Seemed like a great tip.
 

I read a tip here about sewing two small squares together when using a starter piece instead of using a scrap piece, and eventually you have a whole lot of 2 1/2" squares already sewn together. I spent some time cutting some of my stash into 2 1/2 inches and started using them as starter pieces, but I discovered that I needed a starter to use the starters. Hope that makes sense. LOL

I need starters for starters, too. That needle has to bite into something or else it chews up the "good" piece. I don't like to spend all that time cutting squares only to have it go to "the dogs" .:)

I have two straight stitch only machines. They do not chew up the Fabric. Might be because they are straight stitch only? I don't need leaders nor enders.

The trick is to always leave one in the machine. That in your next starter

The trick is to have an ender too. That way you always have one in the machine.

I thought you started in the middle of your leader block so it doesn't get eaten by the machine then those half sewn blocks become "Enders".

that makes good sense

And this is why Bonnie Hunter wrote a whole book called Leaders and Enders. http://quiltville.com/leadersenders.shtml

I guess you have to sacrifice one.

Same with me. The straight stitch only machines are the bomb!

yep, you use 2, a leader and an ender. The ender stays in the machine. You can sew all the way thru the ender & just leave the thread attached, or you can sew half way thru then finish when you start your next group of chain pieced blocks.

I use leaders and enders on my Featherweight to save thread. I also usually use them on my Bernina for the same reason. I do not really need them on either machine. I just don't like to waste thread.

Aha, that is the solution. Thank you

Bonnie Hunter has been telling us about leaders and enders for several decades. I don't use them myself but it is a great way to have block pieces ready to use.

The reason straight stitch only sewing machines do not chew fabric is they have a single hole plate. Zigzag machines have a wide hole plate.

Never heard starting in the middle of the leader, then it became and ender? I use this technique more often than not...the dumb thread cutter on my "dear" machine cuts so short it pops out....but I always start at beginning all the way to the end of the block...no eating of the start...maybe top tension a wee bit too tight????

Try using a straight stitch throat plate for your machine.

That is a great idea,I just a huge number is squares for a scrap quilt good timing

If you are only doing straight stitching, use a single hole plate if you have one. Or pull your bobbin thread to the top, hold onto it for two stitches and go. Either works for me.

Bonnie was just on a recent episode of The Quilt Show (online) talking about this.

I call mine "jumpers"... because mine are just a little 1" scrap (call me a tightwad on thread! lol) ... and the scrap turns from being an "ender" into a "starter" for the next piece of my project. I have a little stash of these next to my machine in a tiny, cute coiled bowls made from clothesline.

I use jumpers as much as possible - it totally prevents the micro-thread nests that start from the short threads that are left from the previous "cut" if I use the thread cutter on my machine for the previous piece.

Sure cuts down on thread messes, dangly threads, etc... and saves loads of thread compared to using the cutters on the sides of machines.

That said, I don't have the brain cells to have another gazillion squares cut out and organized to use as the jumpers between the pieces of the work that I'm focusing on.

I can't do that because I have to move my needle to get a scant 1/4 seam, and I can't use the straight stitch plate then. I do have one but rarely use it

Maybe a straight stitch throat plate would help. Don't forget to switch it back when you're done!

I started to get the "chewed up" pieces too, then I found out the feed dogs needed cleaning. Oops!

I bought straight stitching plates for my machines to eleminate this problem.

Also, I think that is why she loves to collect scraps. I have been using her method with my scraps and have had less problems with rat tails or corners eaten. Her books have some great patterns as well as the free ones on her blog. Now I just need to have enough made to make something. It's getting there. :)

Well, you could your ss plate and still get the scant seam....mark with painters tape or mole skin on bed of machine so you can center your needle....just a thought

I guess I am one of the lucky ones in that I just "eyeball it" and watch where that is on my presser foot and sew, sew, sew. And leaders/enders really threw me for a loop; I never did get the hang of it. But I just piece with my SS machines only. One of my quilting classes had a special session on it; and that day was wasted on me. And just for a clarification here, I failed knitting two years in a row at camp. Most wasted $40 of my life.

I only use one. There should always be one under the needle when I start anything. Then when I have the first seam started, I snip off the starter, lay it aside, and continue chain stitching. When I'm finished with that section of chain stitching, sometimes I can find the next group to chain stitch. If not, the starter now becomes an ender, and stays under the needle until the next group of chain stitching.

One word - Juki - I have a 2010 Juki and it does not need a starter/ender. Bonnie Hunter does use l/e and she does several l/e projects. One was a bow tie block, this year it was a split nine patch - which I made my main project I like it so much. But I do a lot of chain piecing, but I don't need to leave a l/e in. My other Juki a F-600 is the same.

I put a straight stitch plate on my machine and it really helps! Just have to remember to change it when I change to a different stitch, or bye bye needle!

I totally agree, they make such a pretty stitch. I've been sewing with my Viking Sapphire 875 for the last week, sewing log cabin blocks. I noticed that the straight stitch just isn't as pretty as with my White Rotary treadle.
Sharon W. in Texas

I use a single piece from my scrap heap, any size and start in the middle. I use the same one over and over until it is so full of stitches going every which way I have to throw it away. It has worked for me for many years. Certainly no waste. Of course, I don't have nice quilt patches made from enders but....

Oh my goodness.. I feel so silly... Leaders and ENDERS!!!! I get it now!!!! This makes all the sense in the world to me now... sheesh... (slow, but sure!!)

Go to quiltville.com and Bonnie Hunter has a 2 books on leaders and enders, you can make two quilts at one time using them. Its pretty neat