Alice's Favorite Quilting Tips

http://aliceinstitchesneedlework.com

• Fold long lengths of fabric into arms-length sections and safety pin along the top before pre-washing – you'll eliminate the tangled mess that long lengths of fabric often produce.

• Use a scrap of fabric as a starter when chain piecing.

• Pin baste with #2 safety pins – start from the center of your project and work out any wrinkles that form along the way.

• Cut your bindings on the straight of grain – it's easier and works just as well as on the diagonal.

• Use a design wall – with felt, flannel or pellon fleece. You'll get a much better perspective on your projects when you can stand back and evaluate.

• When arranging fabrics by value, squint to see if a fabric jumps out at you. It's easier to spot that piece that may be in the wrong spot. You can also view through a “Ruby Beholder”.

• Try to purchase unused pizza boxes from local pizza parlor – great flat boxes to store blocks and cut squares, then easily stackable.

• Run your needle and thread through a fresh dryer sheet to eliminate tangling in your thread.

• Fill box of bobbins with different thread colors to put in your applique bag. It's easier and neater than trying to bring all your spools of thread.

• Heat and light will dry and fade thread. If they hang on your wall, drape with a piece of fabric (you'll keep the dust off as well).

• Put your batting in the dryer for 15-20 minutes before you layer it with your quilt. It will take out all the wrinkles and make it easy to work with. Use low heat with no moisture (you don't want it too shrink!).

• Try Mistyfuse fusible for quilts that require layering of pieces (fusible). It's an ultra thin fusible that's easy to quilt through and won't add bulk.

• Be sure your quilt is quilted in an even density to hang straight. For instance if you've heavily quilted the body of your quilt, you will need to choose a quilting pattern for the border that is also very dense.

• Try machine quilting with a denim/jeans needle size 80/12. The Universal needle is too rounded and tends to produce a crooked stitch when quilting. The denim needle punches nicely through batting in even, straight stitches.

• Store needles in bar of non-moisturizing soap – keeps sharp and rust-free.