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Where does one buy fork pins? I would love to try them.

hugs,
Charlotte

I went to a workshop where Alex Anderson was the speaker. Her suggestion was to pin the seam together first, then add a pin to each side and remove the pin from the seam. It works for me.

I just finished a top for my DD and have a few seams that are off just a tad. Sure wish this post would have been on here before I started that. This is my second quilt too. I think the glue method will be for my next one.

When I am sewing a row of matching seams, I mesh the joinings and sew maybe five stitches and then go on to the next joint. Open it and check that the joints are correct and then I sew the completed seam. A little extra work but saves me a lot of frustration.

You all have helped me so much, this is another bargello so lots of seams to match!So many great ideas and I will try them all!! Thank You all so much

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prism99 (Post 6751332)

Your sewing machine probably does not feed the upper and lower layers evenly.

Have you tried glue basting? I do this on the ironing board. Take a pin straight down through the two seams and into the ironing board. Place a tiny dot of Elmer's washable school glue (white glue) inside the seam allowance. Use hot iron on the seam for a few seconds to set the glue. Remove pin. Glue secures the seam for me better than a pin does.

When you take the pieces to the sewing machine, pay attention as you sew and see if the presser foot is pushing the top fabric into the seam. If it is, you will see a little ripple on top as you come to the glue. On some machines you can adjust the presser foot pressure to lighten it up. This is also why some people use a walking foot while piecing -- to make sure the two layers are feeding evenly.

Your method of glue basting is the way I do most of my seams that need matching. Works like a charm, I started doing this years ago when working on a memory quilt of all sorts of fabrics and the seams just would not stay lined up no matter how well I pinned. I was at a retreat and I got the nickname of "glue lady" as no one had ever seen this done before and I just did it out of frustration. White school glue is now my best quilting buddy.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sewnsewsue (Post 6753924)

I use those Clover superfine pins- they are awesome BUT the fork pins are just amazing for those intersections. I was taught to pin on either side of intersections but the fork pin replaces both pins! The fabric stays right where you want it and it helps keep the fabric underneath from flipping to the opposite direction too!

I was going to suggest the forked pins. When I took my first quilting class, it was what was used and I have to say for first time beginners, they worked great. Of course you can buy them at a lot of places. Be careful you buy the Clover Fork pins.
http://www.amazon.com/Clover-Fork-Pi...over+fork+pins

I saw a NZ tip once to use U pins or fork pins. Put the seam in the middle of the U. I have the pins but haven't tried this yet. I'm also a huge fan of glue :).

Nancys notions has the fork pins. They are slightly bent. I got some U shaped pins at walmart not as fancy but may work as well. I haven't tried them yet.U pins are used for jewelry displays. If they work for you you can get 1000 for about 10 dollars on amazon or ebay.

Great tips, everyone. I have been quilting for a while and still have trouble with seams on occasion.