patch-work can be much easier if you follow a few of these hints:
- Whenever chain piecing quilts, use a “protection cover” (a smaller little bit of scrap fabric) to start your piecing so the material and threads don’t jam up when commencing to chain sew.
Having trouble quilting with metallic thread and having plenty of thread breaks? Test lowering the thread tension.
Attach the tape measure to the side of the quilting desk with self stick velcro for simple and fast access
Keep a little magnet inside your stitching basket. Use it to get any pins that fall on the floor.
If sewing needles get rusty or dull, rub them softly with fine steel wool to bring them back to life.
Always leave some thread in the needle before placing it in a pin cushion. You’ll be able to find it more quickly.
Work with clean, dry vinyl egg cartons to keep thread.
Store pattern items and their envelopes in self sealing bags to help you begin to see the pattern.
When patch-work pieces are completed, run double length of thread through a pile of patches, departing the knotted end of the thread towards the bottom of the stack. They’ll stay together and you may pull off each one of these as required.
When you sew on buttons, coat the thread with wax. Simply run it around a candle a few times. This will make the thread more powerful helping getting it with the holes.
For clean, razor-sharp and handy pins and needles, use a covered steel wool pad as a pin cushion.
Keep a chopstick in your sewing basket for all poking and stuffing needs.
If you’re not certain that the seam is lying when you are quilt-making in the ditch, place a lamp or flashlight beneath the quilt and the seam allowances are easily seen.
When working with pinking shears also have fabric between your blades. Never close and open the cutters with out cloth fabric between them, this will dull the cutting blades.
Use a low melt glue gun when you use net, tulle or sheer synthetic material. A hot glue gun will burn you and melt the material.
Keep soap slivers in the freezer to use as markers for quilts. This keeps soap hard and easier to use. Additionally, it washes out straight away
Stay away from the disappointment of threading frayed edges by folding thread in half, and pulling the smooth edge with the needle
To Open that jammed Zip: Rub the teeth with a bar of soap or apply with shaving cream.
Soap makes an great Pin Cushion: Make use of a bar of soap to make quilting easier and the needle just slides through hard fabric and materials.
Photography film storage containers are perfect and safe way to store bent needles and pins.
To check a quilt pattern well away, place the pieces on a backed table cloth, and hang it up someplace to see what the quilt may be like done.
Save time and prevent eye strain by threading a number of needles on your quilting thread without cutting it off the reel.
Safety first! Never run holding sharp scissors or pins .
If you happen to cut your self, make sure you don’t bleed on the fabric
When ironing a bias strip shut off the steam on the iron so you will not burn your fingertips.
Never make use of a sewing scissers for cutting paper; it blunts them.
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