Wondering if there is an easier way...
#1
I'm getting discouraged! I have been working on the border of the quilt below. Yes, it's the same baby clothes quilt I started ages ago. I had to get more clothing from the little girl's mother for border fabric (the "main" border will be scrappy/piano key.) This meant a lot of stabilizing of the knit fabric!! So, slow going.
So, here is my problem. I made a foundation strip of muslin for the border. I have my "piano keys" cut. My main issue is that when sewing my pieces onto the muslin strip, I can't see the guides that keep my stitching straight! So, there has been quite a bit of ripping. I guess maybe I should get a ruler and mark EVERY strip back at 1/4"? I suppose that's what I should do until I can sew straight, but ugh...
I guess I just needed to vent frustrations!
Also frustrated that my trusty seam ripper is missing!! Now I know it to be my most used tool. Fortunately I have some tiny, very sharp scissors, but I hope the ripper turns up! I may have to make it into a necklace! Lol.
So, here is my problem. I made a foundation strip of muslin for the border. I have my "piano keys" cut. My main issue is that when sewing my pieces onto the muslin strip, I can't see the guides that keep my stitching straight! So, there has been quite a bit of ripping. I guess maybe I should get a ruler and mark EVERY strip back at 1/4"? I suppose that's what I should do until I can sew straight, but ugh...
I guess I just needed to vent frustrations!
Also frustrated that my trusty seam ripper is missing!! Now I know it to be my most used tool. Fortunately I have some tiny, very sharp scissors, but I hope the ripper turns up! I may have to make it into a necklace! Lol.
#2
Power Poster
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Western Wisconsin
Posts: 12,930
Instead of using the machine bed for your guiding line, how about marking your presser foot for 1/4" seam? Line up that mark with the edges of your strips when you sew. That would keep your sewing lines straight.
p.s. That is a beautiful quilt top!
p.s. That is a beautiful quilt top!
#3
You can take a stack of Post-it notes and stick them to your machine bed so that when the fabric is under your presser foot, it will lay at precisely 1/4". Your fabric feeds right next to the Post-it notes and they keep you feeding in a straight line.
I used to do this a lot. I think a little pile of about 20 post-its works fine.
I used to do this a lot. I think a little pile of about 20 post-its works fine.
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Iowa
Posts: 666
I recently did a piano key border with out a foundation. After you finish sew around the whole quilt about an eighth to a fourth of an inch in. This will keep all the seams from coming apart as you handle the quilt top.
#9
Originally Posted by mollymct
I'm getting discouraged! I have been working on the border of the quilt below. Yes, it's the same baby clothes quilt I started ages ago. I had to get more clothing from the little girl's mother for border fabric (the "main" border will be scrappy/piano key.) This meant a lot of stabilizing of the knit fabric!! So, slow going.
So, here is my problem. I made a foundation strip of muslin for the border. I have my "piano keys" cut. My main issue is that when sewing my pieces onto the muslin strip, I can't see the guides that keep my stitching straight! So, there has been quite a bit of ripping. I guess maybe I should get a ruler and mark EVERY strip back at 1/4"? I suppose that's what I should do until I can sew straight, but ugh...
I guess I just needed to vent frustrations!
Also frustrated that my trusty seam ripper is missing!! Now I know it to be my most used tool. Fortunately I have some tiny, very sharp scissors, but I hope the ripper turns up! I may have to make it into a necklace! Lol.
So, here is my problem. I made a foundation strip of muslin for the border. I have my "piano keys" cut. My main issue is that when sewing my pieces onto the muslin strip, I can't see the guides that keep my stitching straight! So, there has been quite a bit of ripping. I guess maybe I should get a ruler and mark EVERY strip back at 1/4"? I suppose that's what I should do until I can sew straight, but ugh...
I guess I just needed to vent frustrations!
Also frustrated that my trusty seam ripper is missing!! Now I know it to be my most used tool. Fortunately I have some tiny, very sharp scissors, but I hope the ripper turns up! I may have to make it into a necklace! Lol.
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11-07-2010 12:25 PM