THEN....yesterday, I got an e-mail from Deb pointing me to this website. I read through most of it. When I read this post (specifically check out the photos, not the videos), I knew I had the answer to my problem! Yipee! Did you know that you can modify your free motion foot? I didn't break any pieces off my foot (eeek!) but I did place a few layers of corrugated cardboard in order to compress the spring on the foot a bit. Now my machine glides over the quilt top with ease! I can't tell you how much easier it is to quilt now. Amazing, I tell you. AMAZING!!! I quilted an entire baby quilt yesterday afternoon and the cardboard didn't shift a bit.
In honor of this exciting event (trust me, it made my week!) I am going to be giving away some flea market fancy fabric. One half yard of each of the green and the orange pictured below.
No need to become a follower, no need to blog or twitter about it. Just leave me a comment with your name, where you are from and your favorite quilting tip or your favorite quilting gadget. If you don't quilt, you can let me know what your favorite color is. It will make reading the comments much more interesting than reading, "pick me!" over and over.
As always, thanks for reading. xo
725 comments:
1 – 200 of 725 Newer› Newest»I'm so glad the site was useful to you! I was amazed by it! My current favorite color is purple...but frankly, I love ALL colors. My favorite gadget? Putting the little piece of fabric at the begining & end of the string piecing so I don't have to keep rethreading my needle everytime I start to sew a seam...
I'm Katie from Michigan...I love my rotary cutter...I know...Simple old school tool but I love it..Straight lines...Ooo...
Oooooooooooh, I just don't know WHAT I would do without my free-motion foot! I'm so glad yours is trouble-free once again!
I'm absolutely droooooooling over the flea market fancy fabric........
wow! what a great tip! My favorite tip is to save selvages and use them in sewing projects ... so simple and easy but so many people throw them away :)
I'm Erin from Dallas, and my favorite tool is also my rotary cutter! I don't know how anyone who does anything with fabric could do without it!
Hello from the UK! As I'm relatively new to quilting my favourite tip would be to keep your fingers out of the way of your darning foot! I'm always getting jabbed by mine - you think I would learn by now wouldn't you! :)
OH MAN! I am VERY VERY new to quilting, so I don't really have a favorite gadget, but I do have a most use tool... the seam ripper!! haha. oh well, live and learn right?!
I am originally from the great state of Texas, but we recently made a cross country move to Utah.
YAY!!! Sherri from Indiana and I'm afraid I have no quilting tip. Had trouble with quilting straight lines !!! on my first quilt (emailed you and you're SO great about helping - thanks again!) and hoping the next one goes well! Have the top pieced and just need to baste and quilt! Eeek!
I don't have any gadgets or tips, but (and I hope this doesn't sounds awful, like Shadenfreud), but it really makes me feel better about my current struggles with my machine to know that you occasionally struggle with yours too! Thank you so much for that!
some thimes we can fix that kind of problem with simple things.... i fix before my walking foot with maskingtape...
i'm RosaMaría, from Guadalajara, México, i'm a begginer and my fav color was purple... now every time i saw beautiful quilts, i have new favorite colors!
thanks for the giveaway, i love those fabrics!!!
Hi, I'm Cindy from Greensburg, PA. My favorite quilting gadget is my bent quilting pins. Before I discovered them I was always jabbing myself trying to quilt with the straight pins. Any my favorite color is blue (aqua).
Thank for your blogg, it's giving me a lot of inspiration... I'll done a few of your patterns with joy! I'll send you a photo when it's finished.
my fav gadget... my machine :) gives me plenty of joy in life
Susanne in Sweden
Hi, I am Janet from Chicago. I love your blog - it was the first one I found when I started quilting. Since I am relatively new to quilting, I don't really have any of my own tips yet. With that said, green is my favorite color!.
Thanks for the giveaway!
Hi - Lynn from North Carolina here. My favorite tip is to keep the inside of my machine clean from fuzz and oiled. If I forget it lets me know.
My favorite color is red (no surprise to you, I know) and my favorite gadget is my rotary cutter. I couldn't imagine cutting 400+ pieces with scissors.
I love Quilt Patis. They make hexagon quilts a breeze!
I'm working on my very first quilt and want to learn free motion quilting because it just looks cool. This quilt was made with all $1 fabric from Wal-Mart so it doesn't feel the nicest. It'd be sooooo awesome to have some nice fabric that looks nice AND feels nice. And so far my favorite quilting gadget is my rotary cutter:) Oh yeah...I'm a wisconsinite too.
I'm Chris, near Chicago. I'm relatively new to quilting - my favorite thingy is the little bar with a foot that attaches to my presser foot. I have no idea what it's called, but it helps me follow previous quilting lines/seams etc.
Does that make any sense?
sweet! that goes to you fixing your problem and the giveaway. :)
i'm jennifer from texas. my quilting tip is don't use a tabletop ironing board and iron on the floor while you're sitting or kneeling... no matter how much it saves time from moving it on the table and off the table every time you have to cut or pin...the burns on both knees are not worth it. oh wait... i still do it.
I'm from the DC metro area and my current favorite colors are purples and oranges....but it changes all the time!
My favorite quilting/sewing tool is painters tape. I use it for EVERYTHING.
Wow! You are so loved! ;o) I love my basting spray. I can't figure out how anybody quilts without it!
Leisel in Idaho
I have learned so many useful tips from you. I have the same machine as you and I am just learning to free motion with it. I know this tip will probably come in very handy. Frieda in Texas
Don't things like that make your day? Just a little something that makes such a difference in terms of time and frustration.
I'm Jessica from Illinois, and my favorite gadget(s) are my rulers. I had a flimsy, skinny quilting ruler that I finally traded in for a couple of higher-end versions in different sizes. They make all kinds of sewing projects so much more enjoyable!
Thanks for the giveaway!
I'm Robyn from Erie, CO. I don't know if I have a favorite gadget, and all of my good techniques come from reading your blog! But I agree, the rotary cutter is great! Especially once I realized you can cut multiple layers with it! What a breakthrough! ;)
Theresa from Birmingham, AL. My favorite gadget is the gypsy gripper to put on my ruler to cut!
Carly from Saskatoon, SK - I think my favourite new gadget is the magnetic seam guide I found. It's sped up my piecing and non-quilt sewing by a factor of 10.
Hey here Naty from Argentina in Southamerica I dont have many quilting gadgets because there are not quilting stores in the country. But i have a rottary cutter and a really small cutting mat (less than A4)and i love them!!!! Befor them i made some stuff with sissors and was so much harder.
I enjoy a lot all your great quilters blogs and that beautiful fabrics. You give me so many ideas !!!
Hugs
Natys
Thanks so much for the giveaway! You are so sweet! I'm Ellen from Dallas, TX and my favorite tip is one my grandmother gave me when I started . . . everything looks better from 10 feet away with a glass of wine in your hand! (I was really frustrated with my first attempts!) Thanks again!
Hi, I'm from England (I hope international entries are allowed?). I am new to quilting and at the moment I love my 1/4 inch seam foot as without it my seams would not be straight (even with it I need a lot of practice!!)
I'm JaiCi from Provo, Utah.
My favorite tip was once when my grandma told me that a quilt in the closet doesn't do anybody any good. Use it!!! Not really a tip, but good advice so that you don't stuff your quilts away in a closet!
It's me, Cheryl in Calgary. I'm glad you shared a pic, I was having a hard time figureing out what you were talking about.
My favourite tool is my Kwik Klip for basting quilts.
And my tip goes back to your post the other day. Rather than raise the machine, I try to set up with the ironing board located at a 90 degree angle to my sewing machine, lowered to hand height while sitting. And in a perfect world I have another table on the other side for trimming. Picture a U shaped space.
Bear from Brooklyn here. I think the most helpful hint I can offer is to speed up! Sometimes I get too intense (re: SLOW) and my free motion quilting is a mess. It always looks better if I just let go and floor it! Love the blog!
I know just how you feel! It was a revelation to me when I realized my "quarter-inch foot" WASN'T a quarter-inch foot! I'm from Michigan as well. Favorite color right now is mustardy-yellow - I do not know when or why that happened, but when I see it, I must have some!
thanks for sharing - i really admire your productivity, and really love all the quilt-along nine-patchiness.
Hi! I'm Meg from Washington D.C.
Goodness! Hopefully this will help me out too. I am new to free motion quilting but I think I've been having this problem already.
My favorite quilting tip is more of a quilting philosophy I think. Anyone can quilt. ANYONE! Its not hard and it feels really good to make something yourself.
I derive a lot of INSPIRATION from you!I am from India,but now settled in Toronto,I teach Indian classical dance,but in my spare time do some quilting!I LOVE the way you simplify things,right now am doing a zig zag,following your instructions!
Anuradha.
My favorite quilting tip is one I've read on several blogs.... Not every seam has to be perfect and you can make a block as wonky or as straight as you want it to be. There is a lot of freedom in NOT aiming for perfection!!!
Melissa
Memphis, TN
Hello! Jen from Scotland - Scotland, CT that. My favorite and most useful quilting gadget is my 1/4" edged quilting foot. Comes in handy when trying to sew a straight line!
And I pretty much like every color under the rainbow. The brighter the better!
I was having a lot of problems putting on my binding with my walking foot. I could not seem to get an even seam. Just this past weekend I decided to try my regular foot and it worked fabulously! Now I will be using it all the time.
I'm Kate, from Philadelphia. It seems silly, but my favorite quilting gadget is my seam-ripper! First of all because I end up using it all the time (although you'd think that would make me hate it!), and second because it's so satisfying to make a few little snips and then pull out a long length of thread!
i'm nichole from michigan. my favorite quilting tip actually came from you. it is when connecting binding pieces, to iron the end on a diagonal to know where to sew them together. the way i originally learned had me marking the line and ironing is so much easier!
I'm Amy from Georgia.
My favorite tips are having good sturdy rulers and a good quality, heavy iron to press seams down in-between piecing.
Thanks for the giveaway
I'm just learning to quilt, so I don't have any good tips yet, but I love this really adorable little sewing box that I bought from etsy. It's perfect to sit next to my machine, as it holds a thimble, small scissors, a few spools of thread and other small items that I like to keep close! I'm in Washington, DC and have been using a lot of Anna Marie Horner and Amy Butler prints so far!
I had the same problem with my darning foot... if I have that problem again I'll attempt the cardboard trick :) Thanks for the tip!
Favourite gadget is my rotary cutter... couldn't quilt without it!
Audrie, CT
I'm Christina from Illinois and I love my extra large 20" square! It's awesome for large squares and setting squares on point!
Hi I'm Jen from Wisconsin Rapids and I feel like I'm introducing myself at a beauty pageant. Anyway my best tip is that you can get a lot of quilting done if you actually quilt and not just read quilting blogs. But I wouldn't know anything about that.
I'm Laurel from Colorado. Love to quilt, but I'm sure I have no tips for you. My favorite color is white!
I'm new to quilting so I was lucky to stumble upon your blog early on. My name is Kristin and I'm from Northern Kentucky. I wish I had a quilting tip or favorite gadget to share but I'm so new I barely know what type of thread to buy. :) I just enjoy learning! :)
I'm Michelle from LA... I'm actually on my 2nd 1/4" foot - the first one yielded seams just over the "scant" 1/4", but the new one is just perfect! And I really like the pinking blade I have for my rotary cutter - I use it to square off my quilting bee blocks, so they don't get unraveled in the mail when I send them back to the recipient.
I'm Wendy from Illinois. Hmmm, I think my favorite tip/trick is one I learned from you (I think) when quilting straight lines, I just use painters tape. I line it up, sew along the edge and then move it. Works like a charm! And as a side note, as I was working on a quilt for my husband, I realized I love that my quilt is not "perfect" we're not perfect so why should we expect our quilts to be perfect!!! Thanks for sharing.
I have a pinking blade for my rotary cutter that I just love! Also, I have an old tube turner that is really awesome. Looks kinda like modified tongs. Love the tip - I'm gonna have to try it!
HI! I am pretty new to quilting and I LOVE it! I dont really have a tip but most people fear the handstitching involved in the binding,... i LOVE it. I find it relaxing and I can do it while sitting on the couch with my husband watching our favorite show!
Hello! I'm Crystal from Minnesota. I just bought a 15" square clear plastic ruler so I can square up blocks. Before that, I was using my trusty 6"x24" ruler which is nice for long cuts but bad for squaring up blocks. I don't know why I waited so long to get one (three years!).
Thanks for doing this giveaway and for making such lovely quilts. :)
Placing the iron beside my sewing machine on a sturdy tv tray covered with fabric, is the best tip I've ever used.
Hello AmandaJean! That's my Juki foot and my fingers there that helped you out :) Actually, I should be saying thank you to you as well since your reviews of your Juki were the turning point in my decision to actually buy one. After I took that picture I found that the little piece of wood was too big on its side like that, so I ended up turning it over and it's perfect now. I'm relieved to know that I wasn't the only one with a big ol' quilt smashing problem.
It's really a nice feeling to know how we out here in blog (or not-so-blog in my case) land can help each other out like that. So, thanks! I've been a lurker here at your blog for a while and you brought me out of the woodwork :)
What a great idea! I'm going to have to get some cardboard into mine too. :)
I'm Renee from Kitchener, ON. My best quilting tip is "Just Do It". So many times I'd want to try something new or change the way I do something, but instead of messing something up I'd do nothing... not finish the old way or try the new. Just do it has helped me a lot.
Congratulations on solving your problem! I am Kim from Pleasanton, CA and so far my favorite quilting tip is to send it out to be done! I know that is terrible but I just can't get the hang of it! I am going to try some more straight line quilting and see how I do, but free motion is not my cup of tea! I love both of these colors but the yellow would be my fav! Thanks for having a give-away!
My best quilting tip isn't about the actual quilting but it's this: to save scraps of fabric from everything! I love sneaking in a special little scrap of fabric into a quilt. Also, go to garage sales, flee markets, etc with a fabric lover's eye, not missing a great bit of fabric even if it's from an old stained shirt!
I just started quilting last year. I am currently making a table topper for my aunt that has a pin wheel pattern on one side and a zig zag pattern on the other.
I have some material that I am getting antsy to quilt and the colors are grey and salmon.
I am Kari from Saskatoon, SK.
lawlorlawlor@gmail.com
I'm Melissa, from Idaho, but residing in Amman, Jordan for the past 21 years. I found your blog a few weeks ago when I was trying to figure out how to bind my first quilt, a very special denim quilt I made for oldest daughter who is a violin performance major in far away Oberlin, Ohio.
So, in case you follow your blog stats and see A LOT of hits from Jordan, that's me! I've had so much fun cruising around your blog and you have truly inspired the quilter within me. I have bookmarked many of your pages and am looking forward to beginning my next quilt. I've also cleaned out a little closet and have begun stocking it with my fabric scraps.
I'm going to begin with making denim quilts from recycled jeans for all my kids--my second oldest heads to college next year. We have a used clothes market here in Amman and I enjoy looking for bargains--my best find so far, four pairs of jeans for $1.50
Okay, probably too much information but I just had to gush a bit about how much you have inspired me. Thank you so much for all you have shared on your blog.
Glad to hear your good news on your machine. I may have to try this trick as my 3 month old machine is giving me problems free motioning-needle snaps! So frustrating.
I am from Buffalo NY. Most of my tips would probably be old news to you but I have recently fallen in loved with applique. I just finished a black and white appliqued quilt in a Denise Schmidt design of the twirls and my niece loved it. I will definately be trying some more applique patterns.
Rebecca O from Buffalo
Hi! I'm April and I live in Virginia. I'm a new, self-taught quilter so I don't really have any good quilting tips. I'm still learning, and I have a LONG way to go. I'm glad you got your foot to cooperate!
Don't you love a cheap and easy fix once you find the answer?? I know that I do!
I would say the quilting world has benefitted tremendously from the ROTARY CUTTER!
and my favorite color is RED. ;)
very happy for you with your new discovery!
chain piecing was such a revelation for me. saves so much time.
Hello AmandaJean!
Sometimes the smallest things make the biggest difference, eh? I'm glad to hear your free-motion quilting problem is SOLVED!
My favourite quilting gadget has to be (besides my wonderful machine, Bernice) the Magic Quilting Gloves I bought a couple of years ago. I even use them for regular sewing sometimes because they make gripping the fabric so much easier.
My favourite colours (can't have just one) are red, yellow and green. Not that I would necessarily use them all in the same quilt... it would look like a traffic light!
Take care,
Rachel (Alberta, Canada... eh?)
Hello, I am Steffi from Germany.
I love your blog, soo much very beautiful quilts to look at and read about. My blog is quite new, not so much to read until now, but I hope that will improve.
I love sewing and quilting by hand, sitting on the sofa with my husband, listening to the TV. My favorite tool is the coin thimble from clover, the only thimble I can work with - I love it!
Greetings from Ahaus/Germany! :-)
hey! i'm erin in maryland and i love all things rotary. and not to up my chances for winning but rather to make the reading of all our prize-hunting maybe slightly less tedious, here's something silly. for the longest time (i won't admit to how long) i called a seam ripper an "unpicker" because that's what my mom called it. i plan to carry on the tradition, however wrong it may be.
My most used quilting 'tool' is my sketch book (for doodling ideas for quilts. You never know when something or someone will inspire your next quilting project. By the way - your blog is a constant source of inspiration.
I'm a girl in L.A. who learned to quilt from YOU! Your tutorials/advice is amazing. I guess that painter's tape is the "gadget" that's helped me the most while I've practiced each step of quilting. I use it when basting, when quilting in straight lines, and sometimes when fussy cutting. Every color has its moment to shine!
~giselle
Molly from southern Oregon. My tip is to use not just a 1/4" seam--but a scant 1/4"seam. And my favorite tool is my thread snippers.
Greetings from Estonia!
I follow your blog for some time now with netvibes.
My new discoveris paper with glue ( I'm not sure it's right in English :)) for applique :) So I try to make some now.
My favorite color is green, but lately I have "discovered" turqoise formy self :)
Siret
My name is Katie, I'm from Los Angeles, and my favorite quilting tools are my spring-loaded threadsnips, my rotating cutting mat, my square rulers, and my chalk pencil! Couldn't do without any of them.
I had no idea you could alter the free motion foot...thanks so much for the tip and all the inspiration with every post! My best tip is to always have something cut and ready to sew...it makes it easier to get going on projects!
Hurray for you. I love discovering something like that instead of not being satisfied after it gets cleaned & fixed and still doesn't work for a high-priced fee and a look as though I don't know anything. I have stopped going to them, even though they sold me my machine.
Favorite color of your giveaways: I like the green one. My fav color purple
favorite quilting tip? Piecing the quilt and basting with glue. Sharon Schambler talks about getting Elmer's school glue, putting it into a dispenser bottle with a fine tip. after gluing, press. It will keep it in place, and there is no shifting. She is amazing.
http://www.sharonschambernetwork.com/free_area/videos/sashing/3.html
Anita
I've been having a very similar problem with machine quilting, so I'm going to give this a try. The only solution I had come up with on my own was to stop finishing quilts and just make more quilt tops. So thanks!
Andrea
Congrats! That is awesome! I am just getting into quilting so it is nice to learn from you. Since I don't have any gadgets built up yet, I will just share my favorite quilting craft. My grandma was an amazing quilter and I had some random circular patterns that she had made from scraps. I cut them off the squares and then glued them to a white canvas. Now they are great art on my wall...projecting my Grandma's love throughout the room.
Hi, I'm Chrissie from Florida.
My favorite color combo right now is red and aqua.
My favorite gadget right now are my quilting gloves. They really do help me.
I don't think I could do without my walking foot. I've tried free-motion quilting, but I can never seem to get the tension right, so it's mostly straight lines for me!
Samantha from Wisconsin
My favorite quilting gadget is my tv! I need something to keep me company while the hours pass by. :)
-Bobbi in Austin, TX
Yay!!! Love cheap fixes. I recently made a quilted jacket and instead of using pins to hold the fabric in place...good, old WASHABLE Elmer's glue stick!!!!! No problems with my needle, my machine, or my fabric. It washes out just fine!!! Yay!! Blogged about it here:
http://ktquilts4fun.blogspot.com/2009/09/i-am-still-here.html
Blessings,
KT
Its me Cathy Holt of Eagle Mountain, Utah - a remote town 35 miles away from Salt Lake City. My favorite quilting gadget is rotary cutter because it does often fix my mistake, in other words, it is my life saver! I do admire those pioneer quilters where there was no rotary cutter. Imagine their scissors may not be that sharp enough to cut fabrics or old clothing to make quilts. I am fortunate for what we have in quilting world! Lot of materials and quilt friends over internet - everything from one place, my home! Have a good celebration with your solution to continue the use of your darning footer!
I'm Jessica, and I currently live in Texas. I don't know about tips, but I am a chain-piecer. About the only time there is not some quilt block or another hooked on my machine is when I run out of bobbin thread. I work on several quilts at once, so I never have to stop and start my threads -- just cut off the blocks I need to go iron.
I cannot BELIEVE you are giving away FMF. You are a saint (already knew that)!
I love my rotary cutter. It makes cutting 10 times easier. I just started sewing so i cant tell you that i have ever quilted so i havnt had a machine problem like that yet.
Happy Quilting!!!,
Grace from the little North Tonawanda, New York
I think the best advise is to just keep practising! The more quilts I make the better I get. Easy!
So glad you posted this, what a help. After watching her videos I actually purchased a few items from her store as well. I appreciate you passing on the information, how much blogs have helped me!!!
from Columbus, OH! YAY for you fixing your quilting foot! I'm happy for you :-)
When I bought my darning foot (quilting foot?) I had the guy use his drimmel tool and slice out the front 1/2" of it so I could see what I was doing as I quilted along... and I LOVE IT! If you have a metal foot, that may not work, but plastic, yes! My machine is in need of a 1 yr checkup - I'll be sad to see it go for a week!
My favorite has to be my good old rotary cutter. Cutting time is happy time- really it is.
Hi! I'm Jenn, born in Utah, raised in California, currently living in Hungary:) I hate to delurk for a giveaway, but these are too cute to resist. And this is a good time to let you know that I really love your site and it's totally inspiring to me. With a 3 year old and a 5 year old sometimes I convince myself that I just don't have time to do things for me. Coming here reminds me that I CAN and that I SHOULD make that time. So thanks, I appreciate it:)
My name is Dena and I've from the Skagit Valley area in Washington State. It's difficult for me to select just one favorite tool I use for quilting...
I love the built-in walking foot on my Pfaff machine; my Shape Cut Pro ruler which makes cutting strips so quick and easy; Invisi-Grip which keeps my rulers from slipping as I'm cutting my fabric; and finally, my 1/4" foot which make stitching 1/4" seams a breeze.
A quick quilting tip: Although I starch my fabrics before cutting, I do so carefully. Too much starch and you run the risk of scorching your fabric.
Hi! I'm Grace from Chicago. I don't quilt (yet) (but I do sew) so I don't have a favorite quilting technique--but my favorite color is green (but orange is a close second!). I think quilting will soon become another one of my crafting obessions!
I'm Kait from Roanoke VA and I have recently begun free motion quilting which I love. I bought the gloves to help gripping the quilt which has made my life a lot easier! I found that same website just a couple hours ago through other means and was inspired.
Thanks for writing such a great blog!
I'm from Chicago. My favorite gadget is the circle rotary cutter. It works like a compass but has a little rotary blade on it. It is awesome and makes circle-making really fun!
I am new to quilting as well - I guess my favorite gadget is my rotary cutter! If I didn't have it, I probably wouldn't even try to quilt. I love quilting, though, and I'm working on 2 right now. I'm a little nervous about free motion quilting but I think I'm going to give it a try.
Julie from Colorado
Erin from Colorado Springs. My favorite tools are my Kwik Klip safety pin closer that I use when I'm basting, and my rubberized garden gloves I use for free motion quilting. Got them in the garden department at Walmart!
I'm from Memphis. I'd say pins are my favorite quilting tool! I always say quilting is more about pinning and ironing than actually quilting! I'm a beginner...hoping to learn free motion quilting soon. Love your blog!
Hi, my name is Tong and I'm from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Glad to hear that you figured out your problem and solved it!
I'm a new quilter and sewist in general, having just started sewing at the end of August! I started making my first quilt this week, it's a pink/blue pinwheel baby quilt. I had to talk to my fiance to tell him that I will be making a baby quilt for our unborn child and to please not freak out, and he didn't, so I was good to go! =P
I haven't had enough experience with quilting yet to say what my favourite gadgets are (I probably don't even know that these gadgets exist!). But I absolutely adore your blog, and come on here often for inspiration and tips.
My name is Amanda, I'm from Chicago. I'm a beginning quilter and don't know too much in the way of tips. For a t-shirt quilt I made I had a hardware store cut a piece of plexiglass in the size square I needed. No measuring to cut out the blocks!
I love your blog and I love all colors. My tip is to not be so hard on ourselves. Sometimes what seems like a mistake can be an opportunity. I learn new things every single time I make something.
Danielle, from MA. I don't like to use the quilting gloves because I can't feel, but sometimes I feel like I need a little extra grip on the quilt as I'm pushing and pulling. So...I use Neutrogena hand cream (the small tube) or Aquaphor, and it gives just a little extra tackiness, but not greasy. It works great!
Well, I don't quilt yet, but I'm dreaming of learning soon. I have an infatuation with red lately, so my first quilting project is (hopefully) going to be some red placemats for my kitchen.
Hey - relatively new to your blog but I have it streaming into my Reader along with my other favorite sewing/quilting blogs.. so keep up the good work!
I'm from the midwest - Lincoln, Nebraska to be specific. My favorite color is red. I tell you this because my favorite thing related to quilting is the sandpaper dots I put on the back of my ruler to keep it from sliding around. You see, I tend to have a 'death grip' on my rotary cutter and it was quite frustrating!!
I saw the same tip on a youtube video by crazyshortcutquilts. She modifies her foot, too. I'm afraid to break it, though!
Hey!
I'm Mrs. Smith from Charlottesville, Virginia! I'm new to quilting and have to say that my favorite quilting "tip" is actually checking my blog feed for inspiration, tutorials, fix-its, etc. Blogs just like this one have taught me how to quilt and given me the BEST ideas.
Thanks!
Mrs. S.
I'm Kris from Indiana. My favorite gadgets are my tabletop needle threader and Thimble It pads to protect my underneath finger when I'm hand quilting. My favorite color is orange (but the green is pretty too). I discovered the joy of FMQ when I stopped using the wrong foot. I'm using the darner like you have now, but there was another foot that had a flat gridded see thru platform that I thought was for quilting and it was AWFUL. Small discoveries, big effects...
Congrats on your new success with FMQ!
I loved reading about your quilting adventure! Thanks for the tip! I think my favorite quilting do-dad is a round bobbin holder that came with 24 colors of very thin thread for applique. When I'm working on a project, I have all the colors I need and it's very transportable.
Can't believe you're already to 100 responses....you GO girl!
I don't quilt much but my fave gradget is my Big Foot :)
Hello from 'still in the 90's' Florida...I just love those fabrics! These days I can't do without the magnifier I have on my sewing machine...it works wonders...when you can seeeeeee!
I need to go and check out that website. I've been trying to refine my free motion quilting more, learning all about tension and stuff, it's been interesting, and confusing. My fave thing right now is my project planning book. I write down my thoughts for my next quilt in the book, colors, pattern, sizes, etc, and then I have it all right there, and not on random pieces of paper throughout my home. It's fun browsing through my idea book! I'd love some Flea Market fancy :D How nice of you!
Amory from Dallas... my favorite "gadget" is the cutting table my grandfather made for my grandmother. Makes me feel close to her again.
Wow. Your free motion foot looks WAYYYYY more complicated than mine - either you long arm, or you have a much fancier machine than the Little Singer That Could that I quilt on! :)
As for my favourite tool - I did a post about them a short time ago, but my current favourite is a tool I picked up at a medical supply store - it's an extremely fine needle point tweezer with an attached magnifying glass. It's perfect for pulling out stitches that are a close/exact match for a particular fabric, and sharp enough to use as a seam ripper. It's my new favourite tool!
Well i dont have it yet but made the big purchase and just bought an go cutter online! Im so excited for it to get here and cant wait to start turning out the quilts like you! As long as i dont have to cut I should be able to make a ton more!
Let's see here.. I'm Amy, I'm from Indianapolis, Indiana, and I'm addicted to fabric. :) I think my favorite gadget would be a simple single-edged razor blade. It makes ripping things out so much easier! I've considered making a tutorial for this and posting it on my blog (if you or anyone else is interested). I've thrown away my seam rippers- it's just so much faster!
First of all, congratulations on your little fix-it! I'm still quite a novice with free motion quilting and I'd probably have given up if I'd been in your shoes! That said, I guess my favorite tool would be my darning foot. Pretty basic, but new enough to me that it's still exciting!
...now can I type "pick me! pick me!"?
I'm Ruth, from California, and I've only quilted two baby quilts, so I don't know if I have much in the way of good quilting tips. The only thing I can think of is that I prefer to start and end at the edge of the quilt so I don't have to bother with tying the ends of the thread. I just backtack a bit to help hold it and then hide that under the binding instead.
Hello, my name is Marta, I am from de Basque Country in the north side of Spain and I am a follower of your blog since I started with the quilting. I love to piece and make the top of the quilts but the quilting is one of my hanging subject. Thanks for your giveaways and for the links to the free motion quilting.
Sorry about my english.
loves
Marta
martagongra@hotmail.com
I am Lori from Idaho. My favorite color is orange and i'm drooling over that orange Flea Market Fancy. My favorite quilting tool is mole skin (like what you use for blisters). I cut it into 1/4" x 3/4" strips and then stick them on my sewing machine, 1/4" to make it easy to keep a consistent seam allowance.
Thanks for the giveaway! I am a quilter, but still a baby one. I don't have any favorite gadgets... Save my sewing machine, I suppose. :) My favorite color... RED! But, in terms of the fabulous giveaway... Anything would be great :)
I am Kate and I am from Massachusetts. My favorite quilting tip...READ BLOGS!!! I can't begin to tell you how much I have learned since starting to read my favorite quilting blogs. It just amazes me the information and the sharing of many wonderful bloggers. Thanks so much for the chance to enter your contest! And, thank you for the GREAT TIP about the cardboard! I don't hold out much hope of winning your giveaway but if I did get lucky, green would be my favorite color!
Hello, Mendi from Arkansas here.. not really a tip, but my favorite sewing tool is canned air... I leave a can right by my machine to clean my machine. Favorite color is burple = blue + purple.
This is Sara from Chicago. I feel like I was having the same problem, but I thought it had to do with the way I have to use a cover plate for my feed dogs instead of them dropping. I'm definitely going to give your tip a try. Thanks~
charlotte from memphis, tn - glad to have the info in the free motion foot... i am about to start my hand at quilting for the first time and am a bit nervous about free motion quilting. i have started cutting out blocks and could not think of doing that w/o my rotary cutter!!! my favorite color is purple and i love all shades of green!
HOLY COW! I have the same problem with the foot I use to free motion quilt (well, that and tension issues, but let's not talk about that) and so had just figured free motion was out for me until I could afford a new machine. Thank you so much for sharing your find!
I don't quilt. I mainly sew apparel for my daughter, but I keep your blog on my reader for the inspiration to some day give quilting a try. Oh, my favorite color is purple.
I saw this in one of the comments above, and I heartily agree: Using a little fabric scrap at the beginning and end of string piecing to avoid having all those cut threads at the end of every seam. It keeps everything neat and tidy on the table, and even more importantly, my two golden retrievers aren't covered in threads. I also love my stiletto - it has really speeded things up since it does away with the need for pins in many situations.
Lesly, from Ontario
Wow, I know some people out there would kill for flea market fancy, very generous of you to give it away :) Let's see, my favourite quilting tip... Actually, it's one of yours: piecing the batting - what a great way to not waste any scraps. Now that I've finally moved away from polyester batting and hand piecing it, I had a chance to try your tutorial for machine-piecing the cotton batting together - so quick, so smooth, the quilt is done and I have no idea where the seam is! Thanks for that :)
Cheers,
Christine
http://cuttingedgequilt.blogspot.com/
Jan from Murrieta, CA, here. Believe it or not my favorite quilting tool is the internet! I just started quilting in June, and I use blogs to mine for ideas and quilting friends.
Hi, I'm Susan from Maryland. I just started quilting this past July and I agree with Jan....my favorite quilting tool is the internet, where I've met tons of neat crafty people and learned a whole lot about quilting.
I love that you MacGyver'ed your presser foot - that is genius!
I'm Aimee from New Hampshire. I check the screw on the plastic part of my walking foot before each use. It literally fell apart on me one day when the screw fell out, so now I do preventative maintenance on it. In other foot news, I just got a 1/4" foot for my machine and am dying to try it out - woot!!
You are a doll for parting with your FMF!! I know how much you love that print for borders!
check out Sharon Schambers website. She sells a custom made Juki foot that is small, does not hop & has a nice little circle bottom. She also has a free video on how to set up your domestic machine for quilting that is really helpful! Thanks for the heads up. I just bought a new juki. Thanks again!!
My favorite quilting tool is my Bernina, which I love and adore.
And I have to thank all the wonderful quilters out there, who teach me something new each and every day.
My best quilting 'tool' is to listen to books on cd while quilting!!
Thanks for the giveaway, it's spectacular fabric to share!
Hi! I'm Amanda, originally from Louisville, KY, but now live in Nashville, TN with my husband and two kitties. I've got one finished quilt, one quilt top pieced, plus one I need to finish by Oct 23rd - ha! Though I lack experience, I know I love my rotary cutter and can't imagine quilting, or doing any sewing project without it! Also, my favorite color is green.
I am really getting a lot of info from reading these comments! I haven't been quilting long enough to have any new tips but do want to mention how amazing it is that so many talented quilters are willing to share so much knowledge with beginners! I am always so grateful and happy with all the help available to this beginner from Michigan!
My favorite gadget is my chalk pen. I love how I can roll out designs on my quilt and if I don't like it, I can wipe away and try again.
Debbie
My favorite thing is the old standby rotary cutter. My favorite color, turquoise, naturally.
I'm Becca from KY and my new favorite quilting gadget is a stylus. I use it instead of my fat fingers for keeping fabric together, in the way I want it to go, under the foot. It's helped a lot. I don't know how I've pieced so long without it!
I love my hot pink duct tape I use to tap down my quilt backing when I baste my quilt. Keeps my backing lined up and in place and makes me smile everytime. So I guess that answers my favorite color question as well....pink!
I´m Maria from Denmark. My favorite thing is my stiletto! Cannot live without it.
I'm Cindy from Danville, IN and I love my quilting gloves. Without them I was always licking my fingers like Peyton Manning does just so I could get a grip on the fabric. Peyton doesn't lick my fingers, just his own. :) Go Colts!
Hi - Christine from Montreal. Love your blog - I am a beginner quilter and don't have many tips to share - that is why I like to read quilting blogs so I can learn from the masters instead of from my mistakes.
My favourite colour is red! But I do love greens, blues, and black/white/grey too.
Hello! I'm a beginner, just about to start quilting. :) I love your blog, you are so inspiring!!! My favourite color is orange. :)
Mary Anne from Lake Wylie, SC here. My favorite quilting tool would have to be the piece of fabric that I use as a "cheater" when I am starting to piece something so that it doesn't get sucked up in the presser foot / feed dogs and bunch up. It is so frustrating to go to start piecing and put the fabric under the presser foot and push on the foot pedal and the fabric end up in a bunch and not go smoothly. I just put the "cheater" under the presser foot all the way and push the pedal and put the first pieces behind that and have NO problems. Just cut the "cheater" off the end of the chain and keep on going!
Holy Crow! That is awesome! I would have never thought to try that, hmmm...
I'm Cassie from Binghamton, NY. Honestly there are three things that changed my quilting life:
1. your blog (I am so serious, it inspires me every day...and I'm currently making a huge ragged square quilt for my sister for christmas)
2. chaining....I don't know why I didn't think of this before
3. learning how to properly knot thread so it doesn't look like a birds nest
there are other things I'm sure, but that's all I can think of right now :) I'm still pretty new to all this.
My fave is the 1/4-inch seam allowance foot I have. It keeps things much more even for me. It's a quilting life-saver!
Love-love-loving the fabric!
I love my new safety pin closer! Much easier on the hands while basting.
Hi, my favorite color is green at the moment. I'm not quilting yet but i want to start after christmas.
your bloog is great and after reading some of your tutorials i'm feeling in the mood to start with a quilt.i'm from münster in germany and i love the green fabric!
i'm sorry my english isn´t good. i hope you don't laugh about it...
have a great time.
HI,
HobbyMommy from Erie, here.
My favorite quilting gadget is actually my machine. I have a pfaff and it has the middle position for the presser foot so that free motion quilting with the free motion quilting foot is a breeze!!
Well, I just moved to Columbus, Ohio, and love searching out all the tiny quilt shops around here. My favorite tool is my basting spray. I know a lot of people think it's totally cheating, but it SO helps when I can't pin it all together in one sitting!
I am Angela from Los Angeles...my fave color is blue!
I am Carol from Indiana and my favorite quilting "tools" are great blogs that fill me with inspiration! My favorite color is red, it's in most of the quilts I make.
Hi - my favourite gadget is the florescent ruler tape that isn't sticky and you see through it. You don't have to constantly think about your cutting measurement-just line up the tape! When you have finished cutting all your pieces pull off the tape and can re-use...great stuff!
And I love the fabric!!
Thanks for the chance!
Paulette
Glad to hear you've figured out the problem. I'm new to quilting and love my quilting foot - best piece of advice I ever received was to buy it!
Thanks for the giveaway opportunity!
janelockrey(at)gmail(dot)com
Hi,
i'm loving my latest quilt (gift for a friends daughter) which i quilted with buttons. So i guess my favourite quilting tip, for today, is that you can quilt in other ways. i'm planning to do french knots, or ribbon ties on my next quilt.
Good luck with the retreat and thanks for the sew hip quilt along!
Kathie from the UK.
Hi I'm Kern from Pearland Tx (near Houston) my favorite color is orange. And my former favorite tool was my quarter inch foot-until I found out it ISNT a quarter inch. No wonder my seven inch blocks werent seven inches! Oh well, I'm kind of a seat of my pants quilter anyway!
Amazing how a little trick like that can change your entire quilting experience, isn't it? My favourite tool is my 1/4" foot...I'm not as careful as I probably should be, so having an actual foot the right size for my seam allowances makes life so much easier! Now I just need one for my new machine - I've been really missing it this year!
WHOA!!! Thanks for sharing that site - that's awesome! Now, I'm new to quilting, so I'm still in awe over my rotary cutter and my cutting rulers! ;)
I am just finishing sewing two baby quilt tops for my sister's twins. I will definitely go to the tips link you suggested for quilting. Thanks for sharing.
going to check that site now and make sure mine is working well (though I think it is!)
oh my goodenss - this is amazing. I am definitely going to be checking this out and trying it on my own darning foot. I have to say the different feet I have are my favorite gadgets - especially my 1/4" foot - love it!
I love love love the orange! I'm Misha, I live in Pittsburgh, PA but I'm from Arizona. I haven't been quilting for long but I guess my favorite gadget would be my self-healing mat. Despite spending years studying science I still cannot understand how it heals itself. It's like magic! (I may have to try your cardboard trick because my foot smashes down on my fabric too! Thanks!)
I guess my favorite gadget really isn't a gadget - I can never seem to find my leather finger cover when I'm ready to hand stitch so I started using a bandaid.
My favorite color? By looking at my scrap basket, I'm thinking blue. But I really, really like brown too.
Oh - and I'm in Kansas City, MO now. Formerly MN.
My favourite colour is purple and I learned to stipple from . . . you! Specifically your tute post and video about slamming your foot down and going slow and steady with your hands so as to not break the needle.
Your ease gave me the confidence to try something besides straight lines!
My favourite quilting tool is my emery pincushion from dottyral - I haven't had to buy straight pins in two years.
Emilee Turner from Georgia
I don't know enough about quilting gadgets to have a favorite...but my favorite sewing gadget is the seam ripper!! I use mine ALL the time!! (I guess I still have a lot of learning to do, but until then I trust my handy dandy little seam ripper to see me through my projects!!)
Isn't it amazing how something so simple can make such a huge difference! I'm not as accurate as I should be, although I am getting more accurate with practice. My favourite help would have to be the sticky outy guide thingy-ma-bob. Now when I'm making bags, I have perfectly straight and even and accurate lines. - Wow - that thing changed my life!
Rachelle x
It is so nice when you can fix something without spending any money! I'm Anita from Danville, CA. Hum my favorite quilting gadget would have to be the little sand paper dots placed on the underside of the ruler to keep it from slipping.
I'm Ellen from Atlanta and my favorite gadget is (or was since it's broken now)the portable bobbin winder.It is so nice to not have to wind bobbins on the machine when you are in the middle of a project. I'll have to try the free motion trick.
I would have to say that the one I use the most is the unpicker. *sigh* It's a dear friend to me. Other than that I think the thread cutting do-dah on my machine is absolutely brilliant. Press the button and snip, snip, thread is cut. It saves so much thread too!
I'm Susan from North Carolina and the most important tip for my quilting projects is to remember it doesn't have to be perfect! Thanks for sharing the info on the darning foot.
Lovely fabric! I am from Medina, Ohio, and the tip I tell people most is measure twice, cut once. I also have another favorite, pin, pin, pin. I am a professional longarm quilter, and I have been in business for ten years. My biggest challenge is making "wavy" borders look good. I can do it, but I prefer if they would lie flat to begin with. Just measure and pin!
I'm Alice from East TN. My favorite gadget is probably a rotary cutter and/or my 1/4" foot. I would love to have an automatic thread cutter on my machine that someone else has mentioned. The fabric that you are giving away is very pretty!
I love my rotary cutter and my free motion foot. When I cut templates or quilt by hand I realize how much I love these 2 things! Oh I'm Erin and my fave color is Green!!!
I'm Debbie from San Diego CA. I don't have a favorite gadget. But I guess I would love to get over my fear of quilting I always send out quilts to a long arm quilter. I wish I could just get over it!!!
Gotta say I love my Teflon foot for my Pfaff. It's wonderful for sewing leather and vinyl - nothing sticks. Also a favorite is my seam ripper. Unfortunately, it sees plenty of action! :) Great giveaway - thank you!
hooray for you!
my favorite quilting gadget is my mom, who has a way of sneaking in when i am not around and helping me with whatever step i am on- be it binding, cutting fabric, or whateves. she is the best!
So happy you solved your quilting issues! Yeah for you! My featherweight is my favorite gadget I suppose. . . . love the accuracy and consistency of the stitches. Other than that, I have no favorite gadget as my favorite mode is by hand. . . applique, piecing and quilting. So, I don't get very much done! But, the blogs I follow are giving me so much inspiration (you are at the head of the list) I hope to be doing more. Thanks for your generosity and the inspiration you give!
Hi, Im Brina from Indiana and I think the rotary cutter and cutting mat are a terrific tool...Im new to quilting. Love your blog! Thanks!!
blrohloff at aol dto com
Hi- Kristi from Alberta, Canada- hmm, I don't quilt too much, but I just love that I have learned how to quilt by machine, instead of having to set up a quilt in the middle of the living room and sit and hand stitch for days- now done in a few hours! love it!
Congradulations on making your darning foot work, I had a similar problem!! I love the darning foot and it has made my life so much easier. I also am in the process of making your first quilt along quitl and your ragged square quilt.
I'm Shelly from Iowa. My favorite tip...no quilt is perfect. If someone riding on a horse passes by can't spot the mistake, don't worry about it!
I have made one flea market fancy quilt in pink. I added it to the Fall Blog Quilt Festival. I'd love to make one for my own bed in blue!
Favorite color? Orange! After that? Lime green! (Is it a wonder I don't fit in the corporate world?)
Favorite quilting tip? Cut and assemble one block before cutting the whole quilt. Validates your cutting and your seam allowance. (Don't ask me why I know this).
Cheers!
i'm margaret from texas. i love quilts, but have only made one so far. i found any favorite tips yet, but hope to be on the road to acquiring some soon! my fave color is brown.
Amandajean,
I have been following your blog for over a year and I appreciate the effort you put into your posts. My favorite gadget...on a trip to Georgia I purchased a new seam ripper made by Clover. It is really sharp and the size is perfect. I love it. No more blue handles for me!
Hey! I;m Libby from Newnan Georgia. I have been quilting for 5 years now and my best quilt tip or notion is: get a good 1/4 foot! Your piecing will be perfect! My 1/4 foot changed my life!! Love your blog!
I have been following your blog for a few months now. I have been inspired. Thank you. At the moment, I love the new sewing desk that I just assembled. Simple, white, and my own space. So much better than the dinning room table I have been using. Colors, I love them all.
Hello, my name is Silka I'm from Minnesota and I actually was thinking about my favorite color a lot yesterday. Traditionally it has been green but now most of my clothes/linens are blue and most of my fabric collection is orange. Thanks.
My favorite tool???? Hmmm....there are so many, I would have to say my rotary cutter. I know it is basic but I love it, I hardly use my scissors anymore.
My favorite quilting gadget is my acrylic extension table. I have the adjustable table from Sewing Mates - it is fantastic! And my machine quilting teacher taught us to put Turtle Wax on the acrylic tables to make those quilts really FLY across them! Donna in RI
I have been quilting for 8 years. Self-taught. I love fabric and color, but mostly green and aqua right now. I love my rotary cutter. It is perfect on the bow ties I am making. Nice smooth cutting lines!
Currently living in Alabama. Originally from western Canada.
Thanks for all of your wonderful tutorials. Always inspiring.
Oh ummmm, my rotary cuter and extra long rular lol boring but used all the time :)
KAren
I'm Jane in South Carolina. I'm pretty new to quilting and don't have a specific tip or favorite gadget other than the realization that it is my quilt, I can make it the way I want it, and it doesn't have to be perfect!
Hi,, Heather from Australia. Congrats on finding a solution for your quilting foot. My favourite quilting tool has to be my quilting books. A great source of inspiration for colour combinations, patterns as well as hints & tips to make quilting fun and easier.
Hi! My name is Jaime. I am from upstate NY and my favorite gadget has got to be my walking foot!
Oh this is awesome, I'm going to try this too, hopefully it will help, I'm such a novice quilter! My current favorite gadget is my walking foot, right now i"m making a clutch out of quilted placemats, it's making easy work of the project!
Very cool CrazyMom! I love it when we can come up with homemade solutions to problems. I've been sewing/quilting for years and my Aunt recently gave me a cute little stylus. I thought she was nuts and I'd never use it, but I use it all the time to help push stubborn fabric through the feed dogs, hold down puckers, etc. It's a nifty little tool!
oh gosh, well, im pretty new to the quilting game, but my favorite gadget/tool is this "magic pen" my quilting class instructor turned me onto... it eliminates the need to press every seam!
and my favorite color is lime green. hands down, it's the best color out there!
I'm Jody from Ontario, Canada and love reading your blog! Trouble shooting...isn't it soooo much fun:) One of my tips as I'm sure others have mentioned - if in doubt, rethread needle and bobbin and make sure your bobbin case is clean and fuzz free! It really does make a difference! Not to mention making sure when you use a bigger spool of thread to also use the little piece of felt that comes with your machine! Ahh...what a difference! Love both of the FMF!
I couldn't live without my seam ripper! Because not only do use it for ripping out mistakes, but also for cutting little holes, button holes, etc. Oh, and chain piecing changed my life .. I mean, seriously- what was I thinking before then? Now I chain piece as much as possible and wouldn't have it any other way.
Thanks for the giveaway!
~Brittney from Nashville, TN :)
I'm Rebecca from western Canada and my favorite quilting item right now is my scalloped ruler - makes scalloped borders super easy.
Melissa here, from Pennsylvania --- I've just started quilting & am still trying to get the hang of things. Your tutorials have been helpful! Thanks!
mgealum01@hotmail.com
More a crafter than a quilter but wish I could accomplish the quilt work you do...would love to see your stash. I am always amazed by what you can create from it. Favorite color...green
Post a Comment