Machine Sewing Your Quilt Binding

I have been looking for an easier way to put my quilt binding on.  I have arthritis in my hands, trying to hold a needle and push it through the fabric can be very painful.  I watched this video and tried it, it came out really nice, now I am sold on this method.  It may not always be the ideal way to do it, especially if you are entering a quilt contest, or it is going to someone really special.  I highly recommend trying it.  It is a personal preference.

May Every Stitch Be A Happy Stitch!

Quick and Easy Holiday Quilts

I love working with panels when I need to do something quick.  I have had this panel for a while, and wanted to make a friend a birthday gift.   I started it yesterday, now I am ready to put the back on it and quilt it.

Unique Jelly Roll Quilt Blocks

Strip Quilt Blocks

This video is amazing.  It shows a whole new way of making fun, fast quilt blocks using  Jelly Rolls or your own strips.  I can’t wait to try it.

May Every Stitch Be A Happy Stitch!

Making An Inexpensive Sewing Table

I have needed a better setup for my sewing machine for a long time.  A couple of years ago I picked up this little oak desk for $10.00.  My husband cut a hole in the top to fit my sewing machine at the time.  It worked quite well for a long time, until I decided I wanted to learn how to quilt my own quilts, and found it to be way to small. I would have to move my converted desk out to the middle of the room and surround it with tables. That became quite a nuisance.  Last week my wonderful husband  revamped my little desk again, and look what I got.  This so nice, it makes sewing much more enjoyable.

If anyone of you are wanting to go bigger, but can’t afford it either money wise or room wise, this is an excellent alternative.  The total cost to do

Drop leaf up.

this was $60.00.

Revamped desk with leaf down.

This was fast and easy to do.  I think it took a total of 4 hours to do this.  We bought a 4′ x 8′  sheet of melamine board, had the hardware store cut it for us.  My husband cut out the hole for the sewing machine.  Screwed the top on to the top.  We put piano hinges on for the drop leaf.  Then he ironed on the melamine facing to cover all of the raw edges.  The nice part is if we ever move, he just has to unscrew everything so we can get it out of the house.

Thanks for looking, and may every stitch be a happy stitch!

 

Maintaining Your Sewing Machine

I just got my sewing machine back from being serviced.  It got me to wondering how many new quilters realize how important it is to do this.

The rule of thumb I have always gone by  is to clean and change the needle with every new project.  I have read where some quilters will stop and clean their machine every fourth bobbin.  I think it depends on your machine.

It is a pain to have to take the throat off of my machine and clean it, but it is well worth the time to do it.  It is amazing how much lint accumulates in the bobbin area.  I keep a can of air by my sewing machine and blow it out when I change bobbins.   When I start  a new project, I take the throat plate off, brush out the lint, insert a new needle, and clean the outside of my machine.  Unfortunately, my machine has to be oiled by the professionals.  If you have a machine you can oil yourself, you need to do this a couple of times a year if you are putting a lot of mileage on it.   If you have the users manual for your machine it will give you detailed information on how to maintain your machine.

Take good care of your machine and you will have many years to enjoy sewing your projects.

May Every Stitch Be A Happy Stitch!

 

 

Related articles

• Alto, a sewing machine for beginners (prototypes) (adafruit.com)

Why and How to Sew With A Scant 1/4″ Seam

watch?v=DSCBzwJ1lB4&feature=related

I have had many conversations with quilters over this last year regarding the 1/4″ seam.  What is a true 1/4″ seam.  I believe this video explains it the best.  She also shows how to gauge it on different sewing machines and she has had a lot of positive feedback on her video.  I think this is well worth your time to view.  The audio is a little gravely, but you can understand what she is saying.

I hope this is helpful to all of you that have wondered about this 1/4″ seam.

May Every Stitch Be a Happy Stitch!

One Seam Flying Geese

Flying Geese Block for Holly (Photo credit: Cut To Pieces)

THIS IS AWESOME!

I was dumbstruck when I watched this.  Making the Flying Geese Block is probably the least favorite thing for most quilters.  This makes it so easy, and it actually makes the quilt block look  three dimensional.  I can’t wait to try it.

The picture to the right, is not part of the video.  I put it on here for those of you that might not know what Flying Geese are.

May Every Stitch Be a Happy Stitch!

Best Quilt Binding Video

I just bumped into this.  I have been wanting to learn how to miter my corners when I put a binding on my quilts.  This video is easy to understand, and really gives detailed information.  For any of you wondering the same thing, I think you will find this very helpful.

May every stitch be a happy stitch!

Related articles

• Quilt Binding Tutorial (latetocreate.com)

Helpful Tools That Don’t Cost an Arm and a Leg

I have spent the last two days cutting out a quilt.  This quilt has a lot of curves.  I wanted to rotary cut it, but found ou t,  I was trimming my pattern every time I made the corner.  That is not a good thing to have  happen.  I dug out my mat that rotates, but it was so stiff, I couldn’t get as nice of a cut as I needed.  I started going through all of my tools that I have accumulated, nothing that I had bought for quilting was working.  Then I remembered a block my husband made me for tracing  the Dear Jane quilt pieces. One side has sandpaper, the other side has a cutting mat. Instead of trying to cut the pieces with the template in place, I placed my strips of fabric on the sandpaper block, traced around my template, ( after I made a new one), it cut my time in half.  Then I dug out my old lazy susan.  By placing my block on it, with the mat side up, I was able to cut out my pieces quickly and accurately.

The other item I was having trouble with was the quilters tracing pencil.  After much frustration with it, I threw it in the garbage and grabbed my white colored pencil.  It worked perfect.

It just goes to show you, sometimes tools of the trade are not as good as improvising.

Happy Quilting!

This is on the sandpaper side of my block

Flipped over to the cutting side.

Sitting on the Lazy Susan Turn Table. It turns freely, making cutting smooth.

Make 4 Flying Geese Units at one time

This method is by far my most favorite way to make the Flying Geese Unit.  Some quilters like using the Quilt In A Day method, but for those do not have the rulers, this is perfect.

Happy Quilting