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Tips & Techniques

Pressing

Is there a difference between pressing and ironing? You bet there is!

Ironing, a technique most associated with clothing, involves sliding the iron back and forth on an item. Quite often steam is used to aid in ridding the garment of wrinkles.

Pressing is lowering a hot iron onto the fabric, applying light pressure, and then lifting the iron up. Then move to the next area to be pressed and put the iron back down on the fabric. DO NOT slide the hot iron across the fabric. Sliding the iron can cause the fabric to become distorted. Just: lower - press - lift.

Basic Pressing

In order to create a quilt that lies flat and straight, pressing is very important. Each seam needs to be pressed as you progress thru the quilt making steps.

After sewing pieces together, first press the seam together from the wrong side of the fabric to set the stitches and eliminate any slight puckering that may have occurred during sewing of the seam. Next, from the right side of the fabric, press the seam toward the darker fabric (unless the pattern instructs otherwise). Pressing from the front helps eliminate the chances of pressing a fold or pleat in the seam. Seams are rarely pressed open and would be designated by pattern instructions.

Steam or no Steam?

A personal preference!

Some quilters feel that using steam can lead to distortion. Others like the sharp finish that steam produces.

Try pressing with and without stem to decide the method you prefer.

When paper piecing, a dry iron should be used so the paper is not distorted thru moisture.

Lavender Linen Water

Make ironing a joy of the senses - try this:

2 cups distilled water (MUST be distilled water)
2 ounces of vodka
15-20 drops of 100% Essential Oil of Lavender

Mix together, use in your iron, and store leftovers in the fridge.

NOTE: Must be exactly as described - do not use perfume, crafting scents, etc.

Prevent Thread Tangling

Run a threaded needle through a sheet of Bounce (or any brsand of dryer fabric softener sheets) before beginning to sew.

Did you know that Dryer Sheets can:

• Prevent musty suitcases by putting a sheet inside of the empty luggage piece before storing
• Freshen the air in your car by placing a sheet under the front seat (not as over powering as some of those car air fresheners!)
• Eliminate odors in wastebaskets by placing a sheet at the bottom
• Eliminate static electricity from Venetian type blinds by wiping them with a sheet to prevent dust from resettling on the slats
• Deodorize shoes by placing a sheet inside overnight so they will smell better in the morning

 

Finishing

Squared Quilt Borders are sewn first to the sides of the quilt and then to the top and bottom. To keep from having your quilt 'wave' rather than lay or hang straight, first fold each of the border strips in half and mark the center points with a pin. Then fold the quilt top in half and mark with a pin. Match the marked centers of the quilt and the side border strips, sew, press and trim. Now fold the quilt in half and mark the top and bottom center points. Repeat the process.

Quilt Backing Size should be 4" to 6" larger than the quilt top. Long arm quilters need this excess in order to secure the quilt to the frame and be able to quilt to the edges of the quilt top. If you quilt the piece yourself, you will still need this excess to provide adequate coverage of the top during basting/pinning and quilting. Also remember that the quilt top should be centered on the backing and batting. Mark centers with pins for alignment purposes.

Hanging Sleeves can be sewn with the binding seam of the quilt. Cut a strip that is about 1" or 2" less than the width of the quilt top and approximately 8 1/2" wide. Hem the short ends of the sleeve by folding under 1/4" to 1/2", pressing and topstitching close to the edge of the hem. Then fold the sleeve in half lengthwise with right sides out and press. Center the sleeve onthe back top side of the quilt and baste. Sew the binding to the quilt. Bind. Then smooth the sleeve against the backing and blind stitch along the sleeve bottom.

 

Do You Know How To Tie a Quilter's Knot?

Here’s an easy way to get a knot at the end of that thread:

1. Thread the needle and hold it between your thumb and forefinger about halfway down the needle shaft. With your other hand, take the long end of the thread and place the tail on top of the needed allowing the thread to extend about ½” beyond the needle (see Diagram A).

 

 

 

2. While holding the needle, pinch the thread that is on top of the needle between thumb and forefinger.

3. With the other hand, wrap the main part of the thread around the needle about three times (see Diagram B). Pinch the wraps between thumb and forefinger.

 

 

 

4. Continue pinching the wraps and the needle with one hand grasp the needle near the point with your other hand and begin pulling the needle through the wraps. Keep pinching until all the thread is pulled through the wraps. A knot will be formed at the end of the thread (see Diagram C).

 

 

5. Clip tail near knot for sewing.

Sound confusing?
It really isn’t – stop on in and we’ll show you how it’s done!