Quilting the Layers

Here is an easy way to remove the occasional unwanted stray threads that you can see through your quilt top after it is done.  Using the smallest crochet hook you can find, gently poke through between the threads of the fabric, grab the thread and rotate the hook down and gently pull the stray thread out.  The one I keep on hand is a 13.  It is actually smaller than some needles I've seen and leaves no hole.

Hate taking out basting stitches? I know I do.  Instead of regular thread, use a Water Soluble Thread. There's no need to remove the basting stitches.  They will disappear from your quilt the first time you wash it!

To facilitate design quilting, use a permanent marker and trace the pattern on PRESS and SEAL (found in the grocery store with aluminum foil products, etc).  Press the pattern onto your quilt and begin freehand quilting.  The marker will not bleed through, no residue remains and the removal of the pattern is much easier than paper. 

I have discovered a easy way to apply a pattern on a quilt, to be machine quilted. You take a piece of Glad's Press n' Seal, cut to the size of the area you are quilting, place it on the area and smooth it down with your hands. It will stick to the fabric. With a pen draw your design on the Press n' Seal, using a stencil or free hand if you like. Then you quilt right over the Press n' Seal and when you finish quilting it can be removed like any tear away stabilizer. It comes off easily without damaging your stitches.

Tape a cone shaped coffee filter to your quilting frame to put threads that you trim from the quilt into.  Keeps your floors clean and keeps a basket out of the way as you move about your quilting frame!

When I am machine quilting a small quilt on my domestic machine, I use garden gloves to be able to grip and handle the quilt sandwich. It's alot cheaper than the quilting gloves that are sold at fabric shops and it does the job just the same.

Have you ever pricked your finger while hand quilting one of your masterpieces?  That little speck of blood not only looks ugly, it seems to want to stay there as a stain forever and ever.  I don't know how many of you quilter's out there know this little trick, but using your own saliva on your own blood stain will get rid of it for good!  No kidding!  try it the next time you get a little stain on your quilt project.  It will disappear before your eyesI! Just remember that it has to be done when the stain is fresh. Then you can launder it as usual.

When you start to quilt, make a knot as usual, and do your quilting.  When the thread starts getting short, make another knot and pull it through. THEN...make another knot (close to the quilt) , and snip it off.   You are ready to start again!  Much easier and quicker than making another knot in the air : )

Due to failing eyes and hands. If I am going to tie a quilt and just want to do a little hand quilted mofit here and there I draw the mofit on tracing paper in a dark color I can see and pin it to the quilt ,quilt the design and rip the paper off when I am done. I also do the same for putting beaded designs on wedding dresses. If I am doing a lot of hand quilting I draw the design on a piece of computer paper blow it up as large as I want and print it as dark as I want pin on quilt when done rip off.

Use regular school chalk to mark your quilt top.You can buy an extra large pencil sharper that it can be sharpen with.It just brushes away, no worries that you will have any residue over.Real cheap and you have many colors to choose from.You can easily trace around cookie cutters or your own cardboard cutouts.