Tag Archives: quilt tips

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Welcome to my stop on the Back to School Blog Hop for 2022! Now that my kids have been back in school for a few weeks, I've gotten back into the groove of getting into my studio more regularly. I've done some sewing, some tidying, some planning, and some writing. :-)

My newest class is Building an Improv Toolbox. (P.S. You can take it with me on November 5!) In improv I often don't concern myself with things lining up precisely, but even then, sometimes I do want it to happen. These tips are for those times... in addition to any precise piecing for patterns and traditional blocks.

First Tip - Press Seams Open

I like my seams pressed open for two reasons. The first is that I do a lot of my own quilting and really like how flat these seams lay when I'm doing free motion quilting on my domestic machine. Second, I find it really helps me with the precision! I've never had great luck with nested seams landing exactly where they should. This method helps me achieve perfect points when I want them.

Use a thin, high quality thread (my preference is Aurifil 50wt cotton thread for piecing) and reduce your stitch length a smidge for best results.

 

Second Tip - Use Pins

I don't use pins all the time, but when I want something to perfectly match up, I pull out the pins. I start by sticking one pin perpendicularly through the fabric -- right through the seam and 1/4" from the edge of the fabric. Then I go through the second layer of fabric with the same pin, stabbing through the seam 1/4" from the edge of the fabric. Obviously, we can't sew with a pin perpendicular to the fabric, so next I take two more pins and pin on either side of my guide pin. Then I remove that perpendicular guide pin and head to the machine.

Top view of pin through seams, 1/4 inch from the top edge.

Bottom view of pin through seams, 1/4 inch from the top edge.

Pin on either side of the seams.

Remove initial guide pin.

Final seam, pressed open and flat.

 

Third Tip - Just Sew a Little Bit

If that desired perfect point is in the middle of a long seam there is nothing worse than realizing it's a bit off and having to seam rip the entire seam. When these precise points fall in the middle of a long seam I just sew about an inch on either side of the point. With seams pressed open and pins as described above, I sew a couple inches including the point. Then I can take it to the ironing board and even temporarily press the seam as desired to get a good look at the precision. If I'm happy, I press the seams closed and return to my machine to sew the entire seam (right over my previous stitching for the test patch). If I'm unhappy with the precision then I only have a couple inches to rip out to try again.

 

Be sure to visit every stop on the hop!

Sept. 15 - Geeky Bobbin - Press for Success! - https://geekybobbin.com

Sept. 16 - Katie Mae Quilts - Storage Solutions From The School Supplies Section - https://katiemaequilts.com/blog

Sept. 17 - Quilting Jetgirl - Make A Design Wall You Can Use Your Hera Marker Against - https://quiltingjetgirl.com/

Sept. 18 - Karen Bolan - How to Get Perfect Tension - https://www.karenbolan.com

Sept. 19 - Devoted Quilter - How To Trim HSTs Without A Specialty Ruler - https://www.devotedquilter.com

Sept. 20 - Sarah Ruiz - Calculating Quilt Backing and Binding Fabric Requirements - https://saroy.net

Sept. 21 - Andy Knowlton - How To Sew Quilt Blocks With Partial Seams - https://www.abrightcorner.com/

Sept. 22 - Lisa Ruble - Curved Piecing Doesn't Have To Be Scary (Or Perfect!) - https://www.quiltyzest.com

Sept. 23 - Sarah Goer Quilts (you're here!) - Tips for Piecing Precise Points - https://sarahgoerquilts.com

Sept. 24 - Faith and Fabric - Spinning Intersections On Four Patch Blocks - The Easy Way! - https://faithandfabricdesign.com

Sept. 25 - Judit Hajdu - Draw String Bag - For Lunch Or Gym - https://www.quiltfox-design.com

Sept. 26 - Sugar Sand Quilt Co. - The Care And Feeding Of The Wild Longarm Quilter - https://sugarsandquilts.com/

Sept. 27 - Hilary Jordan - Quick & Easy Pattern Matching Technique for Quilt Backings - https://byhilaryjordan.com/

Sept. 28 - True Blue Quilts - Sketch Then Stitch...Better FMQ Through Doodling - https://truebluequilts.com

Sept. 29 - Sunflower Quilting - A Quilting Tip - https://sunflowerstitcheries.com

Sept. 30 - Slightly Biased Quilts - Perfect Hand Binding Tips - www.slightlybiasedquilts.com

 

Hello quilty folks! Today kicks off the Back to School Blog Hop for 2022, hosted by Bobbie Gentili of Geeky Bobbin. Please bookmark this page to visit each of the 16 daily stops on this year's blog hop. So many great tips and tutorials are coming your way!

Be sure to visit every stop on the hop!

Sept. 15 - Geeky Bobbin - Press for Success! - https://geekybobbin.com

Sept. 16 - Katie Mae Quilts - Storage Solutions From The School Supplies Section - https://katiemaequilts.com/blog

Sept. 17 - Quilting Jetgirl - Make A Design Wall You Can Use Your Hera Marker Against - https://quiltingjetgirl.com/

Sept. 18 - Karen Bolan - How to Get Perfect Tension - https://www.karenbolan.com

Sept. 19 - Devoted Quilter - How To Trim HSTs Without A Specialty Ruler - https://www.devotedquilter.com

Sept. 20 - Sarah Ruiz - Calculating Quilt Backing and Binding Fabric Requirements - https://saroy.net

Sept. 21 - Andy Knowlton - How To Sew Quilt Blocks With Partial Seams - https://www.abrightcorner.com/

Sept. 22 - Lisa Ruble - Curved Piecing Doesn't Have To Be Scary (Or Perfect!) - https://www.quiltyzest.com

Sept. 23 - Sarah Goer Quilts - Tips for Piecing Precise Points - https://sarahgoerquilts.com

Sept. 24 - Faith and Fabric - Spinning Intersections On Four Patch Blocks - The Easy Way! - https://faithandfabricdesign.com

Sept. 25 - Judit Hajdu - Draw String Bag - For Lunch Or Gym - https://www.quiltfox-design.com

Sept. 26 - Sugar Sand Quilt Co. - The Care And Feeding Of The Wild Longarm Quilter - https://sugarsandquilts.com/

Sept. 27 - Hilary Jordan - Quick & Easy Pattern Matching Technique for Quilt Backings - https://byhilaryjordan.com/

Sept. 28 - True Blue Quilts - Sketch Then Stitch...Better FMQ Through Doodling - https://truebluequilts.com

Sept. 29 - Sunflower Quilting - A Quilting Tip - https://sunflowerstitcheries.com

Sept. 30 - Slightly Biased Quilts - Perfect Hand Binding Tips - www.slightlybiasedquilts.com