administrator: July 2008 Archives

When choosing batting for machine quilting on my home sewing machine, I choose ANY batting that is 1/4" thick or less (uncompressed). One-quarter inch is the space between my machine bed and presser foot (when it is in the UP position).

Even though the presser foot compresses the batting for stitching, it does not leave a "ridge" that I must "fight" when quilting. Although I *CAN* quilt with thicker batting, it just isn't fun when it's a struggle. - kiskat in Texas

I take a "hunk" of leftover batting and pin it over my shoulder when sewing. Then, as you snip off those threads. tiny fabric nips, etc. etc., you just put them on top of the batting where they cling very well. After your sewing session is complete. you simply unpin the batting from your shoulder and toss it all neatly away.. It puts an end to all those little thread nips. fabric snips, etc all over the sewing room floor, as well as the table top. - Kathi in Michigan

When doing machine quilting, A firm, somewhat stiff backing fabric helps to prevent those annoying puckers, so if the backing you have chosen is soft, starch it first. - Kate in Wisconsin

When machine quilting or stitching applique, fill paired bobbins with your thread. Use one of the pair on top, and you can easily see if bobbin is running too low to finish a line of stitching without stopping to reload and start again in the middle. - Barbara in Arizona

My husband bought a large package of gripper gloves at a surplus/discount store for a very cheap price and I use them to keep control of the material while I'm machine quilting.  They are much less costly than at the quilting stores.  - Sara in Michigan

I use paper towel tubes for storing my left over pieces of bindings. It keeps then nice and flat. no need to re-iron. - Bessie in Michigan

Ever have a hard time setting up for binding?  Why not use your Serger on the edges?  I find that, by serging the edges first, it allows my binding to go on evenly, thus preventing the fabric from "clumping" up on me... makes a nice cleaner appearance. - Melanie in New Hampshire

SOURCE: Blockcentral.com

3M Corban tape... my daughter and I found we can use this tape as thimbles, it is flexible so give a little more mobility in quilting seems I've seen it in some of the quilting catalogs too of late.

Instead of making the bunch of very small stitches at the beginning, just start with your normal quilting stitch length, leaving a tail. When finished quilting, make the quilter's knot just as in hand quilting, burying the knot and the thread in the batting. Works beautifully and looks ever so much nicer.