I use a tack instead of using a pin. I put a single stitch across the seam where two seams match and you are going to be sewing across there. Then I also tack at the edge where the two fabrics match. I think a tack works better than a pin. Fabric still can move a bit with a pin but not with a stitch or tack.

Very "good" idea...Thank you!! :thumbup:

That's called "using your noggin". Why didn't I think of that.

Thanks so much Rhonda... I've been having a devil of a time with matching little pieces!

Excellent tip! I have noticed that I do have slippage with pins, can't wait to thy this. Thank you.

Very good tip. Thank you for sharing that with us.

You're all very welcome. It is such a time savor in the end. Even tho it takes time to tack it saves the nerves so you don't have to rip as much. I sometimes don't get the tack in right and still have to redo it but it helps a bunch to prevent as much as you can.

Oh, I love this tip! I love quilting, but my obsessive compulsive tendacies always have me in a ball of nerves when I go to stich seams and blocks. I can't wait to try this on my next project!

Great Idea, a little prevention saves a lot of seam ripping!

thanks for the tip. i have a hard sometime matching up seams i think they are matched when pinning and then sew and then sometimes they are off a little. that is a good tip. i will be using that

I want to try this also! Great tip.

Thanks for such a helpful suggestion!

thanks for the tip

It appears your seams are ironed open, is this right?

good tip,thank you

Do you do this by hand or machine? It seems as if taking one stitch by machine would be really time-consuming and awkward. (Sorry for the dumb question.)

thanks for the tip...

That is what I call a flat forehead idea. I smack my forehead and say "Now why din't I thinks of that?"

Thanks Rhonda. Great idea as even on the best days, you can have trouble making seams line up.

Great idea...why didn't I think of that???

Yes I iron my seams open. I do primarily miniatures and when you work with minis the open seams means less bullk. But the tack will work either way you do the seams.

When you iron to the dark it makes that side raised. I don't like the feel of that. So I iron the seams open.

I do it by hand. Tho I have done it by machine and it just takes a second to do. When doing it by machine I just sew about 4 or 5 stitches across the seam. Just enough to catch it. When I have had trouble getting the seams to line up when tacking I have done it on the machine so I can see if it is lined up right after being sewn. It doesn't take much to take back out 3 -5 stitches and it can help to get those seams lined up right. Once in awhile I get one that shifts as I am placing the seams together and it frustrates me. So I sew in the machine so I can see if they are right or not.

When tacking you can also open it and see if the seams are lined up right but you can't do that with pins.

Thanks for the great tip Rhonda. My question may seem obvious to some but I have to ask anyway. How do you make your tack stitch? Is it knotted? I probably should know how to make a tack but I don't. LOL

Terrific tip--will use it on the Bella Bella quilt I have started. Thanks for sharing.

I just take a stitch and clip off the thread about 1/4" away from the stitch. I sometimes take two stitches in the same place (one over the other) if I have trouble getting the stitch to not pull back out. I wouldn't knot it. but you could. If you make sure you don't go in and come out in the same place your stitch should hold.

Great tip. Thanks.

Thank you, Rhonda. I'll use it on the mini-quilts I'm working on.

I agree!

Very good idea! Thanks for passing it on. :lol: :lol:

Thanks for a great tip!

Don't know why we haven't thought of things like this before now. I just started using washable elmers glue for current project that I am working for basically the same thing. I put a dab on the ends and where the seams meet up and then use a pin as a back up. Though I'd share another way to try matching up seams.

You are just a never ending source of information....that's why I love ya.

I've been sewing through the matching area with a basting stitch on machine until they match up well, then sewing the seam and removing the basting stitches. Only on the most complex blocks. Similar to what you are doing. Great minds!

They also sell a thin fork pins which work very well & much quicker

Good tip Thank you

Thanks for the tip. Going to try this on my next quilt.

Thanks for sharing this with us.

Thanks for sharing this with us.

It's the simplest ideas, like this one, that make for the best, most useful suggestions. Thanks so much.

You're welcome!