Month: December 2023

Here we are again…365 days (more or less) after the first day of 2023.  The New Year is upon us, and once again (since it’s now tradition), the time has come to reflect back on my quilty predictions of 2023 and see how well I predicted what would happen in our quilting world.  So without further ado let’s take a look back at my 2023 prognostications and see how well or how badly I did.

• Prediction One:  Sustainability will remain important as more and more quilting goes “green.” I think I did pretty well with this one.  Sustainability, less waste in landfills, and re-purposing old quilts all were pretty hot topics in 2023 among most quilters.  However, I think the one sustainable fact which kind of hit me hard is this: new quilters (as a whole) don’t seem too interested in cultivating a stash.  When I began quilting, having a varied stash was almost a point of pride.  It was wonderful to decide to make a quilt and then pull everything you need from your own fabric.  I understand many new quilters aren’t interested in having a stash, but simply want to purchase what they need as they need it.  While part of me is asking “What fun is that?” another part of me realizes this does free up a lot of space in your quilting area. 

• Prediction Two:  Pieced quilts will reach a new high in popularity.  To be perfectly honest, I can’t vouch for how right or how wrong I got this one.  I do think I can state I saw more pieced quilts in quilt magazines this year than ever – and far more than any applique ones.  So maybe I got this one right and maybe I didn’t. 

• Prediction Three:  Two-color quilts will be abundant.  I think I blew this one.  After I made this prediction, I swear I don’t think I saw another two-color quilt in any quilting magazine or website. 

• Prediction Four:  The slow-stitching trend will grow in popularity.  This one is a solid 100.  Slow-stitching was everywhere – in both brick-and-mortar quilt shops as well as on-line establishments.  It has Facebook pages, Instagram posts, and Twitter (X) accounts.  I think a lot of sewing enthusiasts (not just quilters) have found slow stitching relaxing and fun.  I don’t think it will fade away anytime soon. 

• Prediction Five:  Dense quilting will be featured in the majority of quilts.  I think I scored pretty highly with this prediction, too.  If you look at the quilts shown at guild meetings, those in magazines, those on internet, and those who were juried into the larger quilt shows, they all were quilted pretty densely.  Then top that off with the fact that more and more domestic quilter-oriented sewing machines now have ruler feet. This means nearly anyone can perform beautiful ruler work on their quilts regardless of their long arm status. I don’t think dense quilting is going anywhere.

• Prediction Six:  Landscape quilting will become popular.  I’d give myself a solid 80% on this prediction.  I did see a lot more of these quilts in shows, magazines, and internet sites.  And from what I could tell, there were quite a few classes offered in their construction.  All of which makes me very happy.  Landscape quilts are so much fun to make!

Now…what do I think is in store of us in 2024?  Well, my predictions for this year are divided into two categories – fabric and projects.  So let’s look at the fabric forecast first.

• Kiss the “normal” neutrals/background fabrics goodbye. Yes, those whites and creams and blacks will still be out there, but by far they will be usurped with bright, clear hues which will serve as the “new” neutrals and backgrounds.  Even my beloved gray (my favorite neutral) will take a backseat to the brilliant rainbow colors which will be front and center this year.  Gone are the staid, everyday neutrals.  In their place will be cheerful colors which just make you smile.

• Look for more animal prints, geometric prints, textured fabric, and fabrics with metallic accents.  While we will still have flowers and other cute prints, more designers are showing animal prints than at any other time.  Fabric that gives the appearance of having texture (such as fur) will also be easier to find in 2024.  Material will also be shot through with metallic accents, giving our quilts a little “bling” and geometric prints of all sizes may take the place of florals in our quilts. 

• Most fabric will have cleaner hues with less shades.  It seems as if 2024 wants to cast away any of the lingering mental doldrums left by the years of COVID and the effects we all suffered through.  I think there will be lots of hues and tints, but not so many shades.  Which, if you remember color theory, isn’t necessarily a good thing.  You may remember a blog I wrote a couple of years ago https://sherriquiltsalot.com/2019/04/24/the-muddying-of-the-fabric-franchise/bemoaning the fact very few fabric families have a true dark – that they were literally all mediums and lights, which was why many of our quilts looked so “muddy.”  With only tints and hues, we’re going to have the same issue.

• Batiks will remain a strong fabric player in the quilt game.  Even with all the clear, bright, new colors, batiks will remain a solid mainstay in the quilting game.  Batik manufacturers are producing some lovely new designs and for those of us who use this fabric in raw edge applique, we are so happy!

• Digital fabric will still have a presence in quilting, but it will not be as big.  Those of us who have sewed and quilted with digital fabric know its strengths and weaknesses and sometimes those weaknesses are just enough to drive us nuts.  Unless producers can meet the challenges this fabric brings to the quilt studio, its place in our quilting world may lessen, no matter how beautiful the fabric is.  We may still use it, but not in great quantities. 

• Let me introduce you to an up and comer – Poppie Cotton Fabrics.  This fabric line is kind of a cross between Tula Pink and Riley Blake.  I do think this is an “up-and-comer.”  Check out their web page: https://poppiecotton.com/.  I’m not a huge fan of Halloween fabric, but they have some hauntingly cute prints.

Those are my predictions for fabric.  Now let’s look at what I think will happen in the projects part of the quilt world.

• Quilted Clothing.  I know I predicted this a few years ago and completely blew it.  However, I do think 2024 will be different.  I’m seeing a lot of patterns for quilted clothing on quilt-related websites, such as Laundry Basket Quilts, as well as in quilting magazines.  And we’re not just talking about jackets any longer.  I’ve seen capes, hoodies, vests, and skirt patterns advertised.  Hopefully these patterns are easy enough for folks who haven’t made garments in a long time like me. 

• Bags.  I have seen lots and lots of bag patterns on quilting websites, quilt shops, and quilting magazines.  I am also aware many shops/websites are now stocking all the notions and hardware needed for these bags.  Annie’s has an entire sales catalog devoted to bags and notions as well as videos to go with their bag patterns.  And for those of us like me who haven’t put a zipper in anything in years, well, they’ve made that easy, too. 

• Paper piecing is making a strong comeback.  I’m seeing this technique used in more and more patterns.  I know this is one of those quilting skill sets folks either love or hate (there seems to be no neutral ground).  However, there are some gorgeous paper piecing patterns advertised.  If you’re a bit rusty on this technique, or just trying to find your paper piecing Zen, 2024 may be the year to give it another try. 

• This is the year for block-of-the-months.  I’ll be the first to admit, this one is a little personal.   Normally, I’m the quilter who runs from these programs.  I take a lot of delight in designing my quilts or tweaking patterns, choosing my own fabrics, and sewing at my own pace.  However, from what I’ve seen in 2024, BOM programs are hitting it out of the park.  And the programs are not just wall hangings or bed quilts.  They’re bench pillows, door quilts, small quilts, and even bag-of-the-month programs.  The patterns are lovely and not too difficult, and the fabric which accompanies the patterns is lovely.  If you’re like me and have kind of turned your nose up at BOMs, this year may be the time to give them a second look.  If nothing else, they may be a type of mindless sewing and stress relief – you don’t have to decide on the pattern or the fabric, just cut it out and sew.  And for those of us who adore applique, there are some GORGEOUS applique BOMS this year.

That’s it.  Those are my predictions for our quilt world in 2024.  Now it’s time to introduce the theme for next year.  I had two themes in mind and spent some serious time waffling between the two.  I finally decided this morning the theme would be “Welcome to My Studio.”  I have a lot under my needle this year and would like to use what I’m making to emphasize techniques and skill sets as well as vent any frustrations I have and explain how I fixed them.  I will still write history blogs on quilters and quilt blocks (because it seems like a lot of my readers really like those) and will definitely entertain any topic a reader throws at me.  Just keep in mind if you send me a topic, I generally already have three blogs “in the can” before it.  It may take a month before I get to yours.

Lastly, my regular readers may remember I lost Sam back in June of 2021.  He was my constant companion, sitting beside my sewing machine while I sewed or beside me on the couch when I was hand sewing.  My blogs were always signed with “Sherri and Sam.”  I had Sam 22 years before he crossed The Rainbow Bridge, so it truly was a difficult time for me.  I missed him terribly.  For my birthday this year, my husband handed me the normal gifts – a lovely sweater, a nice piece of jewelry, dark chocolate, and a good bottle of red wine.  The last gift bag was filled with cat toys.  Later that day, he took me to a cat adoption at a local pet supply place.  It was there I found this sleek, handsome, and sweet guy…

Meet Felix.  He’s a seven-month-old sweetheart who’s a rescue kitten out of Trinity.  He’s a cuddler and has already carved out a place in my studio – on a low shelf right above the heat vent.  He’s well on his way to being properly spoiled. 

Happy New Year Everyone!

From My Studio to Yours…

Love and Stitches,

Sherri and Felix

As I write this, it’s not quite the end of November.  Usually by this time of year, all the presents are purchased, and the tree is up. 

Not this year.  This year my heart is heavier.  It seems there is unrest everywhere.

Countries.

Cities.

College campuses.

Even though I no longer listen to the news on a daily basis (I do read the headlines every morning), I hear enough to know the world is chaotic place at the moment.  It’s scary. 

Thousands of years ago, the world was in a similar situation.  The Romans occupied the Middle East, brokering a tentative, uneasy peace with the religious leaders in the area.  And it was in the thick of these circumstances, along with heavy tax collections, that a baby’s cry announced a coming peace. 

Let’s hold fast to this promise in the upcoming days.  And until then, let’s be a little kinder, a little gentler, a bit more understanding with each other.  Let’s hold our loved ones close and hug our friends more often. 

Merry Christmas from my house to yours,

Love and Stitches,

Sherri

Santa baby, just slip some fabric under the tree for me
Been an awful good girl, you see
Santa baby, so hurry down the chimney tonight

Santa baby, a Janome M17, light blue
I’ll wait up for you dear
Santa baby, so hurry down the chimney tonight

Think of all the fun I’ve missed
Think of all the quilts that I didn’t quilt
Next year I could be just as good
If you check off my Christmas list

Santa baby, I want a quilting cruise and really that’s not a lot
Been an angel all year
Santa baby, so hurry down the chimney tonight

Santa honey, one little thing I really need
The deed to a quilt store
Santa baby, so hurry down the chimney tonight

Santa cutie, and fill my stocking with thread and scissors
A new cutting mat would be just fine
Santa cutie, and hurry down the chimney tonight

Come and trim my Christmas tree
With some buttons and quilt finery
I really do believe in you
Let’s see if you believe in me

Santa baby, forgot to mention one little thing
Some quilting bling – like some earrings,
Santa baby, so hurry down the chimney tonight
Hurry down the chimney tonight
Hurry, tonight

(Apologies to Philip Springer and Joan Javits)

This blog is not for quilters.  Nope.  Not at all.  So right now, if you’re a quilter, what you need to do is print this blog out, highlight the gifts you want, and send copies of this blog to your significant other, friends, children, and other family members.  As a fellow quilter, I’m doing you a solid.  I want you to have all the quilty goodness under the Christmas tree you could ever want.

With that said, if you’re not a quilter but are related to one or love one, do yourself a solid and read this blog.  Take it with you when you shop.  If you have questions, leave them in the comments.  I’ll do my best to help.

Quilters are wonderful people, but buying for them can throw a non-quilter into a mental and emotional tailspin. Sure, we like fabric, but we can be pretty darn specific about manufacturers and colors.  We like quilt patterns, but don’t purchase an applique pattern for a quilter who is only a piecer.  So what’s a non-quilter to do?  With this blog I want to offer a few suggestions which will make the quilter in your life super happy and earn you major points for taking the time to find them such wonderful gifts. 

•  Quilting Related “Stuff”

There are t-shirts and sweatshirts, coffee mugs and wine glasses, notebooks, stickers, and pens which are quilt related.  Missouri Star has quite a few options.  Etsy is full of them.  Maker Valley is a new shop (at least new to me) which has quite a few great selections. 

•  Specialty Pins and Needle Minders

First, let me say these type of pins:

Are great.  They can be used for more than just pinning seams together.  The flat heads are large enough to write on.  I number mine and use them to keep blocks and rows in order. 

However, no one has ever said pins should be dull (dull as in unattractive, not dull as in a blunt point).  Dritz has some really nice, numbered pins and Etsy has several shops which offer cute pins such as these:

Just because you’re doing something as mundane as pinning, doesn’t mean it should be dull and boring.

Needle minders are cute magnets, generally enameled, which are used to help you keep up with hand sewing needles (which have a way of disappearing).  The minder comes in two pieces – the pretty top and a strong magnet on the back.  You place the top part on your block or quilt or your shirt and use the magnet on the back of the fabric to hold it in place.  These magnets are strong – so no worries about the needle minder falling off.  You simply place your hand sewing needle on the top when you’re not using it and it will stay firmly in place.  This is super-handy – no worrying about where your needle is.  And for those of you who have canine or feline friends, no worries about them finding the needle for you by stepping on it or swallowing it. 

•  Good Lighting

There are two ways to look at this option.  If the quilter in your life enjoys traveling with her projects or attends quilt retreats, you may want to splurge for a portable light.  Ott lights are my favorite, as their light bulbs are pretty close to natural sunlight.  They come in all sizes and can easily be packed up to take with you wherever you and your quilt projects go.

If the quilter in your life is the stay-at-home type, you may want to look at lighting for her sewing machine or hand sewing area.  There are a couple of things you want to look for with good lights.  First, the closest they can get to replicating daylight, the better.  Second, sewing lamps can do so much more these days than just make it easier to see.  Lights for quilters can come with USB charging ports for your phone or iPad, storage, magnifiers, and trays. 

•  Quilting Notions

Rotary cutting mats, Hera markers, glass head pins, thread conditioner or beeswax, rotatory cutter replacement blades, Wonder Clips, Clover seam rippers, Kai scissors, or sewing machine cleaning brushes are great gifts – and many are available on Amazon!

•  Block of the Month Kits (BOM)

This is the gift that keeps giving for months.  And this is a very personal choice.  I can go years without participating in a block of the month and then suddenly in one year, there will be a several I absolutely love.  This is definitely something you should consult about with the quilter in your life before submitting your credit or debit card for payment.  Currently there are wonderful quilted bench pillow BOMs, door quilt BOMS, and small quilt BOMs, not to mention a wide variety of bed quilt and applique BOMs. 

•  EQ 8 or Other Quilt Designing Software

If the quilter in your life enjoys designing their own quilts, or tweaks published patterns to suit their fancy, you may want to gift them software like Electric Quilt 8.  There are other quilt designing software packages, but the reason I mention EQ8 is that it’s pretty user friendly and intuitive.  Plus there are lots of YouTube videos and imbedded tutorials in the software.  If the quilter in your life really enjoys the program, there are even on-line classes available (which may help you with your Christmas list next year.)

•  On-line classes

And speaking of on-line classes, thanks to Covid and Zoom, all kinds of on-line quilting classes are now available to quilters of all levels in all kinds of techniques.  You will need to definitely ask about this one – don’t just find some random on-line quilting class and sign the quilter in your life up for it.  Ask if there’s a particular instructor or a particular technique he or she would like to learn more about and if they would be interested in on-line learning.  I personally love on-line classes, but I do know quilters who would prefer to be in a normal classroom setting. 

•  Fabric

This one seems obvious.  You have a quilter in your life, you purchase that person fabric and everyone is happy – you’ve found a gift, there’s fabric to sew – a complete win-win, right?

Nope.  Unless it’s the right kind of fabric, you could really mess this purchase up.  Even my dear husband, who has lived with me quilting for nearly 40 years, would not dream of buying me fabric unless I was along with him.  He knows enough to make sure it’s 100 percent cotton, but any other characteristics?  Nope.  Not a clue.

If the quilter in your life has given you specific requirements – such a fabric house, fabric line, colors, etc. – and you’re comfortable purchasing these on-line or at your local quilt shop, go for it.  Otherwise, I’d advise you to forgo actual, physical fabric for a much safer option:  gift cards.  Chances are  the quilter in your life has mentioned where he or she likes to buy fabric on-line or at a local shop.  And quite often you can purchase a gift card from the comfort of your home via your cell phone or lap top and it will be emailed to you immediately (for those of you who wait until the last minute to Christmas shop, I’ve just reduced your stress level – you’re welcome). 

Added bonus, the quilter can also use the gift card to purchase non-fabric items they may need, such as thread, stabilizer, or rulers.  

There is also one more additional fabric-purchasing option.  If your quilter has mentioned he or she adores one particular fabric manufacturer, check their website.  Sometimes the manufacturer may have a monthly subscription available.  For a monthly fee, they will send fat quarters, layer cakes, or even yardage to your quilter.  And often they may have more than one type of selection.  They may offer Christmas fabric or stash builders.  There are even a couple designed specifically for beginner quilters.  Ask a few discrete questions and this may be a great option for your quilter.

•  Sewing Machine

Okay, this is definitely a purchase you need to make with your quilter.  Sewing machine manufacturers upgrade their machines yearly.  And if the quilter in your life is like me, they may go years before an upgrade truly catches their eye and is worth the expense.  So don’t go out and make this purchase willy-nilly without mentioning it to your quilter (although chances are if he or she wants to upgrade, they’re already making all kinds of comments about it).  However, rule of thumb is, if you can’t remember the last time their sewing machine was upgraded, then it may very well be time for a new machine. 

Send Them Away to Quilt with Other Quilters

Our quilting world is full of quilting cruises, quilting retreats, and quilting trips to places such as the Houston Quilt Show, APQS Paducah, Lancaster, Missouri Star, Ireland, England, France, and lots of other places.  Ask the quilter in your life if they would like to go.  Quilting magazines are a great reference for these trips – there are so many ads in them for quilt-related travel.  Bonnie Hunter of Quiltville fame hosts several trips each year.  From my own personal experience, I can tell you it is wonderful to get away from your everyday life and spend time with other people who have the same passion as you do. 

I hope I have done both the quilters and non-quilters a solid with this blog.  To the non-quilters who have quilters in their life, I really want this blog to serve as a sort of shopping guide for you.  For you quilters, I hope you find those deeply desired quilty related items under your tree – you’ve been good all year and certainly deserve them!

Until Next Week, Remember the Details Make the Difference!

Love and Stitches,

Sherri

I have quilted for a long time.  Over 30 years.  During this time I have pieced, appliqued, appliqued and pieced, stacked and whacked, paper pieced, and chenilled.    I have made large blocks, small blocks, super-small blocks, and medium sized blocks. While I haven’t made every type of quilt block known to quilt-kind, I have made a large number of them.  And you know what?

There are still some blocks I really dislike making. 

You would think that after so many years and so many stitches, I would have found my Zen with all the quilt blocks I’ve sewed.  However, this is not the case, and while I was mulling this thought over in my mind, I wondered if other long-term quilters felt this way.  Since you never know until you ask, I sent a text to a group of quilty friends asking them “What quilt block do you dislike making the most?”  In no particular order, the following are the blocks mentioned:

• Flying Geese
• Pinwheels
• Double Wedding Ring
• Anything with Y-seams
• Cathedral Window
• Drunkards Path

To begin, none of these blocks surprised me.  Yes, some of these – such as flying geese and pinwheels – are probably used a little more than Double Wedding Ring or Drunkard’s Path.  You would think that with frequent practice, the “ick” factor would be removed.  Evidently not.  While making these blocks more often may help increase skill and technique, that may not ever equate into enjoying the journey.  

I really wanted to understand why quilters thought these blocks were difficult – what did the blocks require from us that made us dislike them so much?   So I researched each block.  I asked Google what makes each block so difficult.  This is what I came up with:

1.  Flying Geese – Little margin for error.  Bias.  You must be accurate.
2. Pinwheels – You must be accurate.  Bias.  Bulky seams.
3. Double Wedding Ring – Curved piecing.  You must be accurate.  Bias.  Block takes time to make.
4. Y-Seams – If you’re not 100 percent accurate, the block looks awful.  You can’t make them quickly.  Often easier if done by hand.
5. Cathedral Window – The construction is completely different from any other quilt block.  It’s part origami and part hand sewing.  You must be accurate.
6. Drunkard’s Path – Curved piecing, sewing a concave to a convex curve.  Accuracy is needed.  Can’t be made quickly.  Bias.

The one skill which pops up with all the blocks is accuracy.  The second most listed is bias. I am not dealing with the construction of each of these blocks.  What I do want to discuss is accuracy and how to handle bias.

Accuracy is important with all quilt blocks.  It’s one of those techniques which become glaringly evident if it’s not present.  There are all sorts of tools and tricks to help you become a more accurate quilter, but I’m only hitting the main ones with this blog.  The first step is listed in many of the block descriptions – “Block takes time,” or “Can’t be made quickly.”  Slowing down is quite often the very first step in accuracy.  And with this, I mean slowing down in each step – cutting out the fabric, marking anything needed, and sewing the block together.  Let me remind you of something I’ve said probably at least a hundred times in my blogs – quilting is not a race.  There are no prizes for the fastest quilter.  Slowing down the process gives you time to check and double check for accuracy in cutting and piecing.  And while sewing below the “speed limit” may seem like a killjoy at times, it sure beats quality time spent with your seam ripper, which is what you do if the stitches aren’t where they need to be. 

Second, make sure your seam allowance is consistent.  Most quilt patterns call for a ¼-inch seam allowance, although some do use a scant ¼-inch allowance.  Be sure to read through your pattern to find out which seam allowance is used.   If the pattern doesn’t mention the scant ¼-inch, just assume it uses a full ¼-inch.  There are lots of tools available to help you keep a consistent seam allowance.  Most sewing machines designed specifically for quilters have a quarter-inch foot.  If your machine doesn’t have one of these little jewels, Google your machine’s brand and make to see if there’s a generic one available.  You can also measure over ¼-inch over from where the needle pierces the fabric and mark that spot on your throat plate with a marker or a piece of tape. 

Good pressing techniques and a good iron are also important.   I covered pressing techniques here: https://sherriquiltsalot.com/2018/10/10/a-pressing-issue/. Be sure to nest your seams when possible and press to the darker fabric if you can.  Steam can be helpful under certain conditions, and it’s up to you if you want to use the steam option on your iron or mist your fabric with water and then press it with a hot dry iron.  A good iron isn’t necessarily the most expensive one.  It’s one with enough heft to help you press those seams as flat as possible and hold up to the abuse some of us quilters give it.  My favorite iron is generally the cheapest one at Target because I am notoriously hard on irons.  And the old ones you can find (the ones which still work) at thrift or antique stores from the forties with no steam options are my favorites – a nice weight and none of those infuriating automatic cut-off safety features (I know, I know, those are obligatory for safety reasons, but I do wish you could time them instead of the factory). 

While on the subject of pressing, pressing your fabric (if needed) before cutting anything out also helps you stay accurate.  If your material is fresh off the bolt from the LQS, it probably doesn’t need pressing.  However, if it’s been folded in your stash or it’s a pre-cut which has been folded several times before it was packaged, it may need a good pressing.  Getting rid of all those fold lines and wrinkles so the fabric is smooth just makes cutting easier and more accurate. 

Once your fabric is pressed smooth, the next step in accuracy is measuring and cutting.  The old adage, “Measure twice, cut once,” is certainly true in both carpentry and quilting.  Some quilters swear by using the cutting mat for measuring accuracy and others strictly use a ruler.  In all seriousness, most of these tools do use the same standard requirements when marking out inches in their products.  My caveat would be this:  Stay consistent.  If you use the inches on your rotary mat to measure your fabric and your ruler only for cutting, be sure to keep this method consistent as you cut out your fabric.  If you reverse this (use the ruler to measure the fabric, not the mat), be sure to stick with this method.  Good lighting over your cutting area is always helpful, and another thing I have discovered as I’ve gotten older – I am much more accurate in the mornings than I am at the end of a long day. 

These next four items I feel are especially important for all quilters, no matter how long you’ve quilted or how many quilts you’ve made.  In my opinion, they’re pretty much non-negotiable.

1.  Read the Pattern:  Preferably read it twice.  The first time you read through it, ask yourself if the pattern makes sense.  Can you follow the steps?  Does it leave you with questions the pattern doesn’t answer?  Then set the pattern aside for a while until you have more time to devote to reading it through the second time.  For the second read-through, pour yourself a beverage of choice, grab a highlighter or pencil, get comfortable, and have your laptop, phone, or iPad nearby.  This time when you read through the directions, mark the pattern up.  Make some construction decisions – such as do they make flying geese the way you like to, or will you use another technique?  Can you alter the steps?  For instance, will it mess anything up to do the hardest part of the quilt first and get that behind you or do you have to do the steps in order?  Make sure your questions can be answered.  Often the questions you may have at the beginning of the instructions are answered as you work through the pattern. 

Lastly, Google the pattern.  This may seem extreme, but hear me out.  Sometimes you’ll find additional information about the pattern and the designer if you Google the name of the pattern.  The designer may have issued some corrections to the pattern and a Google search will turn these up.  The search may also yield others who have made the pattern, and you can read their reviews.  And finally – this one is the kiss of death to me with a designer or a pattern – if you can’t find anyone who has made the quilt other than the designer, you may want to put the pattern down and slowly back away.  A no-yield-but-the-designer search tells me a couple of things.  First the pattern may be so new no one has had the time to make the quilt and post anything about it, or the directions are so poorly written that no one wants to invest the time, fabric, and costs to make the quilt.  With either one of these, I tend to set the pattern aside for a few months and return to a Google search then.  If I still get no search results, I stop and ask myself how badly do I want to make that quilt?

•  Always Make a Test Block:  Use your scraps (because I know you have scraps) to make a test block.  Follow the directions given with the pattern.  This test block will either give you great peace of mind (the pattern directions are clear and correct) or will show you what you want to change.  At this point, you may want to change a technique – such as the way the pattern says to make flying geese.  If the block has more Y-seams than you bargained for, you may want to re-draft the block using half-square triangles.  Once the block is complete, measure it to make sure it comes out at the correct unfinished  size.  If it’s smaller, then you will want to make another test block using a scant quarter-inch seam allowance.  If it’s too large, you may want to adjust your needle position or take a larger seam allowance.  Always remember the ¼-inch seam allowance is a guide.  It is not the Holy Grail of Quilting.  It’s okay to break that rule.  The most important thing is this:  all the blocks come out the same, consistent size.  This will make the rest of the construction process very, very easy. 

•  Note the Correct Unfinished Size of Each Block Unit:  It’s no secret I love a quilt pattern that tells me the size of each unfinished block unit.  If I have to make two dozen four-patches, I would seriously like to know their correct unfinished size.  The best quilt patterns supply you with this information.  However, if your pattern doesn’t supply this detail, make note of the units’ sizes as you make your test block.  If you can trim each unit to the needed unfinished size, you just increased the chances of all your blocks turning out the correct unfinished size without a lot of trimming. And speaking of trimming….

• See What Units You Can Make a Bit Larger and Trim Them Down for Complete Accuracy:  I have found this especially helpful for block units with a lot of bias, such as half-square triangles.  Any time you’re dealing with bias, a block unit can come out a little wonky.  Making them a tad larger and then trimming them to fit just makes construction so much easier.

Now let’s talk about bias.  Incase you’ve forgotten, this where the bias is located on a piece of fabric.  True bias is found at a 45-degree angle to the straight of grain.  Just thinking about dealing with bias can have some quilters running for the hills, vowing only to make non-bias blocks for the rest of their quilting careers. 

However, this is only wishful thinking.  Blocks as simple as this:

Have bias.  And any blocks such as these:

With curves, have bias. 

If you applique (especially if you hand applique by needle turn or back basting), you know all those curvy stems, leaves, and petals work much better if they’re cut on the bias.

In addition, if you construct a quilt with a scalloped border, the binding should be cut on the bias to make it easier to sew around all those curved edges.

Quilters must find their Zen with bias.  It’s there.  Eventually we will use it.

First of all, banish from you mind working with bias is difficult, tricky, and will drive you to drink.  It won’t.  Quilting with bias is different from working with cuts along the straight or length of grain, but it’s certainly no harder. 

Second, learn to love spray starch, sizing, or Best Press Starch Alternative (which is different from regular Best Press).  Personally, I’m team #spraystarch.  I know there are all kinds of debates about starch vs. Best Press.  However, if you plan on immediately working with your fabric as soon as you starch it, there should be no buggy issues to deal with. 

The starch – or starch substitute – stiffens your fabric.  It stabilizes the bias, thus reducing the chances of stretching it while you work with the fabric.  How you starch the fabric is just as important as the fact you use starch.  Spray the wrong side of the fabric, but don’t saturate it.  Lightly apply the starch and then press the starch into the material. Don’t use a back-and-forth ironing motion – this can stretch the bias.  In my opinion, it’s best to starch the fabric until it almost feels like paper.  Yes, this takes some time as well as several applications of starch.  However, once this is accomplished, the bias is truly stabilized, and it will be difficult to stretch out of shape.  Let me add this is for fabric which will be pieced.  If you’re using the fabric for applique or binding, you don’t want to starch it to the point it won’t curve. 

Third, make sure your rotary cutter blade and/or your scissors are sharp.  A dull blade can chew bias like nobody’s business, making it fray and become difficult to deal with.

Fourth, handle the bias edges as little as possible.  If you’re making half-square triangles by sewing two squares together and then cutting them apart, wait to slice them in two until you need them.  If triangles are on your rotary mat, cut them out and set them aside until needed.  Avoid handling the bias until you’re ready to sew.  When you are ready to feed them through your machine, a leader is a great thing to use before running a bias edge over the feed dogs.  The dogs will already be in motion, and you’ll avoid any “chewed” points or edges (actually a leader is always a good thing to use).  The same applies to applique if you’ve cut anything on the bias.  Handle them only as necessary and as gently as possible. 

Fifth, if you’re joining long bias edges, use pins.  The weight of long seams on bias edges can cause them to stretch.  Pins help keep the edges in place so the bias stahys where it needs to be.

Finally, let me add something about quilts such as this:

This quilt has blocks with bias edges.  In my opinion (or at least what I would do myself) to keep those bias edges stabilized is to use borders on the quilt.  More specifically, I would cut the borders along the length of fabric grain instead of on the width of fabric.  The LOG has the least stretch and would stabilize the bias edges really well. 

I hope this blog helps you with both your accuracy and any bias-phobia you pmay have.  Accuracy does take time and practice, so allow yourself some quilting grace, especially if you’re a beginner quilter.  The longer you quilt, the more you will learn.  You’ll decide which techniques work best for you and even what time of day is best for you to quilt.  Bias is something all quilters deal with, no matter how much we may want to avoid it.  If you have any tips or tricks for accuracy or bias that I didn’t mention, please leave a comment below.  I’d love to hear them.

Until Next Week, Remember the Details Make the Difference!

Love and Stitches,

Sherri