patch-work will be much simpler if you follow a few of these suggestions:
- Whenever piecing quilts, work with a “protection cover” (a small piece of scrap material) to start your piecing so the cloth and threads do not jam up when commencing to chain sew.
Having trouble quilting with metallic thread and getting lots of thread breaks? Test decreasing the thread tension.
Affix the measuring tape to the side of your stitching desk with self stick velcro for easy and quick easy access
Keep a small magnet in the sewing basket. Use it to get any pins that fall on to the floor.
If stitching needles get rusty or dull, rub them softly with fine steel wool to bring them back to life.
Always leave some thread in a needle before putting it in a pin cushion. You will be able to spot it swifter.
Make use of nice and clean, dry vinyl egg cartons to store thread.
Store pattern pieces and their envelopes in self-sealing bags to help you begin to see the pattern.
When patchwork items are accomplished, run doubled length of thread through a pile of patches, leaving the twisted end from the thread in the bottom of the heap. They will stay collectively and you can display each one of these as required.
Before you sew on buttons, coat the thread with wax. Basically run it around a candle a few times. This will make the thread more powerful helping getting it through the holes.
For thoroughly 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 are not certain that the seam is lying when you’re quilt-making in the ditch, place a lamp or torch beneath the quilt and the seam allowances are easily seen.
When working with pinking shears always have material involving the blades. Never open and shut the cutters without having material between them, this will dull the blades.
Use a low melting temp. glue gun when you use net, tulle or sheer synthetic cloth fabric. A hot glue gun will burn you and also melt the cloth.
Keep soap slivers in the freezer to use as marker pens for quilts. This keeps soap hard and easier to make use of. Additionally, it washes out straight away
Avoid the annoyance of threading frayed edges by folding thread in two, and pulling the smooth edge through the needle
To Open that caught Zipper: Rub the teeth with a bar of soap or spray with shaving creme.
Soap makes an perfect Pin Cushion: Make use of a bar of soap to make sewing easier and the needle just slides through hard fabric and materials.
Photography film storage containers are excellent and safe way to store bent needles and pins.
To examine a quilt pattern far away, put the pieces on a backed table cloth, and hang it up somewhere to see what the quilt may be like completed.
Save time and avoid eye strain by threading several needles on your quilting thread without cutting it off the spool.
Safety first! Never run holding sharp scissors or pins .
should you cut yourself, make sure you do not bleed on the cloth
When ironing a bias strip turn off the steam on the iron so that you don’t burn your fingers.
Never use your sewing scissers for chopping paper; it blunts them.
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