Mary's Quilting Tips (Q-Tips)!
We will be featuring Mary's favorite quilting tips. If you have tips you would like to send and have published on our web site, please email Mary. Please put Quilting Tips in your subject line.
Enjoy Mary's Tips!
1. Preparing the top and backing for frame quilting
· If the backing material is directional and not wide enough to cover the quilt top with at least 4” on each side, seam two, or more, strips together. Do not place a seam down the center of the backing as this will cause problems when rolling the backing on the frame. Instead, place a full width down the center and piece additional material to each side until the backing is the desired width.
· If the backing material is non-directional, make the backing so that the seams run the width of the top and run parallel to the roller on the frame.
· Use a ½” width for backing seams and press them open.
· Make sure that sides, top, and bottom of the quilt top and backing are square and straight.
· Make sure that all seams are secure, including the edges.
· Run a stay stitch ¼” from the top, bottom and both sides of the quilt top. This will reduce the chances of the quilt top stretching while being handled.
· Press the quilt top and backing making sure that all seams lay flat.
· Hang the quilt top and backing on a hanger to reduce wrinkles.
2. Iron safety
· Too ensure that your iron is off when you have finished quilting for more than a few minutes, place a hair scrunchie on your wrist. If the scrunchie is on, the iron is on. Remember to remove the scrunchie when you turn your iron off.
3. Preparing and attaching borders
· Before cutting side borders, measure the quilt top from top to bottom through the middle of the quilt.
· Cut the side borders that length and attach them to the quilt. Press.
· Measure the top and bottom borders the width of the quilt plus the side borders through the middle of the quilt.
· Attach the top and bottom borders. Press.
· This will go a long way to ensure that your quilt will be square.
4. Needle and pin safety
· Place used needles and pins in an old pill bottle.
· When the bottle is full, discard the bottle with the needles and pins in it.
5. Rotary cutter safety
· Place used cutter blades in a mint tin.
· When the tin is full, discard the tin with the blades safely inside.
· Close the rotary cutter between uses. If you set it down, it should be closed.
