I’ve been invited by my second sister to speak to the quilt group that meets at her church. She would like me to do a Show and Tell and Tips presentation on March 10th. I spent some time thinking about the quilts and wallhangings and unfinished work here, and think I could easily take 25 pieces to show. The hard part is limiting it to 25. A few years ago I decided to keep some of my work rather than giving it all away, and I didn’t realize how many quilted items I’d amassed.
\nThe first Friday of every month a quilting bee meets here at Chez Buffy. I was thinking about the “Tips” part of the presentation. I’m able to give tips to beginners and intermediate quilters, but I realized that I had the opportunity to ask my bee what tips they thought were most important for beginners.
\nSeven women join Elegante Mother and me to make up this bee, and I am the least prolific quilter among them. One of the ladies is a certified quilt appraiser. Another is a member of the local professional art quilter’s association, and another is the most amazing applique artist I know. Another brings her eight year old daughter who is a budding quilter.
\nWe settled in last night with cups of hot tea to tide us against that cold wind, and had our show and tell. Then I asked each of them for the tip they felt was most important. It didn’t work that way. There was silence for a moment as they thought, and then one started and the tips came fast and furious. I was hard-pressed to keep up with them as I took notes. These are the tips they gave me:
\n1. Use good fabric.
\n2. Take classes and ASK QUESTIONS!
\n3. Do what you like. Of course, we mean choose colors and techniques that you enjoy.
\n4. It’s okay not to finish something.
\n5. There are some things NOTHING will help.
\n6. It’s okay to have more than one project at a time but try to keep the number under three
\ndigits. (*G*)
\n7. Don’t be too “matchy-matchy” when choosing fabric.
\n8. Colors cycle through the market. If you see a color you need or like, BUY IT! That bolt
\nwon’t be there in 90 days, and that color probably won’t be available next year.
\n9. Change the needle in your sewing machine with every new project.
\n10. Look for long-staple 100% cotton thread. If thread feels dusty or “linty” don’t buy it.
\n11. Learn how to clean your machine, and keep it clean, especially the bobbin casing.
\n12. Read the machine manual and keep it near the machine!
\n13. Know your sewing machine’s quarter of an inch measurement. Keep in mind that the
\nsize of the needle, the weight of the thread, and the kind of fabric will all have an affect on
\nsewing a perfect quarter of an inch.
\n14. When taking a class, make sure it suits your skill level. If the class level is not posted,
\nASK what it is.
\n15. Keep your rotary cutter closed when not in use.
\nTo those fifteen, I’d add:
\n1. Don’t change sewing machines in the middle of a project.
\n2. Periodically refold the fabric in your stash so that the folds don’t weaken the fabric.
\n3. Store your stash away from light to avoid fading.
\n4. When displaying quilts in your home, place them where they will not receive direct
\nsunlight. Even bright indirect light can fade fabrics.
\n5. Look into acid-free archival storage boxes, especially for older quilts.
\n6. When making an all-cotton quilt, avoid cotton-covered polyester thread. Buy the best
\n100% long-staple cotton thread you can afford.
\n7. One of the bee members and I are fond of saying that we have never walked away from a
\nclass without learning something new. Don’t be afraid to take a class in a new technique.
\nEven if you decide that technique is not for you, you will have learned something that will
\nimprove your piecing or quilting, so it’s worthwhile.
\n8. Keep a quilt journal, listing the projects you’ve made, dating the work, showing who owns the pieces and a picture of the finished work.
\n9. Create labels for your work, with your name, the date completed, and your town. Also list if anyone else worked on the quilt with you, and who the owner is, if it is a gift. At the very least, write the information on the back of the quilt.
\nQuilting can be a solitary activity, but it’s at it’s best when it’s shared!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I’ve been invited by my second sister to speak to the quilt group that meets at her church. She would like me to do a Show and Tell and Tips presentation on March 10th. I spent some time thinking about … Continue reading