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Time Saving Tips for Quilting and Stitching

We are always looking for ways to save time when we are working on our projects, right? More time to enjoy the art of quilting or stitchery is always nice! I have some time saving tips that I employ that makes my sewing time efficient and fun that I want to share with you in this week’s post. I bet you have some too. So, share those tips in the comments and we will all probably learn something new. Let’s get started!

Stitchery Time Saving Tips

Tip #1 – Appliqué Short-cut

I like to save time when appliquéing a project by having all my tools close by in a container. I have a magnet affixed to the inside cover and keep a stash of needles threaded with the colors I am using in the project. Once I pick up a needle with a particular color, I will re-thread another with that color so it’s ready to go when I need it.

Having this little tin to keep my appliqué supplies also makes it easy to take my stitching on the road!

Tip #2 – Wool Appliqué Short-cut

Something you can do with wool appliqué that you can’t do normally with fabric appliqué is to layout the entire design and fuse or glue it into place before stitching. By doing this, you can insure that your design is laid out within the seam allowances. You can also make sure you have all the pieces in the correct place.

Above is an example. I can make sure I like how all the pieces look on the background and even shift things around to get the block to look exactly the way I want. I keep a small fabric glue available in case something comes loose while I stitch.

Tip # 3 – Templates

Whether you are working on a fabric or wool appliqué project, a good time saver is to prepare templates by copying the pattern pages that have the templates onto heavy cardstock. This reinforces them for multiple uses and then you can store them in the bag with the pattern for when you want to make the project again.

Quilting Time Saving Tips

Tip #1 – Use Scrap Fabric for a Leader and Ender

This is a time saver and a thread saver! Start your stitching with a scrap piece of fabric before you feed through the pieces you are stitching together and when you finish.

This saves thread because you are not pulling the piece away from your machine to snip the threads. Also, when you start with this piece, you insure that the stitching is even on your piece. Any jumbles or seam allowance “snafus” end up on the leader.

Tip #2 – Chain Piecing

I think everyone probably knows about this time saver. If you have to piece together a lot of the same units for blocks you are making, chain piecing is the way to go… as long as you don’t run out of bobbin thread in the middle of it!

You can do this with units and with blocks, if you have a lot of the same block to piece together. Below is a photo of a bunch of pieces stacked and ready to go for chain piecing and also units of several blocks stacked and ready.

As I shared last week… since you know you’ll probably run out of bobbin thread while chain piecing, be sure to have several bobbins pre-wound with the thread you are using.  That way you can pop in a new one quickly and keep sewing!

Tip #3 – Ripping Out Stitches

We don’t like it, but we all have to do it. Here’s a way to make it go faster. At least it makes it go faster for me. I carefully cut a stitch every 4 or 5 stitches in the middle of the seam and then gently pull apart the pieces.

Be extra careful when pulling them apart so you do not stretch the pieces out of shape, especially those with bias seams. The seam comes apart fairly easy and then all you have to do is finish cutting the threads on each end of the unit.

Tip #4 – Easier HSTs

Finally, here’s a time saving tip when you are making HSTs using the method where you get two at a time. Instead of having to draw lines on the back of all your top squares, try the “crease” method. This keeps you at your machine and you can use the pressing stick to make crisp creases so you don’t have to use your iron.

Use the crease at the guide and sew a scant 1/4″ on each side. Then cut them apart and press open for two HSTs!

That’s all for this week. I’ll keep thinking up so more time saving things I do while quilting and hand stitching. In the mean time, share some of your tips with me in the comments below a free pattern for Village Square.

This pattern has a lot of HSTs in it so you can use the time saver technique above. The drawing will be on Monday, October 25th.

Happy Quilting & Stitching!
Deanne

My Favorite Tips for Quilters

Last week I blogged about what inspired me to quilt and asked about your inspirations. This week, I thought I’d share what I think are the most important quilting tips for all quilters, beginners to experienced. Of course, this is not an exhaustive list and many quilters will have their own thoughts on what are the most important things for successful quilting. Share with me your favorite tips and maybe we’ll all learn something!

Tip #1 – Machine Cleaning

Very important: Always be sure your sewing machine is ready to stitch. That collection of lint under the throat plate is actually not a part of the machine! I recommend a yearly tune-up at the shop where you purchased your machine. If that’s not possible, make sure you are cleaning the bobbin compartment, hook race and bobbin case as well as the area under the throat plate. Be sure to drop the feed dogs before lifting off the throat plate. 

I use the small soft brush that came with the machine to clean out these areas. If you do not have that brush or one did not come with your machine, you can use a clean, small makeup brush easily found in the cosmetics department. 

Finally, be sure to pull out your machine manual and lubricate it as advised. Most machines today have a sensor that will tell you when lubrication is needed, but if yours doesn’t you should lubricate the recommended areas when you notice your machine sounds different than normal as you stitch. I can tell when my machine sounds louder. Once I lubricate, it quietly hums as I’m sewing. If you use your machine several hours a day every day like me, you will have to lubricate more often. And …..

beware of the cat who wants to help….. 

Tip #2 – Needles

Be sure you are using a fresh needle. Don’t wait until a needle breaks to change it. A good rule of thumb is to put in a new needle after every completed project, especially if you have just completed a large one. If you have just made a table runner, you can probably get away with keeping the needle for your next project. Another way to know when to change a needle would be after you’ve gone through 3 bobbins.

Damage to a needle is not visible to the naked eye but under a microscope, you will see burrs and cracks. Click here to see what a damaged needle looks like. It can also be bent. Here are some ways you can tell you need to change your needle:

  • If you hear a “punching” sound as your needle enters the fabric. 
  • Your top thread keeps breaking.
  • You see snags develop in the fabric where the needle enters when you are stitching.
  • You can see the holes where the needle entered.

Needles are relatively cheap. Certainly cheaper than fabric and thread, so keep that needle new as often as possible so you’re not wasting thread or damaging your fabric.

Tip #3 – Thread & Bobbins

I recommend 100% cotton 50w thread for stitching your pieces. I like to use Aurifil 100% cotton 50wt. I have found that this thread creates the least amount of lint build up as opposed to other threads I have used.

I choose a light neutral color thread for all projects unless I am working with really dark fabrics. In that case I will use a dark brown or black thread for piecing.

I also recommend winding several bobbins before beginning a project, especially a large one. That way, you can quickly pop a new bobbin in instead of having to stop to wind it.

Tip #4 – Tools, Pins and other Things

Keep your tools close at hand. I like to have my scissors, a small ruler and a pressing stick right by my machine. The pressing stick is my favorite of these because I can press seams on small units of a block so I don’t have to keep getting up for pressing at the iron. Here’s how I store my tools:

That’s a soap dish I found at Target in the bathroom supplies aisle. It’s the type that affixes to your shower wall with suction cups. I just ditched the suction cups and use Command strips to affix it to the edge of my sewing table.

Here’s the pressing stick and  how you use it:

My other favorite tool I keep by my machine is a small ruler that is handy to measure units as I go to make sure I am stitching them the correct size.

Did you notice my pins? To keep them corralled next to my machine, I turned a magnet upside down (the kind you buy as a souvenir), affixed it to my sewing table with a Command strip and I have an instant magnetic pin catcher!

Tip # 5 – Time to Stitch (Random Tips)

Speaking of pins, I recommend always pinning your pieces. This really does help with accuracy. If the pieces you are stitching together shift as you are stitching, your unit will be off. The feed dogs below and your guiding hand can move the pieces at different speeds. It only takes a tiny movement of one or the other and you’re ripping stitches! Pinning also assures the seams that you were careful to line up before stitching stay lined up.

Chain stitch where you can. To make chain piecing even more efficient, consider pairing up the pieces you are stitching and stacking them so you can just grab and feed!

Finally, I like to use what I call a leader/ender piece when I begin stitching.

This is a thread saver, since I am not pulling my finished piece away from the machine to snip it. I just run this leader/ender piece through at the end of my stitching and snip my sewn unit off after it’s out from under the foot. I like using this to lead off stitching pieces to avoid thread glitches or fabric pieces scrunching up. It’s also a good way to put some fabric scraps to good use!

That’s all I have for now. I hope you enjoyed my favorite quilting tips. Share yours in the comments below. Perhaps they will be helpful to others. I will draw a name from the commenters to win a pair of scissors to keep by your machine so you will always have them available!

The drawing will be on Monday, July 12th. Good luck!

Happy Stitching!
Deanne

***We have a winner! Congrats, EllenB!***

Handy Quilting Tips for the Busy Quilter!

The boss lady thought last week’s handy tips went so well, we should have more!

Tip#1: We all like the convenience of chain piecing. I often say… whoever thought up that quilting technique…bless them! I love to chain piece whenever I can to save time. To make chain piecing even more efficient, consider pairing up the pieces you are stitching and stacking them so you can just grab and feed!

Stacked and ready to stitch!

Tip #2: So, you have a cutting mat and ironing board covered with threads (or cat hair too in my situation!). An easy way to clean those is with one of those rollers with the sticky paper that you use on your clothes.

Just “roll with it”!

If you don’t have one of these tools, never fear! Pull out some packing tape, wrap it around your hand and you’re ready to clean.

Wrapped around my hand….
Picks up threads nicely!

Our cutting mats are an important tool so we need to keep them in the best shape. For more tips on cleaning and maintaining you mat, here’s good information from Olfa:
How to Clean your Mats

Tip #3: Reinforce applique templates for a project so they’re reusable. I like to use my home printer to copy the applique template sheet from a pattern onto a heavier card stock paper. Once that is done, I cut them out and I can trace around them as many times as I want. They won’t crinkle or curl up like regular paper.

Card stock star template

Now for storage, I will just slide the template pieces into the pattern bag with the pattern. If there are templates that are too big for the pattern bag, I put them in a larger bag and put the pattern in that bag with the templates.

Tip #4: Use a kitchen magnet to corral pins in the sewing room and keep them handy by the machine. For this, you’ll need one of those rectangular magnets where the entire back is magnet.

Works like a charm!

If you want this new pin collector to stay in one place, use some double-sided tape to affix the magnet to your machine. Now the pins will be within easy reach. **Edit** As noted by quilter, Angela, be careful if your machine is computerized because a magnet can interfere with it’s function. Thanks, Angela!**

Tip #5: Do you struggle with where to put a pattern you are working off of while you are sewing? Here’s a simple and convenient solution. Find an old clipboard, attach the pattern and lean it by you so you can easily refer to the pattern as you work!

So that’s my quilting tips for this installment. If you have some tips to share, write a comment and you will be entered in a drawing for a copy of the Primitive Quilts & Projects Fall 2019 issue with my pattern in it!

Drawing will be on Monday, August 5th. Good luck! ***We have a winner! Congrats, Eugenia Read!****

Happy Quilting!
Deanne

Time Saving Tips for Every Quilter!

I think about time saving tricks a lot when I am quilting. I have always been an impatient person, so if I can find a way to save time…. I do it! I want to share a few of those with you today in this blog posting.

Tip#1
One of the first things I recommend that will save you a lot of time is to read through the pattern you are planning to work on and create a “test” block out of scrap fabric. This is a great way to find out if you understand the instructions! It’s also a way to “audition” color choices.

Here is a test block I made for one of my projects:

So, you are thinking…. what am I to do with these “test” blocks that I make? They’re not for the actual quilt project so do I just toss them into a UFO basket and forget about them? Well, you can do that, but I recommend using these test blocks for instant gifts! All you have to do is add some borders using scraps and before you know it, you have a mini wall hanging, table topper or candle mat!

I added borders, quilted the piece and finished it with binding. This then became a fun Christmas gift for a friend who is not a quilter! She loved it!

Tip#2
When buying your fabric for your project, add a little to the amount you purchase to allow for shrinkage (if you pre-wash your fabric) or for squaring up. We all know that fabric needs to be squared up before cutting. Sometimes, when fabric is rolled onto the bolt at the factory, it can get rolled on a little askew. You don’t want to get home and not have enough fabric for your project! Here’s an earlier blog post I did on squaring up fabric if you need to familiarize yourself on doing this:

Fabric Cutting – Tools, Accuracy and Safety First!

I often buy an extra 1/8 yard –  this also allows for a possible cutting error. 

Tip#3
This sort of goes with tip #2. Cut all the pieces for your project at once. I like doing this for 2 reasons. I like to get all the cutting done at once and it allows me to make sure I have enough fabric. If I cut in stages, by the time I figure out I’m short of fabric, the quilt shop may be out of that particular fabric!

Also when you are cutting, label and organize your pieces based on when they are used in the pattern. Most patterns will have pieces numbered or lettered. If that’s the case, keep all the similar pieces together as this will make it easier for you to find them when they are needed. Here’s a project of mine all laid out and labeled:

Tip#4
Chain piecing! I love to chain piece when I can. Whether it’s piecing a unit or piecing rows for a block. I start my chain piecing with a leader/ender  piece to keep threads under control and make sure my seams start evenly. Here’s some photos of my chain piecing:

Leader/ender piece before beginning chain piecing.
Chain piecing in action!
Ending the chain piecing with the leader/ender fabric.

Like I said earlier, chain piecing can also be used when piecing blocks. It’s a good time saver technique to use when your blocks are made up of rows and you are making a lot of the same block.

Here are the pieced for 3 blocks stacked up.
Rows pieced and ready to sew together for finished blocks!

So, those are a few of my time saving tips for this week. Let me know if you have any to share. Post them in the comments below so everyone can benefit! I will have blog posts with other time saving tips in the future. In the meantime…..

Happy Quilting!
Deanne