Today, we're diving into part 2 of the quilting tips series, inspired by Erica from A Needle N Thread in Spring (@aneedlenthread).
In the video we shared yesterday, Erica provided valuable advice like mastering your quarter-inch seam allowance and the difference between pressing and ironing. Now, we're continuing with four more insightful tips, covering everything from choosing the right rulers to understanding sewing machines.
- Rulers: As a beginner, you only need two rulers—a long narrow ruler (6”x24”) for cutting fabric width-wise, and a square ruler (10.5” or 12.5”) for squaring up blocks. Both are versatile and crucial for clean, accurate cuts.
- Precuts: Precuts like jelly rolls, layer cakes, and charm packs are curated fabric packs that coordinate perfectly, simplifying fabric selection. They offer enough fabric to create a unified quilt without worrying about color matching.
- Squaring Blocks: Squaring your blocks is essential for a neat, accurate quilt. Even slight differences in block sizes can lead to mismatched seams or puckering, so use a square ruler to ensure uniformity.
- Sewing Machines: A basic mechanical machine is perfectly adequate for quilting. Advanced features aren’t necessary for piecing a quilt top—focus on enjoying the process rather than the machine's complexity.
Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned quilter, these tips will help streamline your process. Let’s get started!
