Learning Quilting

I love decorated boxes.  I store all my projects in the decorative boxes you can purchase at Michaels, Hobby Lobby or Tuesday Morning stores.  I love to work on more than one project, often between quilting and sewing I will have 10 projects in progress at a time.  I started buying the decorative boxes, round, oblong, rectangular, whatever to store projects in while in progess.  They are also very decorative in my sewing room.  When ready to sew, all of the materials, patterns and thread are kept together so it's easy to pull the box and sew on a project for a day.  Then, when I'm finished, I put everything back ito the box, including the thread and bobbin until the next sewing session.  No time is wasted gathering supplies, looking for thread, etc.  And, the greatest benefit is my sewing room always looks neat and clean and I do not feel overwhelmed with clutter or projects!

One tip I would like to share with beginners has to do with piecing into a point, like if you have to piece a triangle set into a 90 degree angle.  Always sew right up to the corner, but do not go completely into the corner, always stop just one stitch shy of the corner.  This allows for ease and allows the seams to fold over and lay flat. 

I have a quilt tip that I share with all my family and friends when I'm teaching them to make quilts.  I always have them sew "just inside" the 1/4" mark (making the seam slightly narrower then 1/4") to allow for ease/foldover.  This is especially important when piecing a block with many pieces.  I've always used this method and my blocks are almost always perfect when finished.

Tape or glue a sheet of sand paper to the back of a cutting mat. This is a great method when working with templates, the fabric will not move as you are tracing the shape.

One thing I like to do if I have a block I just want to try out, or if I've made a block that I don't have a use for, is make a hotpad out of it. this works for blocks up to 8 inches or so. Just quilt it to a square of batting (I use cotton so it will be more heat-resistant). Then layer it with a square of pre-quilted heat resistant "silver stuff", or use more batting and an old ironing board cover. Bind the edges and leave a loop at the corners for hanging, and you have a beautiful hotpad to use or give as a gift.

Sometimes we do blocks which for various reasons we never use and end up with several ufo's. These can be used, regardless of size or colour, by sashing each one to make uniform sizes. They can become a picnic quilt, lap quilt or alternatively a pet quilt. This makes less ufo's and more room for more stash!!

When I am trying new designs I usually sit down and make myself a drawing on graf paper of the individual blocks, then I number them.  When I start cutting and sewing I use these numbers as a quide so that sewing is as easy as following the numbers.  I also use this system when I am designing a new pattern.

I have two little girls at home 3 and 5.  They have beening sewing with me since they could sit on a chair.  When I cut out peices for a pattern I always cut a few extra small scraps for them.  I them give them a piece of heat and bond.  They stick the scraps to the heat and bond in the design they want.  Then I iron it for them and iron a piece of backing on.  They use it for their dolls.  It keeps they occupied while I can get some quilting done.

Graph paper is an excellent tool for designing your own quilts, especially if you are using a lot of straight lines.

Remember the days before arctic and polar fleece - you know; when we made track suits with cotton-poly fleecy interlock?

If you're like me, you will have lots of this stuff left over.  Why not use it as batting (for your smaller home-use projects)?

Another use is to make strip or patchwork blankets, and use fleecy side down - of course - for the snuggle factor.  They're lightweight and snuggly and cheap!!!