5 Years! and My Top 10 Quilting Tips

I just realized I crossed the 5 year mark in my quilting life! In most ways it feels like it's passed very quickly but then I think of all I have learned in those months and how many quilts I've finished. I'm pretty satisfied with what I've accomplished but know that I have the rest of my life to continue learning, creating, and improving. I try to do something new with every quilt project and expand on my knowledge and techniques. I've also learned not to be so critical of myself and now I really try not to compare myself to others. There are some incredibly talented and creative people out there and I will never measure up to what they achieve, and now I have the peace of mind in my abilities that they are the best they can be for right now. I only want to compete with myself!

As you know if you read this blog, I love to continue to learn and grow in this craft. I take on-line classes with Craftsy (they're having a HUGE sale on supplies now through Sunday!!!), buy many, many books, read blogs, and best of all, experiment! I've learned what I like and don't like to do, what I prefer for fabrics, designs, and supplies, and feel at one with a sewing machine - fearless to handle whatever challenges come up. After all that learning and practice, in those 5 years I've picked up many tips and tricks along the way. I've taken bits and pieces from different instructors and figured out what works for me. My best advice is to not be afraid to try. It is, after all, only fabric and thread and if you don't give it a go you will never get better. No one is perfect from the start and practice, practice, practice really does work wonders. Even now, as I work on that many-pieced quilt for a gift, by the time I get to block #9 I have already improved my speed and accuracy. Repetition strengthens brain power and muscle memory. I made a mistake on block 3 (sewing a piece upside down) but was able to fix it without too much trouble. Then I realized I'd also done the same upside down sewing on completed block #2 but was able to pick out the unit and correct the orientation without taking off all the sashing! I was pretty proud of that and you know I have not made that error again!!

So here are my top ten 'curated' tips I've absorbed from the great quilters and teachers out there. I wish I knew then what I know now but seeing the improvement in my work is a nice reminder how far I've come.... Remember too that there are as many opinions and ways of doing things as there are quilters so these are simply my favourite quilting lessons! (I swear these bullets are listed as numbers on my draft. I have no idea why they are showing up on the blog as letters!!!)

1. pinning keeps things more accurate for me. I definitely feel more comfortable with my fabric in place before I get to the machine. I love long, fine glass head pins that glide through the fabric easily. I love my Bernina strong magnetic pin cushion which practically grabs the pins from my fingers when I'm done. I couldn't do those fussy points without a great positioning pin (even though it's a real pain to do it) and it's worthwhile to learn if you haven't tried the technique. Nesting seams stay nested for me with a pin just before and after the intersection (versus one through the middle) and I'm a firm believer in NOT sewing over pins!
2. a great steam iron and pressing technique is invaluable. I love my iron, I love starch, and I feel steam is necessary and 'safe'- with a great pressing technique. I don't 'iron', I truly press up and down. I am gentle but make sure to get those seams open. I'm a 'to the side' presser (versus open) and one of the best things I learned is to press with the grain. If I'm pressing a half square triangle for example, I open the corner and press sideways with the grain rather than open across the seam of the triangle. Works wonders to keep down wonkiness and warps.
3. clean your sewing machine and read the manual. This is a personal favourite of mine because I adore doing it. I am a huge manual reader and when I have a new machine (or anything actually) I read the instructions from start to finish. You learn everything it can do; I try out new feet and stitches as I go, on a sample, and learn how to operate the most important piece of equipment properly. I love to clean out the lint and oil the metal parts and take pride in my lovely machines.
4. buy the best fabric you can afford. I've learned the difference between cheap cotton and great quality quilting cotton. The feel is completely different and if I'm putting that much money, time, and effort into a quilt I want it to have a soft 'hand' and lasting quality. My personal favourite is fabric from the Moda company and I know whenever I purchase it (since I do buy most of my fabric on-line) I can be confident in its quality and production.
5. Measure twice, cut once. This is an oldie but a goody. Ask me how I know. Ask any quilter! There is nothing more frustrating than cutting incorrectly and spoiling your measurement of fabric. On my very first rag quilt, when I knew absolutely nothing, I was shocked to discover my pieces were not the right size. Then I realized I hadn't lined up the yardage on the 'zero' line on the mat. I've learned some great cutting techniques in the five years and always, always check and count before I slice. I also like to use the lines on the ruler (versus the mat) for greater accuracy. I also always cut away the part not under the ruler so the fabric I want is protected as I cut.
6. chain piece, chain piece, chain piece. wow, I have become so much faster at piecing. After I complete one block I chain piece everything else. It's super quick to do assembly line work and do each step repeatedly. Then I go to the machine and sew all possible units. Then I press. Then I assemble. It's faster to make several blocks than one at a time. I also recommend a leader and ender piece to eliminate any thread snarls.
7. If you don't have an accurate 1/4" seam, figure out how to fix it. This is the basic rule of most quilting. Use a 1/4" seam and be consistent. If I'm using a new or different machine I will test that 1/4" seam by sewing units together and measuring the result mathematically (not just measuring the seam itself). Move the needle if possible or move the fabric until you get that perfect 1/4". I find the Bernina patchwork foot to be the best and I never have to worry when I use it. I also have 1/4" feet with a guide which work nicely too.
8. Find the tools that work well for you...but you don't need everything on the market. There is a huge industry built on sewing and quilting supplies. I'm a gadget girl and I love to have the tools that make a job easier. But I've spent money on stuff I learned I didn't need and have my tried and true basics always at hand. A great ruler, cutting mat, and rotary cutter are essentials. Snips are so handy and great pins are critical. I love all my machines but a great basic model will do just fine. An iron and pressing board (I made mine very cheaply) are also a must but other than those, it's all icing. I've built up my collection of notions over the 5 years so I have what I need when I need it but it's mostly just for fun and enjoyment that I pick up new toys here and there.
9. don't be afraid to quilt your quilts yourself. There is no need to be wary of this step and the satisfaction of completing a project from start to finish is amazing. Quilting is just joining the 3 layers together (backing, batting, quilt top) with adequate stitches to secure the batting from bunching (check that package to see what your particular batting requires) so it needn't be complicated or fancy. Sure, quilting can be elaborate and add a design element to the project but straight line stitching is just as beautiful. You can totally do it on any home machine. A walking foot helps with straight stitching and a free-motion foot/darning foot allows for total control of the direction your stitches take. Free motion is so much fun and you really will get the hang of it with a little practice. There is a light-bulb moment and the rhythm between your hands and the speed of the machine just clicks. Remember too that you can STOP. Learning that fact made all the difference. If things get crazy - your hands are too far from the needle, you don't know where to go to next, then just stop! Gather your thoughts and reposition. It's not a runaway train, as the lovely Diana Rupp of the Sewing Studio Craftsy class wisely said.
10. Finally, relax and have fun! This took the longest to learn since I'm a perfectionist. I try not to take it all so seriously now and just enjoy the process. I've learned that I'm okay with not making money at this, not entering shows, not pressuring myself to reach any specific levels. I'm making the quilts I want to make with the fabrics I LIKE! I'm using the machine I want to use and working at my own pace. If I find I don't care for a technique (let's say, hand sewing for example) then I don't do it. I'll try something once but if it's not fun or not my cup of tea, then I move on. Enjoy it for goodness sake - it's supposed to be a relaxing and fun hobby!

Now on to the next 5 years!

Comments

[Ann Bawol Megargle]

Yes, I've made that same mistake in point E - not noticing the "0" on the ruler!! Funny. Thanks for the pressing tips, very helpful. And I too love reading manuals to learn my machines :)

[Diana]

All tips that are so great and I do all of them. Not sure what you meant when you said figure it out mathematically (G). Can you give a little more information? My next thing to learn is the free motion quilting, just need to practice and have more experience. Always something to learn.

Thanks.