What is your BEST Advice for Successful Sewing????
 

I have been thinking about how much my sewing has improved over the years...(humbly say I) and was considering the why is that....

I think the most important change, for me, is that I have slowed down and take my time with directions and stop sewing for a while when stumped and then come back to it fresh. I pay close attention to my seams and use my ripper when needed. (Age seems to have helped with this slowing down thing...so it isn't all my doing! LOL)

NOW ...what is your secret to successful sewing?

Being precise. Precise in measuring, precise when cutting, precise when sewing so my seam allowance isn't too big or too small. Precision means the block ends up perfect (or as close to it as I can come) which makes everything <i>so much easier</i>.

Looking back when I started quilting I was running at the pace I was at work. Over the years I have learned to slow down and take my time . My piecing is much more accurate and I take more time in selecting fabric and only buying my needs. At first I really wanted to fly yet I couldn't run properly. I wanted to go every show buy every tool. I was like a chld in a candy shop entering a quilt shop.,

Practice, practice, practice. Also, I'll never make a perfect quilt or "show quality" quilt . . . but I'm okay with that! :thumbup:

Yes, like you I have to watch my speed. I hate reading instructions so I have to force myself to read it slow and over again to make sure I did not rush through them.

What is it about instructions? I too have to make myself study them and not race on. This is one area where I seem to be impatient. I have learned to take more time over things and the old adage of "measure twice and cut once" is certainly a meaningful one.

All I can say is love what you are doing:) ... and always be encouraged. For everything that feels like a boo boo it's a creative indulgence! :P

I don't care if it's perfect and I don't care who knows. I don't quilt for any one but me. Even though quilts are gifted the making of the quilt is all about my satisfaction. Not caring about improving all the time has given me the freedom to create fun stuff that sometimes are great and sometimes not. So what! I have fun.

Making quilts shouldn't be torture and that is a hard lesson to learn for most of us.
peace

Do not "ASS-U-ME" that you/I know everything, there is always room for improving and learning.
Going slower and having patience has helped. Pay attention ~ reading instructions, cutting, sewing, and piecing.

I have noticed my quilting has got better over the years, too. I have been working on finishing UFOs On project was 5 inch squares of batiks that needed borders put on. I finally put the borders on and when ironing the top I noticed some mistakes in stitching. To be expected as this was one of the first things I sewed. That made me realized I am better at it now. Nowhere near perfect but better. I have learned that getting lost in the moment when I sew, when it's just me and the fabric but also with my quilting friends, I relax more and get more out of creating it. I am now working on my first bargello. Not easy, but not hard either. And I am having fun. So take a risk and learn something new. You never know where it will lead you.

Precision ... and I owe it all to Sally Collins.

Look into her book "Mastering Precision Piecing", there is also a DVD. Some of her tips helped me tremendously.

My thoughts exactly. If I'm happy with it, that's enough.

Best advice - there are lots of options for this particular topic, but here are the ones that finally put me at ease about my piecing and quilting.

* Don't watch the needle go up and down when you sew. The needle doesn't go left or right, only up or down.

* When I stopped watching the needle 'up/down' and started paying more attention to guiding the fabric under the needle accurately, my piecing got much, much better.

Over time, I've also recognized my strengths, weaknesses, likes and dislikes, general ability and, best of all, my creativity - in other words, I found my 'style'. That has allowed me to have fun with quilting, and that is what it's really all about!

I only work on projects I love. Then, I am willing to take the time to be precise and to sew accurately. But challenging myself, trying things out side of my comfort zone have made me a better sewer.

Practice. (And learn from the mistakes you make. Repeatedly doing the same thing over and over doesn't really help.)


Oh- and sometimes having the right tool for the job really does make the difference. I thought I could like up a seam on my presser foot, but buying the quarter inch seam foot made a huge difference. I also though I'd be fine to quilt with the darning foot that came with my machine, but I find some quilting needs the open foot, others the closed foot.

Precision cutting is the start of success ... practicing the quarter-inch seam until it's "automatic" ... stopping when I get tired.

Learned that last one after waaaaay too many times frogging that "one last seam". :)

Don't rush, enjoy the process, and be proud of your success - even if it's not perfect!

I try to do each part as precisely as I can. Cutting, piecing, pressing, etc. If I do each step well, the final product looks as good as I hoped for. I won't be entering my quilts in any shows but I want them to be done to a standard that means I could if I wanted to. The recipient deserves my very best. That means success to me.

Keep the cat out of the sewing room, no matter how much he/she cries to be w/you. Makes life easier

Don't sew when you are feeling impatient/unhappy. Any problems you have will be magnified beyond what they are if you were in a better mood.

Patience would be my advice. Walk softly and carry a big seam ripper. When I was younger and had a boo boo I would leave it (often for my mother to fix). Now I have no mother, I'm the fixer. Just patience.

Take as many quilt classes you have the chance to. I always learn something new from each one. Quilting isn't suppose to be a solitary activity all the time. Enter the local fair or quilt show. Really your quilt will look just fine hanging by all the other quilts. When sewing I go very slow and just recently started to use a longer stitch length for piecing, 3 setting. My blocks lay flat and less bulk at the seams.

This one made me laugh.

You mean that having a cat's paw under the needle, a whole cat on the blocks to be pressed, and kitty supervision while cutting is detrimental?

Naw - can't be. :p

Kitty holding down the stack of fabric - marking as much of it as possible with hair - doing the maximum stretch when trying to lay something out. Rearranging the blocks laid out on the floor or table. Gotta admit - sometimes they are cute!

Relax and realize you can never make all those quilts you downloaded the patterns for. pressing--it makes a world of difference.

Don't be afraid to ask questions. Don't be afraid to step out of you comfort zone and try new techniques. Step away from the project if you become frustrated, have a cup of tea or a glass of wine, or chocolate and allow yourself to just breathe. Seek out a mentor and be a mentor. Be proud of your accomplishments, shine when complimented and don't take it to heart when criticized for they know not the love and labor involved.

I think that taking my time when audtioning the fabric has helped me produce more visually acceptable quilts in the last few years.

What has worked for me: stop being goal oriented and become process oriented with a goal to finish. I used to do most everying as goal oriented. Get that quilt done. Get dinner on the table. It's like "stop and smell the roses". Now I'm more process oriented: enjoying just doing it. Today I made Pesto. It started as goal oriented. Catching myself, I turned into a process oriented project and enjoyed experimenting. It's mellowing now and get to have it for dinner.

Yes! This is what I think I have done too.

Take my time, enjoy the process and use the best fabric I can afford. Why waste my time on crummy fabric?

Accuracy in the prep work: Planning, cutting, PRESSING!, sewing that 1/4" seam consistently, and SQUARING my blocks. Also adding a glass of wine for relaxation does me a world of good. :)

Doing it 'right' - actually does save time in the long run.

The most important thing to me, is to know when to walk away from it. Sewing, on a quilt or apparel sometimes things do not go together as they should, and your just making the same error over and over. Time to take a break, and come back the next day with a fresh set of eyes. Amazing what you can see the next day : )

Love this thread and all the advice given! I also found if I keep the clutter down and tidy up the area periodically, it does help to relax you as you do your quilt work. I recently gave my area a MUCH NEEDED vacuuming (not a "I promise to do a better job the next time type" :D). I took things off the floor where possible, such as storage bins, floor mats, bags, etc. This time I decided to put back fewer items where possible and donate the excess to my guild for its silent auction next month. Wow, did it make a difference!

Check your progress as you go along. STAND BACK AND ADMIRE YOUR WORK! If you look over each block, each row, each two rows, etc. you will find things that are much easier to fix NOW than when the whole thing is sewn together and even quilted. There will be enough small mistakes that sneak in; just try to catch those big ones.

It's not a race. Take your time and enjoy the process,

Take pictures of what you are doing. Sometimes things are easier to spot on a photo than "in person"

Pressing helped me a lot. At first I didn't take time but found that it really saves time.

practice new things on muslin first

Cutting precisely, sewing that scant 1/4 seam and pressing the seams is the most important, if you do that, the rest is gravy. I was taught that in my beginning quilting class and I have found that to be absolutely true through just 7 years of quilting. I have sewed since I was 11 years old and I was followed the above rules and my clothes were perfect.

Love what you are doing.