Quilting the Layers

When developing pantograph patterns for use with my Handi-Quilter, I discovered that "on the roll" fax paper works wonders!   The "on the roll" fax paper has solved my problem of not having just the right pantograph pattern on hand.  It is inexpensive, easy to find (local office supply stores) and allows me to make the pantograph any lenght I need.  You can either trace a commercial stencil or do an original free hand pattern.  When tracing a commercial stencil, I have found that a pencil line is just not dark enough, so I retrace with a fine line marker. 

When I need to have a straight line of quilting, I use blue painters tape to keep the lines straight.  It doesn't leave a sticky residue on the fabric and my lines are perfect.

I baste projects well, using an "ugly" color of thread.  I am more inclined to work on a project knowing I am removing the "ugly" thread as I go.  The more basting in the quilt, the less likely the quilt is th shift.

IWhen your needle gets hung in your fabric because of the thickness joining the seams and batting together, instead of buying the round rubber disks, save your rubber bands that come wrapped around vegtables or your newspapers and use it to wrap around the needle to pull it through the thickness of the fabric.

I use a bar of glycerin soap to make my hands a bit sticky so they don't slide around during machine quilting. Glycerin soap won't hurt the fabric. I have found any gloves or cots on my fingers make them sweat and this method avoids that problem. For classes, I pop the bar of soap into a butter tub with a snap lid. Rub your hands against the soap, especially the fingertips and the palms until they feel slightly sticky. Repeat as necessary as you are quilting.

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!