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When
I cut down small pieces of fabrics to prepare them for future
scrap quilts, I cut the biggest square I can from the scrap. Then
I cut the biggest square from what's left and continue until the
smallest size I save is a 2 x 2 inch square........submitted
by Maggie |
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I
found the plastic frame that came with a membership card had a
square I could use to check a positon of a print through the window.
Now that's a good use for some plastic........submitted by
Charlie
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You
can enlarge a quilt to make it fit the bed you want to make it
for by adding an extra row of blocks or some extra borders.......submitted
by Debbie |
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Reuse
the plastic zippered packages that new sheets come in to keep
planned quilt projects together. Keep everything you need for
each project together........submitted by Peggy |
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To
keep track of what is in your storage containers you can take
a "spread out photo of the stuff in the bin" and tape
it to the outside. That saves you digging in unnecessary places.......submitted
by Diana |
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To
get a better idea of how your finished quilt will look, arrange
your blocks and take a picture using a digital camera......submitted
by Irene |
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A
simple way to keep a block with many pieces organized and ready
to sew is to press the patches to freezer paper......submitted
by Kim |
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I
found and now use an old salad spinner to spin dry small pieces
of fabrics, like charm squares. I press dry with the iron to finish
the drying process......submitted by Tina |
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Covering
the back side of your grid ruler with clear contact protects the
markings & makes it less slippery ......submitted by Cindy |
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It's
not if your computer dies, but when, so be sure you back up and
save your pdf quilt patterns!........ :o) |
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I
use leftover fabric as "ribbon and bow" on gifts. I
only buy white gift wrap. Batiks are especially fun to use. The
long selvages are good to use as the ribbon around the box. Then,
you can use an assortment of colors and lengths to make a "pom-pom"
type bow........submitted by Kay |
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To
keep your rotary cutting mats flat between uses, hang them on
men's dress slack hangers, with the metal clips. The clips will
hold the mat securely and in a flat, vertical position. Then,
tie a pretty ribbon through the handle of your rotary cutter and
slip it over the hanger. Everything is all together for your next
project.......submitted by Laura |
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When
I need to cut the same size patch over and over, I find it helpful
to put a piece of masking tape, temporarily at the line the line,
on my grid ruler, I use to align my fabric edge. No need to rethink
where to place it and no mistakes.......submitted by Pam |
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Use
fabric that you no longer will make a quilt with, to use as reusable
gift wrap.......submitted by Carol |
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To
stop your fabric from fraying, use a rotary cutter with a pinking
blade to cut the edge of the fabric before you wash it.......submitted
by Sandy |
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To
make my own magnetic pin dish I epoxy glued a slim, powerful magnet
to the underside of my shallow dish.......submitted by Gwen |
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I
like to wash my fabrics before I store them. The unwashed is kept
in a pile beside my washing machine until I get a chance to wash
them. I clip the corners of each piece of fabric, before I wash
it, to help keep fraying from happening. These clipped corners
remind me the fabric has been washed.......submitted by Linda |
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Since
my ironing board stays set up all of the time I treated myself
to some fabric that I love to cover it with.......submitted
by Gloria |
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When
cutting strips for a project cut a few extra. Eventually these
saved strips can be used to make a quick quilt, like a Log Cabin.......submitted
by Helen |
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I
re-used some plastic strapping (free from the home improvement
store or binding boxes) in the casing to hold my thread catcher
open.......submitted by Judy
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I
have found the little nylon nets that come on curling ribbon are
reusable for covering spools of thread, to prevent unravelling.......submitted
by Jill |
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I
hope to make a calendar wallhanging where I will change the block
monthly. I will either use them again another year or turn them
into a quilt when the year is up.......submitted by Judy |
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When
I have some time I like to make up "kits" for projects
I will be working on. I do not get to sew regularly and I loose
track of where I am with my projects. The kits allow me to sew
in short spurts with everything ready to go.......submitted
by Judy |
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I
sort most of my cottons by colour families in a lovely old desk.
I stand the fabrics on edge folded side up, which allows me to
see all the fabrics at a glance......submitted by Marilyn |
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To
find the right side of solid fabric check the selvage for the
little holes. The smooth side is the wrong side and the side with
the hole "bumps" is the right side......submitted
by Linda |
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I
made a sample block of some purchased templates, as the directions
suggested, before cutting up all my good fabric. I then made a
bag out of the sample block with velcro closure. I now have a
safe place to store my templates and I can see in an instant what
template pattern is in the bag......submitted by Linda |
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When
I go through my quilting magazines, I keep track of projects I
find that I want to make for people, by noting the details and
page on a post it, to add to the cover of the magazine......submitted
by Karen |
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If
you have a spreadsheet on your computer, you can make your own
design and see what the finished quilt will look like. This only
works for squares. Since spreadsheets are grids, you can lay out
the design changing placement and colours until you get it the
way you like it. Then use copy and paste to repeat it until you
have the required number of blocks. If you don't like the design,
just start over. A lot easier than drawing and re-drawing on paper......submitted
by Mary |
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To
avoid having to look through a large number of books to find a
particular pattern I devised a system using the word processing
program on my computer. I numbered each - books starting at 100,
magazines starting at 400, pamphlets and loose patterns stored
in envelopes at 700 by putting a small sticky label on the front
and write the number on it. Then I record the number of the book
and every pattern or tip or article of interest in it, sometimes
adding comments. So, later, when I want a pattern for a ... Sunbonnet
Sue ... for example, I open this word processor file and do a
word search for Sunbonnet and I have the number of each book,
magazine or pamphlet that contains such a pattern. It saves hours
of searching through books......submitted by Lynda |
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A
dollar store shoe organizer bag hung on a wall or the back of
a door of your sewing room is perfect for storage. The many clear
pockets will allow you to view what you have......submitted
by Maureen |
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To
remember where I purchased fabric, incase I need more, I mark
in the selvage with a fabric marker the place and date of purchase......submitted
by Wanda |
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To
make a portable pressing table, use a wooden collapsible TV table.
Place several layers of batting to fit the top, and then make
a drawstring cover of canvas duck to secure. It is great to have
beside the sewing machine for pressing as you go and folds up
out of the way when not in use..........submitted by Pat |
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Tie
a ribbon to a pair of small sewing scissors and safety pin them
to your ironing board. When you press your quilt blocks and find
threads that need cutting, you can clip them easily.........submitted
by Nancy |
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Each
time I make a quilt top, I make one extra block. These blocks
are kept in a shoe box. One day it will make a beautiful sampler
quilt!.........submitted by Karen |
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You
can make a great travel design board, to use at workshops, by
covering an old game board with flannel.........submitted by
Anne |
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In
the winter our houses are very dry and the electricity in the
air makes it difficult to get the small threads off of our fingers
and into the garbage bag. A loop made of masking tape and attached
to the front-side of my sewing machine makes it a snap to get
rid of them.........submitted by Darlene |
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Rather
than buy the plastic magazine holders (like those in the library),
I save my large cereal boxes to store my quilt magazines in. I
cut two sides of the cereal box at a downward angle so the magazines
can be readily seen. Keeps the shelf neat and I can cover and
label them, too........submitted by Fran |
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When
working with flannel, shrink the fabric first, treat with spray
starch and use larger seam allowances....... submitted by Joy |
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Adobe Acrobat Reader can automatically default the pattern to
"Fit to Page", which scales the document to fit the printer
paper. You should change the print size in Adobe Acrobat Reader
to 100% (or Actual Size) before you print your patterns. |
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Binder
clips are a great way of storing flat, the large cutting
mats by hanging them on a wall....Submitted by Anita |
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Save
your practice or unused blocks of all sizes. When you have enough
of them, put them together in a collage lap quilt and donate to
your favourite charity! |
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