10 Things I Do That the Quilt Police HATE!
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- Опубликовано: 6 сен 2024
- This video might be triggering. LOL not really, but it may ruffle your feathers if you are die hard about pre-washing your fabric or pressing your seams to the dark side.
Today we just have a fun video where I go through 10 things I do all the time that the Quilt Police would have a conniption over.
But here's the deal ... I get fantastic results in my quilts even though I do a ton of things differently than "the way our grandmothers did it."
Part of that is because sewing, fabric and batting technology has changed a whole lot since the 70s when quilting became popular again, so some of the old rules don't apply anymore.
And the other part it, THERE IS MORE THAN ONE RIGHT WAY TO QUILT!!! So if you have a technique that works for you, but it isn't Quilt Police approved, you do what works and don't worry about what other people think.
Let me know in the comments the sewing habits you have that the Quilt Police hate! Maybe we'll have enough for a Part 2.
Products we featured:
Frixion Gel Pen: shop.quiltaddi...
Nifty Notions Mist Spray Bottle: shop.quiltaddi...
I just now ADORE you. I’m 80 with macular degeneration and I keep quilting and thank you so very much for this video, I giggled at most of what you said. I just love you, keep up the great work.
God bless you
I had to make sure I hadn’t posted this. That describes me to a T. Age and eye issues. 🤣🤣
My friend walks into stores and no one knows she is blind. She has macular degeneration also.she lost her sight at a young age. She can't sew anymore but does everything for herself that she can. Keep doing.
@@esthersmith33417 b❤
This video is so needed. I belonged to a quilting group that had frequent retreats. These were the nicest bunch of ladies, however as a beginner quilter and coming from an advanced garment sewing background, I did some things differently, they picked apart so many things that I did wrong that I wanted to QUIT QUILTING!
I had to move from Florida to Western New York to care for my Mother and now I follow my own rules.
My point is if it works for you, don’t let the rules crush your creativity!
I was shamed for making my first quilt with curves (drunkard’s path). Well ha ha it was gorgeous! The old timers wanted me to start at the beginning.
You do you!!!😂
As a “self taught “ quilter, I learned a lot of “bad” habits😂 but they work for me and my family and friends who get gifted with a quilt always appreciate the effort and never ask what rules I broke☺️
I'm 67 and was taught by my Grandma who was in her 70's at the time. We used scraps from other sewing (waste not want not) and old clothes. She taught me to press all seams open and would never have even thought of using starch (starch was only used on my Dad's work shirts) on a quilt. Another quilter's "sacrilege" she committed was using her scissors to cut anything she needed to. She only had two pairs of scissors, a small needlework pair and an 8" pair for everything else. I freely confess to also using my sewing scissors occasionally for cutting (gasp!) paper, ribbon, and yarn if they're the ones within reach. Don't worry about the small things. It is only recently that we've been told (probably by scissors and sewing supplies manufacturers) that we need all the fancy stuff to sew. Vintage sewing machines still sew as well as the newer ones at a fraction of the cost if you're mostly creating quilts.
Taught to sew in Junior High school in the late 60’s to press seams open - I definitely would not conform to the quilt police! Lol😂
😂😂
Love your videos. Thank you for all you do.
I stopped hand sewing my bindings. People who receive my quilts as gifts are thrilled and not one of them every notices if the binding is hand sewn or machine sewn. I ain't got time to hand sew those. Thank you for sharing this.
As someone who is medically blind I totally sew my own way. If the quilt police come after me I’d give them smeared specs with parts blanked out so they had my remaining sight and tell them to go for it.
It totally depends on the block I’m sewing how I press. A 4 patch I’ll press to the side for nesting seams but a “kite” block I’ll press open and taper the seam allowance to reduce bulk at the point.
I’ve been told by people that die cutting “wastes fabric” but by using my AccuQuilt dies I can independently cut my fabric, and using Bonnie Hunter’s Bonus Buddy Ruler to set a homemade fabric guide permanently on my bobbin cover I can accurately sew my seams… even a drunkard’s path block.
Because I can’t see where the pins are as I sew I don’t use pins I line up corners, edges, and seams as I sew.
Not only do I ignore the quilt police but I also ignore the disability police who tell me as a blind woman I can’t walk independently and I walk solo in the countryside near my home in the UK (I live a 30 minute train journey north of London).
Just do it your way. Let others do it their way.
Go you! No need to listen to the grump police!
So admire your free spirit. I advocate for disability awareness as I can see but people who see me can't see my non obvious disabilities. Sewing is my lifeline for my mental health too.
I LOVE AccuQuilt too! I couldn't quilt without it
God bless you for being you! Don’t let anyone undermine that!❤
❤Love your story! I’ve got essential tremor which is worsening as I get older & there’s many many things I do that these amorphous quilt police wouldn’t approve of. However, if you & I have to modify methods in order to be successful, it’s right for us, right? I’d rather be productive than correct
Two things - One thing I hear all the time from the quilt police is, NEVER lick your thread when threading a needle. I do it all the time and I've never had a quilt spontaneously combust! My mother did it, my grandmother did it and that's good enough for me. Secondly, the "press the seams to the side" rule came from back in the day when women hand sewed the entire quilt. You just can't get as tight of a seam as you can with a machine and pressing to the side kept the seams from letting that unbonded cotton batting from travelling out. In that day and time, it made sense. Fun video, thank you!
Never lick your thread!?! Who invents this stuff? This sounds like it was filtered thru someone like a sister-in-law I had years ago. She was in weight watchers and would wash and dry each lettuce leaf individually when she made herself a salad as she was taught in the WW class. They actually did it to supposedly allow the dressing to stick to the leaves better. She truly believed she was doing it because without the water the lettuce had fewer calories!
Wonder what the quilt police think about me waxing all of the thread I use for handsewing?
I actually use some beeswax on my lips to smooth the end of the thread. 😊
Beeswax is affordable at our local Ace Hwr. Slid into my pincushion's base slot, a string end swiped needles fast, sews firm, presses clean + works up secure.
When the quilt police start buying my fabric and making my quilts for me I will quietly listen to their good and bad points but until then I will do it my way. Great video especially for beginners, no shaming or guilt just do what you love. Advice is only good, if it works for you.
I used to follow instructions to the letter when I was learning but now I do what is easiest for me. Do all my seams exactly meet, no, are some of my points off, definitely but I'm not showing quilts and I'm happy. Had no complaints from people I've gifted quilts to. I used to be a perfectionist but I also made far fewer quilts.
I love all of this! I've been a "punk rock quilter" from the day I learned. I am self-taught from a book by Marti Michell called Quilting for People Who Don't Have Time to Quilt, and thanks to that being my introduction to quilting, I have never prewashed fabric; learned strip piecing from the beginning; understood that you can make a million beautiful, interesting quilts without ever cutting a triangle; "finger-press" all my seams to the right as I go (no ironing); and let my mistakes "fall into the seams." I also send my quilts out to be quilted because I enjoy patchwork much more than quilting, and all my bindings are made from the backing fabric, folded over and stitched by machine.
You are my new hero!
Love it!
The most upsetting thing to me about this video is the many, many comments that say experienced quilters were so judgmental with new quilters. I’m so sorry this happened to so many people, and there’s no excuse for it! Creativity in any form is completely personal! Celebrate creators, folks, and support people new to the art! Thanks for this video, Stephanie!
Life doesn’t settle down when your children get older. It just gets crazier in different ways.
If you really want to see the quilt police freak tell them you use crayola washable markers instead of chalk or other “disappearing“ pens. They work great, there are a ton of colors to chose from, and have washed out of everything is used them on.
I think they Crayola has way more at stake financially to make sure these things wash out than any quilt pen manufacturers. I also use Crayola washable markers. Never a single whiff of a problem.
Brilliant idea!
Ooo, I love those things. I also do clothing alterations and turn into a toddler using them. They're brilliant cause everything gets slung in the wash before being handed back. I've never had a marker that didn't wash away.
I just this year learned to use Crayola water markers. I love them. I really had a face plant moment when my sister asked me why I didn't use them.
Lol!!! You had me at “I do not prewash my fabric!”
"Do what works for you." Best advice ever. TY.
I was so sick of replacing my irons so often. Then I saw you use that mister and, I swear, a light bulb flashed over my head! Then I saw you lay your finger beside the seam to keep it straight at the end. Those tips alone would make me your fan, but there have been so many more. Thanks! I've been sewing for 75 years, almost 70 of them on a machine, but this old dog is always willing to use a new trick to make her life easier. And I love, love, love your wry sense of humor. I think you and I would get along famously if we ever sat down for a cup of tea. 😊
I came into quilting in the early ‘90’s and my quilting bee (of which I was by far the youngest) were horrified to find out I don’t pre wash my fabrics. I love the crispness of unwashed fabric and it just sews up so much nicer. I do have a test if I’m unsure about colorfastness. I cut a square approx 1 1/2” and put it in a white bowl, pour boiling water over it and add a dab of liquid soap. If you see no color in the water, rinse then lay on white paper towel and let it air dry (can be pressed dry on paper). If still no color your good to go. This has saved me on a lot of batiks that bled like crazy!! New subscriber to your channel.
Great idea!
0:26 - Prewash?
2:28 - Starch?
4:08 - Pressing seams open
6:29 - Stich-in-the-ditch
7:46 - Friction Gel Pens
9:54 - Scrap management
11:27 - Ugly fabric
13:14 - Thread Tails
14:34 - New Project Syndrome
15:26 - Steam Irons V Spray Misting
My grandma won several quilt entry first prize at county and state fairs back in the 80s and 90s. She would love that you're a "Press the seam open" kina gal. She couldn't stand how her corners looked with any other press. Great video.
Love this, and I’m also a quilt rebel! Real life is not the same thing as show quilting. I’m making my stuff for enjoyment and then also to use. I use or gift out everything I make. I have no interest in entering a competition but gifting a friend’s child with a quilt or pillow case Or softie is something I love doing! And a 3 year old doesn’t care if you pressed seams open or used a frixion pen. I love your work Stephanie!
The #1 thing I do that the quilt police hate is that I attach my binding on the back of my quilts, pull it to the front and top-stitch it down -- all by machine. It looks fine! I don't like sewing by hand and I don't like sewing blind.
I do this too - it looks much better than if I do it by hand
Me too. Looks great
I have always done it this way. I think it looks great. I just match the color of the thread to fabric on the binding and on the bobbin. It looks great and no one has ever commented on it.
Amen!
I just want to say, “Thank you!” I’ve been wrestling with a memory quilt from my Mom’s clothing. Silly me. I designed it with a lot of triangle points. They were driving me crazy. But, ironing my seams open has miraculously given me perfect points with almost no effort! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
I was taught the reason for pressing seams to the side was so the sean allowance would not show through any lighter colored fabric pieces. I was taught to press the seam to the side that had darker colors, and if you were sewing together a lot of points (Lemoine Star for example) to press them all in the same direction so the points made a little spiral and you were supposed to trim the tips if the points between sewing and pressing to reduce bulk.
Thanks for this great video. I've been sewing since I learned in home ec class back in 1945. To save you some math, I'm 92. I love making quilts to give, and love doing as much as possible on the machine. Your list frees me from feeling a little guilty when I step outside the borders with various aspects of quilting. I think quilt making should be fun and not a source of frustration and worrying about measuring up to someone else's standards.
Well done, you! Oh and I've just ordered one of those misters. Much better than spray bottles.
Here’s my comment-I no longer feel guilt about sewing the binding by machine! What a time saver!
I started using Crayola washable markers to mark my quilting lines. I always wash my quilts once I’m done the quilting and binding. The marks all came out beautifully even after a year of sitting on my quilt. I was happily surprised. It took that long because I broke my right wrist and couldn’t hand quilt until I got my strength and flexibility back
I agree. I would rather use something designed to wash out, than a chemical that isn't meant to be used on fabric at all.
I recently saw a tip about using clear, washable Elmers on bindings for table runners and small quilts where binding is sewn down - I was aghast 😅 until I tried it - you sew, flip, glue lightly, clamp, sew. It’s a game changer. And if you want to wash, the glue washes out. Quilt Police heads are exploding as I type!!
I believe the pressing seams to one side was because ladies hand quilted everything. It is easier to hand quilt in the ditch with only one layer of fabric to quilt through instead of two layers.
If seams would not hold , when pressing seams open, , wouldn't all our clothes fall apart?
I know some feel, that there is too much stress on the seams, if your quilt is laying on the bed and they are pressed open and someone sits on it. It will pull apart, but again, our clothing gets lots of pulling and stress on the seams and they usually do not fall apart. Especially if you shorten the stitch length as you said in the video. Great advice in the video. Be yourself!
A well known starcher and her best pal, who is not a starcher, say, "Be the boss of your own quilt. You don't have to do it my way. I am showing you what works for me. It might not be for you. That's OK!" That was liberating for me as a newer quilter years ago. My mom, who is 77, went from pooh poohing LAQ to embracing it, because as log as she can afford the LAQ, it allows her to make more quilts and still do the other handwork she loves. Rock on Stephanie!
LAQ, please explain. I know most other things
@@AnitaSouthall I was puzzled too, but it dawned on me... Long Arm Quilting☺️
@@AnitaSouthall long arm quilter
100% agree! From garment sewer to quilting allowed me to transfer those skills to quilting. Pressing seams open gives your a thread or two advantage…..it’s called “turn of thread.”
Hi! I am a novice quilter but an expert "maker" for over 30 years. I love your video because it highlights one of the failings of guilds, maker communities, etc., and that is the setting of rules. There are best practices, yes. But unconstructive criticism simply holds back the art and the artist. Just look at the many makers over the centuries who broke the rules of their day and created genius work for us to enjoy today! I got a kick out of the rule to press seams to one side, usually the darker one. In sewing the seam is usually pressed open unless a particular seam is required. If pressing the seam open causes a weak seam then my garments should have disintegrated decades ago! LOL
You go, lady, that is all the things I have done ever since I started quilting, DO YOUR OWN THING, it all comes out in the end, and if you find a hole in the fabric, cover it with a patch, no one will know that you did not plan it that way.
Definitely machine stitch my bindings. It’s like blasphemy with experienced quilters, but I have carpal tunnel in my right hand and can’t hand stitch more than a few stitches. The looks I get are priceless. It works for me and I will never be a competitive quilter.
I understand that! Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is painful!
Great video! I was going to say how much your tutorial on how to get perfect points helped me, but I’m busy ironing out frixion pen marks with my steamless iron. After that I’m going to get rid of a pile o scraps, and admire my heretofore guilty pile of UFOs, and tell the truth about ugly fabric regrets! Now to ponder what to do with that spray starch I no longer need…guess I’ll figure that out after I order my misting bottle. This video is FIRE 🔥🔥🔥
Love your sense of humor
I just happened upon this video. It was awesome. Every tip is awesome. The seams pressed open never thought of it. I use frixion pens, and the iron steam makes sense, I will be stopping that.
Gramma taught me at age 7 to iron my seams open
I’m now 73 and still do it the right way
Enjoy your videos
💕😊🌺
I have JUST started setting up to start quilting and have HUGE anxiety that everything must be prefect therefore I don't start... I love this video soooooooooo much!!!
Hilarious! Lock me up now! I’m guilty of all ten of these offenses, too.
I just came upon your video. I just love you and especially your quilt police list. I have been quilting for over 40 years and I am going to try many of your tips. Going to press all my seams open from now on. You are fantastic!
After 50+ years of sewing, you never assume you know everything! Thanks
I am definitely going to start pressing my seams opens. This old dog (68) can certainly learn new tricks!😁 So many things to try. Thank you so much for sharing.
Thanks for your encouragement and permission to find what works best for me
Quilt fabric is $28 per meter where I live; so I do save every little scrap! Lol! What the hang is that June Tailor cutting kiosk thingie????? Is that at the quilt shop? Also, the quilt police at my door always forget the Warrant... so they can't come in my house. Ufo's:: give the guilt away.... have your Guild collect Ufo's/project fabric... and other members can grab them, and finish them to make charity quilts!
Great points made, Stephanie. You gotta do it your way. Please let quilting be freeing rather than restrictive! I can't believe I would be the only one that really, really gets the ire up by using polyester thread. Gasp! Yep, hasn't caused a problem, yet, but I don't plan to be around 100 years to find out if it does.
Polyester thread? Ooops, I just grab a color I like. Lol I'm in trouble.
Steph, this is a miracle video. I’m a pretty new quilter, and these ten subjects cause me no end of anxiety. I’m stressing right now over the scraps I’ve collected. I feel I was meant to see this now. I can’t tell you the relief I’m feeling. I’m taking my first quilt class now after finishing two quilts with six more at the quilter’s. The first class she cut the fabric different from me. I was horrified. Apparently I’ve been cutting wrong for a year. I have been trying to copy her technique but it’s awkward for me. Thank you SO much. I can’t tell you how much better I feel after watching this!!!
Glad u are feeling better
We think alike! I agree with you on everything….but #10.😁 I love my steam in my iron but I am careful about distortion and I love my mister, too.
Thanks for your great video. I think we should get to choose what works best for us.👍
I have used a stapler to attach quilts to my walls when Im in a hurry.......Loved your video!
This is the first time I’ve watched you and I loved it, I have made many quilts over the years. I was a new quilter and made quilts t had no idea was not for beginners, I’ve gotten a lot better over the 20 or so years, I also have30 or so grandchildren and they all have quilts. Will watch you again for sure.
Thank you! I have been quilting 40+ years and I was taught almost all of the skills you mentioned. I gradually came to realize I could could do the steps in a way that worked the best for me and get the same or better results. I especially agree with not using water in the iron. Misting rarely causes me a distorted block like steam can.
The first time I saw a video where someone said they don't use steam in their iron and that helps with not distorting the blocks, it was like a revelation! I now break so many old rules. Yes, I even started pressing my seams open! This did make me smile
I’m 70, been quilting for 50 yrs. I took quilting classes because no quilters in my family. I was taught open seams. The quilts do turn out better. For quick quilts, baby quilts, etc. , I fold over. Love the video!
I feel that quilting is very much a personal thing and when you do what works for you instead of running with the herd you are much happier in the process. I have never buried my thread and do exactly as you do. I don't plan to enter my quilts in a show so the method works great. I love your "violations" and find myself in many of them and the ones i don't do, I plan to try! Thanks much! 😊
The art of quilting has been revitalized in the last 10 to 15 years by RUclips. And I am grateful to all these instructors who show you how to do things the easy way and make it fun!
In your face quilt police! There's a new sheriff in town!! Love it. ❤️ Keep the fun informative videos coming!
Thank you! I don't enjoy working with pre washed fabric. I don't wash fabric, but I also don't tell anyone!😉Thank you for the tips!
I store my UFO’s like you do. I do all of the things in this list. Pressing seams open has been a game changer for perfect points. I do like starch, but mainly for bias cut material.
So refreshing to hear someone who also creates how it suits them.
Not everybody eats broccoli - not every fabric is appealing to everyone's creative pallet.
Thank you! ♥️
more and more of you younger folks (I’m old, lets face it!) are doing it your way in quilting and I LOVE it! We do have to feel good in our own skin and in our sewing techniques and habits. Sometimes I press them open when I think fabric needs to be and other times I press over. Since I have been piecing more often with small pieces I tend to press open. The only thing I differ with in your reasoning on this point is, I tried stitch in the ditch once on pressed open seams and I think and felt like I am sewing over the stitches so I tend not to do stitch in the ditch with open seams. I kept thinking my needle would split the threads under it or at some point through washing over time it would cause a failure in a seam or more. Loved this video, love your attitude and I might try your mister use idea when I iron flat seams
I love you. You have removed so much guilt from my quilting. Also, you have excused some or the things I thought I had to do, and I will stop a lot of things. Life is good.
I was once told that guilt is a ‘wasted emotion’, a negative that could never be made into a positive.
It changed my life.
I no longer feel guilty about anything. I try to be a good person and live a fruitful life. So therefore there is absolutely no reason for me to feel any guilt.
I absolutely start new projects without finishing all my current projects or "ufo's" because that is part of the fun and joy of creating. I also love completing things and I keep my projects organized like you do, but I do this for the joy it brings me.
Thank you for making me guilt free about NOT saving all those scraps!!
I've been keeping my UFOs in the same bins as you. I recently pulled out a table runner project from 2016 that I'm working on right now. How cool to have everything I need in one place to jump right in when the mood hits me.😂
It's like we have made up our own kit ready to go, right?
I just made my second quilt and pressed the seams open. The quilt looks SOOOO much more neat and tidy than my first one.
Stephanie, you made my day! I learned to sew from my grandma in the 1960's. EVERY seam was pressed open, and garment sewing has remained the same over my lifetime as a casual sewist. I've come to quilting recently and was baffled by the idea of NOT continuing that method for flat seams! Love your method of misting instead of steam ironing. My new iron has never held water and now it never will. But most of all, you've reminded us that the point is to experience JOY. Thanks so much!
Omg, I love your attitude. I’m self taught, and probably have been doing it wrong all along, but I have managed some very special quilts. I wish I had had the opportunity to learn properly, I do many of those ten things you just described. Thanks for sharing.
Haters gunna hate! I love your attitude towards People judging you! And every reason you gave for you doing something made complete sense! ❤❤
I do all of these! EVERY. LAST. ONE. I have to say though, when I first started pressing my seams open I was terrified that my longarm lady was going to say something. She didn't and neither did I. Settled. You need to sell T shirts that say "not afraid of quilt police!" Lol
I think the t-shirt could say "I press my seams open!"
Longarmers prefer open/flat seams anyways! So good for you... !
If I make a quilt my machine, I do the binding by machine too. The only hand sewing might be the corners, just to tidy them up. I also sign a quilt on the front as well as more details on the back. It’s a piece of art, isn’t it, and artists sign their artwork on the front!
I don't quilt but I love the idea of breaking the rules so I had to watch. Beautiful quilts!
I'm a retired Home Ec teacher and I started to make quilt blocks for quilts after retiring. I totally agree with you to press seams open----that's the way I taught all my students when I was teaching just the beginning and intermediate sewing!! I won't feel guilty anymore
Thank you! I am so relieved with to hear ALL this 😅
I learned years ago from one of my sons’ baseball coaches. He was from Japan and addressed the parents who were complaining about how their sons were being taught to hit the ball. “There’s your way, my way, then there’s the way that works.”
I just started pressing my seams open and for the first time in 5 years of quilting my pinwheels are perfect!. I took your advice and lowered my stitch length to 2.0 and haven't had a problem yet. Thanks for the great video
Amen for this video! Thank you for saying it’s ok to do what works for you. I’ve always kept all my scraps which take up precious storage space, and I’m not a scrappy quilter. I’m now so happy to give them to other quilters who love having a fresh selection of scraps. A great reminder that quilting should make us happy 😃
I got a bag of scraps and and loving them into table runners and placemats. Small things make me happy. I need to put out my post box address and drive my husband nuts lol.
Long arm quilting
I do love scraps but I am finding the same thing- that they do take up space that could be used to store other things and I am finding I really don't have time to use all my scraps. I get rid of some on a regular basis but I am beginning to rethink saving so many scraps.
Great video! I do most everything like you do!! Except I love a scrap, but, its all about what each of of likes. I also use Elmer's washable school glue to baste the sandwich. Very easy, quick, no fumes, use a table not the floor. Most of my quilty friends think this is crazy!!!!!
I'll have to give that a try, thank you.
I can't get off the floor so everything has to be table height. Cheers from the Harris home in Geraldton Western Australia 🇦🇺
Thank you! These are great and as a self taught quilter I’m already breaking a lot of the quilting rules. LOL! I’m going to try pressing seams open too.
aren't you the most chill quilter ever 😫😫✨✨👍🏻👍🏻
I've started pressing my seams open and am soooooo happy with the way my piecing accuracy has improved!
Am a quilter “wanna be”. Always afraid to start , afraid of making an ugly wonky quilt. Thanks for your video. I loved it! ❤
I had to teach myself how to quilt when I was in my 20’s. I had no one to teach me the guidelines and I was so impatient then I might not have followed them anyway. As I’ve grown older and learned so much from books and RUclips I have been able to make quilts that might take longer, but turn out so much better. I think it’s a good idea to learn the “guidelines” or “best practices” first so that you can figure out which ones just don’t work for you and which ones actually help you. I still press my seams open most of the time and I don’t use steam but thank goodness I know how to make a binding now, ha ha!
I have just completed my very first sewing project. A queen size story/photo/memory quilt that became bigger as the lockdowns in Melbourne, Australia continued. 100% hand sewn and quilted. Took me two years. I am currently visiting in South Africa where I brought it and gave it to my granddaughter. I was so naive and inexperienced that I didn’t follow any rules and relied on RUclips and people like you, who took the time and made the effort to make tutorials. I thank each and every one for not laughing at me and answering my questions. I have had several people here asking me how much I would charge. Of course I couldn’t even respond. 😂
I never pre-wash, unless it is something that has been in storage for an icky amount of time. I always starch a lot, but I just spray as I go. No drama. I press to the dark, rarely press open, but I am open to change. I don't use steam, but I might.
Another thing, I don't have a $200 iron. I have an $11 iron from Walmart and am VERY happy with it.
(I am old enough to remember my mother sprinkling the ironing! I guess no spray irons in the early '60s?)
I also remember my mother sprinkling clothes before ironing them in the 50s and 60s. Brought back memories!
My great grandmother taught me to press my seems open. I also only washed my fabric first once, never again. Lol. I use pens, always have. Geesh, guess I just am a rebel. Lol
This is now my favorite video of yours.
Thank you!! You mentioned at least 5 things that I do because it was how I was taught and always wondered why they were done that way. Pressing seams open: thank you! Washing first: thank you! Hanging on to ugly fabrics: thank you! And you’re so right about the “younger” generations. I was honored to judge a (national, well known” quilt show
Typo - sorry. Well-known national quilt show as I am a graphic designer and I sew. One of my fellow judges frequently would chalk off a quilt because it was from a kit, or because it had been machine quilted. I was sort of dumbfounded when what I saw was a beautifully produced piece of art, whether it was “from a kit” or not (I tend away from kits only because I want to choose my own fabrics - another story) but a lot of the things you mention in this video make perfect sense to me - even though I am decades past when the original “quilting rules” where established. I feel the same way about knitting - bunch of old white-haired ladies refusing to move forward! Learn new tricks! Perfect their craft - not do it the same way their grandmothers’ did.
Preach sista! It comes natural for me to press the seams open having a garment sewing background. The first time I “pressed toward the dark side” I knew I lost more area on one side than the other, but I guess it does have its place on some patterns. Thanks for making backstitching legal again, this baby boomer appreciates it!
Glad to hear I'm not the only one who likes to open the seams when pressing! Nice video
You are SO practical. Thank you!
Thank you! I love this video! I feel such a release of pressure.
Thank you for your great video.
I was looking to find another video that would show how you pin your points.
I am so glad you let us in on your 10 little secrets, I too do almost all of these things on the) sly lol., however I wasn't aware of the little mister (sp) thanks for the
Confession… I have never had an interest, nor the equipment for quilting. However, I watched this whole video, and subscribed. Because you are absolutely gorgeous! I guess I need to learn how to quilt! Lol.😊😊😊
Originally seams were pressed to one side as makers had to hand stitch pieces together. As in gardening old traditions have continued without people reassessing why it is done. The only one I draw the line at is Frixion pens as in the UK some people have seen quilts at Shows where the lines have reappeared . The company have actually issued a statement to say that there were no designed for use on fabrics. Personally I only use a water erasable pen for marking my quilts but I do test a sample first.
I just learned about your tutoruals....I LOVE YOUR INSTRUCTIONALS, SUGGESTIONS ETC. THANK YOU! I am a "newbie to quilting & you have taught me to enjoy the concept of quilting & NOT to worry so much about the rules!!!!
Great video !! Thanks for letting us see you UFOS. I can only do a pattern for a while and I start quilts and pack away until I need to change what my brain likes to see.
I will die in battle over the Frixion pens. I've used them for yeeeeears with cross stitching and have never had any issues, but the stitching police scream like banshees whenever anyone dares to offer them as a suggestion for marking tools. I think a lot of people who have issues when they've used the pens don't wash their finished projects - it's a very contentious issue, both in stitching and quilting, to wash or not. I always, always, always wash my finished project after ironing out the Frixion marks. Not a single issue, ever.
I don't prewash and I don't use starch.
I use my locking stitch and clip my threads when FMQing because ain't nobody got time for that burying threads nonsense! LOL
I live in Wisconsin and am lazy about washing my quilts, so I tend to stay away from Frixion. Maybe someday I’ll break the rules! ;-)
Just to clarify. You heat the frixtion marks, then wash? I *always* wash finished projects. Do you think that’s why they don’t show up again? It would be interesting to see if you placed in freezer maybe….lol
@@SewPerky Yes, I always "erase" the marks first with either my iron or a hair dryer. And then I wash/dry/iron/whatever (depending on whether it's cross stitch or a quilt or what have you.) I've never had any issues. In several discussions in the many stitching groups I'm in, it seems to me the folks who claim they've had problems with ghost lines or marks reappearing don't wash their finished pieces/projects. I know the whole "to wash or not" issue is another point of contention, but I've been cross stitching for 36 years and have always washed, and I've washed every quilt I've ever finished. So I can really only give proof from what I'm used to, which is copious use of Frixion pens + erase marks when finished + washing after.
@@ninasis thank you so much for replying 🤗
I love Frixion pens and didn’t realize that it helps to wash the quilt after to avoid white shadows. Thanks for the tip !
I started out using something called the General Electric "Heavy Metal Iron". I went thru three of those - they'd last about 7 to 8 years before the lime deposits would ruin the iron. Finally, I bought a Shark iron that required distilled water. It is now 25 years old! I LOVE that iron!. But, I also sometimes use a spray bottle or even a dauber, just depends what my needs are.
I got a GE iron for a wedding shower gift…in 1974. Still going strong, filled with our mineral laden tap water. It will not quit.
Great video! I do many, but not all, of the things you do. I still press seams to the side because I have a hard time doing them flat. However, I recently made a quilt with 8 diamonds coming together to make a start. I totally pressed the seams flat and it helped a lot. I also wash yardage before I use it. I have found that no matter where I buy my fabric, the center fold isn't truly with the grain because the fabric was put on the bolt slightly crooked. I have a terrible time pressing out the original fold to create a new one if I don't wash the fabric. Your over-arching message in this video is PERFECT: "Do what works for you". Hopefully this will inspire folks to not worry about "the quilt police".
Try a vinegar water mix for stubborn creases. Sorry I don’t have any proportions to share so you may have been experiment.
Vinegar spray crease and iton
I agree especially with pressing the seams open. I use 1.8 stitch. Since pressing them open I haven't broke a needle.
I love your honesty. You have removed my guilt feelings because I am right on with everything you are sharing. Thank you.
Lmao!!!! I love pressing my seams open. Seems logical to me. One famous quilter talked about the "hidden" mistake the Amish do..(bs!)
Thank you.
I don’t think any quilters have to try to make mistakes 😂