Quilters Favorite Tips

How timely is this! I just posted this tip yesterday (in a much more lengthy post) then today I happened upon Geta's Quilting Studio, and her request for quilting tips! I'm all for sharing tips, so I jumped on this right away.  This post is now linked up to her blog. You, too, can join the party, if you haven't already. Just click on the link above, and follow her easy instructions.

Geta, I couldn't get your "button" to show up, but at least I got the above link to work. I'll have to give that button thing another try later ~

OK, so here's my tip:
If you're going to a quilt retreat, and you don't want to pack your entire stash,  try cutting your blocks at home first, then press them down to freezer paper. Your blocks are now "machine ready" taking up minimum space, and everything is nice and tidy. When I get to my retreat and am ready to sew, I will transfer the pieces - one or two blocks at a time - to a flannel covered board next to my machine. Now I'm ready to sew away! This strategy also makes much better use of your retreat time.

Geta has also posted a list of questions for those of us participating. Here are my answers to a few of them:

List a few of your favorite notions
At the moment its a self threading needle. It has a little "V" on the eye end, that you "click" the thread into. This has become indispensable for burying short thread ends! I thank my friend Joanne for turning me on to these needles.

Another favorite is my Clover seam ripper. I use this not only to guide the fabric under my sewing machine needle, but to cut the thread when the piece has passed through. No reaching for snips, as the ripper is already in my hand. Oh yeah.. it also comes in handy for un-sewing - ha ha! 

Hand quilting tips:
I like to start by pin basting, then I machine quilt in the ditch between the blocks. Then I remove the pins. My quilt layers are now locked down, and half my quilting is done.  Now I can proceed to hand quilt in the open areas, 1/4" from the seams, or whatever else I feel like doing. My quilt is finished in half the time, but still retains that hand-quilted look and feel.

Other quilting tips:
Make what you love. Buy the fabric that you love. If you hate a project, feel free to pass it along to someone else.

That's about it from me, but be sure to check out  "Quilters Favorites" for more tips from quilters.

Have fun!

love,
Sandy