1. When joining, as you sew each strip to the set of strips, alternate which end you start sewing at. This helps control the ‘warp’ or distortion that is so common in strip splicing. Use a length of 1.5 stitches and press the seam line to balance the threads, then turn to the right side and gently press back against the seam.
2. To prevent stretching, lightly spray Crisp Spray Starch to each of your strip sets before cutting into segments.
3. Place a sheet of fine sandpaper under the fabric to prevent it from moving and stretching when marking seam lines or tracing applied shapes.
4. There are numerous tools available to facilitate patchwork and quilting. Visit your local quilt store regularly to see what new gadgets are available to effortlessly mark your quilt and other tasks.
5. When you need to clean a wall-hung quilt, just vacuum it where it is.
6. Cut the thread at an angle before attempting to thread the needle. Always thread in the direction the thread exits the spool. To make sure you do this, thread the needle before cutting it off the spool.
7. Since not all rulers measure the same thing, it is important to use the same ruler throughout the project. It’s best to stick to one brand of ruler or template, as accuracy varies from brand to brand.
8. To fix the dye on the fabric, soak in hot water with ΒΌ cup of vinegar and a dropper of iodine. Soak for an hour and then rinse well.
9. There is no excess fabric. Since it can take a while to complete a project and fabric sells out quickly, it is always wise to purchase additional fabric. You don’t want to fall short.
10. Always select good quality 100% cotton fabric. It is a false economy to try to save money by buying cheaper fabrics, since they do not stand up to wear and tear.
11. Keep the scissors blades and rotary cutter sharp. This reduces the pressure on your hands and wrists.
12. You will improve precision and avoid frustrations if you change both the rotary cutter blade and the needle of the sewing machine regularly.
13. Have a good selection of gray yarn on hand for splicing as it will match any color. Rasant, which has a polyester strand wrapped in cotton, is a recommended thread for splicing. The thread has a little stretch and does not cut the fibers of the fabric.
14. REMEMBER -Your time is the most valuable thing you will put on a quilt, so be careful and do not use cheap products.
