I haven't been quilting for a long time. Technically, I've only "quilted" two things: A baby blanket and a sling style log/quilt carrier, which isn't bound yet. I tie "quilted" the batik quilt I made. Hardcore quilters don't consider that quilting. They can suck it. It wasn't as easy as I thought it would be. It wasn't difficult by any stretch of the imagination, but it was a bit frustrating at times. Besides, when my Grandma Louise made quilts, she only ever tied them.
Anyway, as I've been puttering along at this new textile adventure, I've been making notes. As most artistic people know, rules are made to be broken, or at least bent into submission. So here are my observations thus far... Fair warning, my sarcastic sense of humor has reared its ugly head in this one.
1) That whole pressing-the-seam-allowances-a-certain-way thing? Turns out it's a pretty good idea. It makes the finished top lay smoother and also helps in the quilting process by keeping your layers thin. Sewing along and then hitting a wad of layers can mess up your needle, tension, fabric, and day.
2) For the most part, using the far-right edge of your standard presser foot is more than a quarter inch. Crap.
3) Just because the quilt on the cover of the magazine is butt ugly doesn't mean there aren't cool ones inside.
4) Pins are useless. Straight pins, that is. Personally, I only use them on really long seams, like borders, or curved seams. Or if I have to match seams. Sigh. Okay. For most piecing situations, pins blow.
5) Speaking of pins, the bent safety pins designed for pinning your top, back and batting together? GENIUS!
6) Sometimes fabrics that clash look really awesome together. Well, I think so anyway.
7) Never be afraid to play.
8) Rotary cutters, self-healing matts, and acrylic rulers are quite possibly the best inventions ever. This includes the template (for which I begrudgingly paid $32.00) that measures out strips in 1/2 inch increments. That is my best investment ever, as far as those types of supplies are concerned.
9) Cutting a few (or even a whole bunch) more pieces than you need is never a bad idea. You can use the spares for practice stitches, you can even make another entire project out of them. Matching pillows, anyone? By the same token, always buy more than you think you'll need. Just in case you screw up.
10) It's okay to visibly cringe when someone says Muslim instead of muslin. Please, PLEASE correct these people. You're not being rude, you're being helpful. I used to work at a fabric store and this drove me up a wall. Take it upon yourself to be an educator. I think it's sort of insulting to the Muslim people, too. I wouldn't want to be called an un-bleached, cheap cotton fabric.
11) Along those lines, the flat or faceted, shiny plastic beads on bridal/evening gowns are sequins, not sequence. Sorry I'm getting preachy on this, but it drives me to drink.
12) There's a lot of math involved in quilting. It's okay to use a calculator. They even make special ones for quilters. I don't have one... yet. It's on my wish list.
13) There are HUGE quilt conventions all over the world.
14) There are quilting rock stars. My personal fave? Kaffe Fassett. He designs quilts and fabric and other textile arts. His stuff rocks my world right off its axis.
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| visit kaffeefassett.com that's where I got this image of him. |
15) It's okay to just make quilts for yourself and be totally fine with the little mistakes only you will notice. But...
16) There are quilt competitions and they aren't just for the 4H-ers. Now, if you're a beginner, don't even think about this beyond "maybe someday." I know there are those of you (myself included) who are very competitive, and to you - and me - I say, "Slow down, there, Turbo!" The judges have very strict guidelines and you'll drive yourself to the edge if you think your first quilt will be stellar. Even the quilting rock stars started small.
'Course, if you like being stressed out and inventing new cuss words, knock yourself out.
17) Learn the difference between "ironing" and "pressing". You want to press. If you iron, your fabric can stretch and get all farkucht. Ironing is moving the iron around on the fabric, pressing is picking it up, moving it to a new place and putting it down. It takes some time, but it's worth it to not have warped fabric.
18) You don't need to get every gadget, ruler and template. There are really slick, easy ways of doing half-square triangles, flying geese and even Dresden Plates. I have the "Easy Dresden Plate" template, sets for hexagons and triangles that aren't half-square. I also have a "Fat Cat" which is supposed to be used for these really twee cat designs. I use it for fans and really large plates. I also make a lot of my own templates from left over cardboard. Fat Quarter packs almost always have a little piece in them for folding into the fabric. They're great for template patterns and stencils. Then, of course, there's that strip maker sheet. I love that thing.
19) You can quilt with any fabric. You can even mix types of fabric. However, keep in mind that different fabrics have different needs depending on their fiber content. Educate yourself.
20) Generally when pressing a point, you want to follow the recommended pressing direction from the pattern. But sometimes you're trying to press and the fabric isn't cooperating... if the overall look of the quilt won't be affected, why fight it? Just make a note, mental or otherwise, that you've done this, so you won't be surprised by a bump in the road as you quilt.
21) Must you wash the fabric before you sew? That depends. Are you making a wall quilt? An art quilt? Something that isn't going to be used and washed repeatedly doesn't need to be washed, really. Keep in mind there are special finishes that are added to fabrics to make them look crisp and shiny for the consumer. It also helps protect the fabric from the dirt and oils of all the hands that will be touching it. Pretty much all fabrics get this treatment, even ones that are labeled as organic. Often the only thing organic about the fabric is that they grew the fibers without pesticides. There are a few companies who don't add the finishing, and are very "green" in their processes, but they are few and far between, so as a rule, or if you think the finishing product might be a bother your skin (some people are sensitive to it), wash your fabric before working with it.
22) Another fun tidbit about washing. If you really like the way antique quilts look with the puckering, don't wash your fabric first and use a cotton/poly blend for thread. It will encourage that look as the quilt is washed.
23) There is a product you can use whilst pressing that is a starch-less fabric finish. It helps replace the crispness of the fabric after washing and get wrinkles out. It's called Mary Ellen's Best Press. It's sold at most fabric stores and comes in a non-scented version as well as lavender and "clean linen" scents. I really like using it. It doesn't flake like starch does and I still get a nice, crisp seam/crease.
24) I put one of my tackle boxes (which I use for buttons, hooks and eyes, etc.) under my ironing board. When you stand there so often, it's nice to put your foot up. It saves back pain.
25) Having your chair and machine positioned comfortably can mean the difference between an enjoyable experience and a week in traction.
26) Get good lighting. This is one of my problems, actually. I work in our unfinished basement, and there isn't good lighting down there. I have an overhead bulb, the light on my machine and a floor lamp which can swivel so that I can either aim it at the sewing area or the ironing board. The one window that lets light into my work area is Southern, so it's really good in the Winter, but it gets dark in the Summer. When I hand sew, I'm up in our living room under the 5-bulb gooseneck. I try to use daylight for checking color combinations, but it isn't always available when I need it. Hence the wacky combinations (that's my story and I'm sticking to it).
27) Freezer paper is awesome for paper piecing! It's great for appliques, too. You can iron it to your fabric temporarily, move it if it's not in the right place, remove it when you're done basting. It's inexpensive and you can find it at the grocery store with the waxed paper and cling wrap. Don't use waxed paper, though. It has too much wax on it and leaves a yucky film on your fabric. I hope I don't need to tell you to not use cling wrap...
28) No, you don't have to make your quilt exactly like the one that's in the book. I shouldn't have to say this, but I know there are people who beat themselves up if they don't get just the right thing. Also, if you run out of a fabric, it's okay to substitute. There are quilts known as "make-do" quilts, so called because one or more blocks are different because the quilter ran out of the original fabric. Call yours a make-do and it's a unique treasure.
29) Inspiration is everywhere!
30) Simple blocks are your friends. You can take something as unassuming as a 9-patch block and make a stellar quilt. You can make yourself crazy thinking you need to make something unique, but unique doesn't have to equal hard. The simplest patterns are often the most amazing. Play around with angles and colors, and suddenly - you're a designer! For example...
The images in this post are not mine, I claim no rights to them. I have tried to credit them as best as possible. I hope their owners realize I'm sharing them with respect to their craft. And that they get a little business.
This is what can be done with a simple 9-patch:
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This is from candlewoodquilts.com They are a home-based quilt business in Tennessee. Go give 'em a look-see!
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