Just one piece Other than just have fun or just go for uf,
02-10-2017, 05:05 PM
#12
Super Member
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 4,688
Check your block sizes every time you start sewing or start a different fabric combination. Different fabrics can affect your seam allowance -- and sew can sitting down to sew (your position can be different so the way you eye the needle and the seam guide can change). Being off by and inch in you position can change your perspective.
Starch fabric stiff if you are going to have bias edges -- this makes it much less likely you will stretch the bias out of shape.
Starch fabric stiff if you are going to have bias edges -- this makes it much less likely you will stretch the bias out of shape.
02-10-2017, 07:22 PM
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: JAX
Posts: 673
I have so many tips, but . . . I would say one of the most important is to measure EVERY block as you complete it. Better to know immediately if there is a problem than to wait til everything is done or -- worse yet -- until you are stitching the blocks together. I trim the too-big blocks and haul out the seam ripper if they are too small.
02-10-2017, 09:46 PM
#14
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Piedmont Virginia in the Foothills of the Blue Ridge Mtns.
Posts: 8,562
Learn to use 1/4 inch gridded graph paper to draw out designs with a pencil, 6" ruler, and colored pencils.
Learn how versatile the "snowball" block can be. (3 variations shown below.) You can even use the technique on rectangles.
Jan in VA
Learn how versatile the "snowball" block can be. (3 variations shown below.) You can even use the technique on rectangles.
Jan in VA
02-11-2017, 03:06 AM
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 410
Square up each block before sewing them together. It didn't occur to me to do this when I first started, and it's the thing that has made the biggest difference for me.
Chain piecing has also helped save time and helps me sew straighter (like Kathy said, it's the last inch that goes crooked).
Chain piecing has also helped save time and helps me sew straighter (like Kathy said, it's the last inch that goes crooked).
02-11-2017, 03:36 AM
#17
Super Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: lehigh valley pa
Posts: 1,481
02-11-2017, 04:15 AM
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Grass Lake, MI and Bradenton, FL
Posts: 785
What Jane and Kathy said, also learning how to press without distorting blocks, esp. HST blocks. And, for those times when you need to be extra precise matching seams or getting good points when joining blocks or rows- use your sewing machine to baste all the intersections before sewing the entire row or block.
The way I do it is: 1. take a few stitches at each intersection (do Not baste in between the intersections). 2.open them up to see how they look 3. take out and readjust any that need it. 4. Sew down entire row or block making sure to sew exactly over the basting stitches when you come to each intersection. This has saved me a lot of ripping out over the years.
Rob
The way I do it is: 1. take a few stitches at each intersection (do Not baste in between the intersections). 2.open them up to see how they look 3. take out and readjust any that need it. 4. Sew down entire row or block making sure to sew exactly over the basting stitches when you come to each intersection. This has saved me a lot of ripping out over the years.
Rob
02-11-2017, 11:48 AM
#19
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Piedmont Virginia in the Foothills of the Blue Ridge Mtns.
Posts: 8,562
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