Home

Patterns  - Storybook Series
   Bear Tale
   Cale's Garden
   Everybody Duck
   Once Upon a Time
   Monkey Business
  Something's Fishy


Quilting Lectures

Quilting Classes

Calendar

Quilting Tips -
    Applique' Directions
    Measurements & Math
    Squaring Up
    More Quilting Tips

Quilting Tips - Some Basics

When you start a quilt, determine its purpose before you begin and plan your effort accordingly. If you are sewing a heritage quilt to pass down through the generations, constantly check for accuracy and be willing to redo mistakes. If you are making a quilt to be used for family picnics, don't sweat the small stuff. If it can cover the grass, that's good enough.

Learn to sew an accurate 1/4 inch seam. "Close" counts in quilting, just like horseshoes and hand grenades.


Measure your blocks after assembling. It is easier to fix mistakes when there are only a few seams to check.


When preparing to add borders, always measure your quilt to know its actual dimensions.


Always measure through the center of the quilt top, not along the edges because edges have a tendency to become stretched or distorted. Adding borders that match the center measurement help to keep your quilt square and true.

Always re-measure your quilt after adding borders and before you add the next one. The newly added borders have changed the quilt size and it is very easy to cut the next border too small. (Ask me how I know this.)

When assembling border strips that are longer than the width of the fabric, sew them together using a seam that is at a 45 degree angle.


Cutting border strips on the straight of grain uses more fabric but helps to eliminate wavy borders.



To make your quilt more interesting when assembling rows of appliqué pieces that are the same, use a variety of fabrics in similar tones rather than one fabric for all pieces.
 

When cutting directional fabric, double check before cutting so that the design will be right side up when sewn into the quilt.


Buy wonderful fabrics when you run across them and build a good stash. Then on snow days you can shop at home and start your quilt without leaving the house.


Keep lots of chocolate available as you quilt, but don't spill it on your fabric. It melts quickly and is a pain to get out.


Enjoy your quilting. Don't let your desire for precision and perfection ruin the joy of creating.

© Copyright 2008 Cheryl Almgren Taylor / cheryl@atimetosewquilts.com / Legal