Machine Piecing

when planing a quilt i thought it was waisting time to cut and sew the first block by it's selve. was i ever wrong. i learned my lesson the hard way.

i now cut only one block out then sew it. i look at it for a few days and often find strip piecing possiblities that weren't in the describtion of the block and sometimes i realize switching colors around would highlight an other aspect of the pattern. 

Each quilt I make for a gift is such a treasure to me, and I have a difficult time parting with it. So what I have started doing is -- immediately after finishing a quilt -- I use the scraps from that quilt to make a 12" block (or whatever size -- you can always add borders to make your blocks all the same size). It can be a structured block, log cabin block or just a crazy messy block -- whatever you're in the mood for -- it doesn't matter. I save the blocks and when I have enough for a quilt I sew them all together. It is such a quick and easy quilt to make since the blocks are already assembled -- just make the rows and columns, nothing fancy -- and it is a great remembrance of each quilt I have made over time.

To avoid allowing an underneath seam to be "wadded" up by the feed dogs when sewing seams across other seams use a small strip of paper. Just before the seam gets to the pressure foot put the needle down and slide a 3/4" to 1" strip of paper underneath and sew over it. The paper will be under the seam. When you finish the seam, the paper easily rips off and there are no wads to create added bulk. Much easier than ripping and resewing.

Anytime you make Flying Geese (or Half Square Triangle Blocks) by sewing diagonally across a square, give yourself a bonus by sewing across the diagonal again, this time 1/2" from the original stitching. 

Then when you trim for your original block, you'll have a BONUS HS block.  Just throw them all in a small box or bag.  Before you know it, you'll have a bunch of these little squares.  Press and trim to the size you need, using the diagonal line on a ruler line to square up blocks.  Put these little beauties together to make borders, fill-in blocks, etc.  A LITTLE more work, a BIG bonus

When I first started quilting 3 years ago I was having problems matching the seams when I sewed the rows of blocks together. Pinning just wasnt doing it, they wouldnt line up right. So now I use a fabric glue stick, line the rows up and use the glue stick to hold the two together. I glue only on the seam allowance, on either side of the matching seams, and a spot or two along the block, let set for a few minutes, and sew.Blocks all in line perfectly. Also no pins to worry with. The fabric gluestick is water soluable and acid free.

I keep the cut pieces of the quilt blocks I'm sewing on cheap, white paper plates.  They are very handy for laying out a block in the order it is sewn.  Use as many plates as blocks you are sewing.  Strips can be laid in one plate also.  Stack them, put them in a zip-lock bag (one at a time), and you are ready to go to a class or a friends house to sew.  They stay put until you remove them from the bag. 

After piecing a block that seems a bit out of shape, I pin each corner to a ruled ironing surface within the size the block should finish, then I press in an up and down motion, do not push the iron, until the block is flat and square

Before I attempt a complex block or new technique, I like to sew a test block.  After doing this for a few months, I ended up with a bunch of mis-matched blocks that I didn't know what to do with.  My solution was to set aside an assortment of coordinating fabrics that are used specifically for test blocks.  Now, when I've tested a dozen or so different blocks, I have a set of coordinating blocks.  I add borders as necessary to make them all the same size, and have the beginnings of a beautiful new project.

When stitching  two paperpieced sections that have been joined with paperclips, serger tweezers work great to remove the paperclips ahead of the machine stitches.

To make triangles without doing a lot of pre-cutting,  simply cut your square and draw a diagonal line across.  Then sew 1/4" on either side of the line, cut on the line when finished sewing and press open.