5 Steps to More Accurate Quilt Piecing
| March 11, 2016 | Quilting How-To
Eliminate Most Piecing Problems Before They Happen!
Whether you’re new to quilting or an old pro, it’s good to review the basics every now and then. Accurate piecing is the cornerstone of successful quilting. The more accurate you are, the more crisp and polished your quilts will be.
Plus, you’ll save yourself a lot of frustration in the making of them. Blocks will stitch together more easily and be the correct size once completed.
This article by Amy Gibson is a great review. Here’s a quick outline of the 5 steps but you’ll want to read the entire article:
- A scant 1/4″ seam is your secret weapon. A full 1/4″ seam is too big because it doesn’t take into account the space the seam itself takes up.
- Press well. Don’t “iron”, which is pushing the iron over the fabric. Instead, press by lifting the iron up and down. That way you avoid stretching and distorting the fabric.
- Use starch. It will keep the fabric from distorting while you’re handling it. Amy prefers Faultless Heavy Spray Starch.
- Use the right tools and keep your cutting tools sharp. Change your cutter blade and machine needle when starting each new project. Keep a nice assortment of rulers on hand that have large enough print so you can easily see the numbers and markings. Use a product like Omnigrid “InvisiGrip” to prevent the rulers from slipping. And, use the ruler, not the markings on the mat, for measuring.
- Be familiar with basic quilt math and use it. Amy outlines a few formulas that every quilter needs to know.
Be sure to read the entire article for all of Amy’s great tips. It’s not long, but the info it contains is very helpful.
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