Quilt
Tips From Quilters Around The World
Fabric
When sewing at night, I often have trouble
determining which is the right and back side of some fabrics, such as white
on white. To make this easier I have come up with a way to mark them when I
cut the pieces out. I bought some self adhesive round labels (some people
call refer to them as dots) and I stick them on one right side of the fabric.
At that time, I can also mark them according to the pattern piece. You can
decide for yourself which works best for you. To make the dots go further,
you can cut the dots in half. I always use the colored dots so that they
stand out on the fabric. - Sandi in Idaho
A very inexpensive way to fussy cut a pattern
piece for a quilt or purse is to make a new pattern out of wax paper. It is
clear enough to be able to see through it so that you can get the exact
flower, etc. that you want. When you are done you can throw it away and
you are not out a lot of money. - Mari in Minnesota
After washing my fabric I use a liquid starch to
press. It gives the fabric that new feeling we all like. I mix 1 part liquid
starch to 3 parts water. A 32oz. Bottle (under $2.00) equals 10
aerosol cans (about $2.00 a can.) When mixed in a spray bottle there's
no clogging. It doesn't flake on the fabric. And rotary cutting goes much
smoother. - Anita in Missouri
I save all my scrap fabrics and
cut them into small squares before putting them away. They are ready when I
want to make a scrap quilt or when I want to decorate a pair of shorts or
tops I'm making for grandchildren. - Debra in Kentucky
Save your smallest scraps, cut into 1" strips
and make great log cabin pincushions for presents. - Lorna in Australia
I visit my favorite quilt shops about every
3 months. I go with what projects I plan to make, and make sure I buy enough
fabric for each project. When the fabric for each project has been cut, I
place the project with that fabric and ask for different bags for
each. This helps to keep each project together, and I don't have to
take the time getting fabric together at the start of each project. OH,
I usually buy at least 1/2 yard extra of each fabric so I can add to my
crazy quilt/scrap quilt fabric collection. - Barbara in New Jersey
For prewashing fabric and "inherited" scraps: I fill the washer
with HOT
water and laundry detergent, push the fabric into the water, and let it SIT
for *20 minutes*, swishing it occasionally (NOT agitating). Then I drain, and
rinse the same way - pushing it into the water several times, but NOT
agitating. Then I spin, untangle if necessary, and toss into the dryer. If
you do not agitate, you have almost no tangling or fraying. - kiskat in Texas
Save 6.5" blocks of all the clothes you make for
your children. By the time they are adults, you should have enough for a
memory quilt for them. - Helen in Georgia
I like to use flat sheets for my quilt backing.
The tip is to find a complete set of sheets with colors suitable to the top
side of your quilt. The fitted sheet can be cut to use for the
quilted design side for sashes, borders, cornerstones or binding,
or whatever you decide. The flat sheet for your backing and you might also
purchase the matching pillowcases for the final touch. For a complete bed,
just buy 2 sets of matching sheets. - Sue in Missouri
Before washing my fabric I
baste the cut edges together. This keeps the fraying down in the washer and
dryer. - Carla in Florida
Before washing new fabric, I put a pinking
blade in my rotary cutter and pink the cut edges of the fabric. I like this
better for controlling the fraying. A pinked edge is easier to spot in
my stash, too. I tried using pinking shears; rotary cutting is
much quicker and easier. - Bonnie in Illinois
I like the look of tea-dyed fabric but I'm not a
tea drinker. I use coffee instead! The hot coffee I didn't drink in the
morning can be used to dye small amounts of fabric. Or I make a pot and
use that for larger yardage. - Sandy in Michigan
I take fleece and
use it as the batting and backing for kids quilts. This
saves time and money. This makes for a real cuddly blanket. - Connie in Washington
When pre-washing fabric, serge or
zig-zag the cut ends (not the selvege edges) together. This not only stops it
from fraying but also from tangling into a long rope. - Sharon in British Columbia
When I finish a quilt I cut all my remaining
fabric into 1-1/2 inch strips. Then at the end of the year, I have plenty of
strips to make log cabin placemats, table runners or quilts for holiday
gifts. - Karen in Maryland
When pre-washing your material (especially
good for reds) place a piece of muslin in the washing machine....that way you
will be able to tell if the fabric is really going to run. - Mary Ellen in Wyoming
To prevent your fabric from raveling when being
washed, serge or zigzag your cut ends first. - Linda in Canada
When cutting on the bias, place a strip of
scotch tape on the fabric and cut down the center of the tape. Now you have
a stabilizer on both pieces. Do not remove until sewn together. - Shirley in
Wisconsin
Applying spray starch to
fabric before cutting bias cuts, will help keep fabric
from
stretching and distorting. - Dee in Washington
To prevent fraying when pre-washing fabrics, I use my serger to
serge both
ends. No fraying. - Charlotte in South Dakota
I like to buy several yards of a single fabric. When getting ready
to
prewash it, I tear it in half to be sure to get one edge that is on the
straight of grain. Tearing the fabric tends to reduce fraying, too. - Kay in
Oklahoma
Since I shop at many different fabric stores, I don't always
remember where
I bought a piece of fabric at. Sometimes I want more of a particular fabric
and it is time consuming to try and retrace all your fabric shopping trips.
Now when I buy a piece of fabric, I use a permanent marker to write the
pattern fabric name, maker, and quilt store on the white selvedge piece. This
makes it easier for me to find more of the same fabric very quickly! - Glenda
in California
When I finish sewing
a quilt, I cut the left over fabric into the largest
strips possible with 6" being the largest. I
then store the strips in a plastic container with several
drawers each labeled with the size of the strip. They
are handy and already cut for scrap quilt piecing. -
Susan in North Dakota
Use spray sizing instead
of starch. Sizing won't build up on your iron
or cause flakes on your fabric like starch does. - Clarissa
in Missouri
After washing my fabric
for my stash, I take a black marking pen, and mark on
the salvage edge the following information. The
date of purchase and the store it was purchased from.
That way I have a quick reference if more fabric
is needed. - Sandy in Indiana
I loved the tip for marking
on your material where you purchased it and when. If
you also cut little corners off each corner it will
not ravel as bad when you wash it and you can tell at
a glance that the material has been prewashed and is
ready to go. - Virginia in Washington
Whenever I am cutting
into a new piece of fabric, I cut one additional strip
2" wide. These are stored together for strip piecing
and log cabin projects. - Angela in Indiana
After purchasing fabric,
take a small piece of paper and record the yardage purchased,
the price per yard, name of the store, the date and
a description of the fabric. Now you will know when
and where you got the fabric if you should need more.
- Virginia in Iowa
When sewing triangles
always spray starch the fabric before cutting. This
will prevent stretching and will feed through the machine
without falling through the needle slot in the throat
plate. - Bert in Nebraska
If you have access to
a photocopy machine, you have the perfect 'value' finder.
Just slip a piece, or several pieces onto the
glass, close the cover, and copy. Instant values,
without the distraction of color! - Sharon in California
Never give fabric away!
I gave away all my yellows and pinks when I had
two boys as I thought I would never need them, and now
whatever I make needs a little bit of yellow or pink!!!
- Ann in Brisbane, Australia
When prewashing your
fabrics, clip a 1/4" corner off of each corner
to cut down on the unraveling of the material. - June
in New Jersey
Whether you prewash fabrics
or not, spray with Magic Sizing and press, moving iron
lengthwise of the grain, in the direction of the selvedges,
only. Then cut strips or pieces for your quilting projects.
You'll have more accurate cutting and piecing with this
little additional preparation. - Carolyn in Texas
To help determine the
value of a color (light, medium or dark) look at the
fabric through a clear piece of red glass or plastic.
The red neutralizes the color allowing you to see only
'black and white'. - Debra in Texas
Quilt Tip Categories:
Applique | Basting | Batting | Binding | Design | Fabric | Hand Piecing | Hand Quilting | Healthy Tips | Pressing | Machine Piecing | Machine Quilting | Marking Tips
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