Old 04-29-2012, 06:38 PM
  #113  
beatys9
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Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Washington State
Posts: 1,628
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Thanks Sue! I learn so much from everyone on here


Originally Posted by Pinkiris View Post
Shannon--Leaders-enders are pre-cut squares that you keep next to your sewing machine. When you reach the end of a seam on a quilt that you are piecing, you feed two face to face squares under the presser foot and sew them together ("enders"). You can then snip the threads attached to your main piecing. That saves thread because you aren't pulling out a long length at the end of each seam. When you are ready to sew the next seam on your main quilt, that little 2-patch is a "leader". You feed your next pieces right under the presser foot after it and it keeps the edges of your pieces from getting eaten up by the feed dogs. When you snip off the leader-ender 2 patch, you put it aside in a basket or box. After you have done this MANY times, you can press and join all those little 2 patches into a quilt top!

Bonnie Hunter recommends cutting 2.5" squares of any scraps that you have from other projects. These little beauties can be sorted by color if you wish. Then you always have an assortment of leaders-enders to use while piecing other things. She's one smart lady!
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