Sewing Techniques

When threading a needle, either hand or machine, don't wet the thread, which will cause the thread to swell and make it harder to put through the eye. Instead, wet the eye of the needle. The dry thread will be dawn to the wet needle, making it easier to thread.

If you have trouble vacuuming up the sewing threads from carpet, use a new nylon bristle toilet bowl brush.  It does a good job.

After washing cottons or cotton mixed materials they tend to fray alot.  If you are like most people you iron and then sew them and if you let them lay around awhile they tend to get soft and start to fray.  My grandmother told me years ago to use a heavy hairspray to bond the edges.  It keeps them from fraying while you are putting the top together.  Another good idea is to spray your materials with starch before cutting them it makes the material stiffer and you get less fray also.  For those of us who like our quilts to look crisp spray starch then iron again.

I like to cut out all the fabric for my quilt at one time.  When I cut out the amount called for, I put all that size in a zip bag and label the bag.  That way when I start to sew on the quilt, I know exactly what size it is and don't have to measure again for lengths that are close.

"If you find you are having trouble moving your needle in and out of your fabric when hand quilting you might want to try this.  I purchased eyebrow tweezers that have loops for your fingers like small embroidery scissors have. Just grasp the end of the needle and clamp down and pull.  It works like a charm"

Crazy quilts can be sewn together using a sewing machine. When sewing using a machine, you should take certain precautions to ensure problems do not arise when dealing with the slippery or fragile material. First, use an open toe presser foot. This wide foot shape ensures any decorative stitches do not get caught in the presser foot. To make sure any delicate thread you may use doesn't split, apply Sewer's Aid directly to the spool.

When sewing together strips to make a crazy quilt, you should try to leave at least a quarter inch seam. This quarter inch is the traditional size of a seam and ensures the seam does not rip out or come undone. However, keep in mind you are making a crazy quilt and the spontaneity and overall craziness of the quilt adds to its charm. If each of your seams don't measure the suggested quarter inch, don't rip out the seam, just embrace the craziness of your quilt.

The beautiful embroidery you will add to your quilt once all the pieces have been sewn together certainly add embellishment to your quilt, but they also are a necessary part of the quilt's structure. The embroidery stitches secure the beautiful crazy patches to the foundation material. For this reason, it is important the stitches are done in a secure manner. Many quilters opt to use their sewing machine to complete this step. This machine embroidery is just as beautiful as hand embroidery, but is undoubtedly more secure.