Sewing Techniques

I really enjoy hand quilting but have trouble seeing the miniscule eye of a #12 quilting needle even with my reading glasses.  My daughter has much younger eyes...so whenever she visits she starts my needles.  I have her thread 40 or 50 of them on the spool so I can just pull the thread to the length I want and still have more ready.  It is a great time to visit and share what's going on in her life.  If you don't have a daughter...make sure you offer to teach a youngster to quilt and you will always have a special friend with whom to share quilting projects. NOTE:  A large magnifing light works too but it is not nearly as enjoyable.

When you are machines quilting and you have a quilt top already pinned in and you come to a seam that has come loose and wonder what to do , take a  piece of tape and cover your seam with the tape , then go ahead and quilt over  the tape.  the tape works wonders.

I made 42 potpourri bags for a friend.  I had all sorts of scraps of tulle, organdies, lace, ribbons, trim and threads cut off.  I saved them to make a "crazy quilt card."  I will put them all on my foundation and sew in all directions to secure them.  Good way to utilize my tiny scraps.

Due to uneven cutting and sewing, you may find yourself attempting to mesh two different-sized blocks together. To get better results, place the shorter of the two blocks on top and the longer on the bottom. This helps in two ways: the feed dogs often pull the bottom fabric through slightly faster than the top fabric, thus eating up some of the extra. Also, it is easier to pull or stretch the top-most layer since the feed dogs do not grip the top fabric. Between the faster feeding of the bottom layer and the stretching of the top layer, it is possible to even out differences of up to 1/2 inch!

I copy my fabric on the scanner, print out the copy, then use these paper pieces to pick out my pattern.  I can cut the paper pieces to any pattern to see if it will really work with that pattern.

When I baste my quilt I thread my long needle and do not cut the thread from the spool until I reach the spot that I need to stop. That way I do not have to thread the needle as often, saving much time. bunny quilter2@webtv.net

If you can not see to well to thread your needle  in a sewing machine or if you are hand sewing and trying to thread your hand needle just put someing white behind your needle and your thread will go right in the eye of the needle. Some thing white will help you see the eye of the needle better and you can put the thread right in the eye of the needle.

When ironing keep a spray bottle of water near your iron to help keep seams flat.

don't throw those shower scrubbies away when they get worn.  They are great for cleaning all the small  fabric threads from your cutting board