Grand Strand Quilters

These tips were presented at the February 5, 2021 meeting of the Grand Strand Quilters.

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Quilters, be aware of SABLE syndrome:

S - Stash

A - Accumulation

B - Beyond

L - Life

E - Expectancy

 

Patti Wolfe

Use large zip lock bags to organize scraps by color

 

Carolyn Marrazzo

Use a  floss cleaner brush to clean bobbin area, Q-tips for cleaning machine, Old toothpick container for holding needles

 

Joanne Shropshire

• Lay white on white fabric on your pants to find the right side of the fabric.  Works with any color pants. 

• If you are a scrap quilter, at the end of a project, cut down the remaining fabric to 2 1/2 inch squares, 5 inch squares, and 10 inch squares to get it out of the way.

 

Joyce Daly

When attaching binding by machine, roll the binding loosely around your fingers and put on the unused spool holder (if your machine has two spool holders)  Pull the end off and under the needle – it feeds perfectly as you sew.

 

Karen Morris

When sewing binding by hand and you need to put the project down, use a spring clothes pin to mark you spot.  Put the needle under the clothespin to save your fingers when looking for the needle.

 

Sherry Nguyen

Go to the Dollar Store for quilt gloves (rubberized garden gloves) paper scissors, plastic and cloth bins and lots and lots of other things.

 

Loretta Vandiver

If your sewing machine does not have an automatic needle threader, put a white paper or anything white behind the needle and it will enhance the eye for easier threading.

 

Carol Graf

Use a magnetic Bingo wand for making it easier to pick up dropped pins

 

Kathleen Williams

Use a large vent cover with side magnets to catch pins and needles while working

 

Pat Kleber

I use a plastic spice jar with holes in the lid to put my used needles and broken pins in.  Keep it by your sewing machine.

 

Pam Hanson

Add a straw to the spool holder on your machine to help keep thread from popping off, especially when using larger spools of thread

 

Janice Jordan

To keep track of time spent quilting, I keep a notebook in my sewing room and record each day the time spent on a project.

 

Maria Arpaia

Keep your husband out of your sewing room!!

 

Bonnie Sisak

I put a small wastebasket at the end of my ironing board when I iron binding.  I let it fall into the wastebasket, and then I put the wastebasket between my feet when putting the binding on the quilts.  No tangles.

 

Linda Oppel

When ripping out a seam, cut every 5th or 6th stitch and then just pull the seams apart

 

Mary Lou Zerby

• Be sure to backstitch at the end of your border seams so when the quilt is long armed the seams don’t pull open making extra work for the longarmer.

• Get chenille pipe cleaners at Walmart.  Put one through a coffee stirrer from McDonalds.  Fold over the end of the chenille pipe cleaner and use it to clean all the lint down inside your machine.

 

Becky Darroch

Put a spool of thread with matching bobbin in a snack bag to store.  Super easy to find the matching color when you need them.

 

Karin Perkins

Sew a large bag open at the top.  Keep by sewing machine; add small scraps to the sewn bag.  When bag is full, sew end closed.  Donate to pet shelter as a dog bed.

 

Verna Owens

Project Box.  I make a box with everything I have for the project including pattern.  I number the box and have a written index so I can go straight to the correct box.

 

Betty Jean Dessingue

Get a glass picture frame and use an erasable marker to keep a list of to do projects.  This wipes up easily when project is completed.

 

Leslie Smith

• Keeping track of your gift projects:  I keep a notebook with items I make for gifts.  List color or theme of fabric used and the recipient, date given, etc.

• Save clear plastic pill bottles and use for your bobbins.

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Judy Hall

Use the self-adherent wrap nurses use to hold gauze on your arm to wrap on spool to keep the thread from unraveling.

 

Linda Finegan

I have found that the best product for raw-edge applique is “Steam a Seam 2”.  It has the right amount of adhesive.  You can stick temporarily or permanently.

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Maxi Lardiere

Before adding your quilt label, sign and date your quilt using a Micron or other permanent pen. Then if the label comes off or the quilt is stolen, your name is always on the quilt.

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Barb Jones

When joining binding strips or border with a diagonal seam, instead of drawing the line, press the corner of the top strip to form the stitching line.

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Margo Woolard

When sewing a seam for two pieces that should be the exact same size but one varies a little, allign the pieces on the left side so the misalignment is hidden in the seam.