Time Saving Tips for Quilters

Hello Quilters! I have a few time saving tips that will make your stitching and sewing days more enjoyable. These are easy little tricks that can shave a little time off piecing, pressing and stitching.

Chain Piecing

Of course, most quilters are familiar with chain piecing. Whoever invented this technique deserves a medal! For those of you who are not familiar, it is the practice of continuously feeding pieces that need to be joined together under the presser foot of your machine as you stitch. You don’t have to stop after every unit and clip the thread. When all pieces are joined, then you clip the units apart.

I love to chain piece and I actually spend a few minutes looking at instructions in a pattern in order to figure out what pieces I can chain stitch for a time saver. I also chain piece blocks together if I am making several of the same block. I simply stack up the rows for all the blocks and chain piece until the blocks are done.

Pressing Seams with Pressing Stick

If you have blocks that have a lot of seams, instead of moving to the ironing board constantly, use a pressing stick!

Here’s how it is used:

This allows you to piece an entire block made up of many seamed units without having to move to your iron. Once the blocks are all pieced, then you can take them to the iron and press everything, including the stick pressed seams.

Creasing a Stitch Line

If you do not want to take the time to draw diagonal stitch lines on all of your squares for making half-square triangle squares, you can use the creasing technique. Fold the top square of the two squares you are stitching together in half and finger press to make a visible crease. You can also use the pressing stick mentioned above.

Sew a scant 1/4 inch on each side of the crease, just like if it was a pencil drawn line. Then cut the unit apart on the crease.

Now you’re ready to trim and press open the two units like normal for two half-square triangle squares!

Whether you were familiar with these tips as an experienced quilter or this is the first time you’re seeing these, I hope it was informative!

Happy Quilting!
Deanne