Q.U.I.L.T.S.
Quilters United in Learning, Teaching and Self-Improvement
This page is dedicated to sharing quilting-related tips and tricks. Scroll down the page to see all of our tips and tricks.
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Blocking your quilt
Why block? Many times, our quilts are not square when they are finished. Or the borders may be wavey. And sometimes there is a bubble in the center. We've done our best, sewn accurate seams and pressed carefully, but the quilt has a problem. Blocking may be the answer.
When NOT to block. Don't block any quilt that will be washed frequently (baby quilts and lap quilts). Don't block any quilt that will be on a bed, because no one can tell if the quilt is square when it's on a bed.
For detailed photos of Lauren Jackson's (Bold Notions Quilting) blocking and step by step process, go to the Bold Notions Quilting Facebook page. Find her February 5, 2024 and February 6, 2024 posts.
You've washed your quilt and fabric ran - what to do!
Bleeding fabric in a finished quilt is sad, but it can be fixed. Try using Dawn and hot water (after removing markings that will set with heat).
https://www.facebook.com/carolyn.h.stine/posts/1151498364901110
Margaret Solomon Gunn
30 June at 13:45 · Bleeding...Since many have inquired, and continue to inquire on my blog, let me tell the fast story of what I do. First, don't panic. I have always been able ...to fix my bleeds, as have every person (going on 10 now) I have passed these instructions on to. We can thank Vicki Welsh a great fabric dyer for tipping me off to them 5 years ago. Don't bother with buying boxes of color catchers or oxyclean or even synthrapol (which is not available where I live without driving over an hour). Go to your grocery store and get Dawn dish detergent. It is MUCH CHEAPER and works. It comes in many flavors; I use basic blue. Fold your quilt as loosely as possible, with the bleeding parts toward the outside of the folded bundle. In your largest bathtub, fill it at least 1/2 full with the hottest water possible from the tap. As it is filling, add 1/4C of the Dawn. Add the quilt, and submerge it with water filled plastic tubs. I use my laundry baskets. Leave it there for as long as is needed. Occasionally swish the water. The hot water expedites the dye to leave the fabric, while the Dawn acts to suspend it in the water (instead of attaching to the fabrics). After 2-3 hours, check the bleed areas. If they are there still, drain the water and repeat the procedure. When you are done, draw one last tub of cold water to rinse the quilt in. I don't spin my quilt in a washing machine afterwards, just press between 5-8 towels and place onto the foam core boards for blocking. I have obviously used this method successfully on both cotton and silk Radiance quilts. The one quilt of mine which bled, and was IMHO ruined, was the first one -- I treated it with everything under the sun - stain stick, oxyclean, color catchers, ran it in the washer...THEN learned of this technique. The bleeds were eventually removed, BUT the colors had faded and the loft was greatly flattened from the chemicals and washing. There you go...let me stress the "Don't panic" part :-)
Added...Please Read...If you have marked your quilt with blue or purple pen, YOU MUST FIRST SOAK THE QUILT IN COLD WATER before the hot soak for the bleeds can be done. Skipping this step may result in heat-setting the marking pen.
https://www.facebook.com/carolyn.h.stine/posts/1151498364901110
Margaret Solomon Gunn
30 June at 13:45 · Bleeding...Since many have inquired, and continue to inquire on my blog, let me tell the fast story of what I do. First, don't panic. I have always been able ...to fix my bleeds, as have every person (going on 10 now) I have passed these instructions on to. We can thank Vicki Welsh a great fabric dyer for tipping me off to them 5 years ago. Don't bother with buying boxes of color catchers or oxyclean or even synthrapol (which is not available where I live without driving over an hour). Go to your grocery store and get Dawn dish detergent. It is MUCH CHEAPER and works. It comes in many flavors; I use basic blue. Fold your quilt as loosely as possible, with the bleeding parts toward the outside of the folded bundle. In your largest bathtub, fill it at least 1/2 full with the hottest water possible from the tap. As it is filling, add 1/4C of the Dawn. Add the quilt, and submerge it with water filled plastic tubs. I use my laundry baskets. Leave it there for as long as is needed. Occasionally swish the water. The hot water expedites the dye to leave the fabric, while the Dawn acts to suspend it in the water (instead of attaching to the fabrics). After 2-3 hours, check the bleed areas. If they are there still, drain the water and repeat the procedure. When you are done, draw one last tub of cold water to rinse the quilt in. I don't spin my quilt in a washing machine afterwards, just press between 5-8 towels and place onto the foam core boards for blocking. I have obviously used this method successfully on both cotton and silk Radiance quilts. The one quilt of mine which bled, and was IMHO ruined, was the first one -- I treated it with everything under the sun - stain stick, oxyclean, color catchers, ran it in the washer...THEN learned of this technique. The bleeds were eventually removed, BUT the colors had faded and the loft was greatly flattened from the chemicals and washing. There you go...let me stress the "Don't panic" part :-)
Added...Please Read...If you have marked your quilt with blue or purple pen, YOU MUST FIRST SOAK THE QUILT IN COLD WATER before the hot soak for the bleeds can be done. Skipping this step may result in heat-setting the marking pen.
removing stains
https://www.lulus.com/blog/lifestyle/a-guide-to-removing-stains-from-clothing-and-fabric/
This link suggested by a Girl Scout, who was working toward earning her "Textile Artist" badge when she spilled juice on her quilt. She used the guidance found here to get the stain out.
This link suggested by a Girl Scout, who was working toward earning her "Textile Artist" badge when she spilled juice on her quilt. She used the guidance found here to get the stain out.
flying geese units
What is a Flying Geese unit? How is it made? How is it used? The flying geese unit is used in many, many quilt patterns, perhaps, used as commonly as the half-square triangle. This link provides 2 step-by-step ways to make the unit, including much-needed measurements. Also, the attached pictures were selected to show how the flying geese unit is used in different ways (click pictures to see captions and sources). Of course, there are many, many more possibilities. Google Images, Pinterest and quilt shops have more. https://www.connectingthreads.com/…/Flying_Geese-Make_em_fa…
lovely tote - free pattern
mark quilts for wavy-line quilting
Tip: One of our members shared this tip at a recent meeting. The method she used for marking her quilt with wavy lines for quilting was to use a decorative, wavy tape. While this picture isn't a quilt, it shows how a flat object like a quilt is marked with the tape. Check the painting section of big box stores for the tape.
get stubborn wrinkles out
Have you struggled to get stubborn wrinkles out of your fabric? Some wrinkles just seem to be there, permanently but here's how to get them out! This method reminds me of how my mom used to "dampen" some of her ironing the day before she ironed to take out stubborn wrinkles.
http://thequiltshow.com/daily-blog/142-newsletter/24718-how-to-iron-out-nasty-wrinkles-in-your-fabric-with-sew-very-easy?utm_source=Infusionsoft&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2016_06_17_Weekend_Fun_11&inf_contact_key=9cdc7590b1cd34ef57836774ea7f15421566da073c478ea03299856f79ff4a1c
http://thequiltshow.com/daily-blog/142-newsletter/24718-how-to-iron-out-nasty-wrinkles-in-your-fabric-with-sew-very-easy?utm_source=Infusionsoft&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2016_06_17_Weekend_Fun_11&inf_contact_key=9cdc7590b1cd34ef57836774ea7f15421566da073c478ea03299856f79ff4a1c
"To Protect and Preserve"
Did you know that "Ordinary cardboard and wood emit volatile acids that deteriorate and yellow textiles over time."? Protect your quilts and other textiles by lining cardboard box or wooden shelf, cabinet or chest with layers of acid-free (archival) tissue or washed, unbleached muslin or sheeting. This free download is courtesy of the International Quilt Study Center & Museum.
Did you know that "Ordinary cardboard and wood emit volatile acids that deteriorate and yellow textiles over time."? Protect your quilts and other textiles by lining cardboard box or wooden shelf, cabinet or chest with layers of acid-free (archival) tissue or washed, unbleached muslin or sheeting. This free download is courtesy of the International Quilt Study Center & Museum.
Quilters' Cache
Traditional and original block designs and patterns - free: http://www.quilterscache.com/QuiltBlocksGalore.html
1930 Kit Quilts A collector of 1930's kit quilts. Pictures and history: http://www.vintagekitquilts.net/kits.htm
Fold your quilts with the front or pretty side OUT.
This tip is from AQS's Bonnie Browning. The more severe creasing occurs on the side that is folded in. So, fold your quilt with the pretty side out to minimize crease wear on the pretty side.
Purchase your border fabric when you buy fabric for piecing/appliquing.
This tip is from Sharon Waggoner. Sometimes, finishing a quilt can take years. By then, the colors you need in your border may no longer be available.
When piecing your borders and/or binding, add a little interest by inserting a band of contrasting fabric.
Linda Halpin uses this trick sometimes when she doesn't have quite enough fabric to complete her border. She also likes to use border stripes in her borders, making the borders appear to be much more complex. See several border treatments Linda has used to add interest - in her gallary of quilts at: http://www.lindahalpin.com/gallery.html