Quilters never cut corners.
Quilters come with strings attached.
Quilters aren't greedy, they're just materialistic.
Quilting with a friend will keep you in stitches.
When life gives you scraps - make a quilt.
Quilt 'til you wilt!
I love sewing & have a plenty of material witnesses.
My soul is fed by my needle and thread.
Welcome to today's issue.
I am having trouble piecing the points of stars so they come out right in the center. Any tips you could give would be most appreciated. Paper piecing seems so cumbersome and I wonder if there is a better way.
Agnes
One of my favorite quilt blocks is the LeMoyne Star or Eight-Point Star. There are eight diamonds coming together at the center.
My method of piecing these is to PRESS THE SEAM ALLOWANCES OPEN. I stitch two together - making four sets of two diamonds - press them open. Do not trim the 'dog-ears' (the little triangles that stick out). Then I stitch a two-set to another two-set making a 'foursie'. The 'dog-ears' help you line up the sets.
Press seam open. Make another 'foursie'. Then stitch the two 'foursies' together - matching centers - I use one pin to line up the center but actually pin just before the center and just after the center.
Again press seam open. Trim 'dog-ears' when finished. Many quilters still think we must press our seams to one side. That is a 'leftover rule' from hand piecing when the seams weren't as strong.
When we use a lockstitch sewing machine, pressing open is just fine. Remember we press the seam in the back of our trousers open - then we sit on it for several years and it doesn't come apart.
Here is another one I get from time to time:
I live in a very small apartment and it is very difficult for me to lay out a large quilt to do the piecing and quilting. Would you have any ideas or tricks of the trade to do this without me going crazy?
Barbara
Quilting in a small space can be quite a challenge. There is help available! For instance if you have blocks to lay out or a large quilt to lay out for basting you could purchase an inexpensive folding cardboard sewing cutting board at the chain store. This is a large piece of cardboard with one inch markings that is folded in a zig-zag fashion. It is small enough to be stored in a closet or behind the sofa. Open it out an place it on the bed - you have a large fairly firm place to work. On one side of this same cutting board you could thumbtack flannel or felt for a design wall. It could be used either flat or stood up on end.
Another option, not as convenient is to find a library, church, or community hall and ask if you can use the tables there. Or join a group of quilters that meet in a public place with extra tables and maybe they would help with laying out blocks and basting!
Subscriber comments:
I, too, have no room to stretch and baste a large quilt. I have found tacking or nail-gunning the quilt back, batting, and quilt top to a wall works great. Once you baste it you are able to lap quilt it without any problem.
Brenda
Subscriber comments:
The top of a bed can always be used to lay out quilt blocks.
Thelma
As for quilting, if you are hand quilting you might want to try a lap hoop. I have quilted a queen size quilt in a 14" hoop. You will need to baste carefully. Start in the center and work toward the edge. If you machine-quilt, use the 'scrunch' method. Again a queen size quilt - I scrunched it up and quilted just fine. I did not 'package' or 'roll' or 'clip'. I only have about two feet of space to the left of my machine and I scrunched all the quilt into that space.
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That's all for today.
Till next time!
Konstantin,
www.QuiltedParadise.com
Feel free to use the suggestion box below for any questions or comments for me personally. If you want to ask a quilting question, then the best place to do so is the quilting board: http://www.quiltingboard.com/ -- there are plenty of great quilters over there who are always willing to help.
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