Getting Started: Tips & Tools
Here are a few valuable tips and tools I wish I had discovered earlier in my quilting journey. Whether you're just starting out or working on your next quilt, these insights can help streamline the process and enhance your experience.
Recommended Tools:
Sharp Stuff: Rotary Cutter, Fabric Scissors
Straight Stuff: Stripology Ruler, Creative Grids Rulers: 6 ½ " x 24 ½ ", 6 ½ " x 12 ½ ", 6 ½ " x 6 ½", Cutting Mat, Rotating Cutting Mat
Pokey Stuff: Glass Head Straight Pins, 90/14 Needles for Sewing Machine, Seam Ripper
Stringy Stuff: 50-Weight Cotton Thread (for piecing), Perle Cotton #8 (for hand quilting)
Hot Stuff: Iron, Pressing Mat, Starch
Safe Stuff: Cutting Gloves, Thimble, Magnetic Pin Holder
Sticky Stuff: Fabric Glue Pen, Basting Glue, Non-Slip Ruler Grips
Clean Stuff: Color Catchers (for washing machine)
Quilt Sandwich Stuff: Curved Safety Pins, Batting, Binding Clips
Design Stuff: Design Wall
Fabric Selection and Precuts:
Precuts and yardage fabric, even when sourced from the same manufacturer and labeled with the same color, may exhibit slight variations in hue. The same can apply to different bolts of the same fabric. This is due to the fact that fabric is dyed in batches, and despite the precision of the process, subtle differences can occur. As a result, it's important to maintain consistency in fabric choice when piecing a quilt to ensure a cohesive design.
Pre-Washing Fabric:
When working with high contrast fabrics, it is a good idea to prewash fabric yardage to prevent bleeding after the quilt is finished. However, do not wash pre-cut fabrics! So consider this when making fabric selections. If fabric is not going to be pre-washed, use laundry color catcher sheets in the washing machine after the quilt is finished and binding is attached to help prevent any potential color transfer.
Pressing Tips:
When using an iron, make sure to press, not iron. Traditional ironing involves the iron moving back and forth over the fabric. Instead, press and hold the iron in one position on the fabric then pick it up and press it down in another position until the whole square is pressed.
Press all fabric before cutting and sewing.
Starching Fabric:
Before cutting fabric, it can be beneficial to starch it, as this helps improve piecing accuracy, particularly when working with bias cuts (such as Half Square Triangles). Without starch, fabric can stretch and become distorted, compromising the precision of your work. It's important to note that starching can cause fabric to shrink, so be sure to starch the fabric before cutting and take this shrinkage into account when purchasing your materials.
Warp & Weft:
Pay attention to the direction of fabric. At some angles, fabric can appear slightly different based on the grain of the fabric. Warp is the vertical yarn from selvage to selvage, while weft is the horizontal yarn along the length of the fabric. Warp holds more tension, while weft will stretch more. Consistency in grain across the quilt top is key for a seamless look. So when cutting fabric, take into consideration what the orientation of the warp/weft will be once pieced together into the quilt.
Nestling Seams:
When piecing fabric together, it can be very helpful to nestle seams as you sew. This is done by pressing seams in opposite directions before joining them so the seams fit together without overlapping. It takes some preplanning as you construct and press blocks. Nestled seams make it easier to sew blocks together and reduce bulk on the back of the quilt.
Squaring Up Blocks
Squaring up blocks is a crucial step that significantly impacts the precision of your piecing and the overall construction of your quilt top. Ensuring each block is squared as you go not only saves time later in the process but also improves accuracy throughout the entire quilt. Even minor inconsistencies in block size can compound across multiple blocks, leading to noticeable misalignments in the finished quilt.
AND THERE IS NO JUDGEMENT IF YOU SKIP ANY OF THESE STEPS OR TIPS! YOU DO YOU, MY FRIEND!
Do you have a favorite tool or tip that's made a big difference in your quilting?