Craftsy – Crafting Community

Craftsy is an online crafting community. I’ve enrolled in several of their quilting and sewing classes. You can enjoy them at your leisure. They also offer free mini classes. As a lifelong learner I never know what I might learn. I’m always looking for great tips, shortcuts, or just a refresher.

Craftsy has a 50% off special offer on their online classes.  It applies to a single class only. Check it out you might find a class that may peak your interest. Click on the link below.
This offer expires 11:59 pm on 5/31/14.

Craftsy

 

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Important tidbits . . .

I’ve been thinking about what to share, and I thought of the following things that we may or may not take for granted. Needles, threads, quilt care and rotary safety. Do you change your sewing machine needle after every project, and are you using the correct needle size for each project? Are thread weights important to you? Did you know that quilting thread is heavier than piecing thread? How do you store and fold your finished quilt? Are you careful when you use your rotary cutter? I thought about how or what I do. I don’t always change my sewing machine needle after every project. I use Schmetz quilt needles size 14. I use Coats and Clark threads; especially when it’s on sale.  I’ve folded my quilts in half not realizing that that’s not the way to fold them. However, I am very careful with my rotary cutter. I always close it after every cut. and I make sure I put it in a safe place. I’ve been searching the internet for answers to my questions, and I’ve added several websites that answer them. I have to re-evaluate how and what I do. I have to ask myself “why am I making this quilt?” Just sharing some useful information. Click on the links below. Enjoy!

 Choosing Sewing Machine Needles

Sewing Machine Needles Chart

Thread Tips for Quilters

Rotary Cutter Safety

Rotary Cutter Safety Tips

Storing Your Quilt

Quilt Care

 

 

Great Tips . . .

When I started this blog my goal was to find quick tips and techniques that would help quilters and sewers. So, as usual, I was searching the internet and came across Amy Smart’s blog; Diary of a Quilter. She’s the author of Fabulously Fast Quilts. After viewing Amy’s, April 28th blog post, Fabulously Fast Quilts and Quilting Tips, and several bloggers that she posted on her site; who commented on her book. I’ve decided to purchase her book. She has some beautiful quilts; they look complicated, but as the title reads, Fabulously Fast Quilts; they are not complicated at all. I’ve listed several tips that were listed on her site and her blogger friends (quilters and sewers) sites. As I’ve stated before; these tips and techniques are not mine. I’m just compiling and sharing great information that I hope will help quilters or anyone who sews. For more tip information click on the links below. Enjoy and leave a comment!

Fast Sewing and Quilting Tips:
1. Pre-wind your bobbins before you start your projects., and try to use the same brand, type, and weight of thread at all times. 

2. Starch – starch your fabric before you cut it.

3. Use a lint roller to remove any threads from your fabric. – Jenny Content Editor

4. Bulk pressing – sew as many pieces as you can and then press.

5. Cut your leftover fabrics into useable strips and squares. Then store them in baskets for easy access.

6. Find your focus fabric first, and then pull colors from your stash that are in the focus fabric.

7a. Always check your seam allowance. Sewing machine settings differ so check it before you begin sewing that 1/4″. Use a seam gauge to test yours.

7b. You do not iron your quilt. You press it. Lift your iron up and down; ironing can distort your seams.*

7c. Use a design wall to lay out your quilt before you sew it.*

8. Quick tips – Cutting up to four layers of fabric at a time, marking more than one piece of fabric, and chain piecing; even if you are stitching out of order.

9. Binding tip – Press binding away from fabric. Then, turn it over, and press it again.  You can use Wonder Clips to tuck down the binding or you can use any other clips that you may have.

10. Glue basting is one alternative to pinning your patchwork pieces.

11. Fast and fun – quarter square triangle method (QST)

12. Quick quilt borders – click link for details.

 

Finishing your Quilt

Sometimes you may want to finish your quilt in a different way. Diane Harris shares her methods and hints for making a curved edge quilt. She also gives helpful tips for machine stitching the binding. You may find this method to be a little time consuming, but sometimes you may want to finish your quilt in a new way. Click on the link below to watch the video. I’m sharing information that I found on the National Quilters Circle website. Enjoy and leave a comment!

National Quilters Circle