LovinMySoldier

Just to let you know if you buy one of these boards that they do stink when you iron on them. I bought mine from Joann's they told me that they typically do smell for a bit. They said the smell will go away and it did. But boy did it smell the first 5-10 times I used it. Now it works great though :)

dotcomdtcm

That's really funny! I have a quilt store here that sells a bit of everything. I'll check them out. I have a Michaels but not a Joann's. Used to go to Fabric Bonanza & Ben Franklins, but they are gone. Probably could find something in the dressmaking area, Greenberg & Hammer. That district is a bit overwhelming!
Thanks, Dotty in NYC

amma

If you can't chain piece, you could try this.
Lay your block out on a piece of foam board (Dollar Tree and Walmart have them for around $1) cut it 14" square.
Lay out your block pieces on the board. Pick up two, sew them, put them back in place, pick up two more sew, repeat until all your pairs are sewn. Pick up the board and take it to your iron, press them all and replace them on the board. Now sew the pairs together the same way, and take them to the iron... You can stay organized, and not be constantly jumping up and down :wink:
You can set up many boards this way, just stack them up, and then you are getting up and down even less, BUT often enough to stretch some muscles :wink:

dotcomdtcm

That is exactly what I am doing! Do you know why some patterns are pressed in 1 direction & others are pressed open? I make wall pieces, so I don't think it matters. I like to take them to them cleaner for a professional pressing before I hang them up. Cheers, Dotty

chamby

I do not have a problem with getting up and down. It is not good for your back and legs if you sit too long. I agree the getting up and down gives you a little exercise.

patricej

i just looked at the Athena's Puzzle pattern. it definitely can be chained pieced. (which is what you described as your process. Chain Piecing is just sewing multiple pairs one after the other. you don't clip the threads between each piece until after you've sewn the whole set. hence, the "chain" of pairs that comes off your machine.)

this block could also be Strip Pieced, although it would take some pre-planning and some math. Strip Piecing is when you sew pairs of strips together and then cut them apart to get your pairs of pieces. it works very well when you're working with squares and rectangles. it isn't often the easiest solution when you're trying to get triangles or diamonds. (for me, anyway. others may have figured it out. :lol: )

the down-side to Strip Piecing is the need to plan carefully ahead and to do the math. the up-side is that you will cut your paired pieces to the right size after they've sewn, so everything is more likely to line up as you go.

it's a personal choice. if you try Strip Piecing as you make more quilts, you'll figure out for yourself whether or not it's a good method for you.

mic-pa

I took one of those card boards that fabric comes on in the quilt shop and covered it with several layers of warm and natural batt then muslin on top of that and pined it firmly. Makes a nice portable iron board. fits in my tote easily to take to class etc. Marge

Nanjun

That is a pretty quilt. Is the pattern similar to a snail trail?

BellaBoo

You should be able to find a tailor's clapper in NYC garment district. They are hard to find for some reason. I did a search online for June Tailor's pressing clapper and it's not being made anymore. Some sites listed it as collectible. If you find one it's great for pressing seams completely flat, much flatter then just pressing alone.

piffle

LOve mine, so I agree whole heartily. Itt is a life saver. However, it is good for you to get up andmove around also. So a little of each. But I do love my press board right next to my iron. I also have anironing board that I can lower and drag right near me, so I have the two options. Piffle