gaye Puckett of Gray, TN
If you have an all-in-one color printer/copier at home, rather
than cut a piece from the fabric to take to the store to buy
coordinating fabrics, just lay the fabric on the copier and make
a color copy to take with you. |
from
Cheryl P Owens of Hernando, MS
I always have a portable project to work on while waiting at the
doctor's office, etc. So that I do not leave messy threads or
small fabric scraps behind, I make a circle of 1½ " wide
making tape (sticky side out) and stick it on the inside of my
tote bag or plastic container. I can also use it to pick threads
off my clothes quickly. |
from
Marla Goodnight of Lexington, KY
To make inexpensive clear templates for my miniature quilt
blocks, I print them from my computer on the overhead projector
acetate sheets. |
from
Isabel Burns, Springfield, IL
I pin a half-yard piece of flannel fabric over my clothing from
shoulders to knee length. It catches all of bits of the lint,
threads, small scraps and other quilting debris that usually get
stuck on my clothes, and on the floor.
Editor's Note: Why not take this great tip a step further
and sew up a flannel apron in your favorite Marcus flannel!
|
from
Beverly Prentiss, Waco, TX
To trace both a cutting and 1/4" seam allowance at the same
time, just joint two pencils together with rubber bands. Trace
around your template with one pencil, and the other will
automatically add the 1/4" seam allowance. |
from
Jan Eby of Plano, TX
Cut pieces of freezer paper and wrap them around your cut fabric
strips or squares. Hit the freezer paper with a hot iron.
Presto! You have secured your pieces, have a nice white writing
space to label the sizes of the strips, attach your address
labels or write a note to a sewing buddy. Removing or
re-attaching the freezer paper is a snap! Great for swaps or
your own organization when making strip pieced quilts! |
from
Sue McFadden of Applegate, MI
After I make the binding for my quilt I roll it up on my hand.
Then I take some twill tape and I put one end through the roll
of binding. Then I take the ends of the twill tape and tie it
around my neck. This way you keep the binding from twirling and
getting all twisted up. It works great. |
from
Joan Kniffen of Livermore, CO
I always do a little practice free motion quilting before I
start on my quilt. In order to make this time useful I place a
quilt batt (baby blanket size) between two pieces of appropriate
Marcus Bros Fabric, then I use this for my practice and when the
piece is completely quilted I bind it and have a nice warm quilt
to give to my favorite charity. |
from
Amelia Baumgartner of Corbin, KY
As a beginner quilter, I would purchase fabric, then I would not
remember the name of the collection or the designer. To keep
track of this information, I cut off the selvedge with the
information, plus 2 inch piece to identify. Next, I created a
file on Excel or Lotus 123, including the design name, date of
purchase, retailer and price. It keeps me more organized and at
the same time, I am learning more about fabrics and designers. |
from
Cheryl P Owens of Hernando, MS
I always have a portable project to work on while waiting at
doctor's office, hospitals, etc. So that I do not leave threads
or small pieces of fabric cut off appliqué pieces, I make a
circle of 1½ " wide making tape (sticky side out) and
stick it on the inside of my tote bag or plastic container. I
can also use it to pick threads off my clothes quickly. |
from
Donna Reynolds of Bloomington, IN
Hidden identity: As I am sewing the binding to the back of my
quilt, somewhere (near a corner) I finish with small stitches
and make a noticeable "X" mark with a permanent pen or
thread. On a 2" x 4" piece of muslin, write your name,
address, etc. using a Pigma pen. Fold lengthwise and slip into
binding. Continue sewing, make another "X" mark with
pen or thread at end of muslin label, then complete the binding
stitching. If your quilt is ever "misplaced" and the
main quilt label is removed, simply remove the stitches between
the marks and prove this is your quilt! For a gift, I also
include the information of the recipient on the muslin strip. |
from
Marcia Huckabee of Logan, NM
Before I quilt on my short arm quilting machine, I sew a 2-1/2
inch wide strip of muslin all the way around my quilt. This
added piece helps when pinning the quilt on the rollers, saving
the extra fabric I usually allow in my borders. I sew the muslin
strips on with a basting stitch so they are easy to remove
afterward, and ready to be used again on my next quilt! I ask my
quilting friends to put the strips on when I quilt for them and
I really appreciate it. Your quilter will thank you, too. |
from
Mary Ann Tate of Midwest City, OK
Tape the cap for your seam ripper to the top of your sewing
machine to keep your seam ripper always close at hand. This is
especially good for quilting your project when you have to pull
the bobbin thread up every time you start a new line of
stitching. |
from
Kim McCloskey of Provo, UT
Unique materials and ideas for embellishing a quilt top can be
found at your local scrapbooking or craft store. Look for silk
flowers that can be attached with unique buttons, metal tags or
charms, ribbons and fabric labels. These would look great on an
updated crazy quilt pattern. |
from
Lois Stumbaugh of Topeka, KS
After I use my rotary cutter to cut my fabric strips, I take the
remaining fabric and put straight pins in the edge that I cut
from. The next time I want to cut additional strips I don't have
to get it aligned up, I just remove the pins and continue to cut
additional strips. |
from
Marcie Lane of Ajax, ON Canada
When I make a quilt from a pattern, magazine or book, I make a
black and white photo copy (for personal use) of the pattern so
I can make notes and glue fabric swatches to the pages, adding
my own colors with pencil crayons as well. This way I keep my
original books, magazines and patterns nice and neat with no
markings on them. This also helps me put my quilt together so
much faster with less confusion. I then use a pencil on the
black and white photo to audition my quilting lines. When I am
finished, I have a nice record of the quilt to keep! |
from
Pamela Hill of Scott Depot, WV
Stray threads can be very dangerous to pets, especially cats, if
ingested. I keep an empty tissue box beside the sewing machine
for threads. The opening is too small for a pet's head to enter,
yet large enough to easily drop in the thread scraps. |
from
Elizabeth Irby of South Bend, IN
I bought clear plastic shoe boxes and sort my scraps by color.
Now, when I need a small piece of fabric, I pull out the correct
shoe box and there’s the color I need without spending a lot
of precious time looking. |
from
Linda Jordan of Cross Lanes, WV
When hand quilting, iron the thread first to keep it from
knotting during stitching. This takes the spiral out of the
thread from being wound on a spool. |
from
Lisa Leimone of Union City, CA
It's a great idea to put your name, address and phone number in
permanent ink, directly on your quilt backing under the area to
be covered by your hanging sleeve or in the seam allowance that
will be inside the binding, this way if you ever needed to prove
the quilt was yours it could be done without damaging the quilt. |
from
Susan Guzman of Kingston, MA
Save all of your binding scraps for a future scrappy quilt or
child's quilt. Simply sew them all together and you will have an
interesting pieced binding to set off your next unique quilt! |
from
Jan L. Eby of Plano, TX
When cleaning my carpet or floors where I have recently sewn; I
use a toilet bowl brush, (purchased solely for my quilting
clean-up), and take a quick swipe at all the strings of thread
without bending over! Works like a charm picking up loose
threads! |
from
Kathleen Heiser of Bismarck, ND
When residue builds up on your iron from the use of fusible
products, use a dryer sheet on your iron to clean it while the
iron is still warm. It will remove all the glue and sticky
residue - then, be careful, as it will make your iron soleplate
very slippery! |
from
Sandy E of Murphy, NC
I use spray starch on my fabric section prior to cutting it into
strips or squares. This prevents excessive fraying. It also
allows me to pick up the square more easily when sewing. This is
especially helpful as I have arthritis. |
from
Jackie Iannarelli of Grafton, WI
To remove loose threads and pet hairs form my quilts as I work,
I wear my Playtex gloves and slide my hand on top of the quilt.
The threads and hair can be pushed into piles for easy pick up. |
from
Susanne DeCoste of East Sandwich, MA
As an extra special wedding gift, I make a wall sized quilt or
lap quilt and use cotton muslin on the back. I stipple the quilt
so it wears very well. Instead of a guest book, guests sign the
back of the quilt with a fine permanent marker. This is a great
gift and much nicer than a guest book the bride and groom will
never use again! |
from
Dianne Stuart of Silver Spring, MD
Before you press a seam allowance to one side, put
your iron down on it flat, just as it was sewn. Don't move the
iron back and forth--let its weight do the work for you. This
step "sets" the seam, flattening puckers that occurred
when it was sewn. |
from
Patricia E. Cole of North Kingstown, RI
It’s been said that the use of Sewers Aide silicone may hurt
the tension discs on a sewing machine. To remove any potential
problem, buy heavy duty felt pads (used on the bottom of
furniture legs to prevent scratching your wood floor) Stick one
to your machine, right above the last thread guide after the
tension disks, squirt some sewer's aide on the pad and you can
lubricate your thread and not get the silicone on the tension
disks. |
from
Dolores Aaron of Ft. Lauderdale, FL
As a gift for a quilting friend, I made up one of the Marcus
wool journals, adding extra blank muslin pages so she can keep
it in her sewing room and record special notes on projects, etc.
Seeing how much she enjoys it, I now have to complete my own, as
well as gifts for others. It would be great too for new parents,
graduates, retirees, etc... |
from
Debbie Otto of Lebanon, OH
Sometimes the hardest thing to do is figuring out where to place
those blocks that you worked hours on into the fabulous quilt
you know it's going to be. I arrange my blocks in various
positions, take pictures of them with my digital camera, then
select my favorite. It also gives me a reference to look at when
finally putting the pieces together, and it gives me an extra
photo to put in my quilt journal. |
from
Karna Grad of Palm Coast, FL
I save empty tissue boxes for all my usable scraps. I sort them
by color or type (Christmas, homespun, etc.), hopefully in a box
design that suggests what's in it. No searching for a small
scrap for appliqué - just find the right box! |
from
Connie Vanni of Woodridge, IL
Does your quilting area have a jumble of electrical cords from
your iron, sewing machine(s), computer, lights, etc. beneath
your table? You can easily identify each cord by using the
small, flat plastic closures found on bread bags. Mark the
identity of each cord using a fine point permanent marker and
snap the plastic closure on the cord just above the plug--you'll
always be able to identify what cords belong to what! |
from
Joan Kniffen of Livermore, CO
I always do a practice run of the quilting design
before quilting the actual project. Instead of just tossing
these practice pieces away; I make up a sandwich of a design
suitable for a baby or child, a batting, and a backing. I then
divide this into blocks by sewing evenly spaced
squares/rectangles etc over the entire sandwich. When I'm ready
to do a practice run I just do the machine quilting in one of
the squares I created. After a few times I have a finished whole
cloth baby quilt; all I need to do is bind it, wash it, and give
it to a charitable organization. |
from
Mary Malone of Milwaukee, WI
To keep your ironing board cover fresh and clean,
cut strip of freezer paper to the length of the ironing board
and iron it to the top. Any brown marks, glue spots or fusible
accidents are on the freezer paper and not on your cover. When
the time is right, simply peel away and apply a new sheet of
freezer paper.
An extra benefit: the freezer paper creates a stiff background
for pressing pieces. |
from
Cheri Walker of La Vista , NE
I use my scrapbooking paper punches in various
shapes (like hearts, stars, etc.) to cut freezer paper shapes
and then simply iron on the quilt top and quilt around the
shape. |
from
Adrienne Yokanovich of Cable, WI
When sewing more complicated patchwork sections together where
the direction of the piece assembly can be tricky, I lay the two
pieces right sides together with the correct edges ALMOST
matching, take it to a copying machine and copy the assembly
arrangement. Then I take a pen and draw the dotted lines on the
correct edge to stitch. Especially helpful for blocks like
pinwheels, where the correct direction must be maintained and
errors in sewing the correct side of the seam is important. If
you don’t have a copier at home, just place the pieces
together as above and pin or use fabric glue and save the sample
for a guide, drawing the stitches with a permanent marker. |
from
Paula Philpot of East Bernstadt, KY
When I press my binding, I let it fall into a basket under the
ironing board as I press it and then transport the basket back
to the sewing machine and start attaching to quilt. This keeps
the binding from picking up lint and threads if it were lying on
the floor during the pressing and attaching. |
from
Colette Rowberry of Kirkland, Quebec Canada
When working on a block I use my Roll-O-Puzz (a mat product used
for jigsaw puzzles in progress) to display my block or pieces.
Then I leave a block there to follow for my next block. It
lessens the possibility of making a mistake, and can be rolled
away easily for storage. |
from
Darlene Slocum of Grawn, MI
When I have to stop sewing to wind a new bobbin I
put in two pins where I have stopped. It is then easy to find
among all the other pins on the top. |
from
Karen Keeler of Topsham, ME
Next to my machine I always keep a 9" to
10" quilt sandwich to use when testing tension for
embroidery or quilting. Once each square is totally filled, I
put 2 pieces of pretty fabric on the outside and make it into a
potholder. They come in handy for quick gifts and there's no
waste. |
from
Shelly Grappe of San Angelo, TN
When I am collecting fabrics for a quilt that I am
working on I do a color can on my printer of the fabrics that I
have. I then write how much I have of each. On the back of this
same sheet of paper I scan a picture of the quilt pattern I am
thinking of doing. This has become an easy way to do fabric
shopping. |
from
Maureen Mueller of Fort Collins, CO
First tip: I cut off the fingertips of my
husband’s old leather gloves for thimbles. Works like a charm
and saves me money.
Second tip: Instead of an expensive metal stiletto, try
using a wooden skewer.
Third tip: For tangle-free hand quilting. Run your needle
and thread through a dryer fabric sheet a couple of times.
Voila! |
from
Wendy Ouellette of S. Tetagouche, N.B. Canada
Want a great wrinkle free way to store seasonal
quilted projects? Just roll them around a large foam
"noodle", the kind you use in a pool...Several items
can be rolled on one noodle. |
from
Nancy Brewer of Pembroke, MA
Recycle while you appliqué: Save used dryer
sheets to use as you would use interfacing; press them and place
on right side of appliqué piece. Stitch all around at 1/4 inch;
cut small slit in middle of sheet and turn to right side of
appliqué piece, poking out any corners, etc. Press. You can
then trim away the excess sheet from the back, or leave it in
place for additional light support. Appliqué to your quilt
project as usual. |
from
Peggy McFadden of Maynard, AR
Before starting to hand quilt, I thread several
needles on the thread spool I am using. As the next needle is
needed, it is a simple matter to pull out another threaded
needle. After quilting for a while, it is harder to see the eye
of the needle, so it is handy to have several done before the
eye strain sets in. |
from
Annie Barnes of Memphis, TN
Use left over blocks to make caddies for your
sewing machines. Sew on clear vinyl pockets to see the beautiful
"non-wasted" block designs. I made a caddy for my
machine that I carry with me to quilting classes. It has two
very large pockets sewn to the front that can serve as thread
catchers or scrap catchers or other sewing notions. |
from
Shirley Taylor of Yuba City, CA
When doing hand quilting or needle work, put a wad
of batting in the end of the thread spool for a place to put a
couple pins and the needles. Handy to have. |
from
Amy Davis of Austin, TX
When you buy thread in neutral colors, buy two spools and one
package of bobbins. Wind one entire spool of thread onto the
bobbins and keep them handy for a quick change, rather than
having to stop and wind up a bobbin while you are machine
piecing. |
from
Shirley Taylor of Yuba City, CA
When doing hand quilting or needle work, put a wad of batting in
the end of the thread spool for a place to put a couple pins and
the needles -- handy to have! |
from
Marcia Huckabee of Logan, NM
I had so much extra fabric that I cut some pieces into fat
quarters and most popular square sizes. I then shared them with
my quilt guild. You can also donate to your guild or senior
center for them to use for children’s quilts or nursing home
quilts that they donate. An "orphan" fat quarter swap
is always a fun thing to do also. It is always fun to share your
fabric and get new fabric to inspire you. |
from
Sheryl Banks of Richmond, VA
Instead of placing the iron and ironing board directly beside my
sewing machine, I have intentionally placed the iron, ironing
board, and cutting table at the farthest distance across the
room from my sewing machine. This gives me plenty of much needed
exercise and helps the blood circulation because I am frequently
moving around the room. When working on a quilting project, I
try to move around the room as much as possible; this way, I can
work much longer and don't tire as easily. |
from
Barbara Sullivant of Philadelphia, PA
To make sure that the label you add to your quilt cannot be
removed, stitch to the back of the quilt before the quilting is
completed. You might even consider piecing the label into the
back as a block! Quilt through the label. |
from
Elaine Cassey-Worth of Austin, TX
When sandwiching your quilt, try using a large yardstick to
smooth out the wrinkles in the batting. It only takes a few
strokes of the yardstick to smooth it - the yardstick acts as an
extended long arm and works fast. Make sure your yardstick is
free of any snags or splinters so that is can glide over the
batting easy without damage or pulls. |
from
Katy Ensminger of Mt. Berry, GA
I sharpen all of my scissors by simply cutting
sand paper with them. It's inexpensive, easy and safe for your
nice fabric scissors. |
from
Linda Siebert of Mountain Home, AR
When making a quilt with fat quarters, I stack
them up and roll them around a cardboard tube after preshrinking
and ironing. Then they don't get wrinkled or creased before I
have time to work on the next block. |
from
Jenny Roberts of Saint Joseph, MO
When working on a quilt, I make a smaller version
of the quilt block in the pattern to use as my quilt label on
the back of the quilt. It looks nice on the back & I think
it adds another "special touch" to the finished quilt
once the name, date, etc. are written on it with a permanent
fabric pen. |
from
Darlene Wegrynowski of Westlake, OH
Instead of keeping piles of quilting magazines, I tear out the
projects that interest me, and put them in plastic sleeves in a
3 ring binder. I separate the binders into categories, such has
holidays, baby quilts, quick quilts etc. I even have one just
for reference to hold notes, tips and instructions. So I spend
less time searching and more time creating! |
from
Peggy Tackett of Wasilla, AK
For a near exact 1/4" seam allowance when hand piecing,
place a small piece of 1/4" wide masking tape or marked
quilter’s tape (such as Tiger Tape) on the thumbnail of your
non-needle holding hand. With the tape right at the seam
allowance area, you can size up your seam by placing your needle
at the edge of the tape, at the point where your needle inserts
into the fabric. Works very well! And a roll of tape will last
for years because you just need a small pc and replace it as it
loses its adhesive. |
from
Shari Daniels of Reno, NV
I always close my rotary blade as soon as I finish my cut;
However, with small grandchildren around the house, I still
worry about little fingers getting hold of it. The solution: I
wear a fanny pack and put the rotary cutter in the pack each
time there is no chance for accidents. I also store my seam
ripper, scissors and other small items in the pack as well.
(This keeps all my sewing items close at hand, saving time and
trouble whenever I'm ready to sew.) |
from
Jenny Roberts of Saint Joseph, MO
When working on a quilt, I make a smaller version
of the quilt block used in the pattern to use as my quilt label
on the back of the quilt. It looks nice on the back & I
think it adds another "special touch" to the finished
quilt once the name, date, etc. are written on it with a
permanent fabric pen. |
from
Ellie Lively of Indianapolis, IN
Glue an empty thread spool to the wrong side of a plastic
template and you have a handy handle to use when tracing the
outline on fabric. |
from
Susan Guzman of Highlands Ranch, CO
When working on a quilt project, purchase an extra 1/2 to 3/4 of
a yard of fabric and stitch up each side, making a bag - you can
add an optional drawstring at the top. Use the bag to store your
quilt project-in-progress. Once your quilt is complete, you then
have a dust-free storage bag to store it in. Also, it works
wonderfully as "gift wrap" when giving the quilt as a
gift. Simply tie a pretty coordinating piece of fabric at the
top for the bow. |
from
Sherida Parkinson of Delta, UT
When cutting fabric for a quilt project, cut the
smaller leftover pieces in a much smaller version of the quilt
project you are working on. These blocks can be sewn as a
"bonus doll quilt" in between chain-piecing the larger
quilt. My granddaughter thinks it is absolutely wonderful to
have a "matching" doll quilt and the quilt just sort
of "makes itself" as a bonus to the large quilt! |
from
Marie Cisler of Two Rivers, WI
After sewing with invisible thread, do you cut it
off and lose the thread end and have to rethread? Attach a small
piece of masking tape to thread as soon as you cut it off and
attach to front of sewing machine. |
from
Sandy Pryor of Guilderland, NY
I find the best way to mark patches or blocks that must be sewn
in a particular order is to number short pieces of masking tape
and stick them on each piece. |
from
Sharon Gates of Quebec, Canada
The tiny clothespins you buy at the dollar store
help to keep the paper templates and appropriate cut fabric
pieces together. I group these and have them as a unit when I am
ready to baste and/or appliqué the piece to my background. |
from
Joyce Levengood of New Philadelphia, OH
I found an easy and inexpensive way to make
picking up all those loose threads on your carpet -- simply buy
a toilet bowl brush...one quick swipe across the floor and the
brush picks them up quickly. |
from
Sandy Pryor of Guilderland, NY
The best way to mark patches or blocks that must
be sewn in a particular order is to number short pieces of
masking tape and stick them on each piece. |
from
Katie McGraw of Derby Line, VT
When I am quilting, I continually sew my random
scraps together as I go along to make a pretty border or block
for another quilt. |
from
Cheryl Hammond of El Paso, TX
I have bins full of fabric remnants that never get a second
look, so I've tried some new approaches: (1) I cut the remnants
into the most-popular block sizes and organize them by size in
baggies. This has proven very successful for using up scraps
when I need just a few blocks of one color. (2) I take the
narrow strips and make binding from the remnants, and store
those with the other binding scraps. This is great to use for a
multi-colored binding on my scrap quilts. And, finally, (3) if
the remnant is an odd shape, I take and sew those shapes
together into a crazy-quilt-type panel. When the pieced fabric
is large enough, I use it for backing fabric. |
from
Anne McBain of Westwego, LA
To easily determine the color value of a fabric, use a clear red
plastic from report cover – it’s larger and less expensive
than the standard color value tools! |
from
Esha Choi of Monterey, CA
I use aluminum foil to sharpen dull scissor blades
and needle points. Simply cut through the aluminum foil several
times, and you’ll see the difference! Hand quilting needles
can also be sharpened after a session of appliqué or hand
quilting – just rub the point of the needle against the foil
will help to sharpen it. |
from
Mary Shackelford of San Antonio, TX
To get in a good day of sewing with minimal interruptions, plan
the night before: Set up the sewing machine, prepared fabrics,
notions, pattern and any other items you might need. I even plan
the day’s meals the night before. In the morning, I throw the
family's supper in the crock-pot and instruct them that lunch
will be self-serve cold cuts. And then I sit down and sew
productively all day long. I find that all the searching and
setting up wastes so much of my time. This helps me to
streamline my day-- even if I can only sew for a few hours. |
from
Chris Casey-Parkinson of Kingston, Ontario
At several stages in the quilt making process, I take digital
pictures of its construction and what it looks like completed,
so I have a pictorial diary once it has gone to its new home. |
from
Linda Burrow of Dorris, CA
I bought small self stick round sand paper discs
and attached them to the bottom of my ruler. They keep the ruler
from slipping when you are rotary cutting your quilt fabric. |
from
Cindy Lash of Rome City, IN
When laying out quilt blocks on a bed in the order you want to
piece them together, first spread out a flat sheet. That way, if
you need to clear off the bed, you can just roll up the sheet
and the blocks will stay in place until your next sewing
session. |
from
Theresa Barnett of Owensboro, KY
When I hand quilt using a round hoop, I pin a hand towel to the
edges of my quilt sandwich. This allows me to quilt all the way
to the edge, and saves me the expense of having to buy a half
hoop. |
from
Donna Keating of Burleson, TX
A small, square, boutique style tissue box make a
great trash receptacle for threads and strings. It fits nicely
next to your sewing machine, and is easy to just throw it away
when it's full. |
from
Barbara Lamb of Milwaukee, OR
I wear garden gloves with the mini gripper dots on
them when I machine quilt. I also cut the tips off the
forefinger and thumb of the right hand glove. It gives me better
“feel”, without slowing me down! |
from
Teresa Suek of Maite, Guam
I wrap small strips of plastic food wrap around my
thread spools to keep thread from getting tangled. Keeps my
thread box neat! |
from
Cheri Branca of Victor, NY
I always cut the squares for half-square triangles
a full 1" larger than the finished size I need (rather than
7/8"). This allows for any minor errors in stitching, and I
can then trim the newly stitched squares down to the correct
UNfinished size by placing the 45 degree angle on my ruler along
the center diagonal seam. I always end up with perfect HSTs! |
from
Sandra Betts of Saint John, NB, Canada
When couching heavier cords or threads without a
cording guide, substitute a piece of drinking straw to assist
you in guiding the heavier cord. Cut a small segment of the
straw and tape it on the front of your machine above the needle.
Feed the cord through the straw. This leaves your hands free to
guide the fabric. |
from
Anna Scott of Wynne, AR 72396
My sewing table is right next to a wall where I
have hung a long wired spice rack with 10 small shelves. It
makes a perfect spot to store all my essential tools right where
I can grab them as I need them, and return them to storage just
as easily. |
from
Susan Contreras of Johnston, RI
Here is a wonderful way to display your fat
quarters. Use a CD Rack/shelf! I purchased a simple iron CD rack
and fold each fat quarter to the size of a CD case and stack
like books on a shelf. They look wonderful and they are easy to
get to when needed. I sort each shelf by color and style. |
from
Kathy DeMarco of Magnolia, KY
Hanging a shoe bag over the back of the door of my
sewing room has done wonders for organizing my sewing room! it
holds all sorts of notions and bits and pieces that don't fit
easily anywhere else...was a cheap fix too since I got mine at
the local discount store! |
from
Shari Spires of Black Mountain, NC
When preparing a quilt to be basted, we have found
that duct tape works really well in securing the back to a
table. It sticks well to both fabric and other surfaces and can
be repositioned as well. |
from
Pauline Oliveira of Jacksonville, FL
When having difficulty pinning fabric together,
try passing the pin through your hair. The oil that naturally
comes from your hair will be just enough to get that pin in, and
out of the fabric without any difficulty, and the oil from your
hair will not harm the fabric in any way. |
from
Jackie Veats of Pleasant Hill, CA
After working on projects involving glue or
bonding fabrics together, I always iron a piece of freezer paper
to my ironing board work surface. I then pull up the freezer
paper (while still warm) and all excess glue, residue, and other
muck come up with the freezer paper, keeping my ironing board
clean. Works like a charm and it's very inexpensive! |
from
Sheila Lackey of Elon, NC
If you're in a jam for pressing your seams and
your iron has gone on the fritz, just use a curling iron to
press your seams. It works great.
Editor's Note - The curling iron is also convenient for quick
pressing jobs you can do right at the sewing machine, whether
your regular iron is working or not ; ) |
from
Jody Jameson of Miami, OK
To make a handy quilt history book, cut out pieces of fabric to
fit into a 4” x 6” photo album. On an index card, write the
name of your quilt, when it was made and whom you gave it to.
You can also add the name of the fabric collection(s) and the
fabric cost, if desired. Put this in the front of your album;
add your sample material and you will have a wonderful history
of your quilts. The mini-album also keeps samples handy for
fabric shopping trips. Finally, take a picture of your quilt,
front and back, and add it for a finished history. Makes a great
brag book as well as a directory of quilt gifts you’ve given
for later reference. |
from
Madge Powis of Hamilton, NJ
When sewing strips for quilting I run a piece of
masking tape all the way down the width of my machine (front to
back), 1/4 inch from the needle. The stitching line stays nice
and even when the strips are held evenly, and it gives a
full-length stitching guide, compared to hold it against the
tiny edge of the foot. |
from
Diane Pitchford of Gilbert, AZ
For creative recycling, I save all batting scraps
and use them for disposable dust rags. From larger scraps I cut
pieces that fit my Swiffer floor cleaner. |
from
Wendy Ann Wood of Portland, OR
I mark my quilts for straight line quilting with
REMOVABLE tape. It comes in a couple of widths. I stitch right
next to the tape and when I am done, the tape removes from the
quilt like a post-it-note does, leaving no residue. For designs,
think about tracing them onto clear shelf contact paper then cut
out the design. Apply it to the quilt then quilt around it. If
you are careful, you can use the same one over and over again. |
from
Esther Heather of Sugar Creek, MO
I used "story book" fabric panels (mine was “The
Night Before Christmas” theme) to make a rag quilt, using
flannel in the middle instead of batting. I used red, white and
green flannel to match the book and add color. I used a candy
cane print for the border, sashing and backing. It was easy
because the blocks were large and I "quilted" each one
before sewing them together. They would be cute for any fabric
book, but everyone loved the Christmas one! This is a easy and
fast gift idea for any child. Editor’s Note: Purchase two
panels so you can create the book as well as the quilt for a
coordinated set, a fast and easy gift idea for any child, for
the upcoming holidays or anytime! |
from
Evalynn Nyman of Orange, CA
I keep my used dryer sheets (such as Bounce brand) to clean the
sole plate of my iron. With the iron set to “wool”, I smooth
the iron over the cloth several times, increasing the heat if
needed. It makes my iron so clean and it glides so nice. Works
great after using fusible web on projects. |
from
Shirley Peterka of Pisek, ND
I cut a few strips of the slip-resistant waffle
lining for shelves, about two inches wide, and place them under
my cutting matt to keep it from sliding about. |
Linda
Speers of Toronto, Canada
To make any spool of thread into a pincushion for
those take along projects, simply glue a magnet to a golf tee,
insert the tee into the hole in the center of the spool and -
voila! Instant pincushion! |
from
Wendy Mathson of Poway, CA
Before I cut strips from a fabric where I can
hardly distinguish the front from the back side (like a
tone-on-tone print or a batik), I use a chalk marker to make
diagonal lines all across the back. It really saves my eyesight! |
from
Bonnie Fredmund of Waldorf, MD
I have little patience for mistakes so to make the
chore or removing ripped stitches a little more bearable I use a
roller paper lint brush to take up the loose threads after
taking the pieces apart. You will need to use the roller on both
sides and you will find that this removes 95% of the little
threads instead of pulling each one out by hand. |
from
Dianne Stewart of Plainfield, NJ
For a quick binding, especially on wall hangings
& smaller quilts, I like to layer backing, fleece and quilt
top, then turn under the backing ½” and ½” again, to form
an easy binding (the backing is cut 1” larger than the top
& fleece all around). I then just zig-zag the pressed edge
to the quilt top all around. It’s neat and easy to do. You
could even use a decorative stitch and contrast thread instead
of matching the thread to make the bound edge stand out. |
from
Ivetta McQueen of Evanston, IL
At my son’s wedding reception, we circulated
white-on-white squares of cotton fabric and permanent pens, so
each guest could write a message to the happy couple. Both the
bride’s mother and I are quilters, so we’ll be joining the
blocks with other fabrics to create their wedding quilt. We’re
using mostly earth-toned batiks and texture prints that match
their decor (To buy ourselves some time, we’ve promised to
complete it as their first anniversary gift! ; ) |
from
Phyllis Huckabee of N. Miami, OK
Carry a small composition note book with in your
purse or bag so when you are out and see an interesting design
you can draw a small sketch to remember it. For example, a tile
layout or design in a rug pattern. You can even find interesting
designs on buildings. You will be surprised at the many things
that can inspire you. Don't forget to put a pencil or pen in
your notebook to be handy! |
from
Esther Heather of Sugar Creek , MO
When buying fabric for your crib size rag quilt,
purchase some extra so that when your baby becomes a toddler,
you can simply add extra blocks and/or a new border, enlarging
the size of the quilt to grow along with the child! When it's
time to graduate to his or her own "big" bed, they
will have their own familiar quilt to help make the transition
easier. (Editor's Note: Great Idea - take it a step further by
always laundering the extra fabric along with the finished
quilt, so it will blend in when you add the new sections.) |
from
Adrienne Yokanovich of Cable, WI
I find when I have my quilt "sandwich"
on my sewing table ready to pin, or baste together, tablecloth
clips used for picnic tables, found in the camping supply
section of most discount stores, work great to hold the quilt
edges taught and help hold the quilt to smooth out the wrinkles
while basting or pinning. |
from
Lois Bates of Yorktown, VA
I keep an empty square tissue box on my sewing and
cutting tables to collect small snips of fabric and threads.
Looks pretty and it’s easier than reaching for the trash can
for every small piece. Every week I empty the tissue box and
start over, or toss it out and use a new box! |
from
Alta Sumerlin of Redmond, OR
I store my blocks in pizza boxes. I purchase new
boxes from our local pizza shop. The boxes come in different
sizes and store nicely on a shelf in my sewing room. I take a
picture with my digital camera (isn't technology great) of the
picture of the quilt and tape it to the top of the box so I know
which quilt the blocks are for. I have several unfinished quilts
stored this way - hopefully I’ll get them completed, some day. |
from
Dawn Weaver of Enoree, SC
For a small, handy sewing kit, use an empty 35 mm
film canister, place a threaded needle, and a straight pin or
two (stuck in a small piece of felt), a few buttons and safety
pins (in various sizes) and a stain-removal wipe (such as
Shout). We keep one of these mini-kits in each of the family
cars, in the kids’ book bags, in purses and overnight bags.
They are used more than you can imagine. |
from
Cathy Gibson of Colorado Springs, CO
When hand quilting, or hand sewing, I discovered a
nifty trick for holding thread. Use old prescription bottles or
vitamin bottles large enough for a spool to fit in and make a
hole in the lid of the bottle. (I use a nail to make the hole).
Drop the spool in the bottle; poke the thread through the hole
in the top, close it and now you can just pull on the thread
instead of having to unwind it. Saves time and messes! |
from
Laura Rosenwald of Thompson Falls, MT
To keep your rotary cutting mats flat between
uses, hang them on men's dress slack hangers, with the metal
clips. The clips will hold the mat securely and in a flat,
vertical position. Then, tie a pretty ribbon through the handle
of your rotary cutter and slip it over the hanger. Everything is
all together for your next rotary-cut project! |
from
Tami Duggan of Sparks, NV
Don't throw away the large clear plastic
containers that snacks come in at the large discount shopping
clubs. Just rinse them out with soap and water, dry thoroughly,
and use them to store fabric scraps by color. I have a few in my
sewing room -- each one holds certain colors and then when I
need a scrap for a project I can easily go to the right color
container to find what I need. |
from
Terry Rummel of Tacoma, WA
I use embroidery floss for hand appliqué on
quilts. The selection of color is greater, the cost is much
cheaper and the weight does not add bulk to the quilt top, as
compared to other threads used for appliqué. I also save money
by purchasing unfinished needlework projects at thrift shops and
garage sales and add the floss to my collection. I have every
color imaginable, and at low cost. |
from
Sandra Pryor of Guilderland, NY
Large rectangular aluminum roasting pans make
great containers for blocks and quilt project pieces. They are
lightweight and stack easily, without weighing down and
wrinkling the contents. They are readily available in stores,
including dollar stores. |
from
Ginger Levine of Phoenix, AZ
When making totes and purses, I use plastic canvas
in the bottom to support and maintain shape in the finished
project. Plastic canvas is inexpensive, long lasting, easy to
cut and easy to clean. |
from
Patsy Bussman of Marceline, MO
When I begin to sew seams together, I place a
small piece of material at the start of the seam, then just
continue sewing the seam itself.. When I reach the end of the
seam, I cut the little piece of material from the beginning and
sew thru it. I then place it under the needle again, and am
ready to begin another seam... this not only saves a lot of
thread, but also helps me control my 1/4" seam. |
from
Patricia E. Cole of North Kingstown, RI
Invest in a top quality surge protector for your sewing machine,
iron, serger, and lamp. All equipment is protected from power
surges, and using the lamp as your indicator, you’ll know even
from a distance if your equipment is on or off. |
from
Maryelise Powell of Randleman, NC
When I'm cutting a bunch of squares for a quilt, the cutting
board gets full of little bits of fabric. I keep one of those
poufs (they’re packaged with liquid shower soap) nearby to
whisk away the lint & scraps. It works like a dream, and
also removes cat hair from anything!!! |
from
Marcie Lane of Ontario, Canada
I bought a package of 100 6" Bamboo skewers at a local
dollar store. They are blunt on one end and have a sharp point
on the other, and are great for using as a stiletto while
sewing. If you accidentally hit it, it won't break your needle.
Fantastic for trapunto stuffing and needle turn appliqué. Also
handy for holding down bias tapes, block points and seams while
ironing so you don't burn your fingers. I can also apply a small
dab of basting glue from the bottle when I only want a little
bit. Best of all, they cost only one penny each! |
from
Carla Weeks of Wichita, KS
When searching for new, easy appliqué shapes, I have used
cookie cutters and children’s coloring books for patterns. I
have made several quilts just for fun for my grandchildren. |
from
Hannelore Nunn of Nottingham, England
Don't despair if some of your blocks are not quite straight, or
you are not pleased with the result. Collect them all, and after
some time, cut them all up into irregular shapes, and create a
wonderful scrap quilt. You may even win a prize at the local
show with your 'Botched and Rescued' quilt. ; ) |
from
Anita B. Crosby of Atlanta, GA
If you enjoy appliqué, but can't seem to come up
with a new design for a quilt, try looking at rubber stamp
designs. There are some really interesting and unique rubber
stamps on the market. You can stamp the design in black ink,
then enlarge it on a copier. For larger designs, take your
enlarged copy to your local business center and increase it
further to the desire size on the plotter copier. Then use it as
you would any standard appliqué pattern. |
from
Barbara Godfrey of Poughkeepsie, NY
The dollar store can be a treasure trove of
inexpensive ways to organize your quilting area. I purchased (a)
2 mini clothes lines to hang above my sewing table. With a (b)
pack of clothespins, I have safely anchored my blocks in
progress with each patch lined up sequentially to sew together!
Then each block is deposited into a (c) 12" square storage
container to be taken to my design wall made of the (d) flannel
back of a large plastic table cloth tacked to my wall. I spent
less than $5 in total for a whole lot less headaches - no more
searching for missing patches or blocks! |
from
Gwen Robertson of Orlando, FL
When stitching two pieces of batting together (or
any fabric that creates a lot of lint), use a strip of muslin
underneath to prevent lint from getting into the sewing machine.
(Editor’s note: The muslin strip can then be cut away very
close to the stitching and gently pulled away from the seam, or
left in to stabilize the seam if needed.) |
from
Kris Jacobson of Bowman, ND
If you don't like to finish you bindings by hand,
try this trick. Use the fusible thread, which melts when you
iron it, in your bobbin. Sew the binding on to the back side of
your quilt. Fold it over to the front and press it in place. The
fusible thread will hold it until you sew it down. You can sew
it with a nice straight stitch or and invisible zigzag. |
from
Susan Miller of Rogers, AR
In my sewing room I have a lovely quilted wall hanging above my
machine. The back is flannel with a grid; when piecing a new
quilt, I can use this side to lay out several blocks up and see
the effect. When not working on a project, I turn it over and
enjoy my beautiful wall hanging. |
from
Lynda Schuler of Mesa, AZ
When I purchase new fabric I cut a six inch strip from selvage
to selvage for my "stash index". I staple a label to
the strip with the number of yards in the whole piece. I use
small baskets to organize the six-inch strips by color and theme
in small baskets that fit easily on my shelves. This way all my
stash is easily accessible and I can preview and test different
combinations when I'm planning a new project. I store the large
pieces of fabric in a closet or other out of the way location. I
try not to use the six-inch "index strip" in my
quilting project, so I can cut it into six-inch squares to use
in a future scrap quilt or fabric swap. |
from
Alice van Zwoll of Bridgeport, WA
When making a quilted tablecloth, back with piece
of medium to heavy-weight flannel, and no batting. The
tablecloth will drape nicely and will not slide off the table.
This works especially well with picnic cloths! |
from
Patty Smith of Lakeside, CA
I keep a 20" square of flannel fabric tacked
to the wall in my sewing room. When starting a new project I can
place my block pieces on the flannel and look at them as I walk
in the room to be sure I don't have just a "close up"
perspective of what the colors in the finished block will look
like. |
from
Margie Garrison of Richland , OR
I use a piece of rubber shelf mat, the kind that
keep things from slipping, close by to rub my rotary mat after
cutting. It keeps the mat clean and free of debris. |
from
Sue Vollbrecht of Monona, WI
When going on a retreat I pack a good quality
flannel backed tablecloth, works great as a flannel board. When
you pack to go home, leave your project on the tablecloth and
roll it up. |
from
Carol Tolpa of Chelmsford, MA
After trying many commercial products for marking
on fabric, my favorite is ordinary soap. I use all those little
slivers that are usually thrown away. When the edges get dull, I
just wash my hands with the piece, leave it to dry and use
again. Soap remains visible through handling and washes out
easily, and you can't beat the price! |
from
Connie Albertson of Elizabeth City, NC
Save your snippets and selvage pieces. These make
a great fun time activity for little ones not ready for needle
and thread. Provide little ones with a plain piece of paper, a
child safe glue stick and your scraps. Encourage them to create
their own collage quilts by gluing the small pieces to the
paper. |
from
Beverly Vancleave of Newhall, CA
Use plastic hair rollers of different colors and
sizes to wind your various sizes and colors of silk ribbon on.
No more creases in the ribbon! |
from
Janet R. Watson of Clarksville, TN
To store my finished quilt blocks, I hang them on
a skirt hanger (with adjustable metal clips) in my sewing
closet. When the closet doors are closed, they are protected
from dust and sunlight, and I can easily view them without
having to search through boxes or drawers, or wherever they may
be kept. |
from
Janet Domangue of Hallsville, TX
I am new to quilting but have already begun a
quilting diary. I started with a binder and a couple of typed
pages about how I got interested in quilting. I have pictures of
works in progress and finished quilts. I make notes about what
led me to make that particular quilt, who I am making it for and
where I purchased the fabrics - even where the pattern came
from. In this way, my grandchildren (some day) will have a
complete history of the quilts in the family. |
from
Kathie Paradise of Auburn, MA
I always keep a small lint roller near my machine
for when I have to rip out. After ripping out a seam I run the
roller over it and it picks up all the loose threads so that
they don't end up sewn into my new seam. |
from
Beverly Kutz of Levittown, PA
Trouble threading your needles? Don't fret! try
wetting the eye of the needle instead of your thread .Works like
a charm.. |
from
Patty Ayers of Knoxville, TN
For beginners, or quilters wanting to branch out
... Make a series of potholders using 4-5 coordinating fabrics
and 6" blocks. Be bold and creative and you have something
to show for your trail-and-errors. I decorated my kitchen
backsplash with 13 coordinated potholders, while learning new
piecing, quilting and binding techniques! |
from
Evelyn Clark of Live Oak, FL
When quilting with children - give them their own
fabric stash, tools, leftover blocks, even cut out shapes. This
can improve their creativity, imagination, math skills, and can
enlighten you on different layouts you might not have
considered. My 3-1/2 year old granddaughter even has her own
design wall to layout her quilts. She takes pride in the doll
quilts she has designed and helped sew. I also give her a couple
of dollars when we go to a quilt shop, so she can pick out and
buy her own FQ's for her fabric stash. |
from
Barbara Michels of Magalia, CA
I prefer to prewash my fabrics to remove excess
dye and prevent future bleeding. To prevent the fabrics from
raveling away in the washer and dryer I use a pinking blade on
my rotary cutter and slightly trim the edges. This method is
also great on flannels which ravel more than cottons. |
from
Christa Royer of Overland, MO
As a beginning quilter I made many mistakes in
assembling my blocks. Now I keep a 15"X15" piece of
batting by the machine. As each piece is cut it goes on the
batting as shown in the pattern. As I sew each section together,
it is returned to the batting in its proper place. This way if
I've put some squares or 1/2 square triangles together
improperly I can correct it immediately, not when I'm ready to
put the blocks together. |
from
Barbara Arnold of Newborn, GA
Using the lower lumbar support office chair is a great way to
reduce back pain from long hours of sitting at sewing machine.
Also great to roll over to ironing board or cutting board. I
roll around quite a bit with mine. (Editor’s Note: No matter
which chair you use, remember to get up and take a break every
so often, whether you’re sitting at the sewing machine,
computer, etc. Both your legs and your eyes need the break! |
from
Denise Swanson of Cambridge, IA
When replacing a sewing machine needle, I first thread the new
needle, then use the thread to hold it in place while tightening
the screw. This is especially helpful when replacing needles in
sergers. (I have chubby fingers...) |
from
Dorothy Dowell of Glasgow, MT
When making a quilt I always try a test block first and then
make the required number of blocks. After putting the top
together I then have the test block left, on which I either
write or embroider the quilt name and year. This I appliqué
onto the back of the finished quilt. It always looks so nice and
always matches the quilt. |
from
Marcia Burt of Rowan, IA
Whenever I receive my quilt magazines in the mail,
I stick a plain white address label in the top left hand corner
on the back cover. As I look through the magazine, I jot down
the page number and a mini-description of any pattern that
catches my eye. Then when I am ready to start a new project, I
just flip my magazines to their backside and read my labels. At
a glance I know where a favorite pattern is in the magazine.
Labeling the back cover allows me to keep my front cover clear
& beautiful! |
from
Cheri Schorr of Boise, ID
After sewing your rag quilt take the nozzle of
your vacuum cleaner and gently rub the seams to be frayed. The
vacuum will loosen and pick-up the loose threads and you won't
clog the filters on your washer and dryer. |
from
Jan Manning of Livingston, TX
When pressing my completed blocks, I use a towel
as an ironing surface. For my appliqué, I press from the back
of the block and the design 'sinks' into the towel leaving it
puffy on the right side. It also works well for pieced blocks in
achieving a good creased seam without that annoying little fold
that forms on the right side. |
from
Maryelise Powell of Randleman, NC
When I'm finished cutting a project, to get rid of
the "lint", I brush the surface with a "scrunchy"
(the plastic loofah-type scrubbers that come with body washes.)
It works like a charm, and when the board is clean, just shake
the "scrunchy" over the waste basket and it's ready
use for the next time. |
from
Catherine Bruning of Apache Junction, AZ
To keep cutting tools, spools of thread, and
various other notions, in plain view and readily accessible, I
use a shoe organizer, which usually comes with over-the-door
hooks for easy installing. Also, when going off to quilt classes
or retreats, these organizers can easily be rolled and tied,
securing the quilt essentials. |
from
Debbie Otto of Lebanon, OH
I found that a few drops of a water soluble
basting glue keeps my binding in place while I finish hand
stitching it. This way the binding remains even all around, and
my thread does not get hung up in any pins. The glue easily
washes out and is not a sticky mess. |
from
Dorothy Dowell of Glasgow, MT
When making a quilt I always try a block first and
then make the right number of blocks. After putting the top
together I then have one block left on which I either write or
embroidery the quilt name and year. I appliqué this block onto
the back of the finished quilt. It always looks so nice and
always matches the quilt. |
from
Donna Barton of Riceville, TN
The new fusible batting makes the quilting process
go faster. It’s fusible on both sides, therefore your quilt
top, batting, and backing are all together making it easier to
quilt the piece without using pins. Everything is pressed
together tight, so there’s no need for a quilting frame, or
for starting in the middle. |
from
Karen Schultz of Celoron, NY
To make extra storage space and to keep cut or
in-process projects together, I store each project in a large
decorative tin or hat box that blends in with my decor. That
way, the project is kept together and "out of sight",
and I make good use of my decorative hat boxes and tins, which I
love to collect! |
