Tips and Tricks
The following tips were submitted:
Wet back of needle when threading to make it easier to thread.
Put thread between two index fingers to thread your machine needle instead of pinching your thumb and index finger for easier threading
Use 1/4 " basting tape when inserting a zipper instead of using pins.
Put an old placemat under your sewing machine. You can insert your straight pins that you removed from your sewing project to be reused.
Take a photo of your quilt top before it final assembly. Examine the photo for a misplaced block, a color in the wrong place, etc. Photos give different perspective. Ask me how I know!
Once your quilt top is done, put your binding in a zip lock bag with an index card with notes for the quilt. Keep all your project finishings in a nice box labeled "Finishings." This way, you will not misplace the binding while the quilt top is being quilted.
Use a picnic tableware basket/container to keep quilting items handy. Marking pens in one compartment, scissors and small assorted tools in the other compartments. Keep larger tools in the space for plates. Use the handle for your clips.
Have separate divider boxes for bobbins and feet for each machine you own. Label box according to machine.
Quilt Binding: As soon as quilt top is complete - prepare binding. It is then ready when top comes back from your longarm quilter.
When making a dress or skirt (inserting zipper)
As we sew we learn and pick up little tips and tricks along the way that make our sewing tasks easier. Members of our guild would like to share some of these tips and tricks with you.
Feel free to comment on our tips and tricks below. You may place your comment in the box that asks "What do you think?". or you can reply to another poster's comment. If you are commenting on a particular tip, please include the tip number and title if there is one.
Wet back of needle when threading to make it easier to thread.
Put thread between two index fingers to thread your machine needle instead of pinching your thumb and index finger for easier threading
Use 1/4 " basting tape when inserting a zipper instead of using pins.
Put an old placemat under your sewing machine. You can insert your straight pins that you removed from your sewing project to be reused.
Take a photo of your quilt top before it final assembly. Examine the photo for a misplaced block, a color in the wrong place, etc. Photos give different perspective. Ask me how I know!
Once your quilt top is done, put your binding in a zip lock bag with an index card with notes for the quilt. Keep all your project finishings in a nice box labeled "Finishings." This way, you will not misplace the binding while the quilt top is being quilted.
Use a picnic tableware basket/container to keep quilting items handy. Marking pens in one compartment, scissors and small assorted tools in the other compartments. Keep larger tools in the space for plates. Use the handle for your clips.
Have separate divider boxes for bobbins and feet for each machine you own. Label box according to machine.
Quilt Binding: As soon as quilt top is complete - prepare binding. It is then ready when top comes back from your longarm quilter.
When making a dress or skirt (inserting zipper)
- Stitch seam above and below zipper
- Bast area where zipper teeth are
- fold down 1/2" left side of seam
- Stitch zipper face up to that seam
- fold over seam and stitch
- take out basting and you have a nice placket
As we sew we learn and pick up little tips and tricks along the way that make our sewing tasks easier. Members of our guild would like to share some of these tips and tricks with you.
- Rip out the index page(s) of each magazine. Write your own notes on these pages (i.e. - easy girl's quilt, double or lap size, etc.). I also write on these pages applique shapes included in that issue. I then put these pages in a 3 ring binder. When I'm looking for an easy baby quilt, I just look through these pages & pull up that magazine. JR
- Scrap Catcher: Fold over top edge of paper lunch bag to give it strength. Use painters tape to attach to your work table . MO
- Use a cardboard to set up pieces during the piecing process. It will then be easy to carry the sewn items around to the ironing area.
- Stitch out each decorative stitch on a piece of muslin so that so you will have a good sample when choosing which decorative stitch to use.
- Stitch to the inside of a drawn line in flip and stitch.
- Small Spiral Notebook: Keep a small Spiral Notebook. Record your projects with a sample of the Fabric you need to match, the amount of fabric needed, the type of thread you will use and any miscellaneous trim, buttons, etc you will need to complete the project. When you shop you will have the information in your notebook. JW
- Small Box: I purchased a small box (fishing equipment section of store) and labeled it with my machine information. I put my thread, feet, seam ripper, bobbins, needles, etc in the box and when I'm going to a workshop, I have what I need. JW
- Washing Fabric: Avoid using fabric softener in washer and dryer when you prewash fabrics that you later intend to fuse. Fusible web will not adhere to fabrics tyreated with fabric softner. MG
- Binding: After cutting and pressing binding, roll it onto an empty cardboard tube. The binding will unroll without tangling ass you attach it to the quilt. MG
- Use old medicine bottles with labels removed for disposal of broken needles and pins. PM
- Wrap paper tape on the fingers under the quilt when hand quilting. Keeps them from hurting so much.
- If your thread kinks when sewing and keeps breaking, place a bit of silicone down thread.
- If your thread twists and catches when in sewing holder on top of machine when horizontal, place holder vertical and/or place in thread holder beside your machine. this is especially helpful for metallic type threads.
- Wet the back of your needle when threading machine manually not the thread. Clip thread end straight before threading through eye.
- Hold bobbin/upper thread together when starting to sew to prevent bird nesting.
- When sewing multiple repeats, don't stop and cut each set. Sew them all in a long play line and then cut and spearate at end before next step.
- If sewing only one square or the beginning square in a chain, to help prevent birds nesting under the thread plate sew onto a scrap of fabric, and then sew off and butt your next sewing piece up against it.
- Easy half square triangles: Put 2 fat quarters right sides together. Draw a grid of squares the finished size plus 7/8". Draw diagonals through all squares. Sew 1/4 on both sides of diagonal lines. Cut on square lines. Sub cut on diagonal lines.
- I like to change needle after every project. To store used needles, use a magnetic sheet or a piece of material. Make a grid marked as to size and type of needle and use this to store needles once they have been used and are not needed for present project.
- Hidden Zipper: Stitch seem allowance beyond points where zipper will be inserted. Hand baste. the area of seam allowance where zipper will be inserted. Make a 1/8" fold on part of seam allowance away from you. with zipper right side up, stitch to the 1/8" fold. Open up (zipper is flat, face down) and stitch opposite side. Take out basting.
- Cleaning Iron: If your iron gets dirty from starch, fusibles, etc., wet a magic eraser (heavy duty preferably, but not essential) and rub your hot iron over it until your iron is clean. If magic eraser gets dirty before your iron is clean, wash it and repeat process.
Feel free to comment on our tips and tricks below. You may place your comment in the box that asks "What do you think?". or you can reply to another poster's comment. If you are commenting on a particular tip, please include the tip number and title if there is one.