2024 Quilting Tips

Sharing a tip has always been a question for each of my guests on A Quilter’s Life podcast.  But this is the third year I have put them into an episode sharing just the tips from the year..  This year I’m going to add who gave the tip so if you want to look them up you can. We received so many great tips this year.  I wanted to have a top 10 list, but I ended up with 12.  These first eight are tips that just one person gave this year. 12-Andi Stanfield Wash batiks before cutting.  Those fabrics tend to bleed more because of the process used to create them. 11-Erin Grogan When making covered corners, also known as snowballed corners, instead of following the normal directions of sew, trim, press.  Change the order to sew, press, and trim.  The bias edge won’t stretch as it does with the first way. 10-Jan Lockhart Take a picture which helps, but also go the next step and change the picture to black and white and it helps with color placement.  I have been amazed when I’ve used Jan’s tip.  Certain blocks show that they’re out of place when using this process. 9-Holly Sprout  Make sure you read through the instructions completely before you start the project and measure things thoroughly before you cut them out.  We’ve all been there when we’re in a hurry and we’re so sure we understand and measured correctly.  But taking that extra step to double check is always worth it. 8-Lisa Shepard Stewart  Try a new fabric that you’ve never used before in quilting and mix it in with the fabric you have.  Repurpose a pillow or something simple where you can experiment.  I still haven’t reached a comfort level to try this.  Have you?  Maybe I just need to take that leap. 7-Robyn Capps Don’t over think.  Instead when you think about it just do it. Don’t be afraid.  Robyn’s tip could probably apply for me to try Lisa’s tip. 6-Mary Shepard Suggested the book Walk by Jacquie Gering because Jacquie’s explanation of how to get a good sandwich and how you get a good stitch is like nothing else Mary has ever seen.  5-Dora Cary Gave two tips.  First - Slow down.  Dora’s second tip is to make a template out of batting.  She also has a no baste quilting method. Don’t need to pin it because cotton sticks to cotton.   4 -Robyn Capps & Juanita Roby Robyn Capps Make sure you have a good ¼ foot on your sewing machine.  Makes a difference on your pattern and your seams.  It’s a personal preference if you want to press the seams open or to the side.  Juanita Roby Make sure you have your quarter inch seams good! 3-Teri Tope and Eva Saunders both had tips for working with thread Teri Tope When you pull your thread off of the spool.  Use the end that you started...