The quilting basics are often overlooked when hobbyists first begin their journey to learning how to make their first projects. Quilting is a hobby that can be extremely rewarding. Making a project for either yourself or as a gift to someone you love with your own creativity, time, and skill is something that can’t be matched. However, the hobby requires precision and attention to detail to achieve beautiful results. Today, I want to share some of my tried-and-true tips for accurate cutting, sewing, and pressing to help you on your quilting journey. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced quilter, mastering these quilting basics is essential for creating stunning quilts.
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Accurate Cutting
Accurate cutting is the foundation of successful quilting. Here are a few tips to ensure your pieces are cut precisely:
- Use Quality Tools: Invest in a good rotary cutter, self-healing cutting mat, and acrylic rulers. Sharp blades and clear measurements make a big difference.
- It is important that the rulers you use are easy for YOU to see and be able to read the measurements accurately. Different brands have different colors of lines, different arrangements of measurements, etc. Be sure to take the time to make sure that the rulers you purchase are the right fit for you.
- The same goes for rotary cutters. There are many options on the market. Some are more ergonomic, some have more safety features. Purchase the rotary cutter that fits your hand and that you’re comfortable with. The blades are SHARP and many unfortunate accidents happen due to dull blades or unfamiliarity with how to properly use a rotary cutter.
- Straighten Your Fabric: Before cutting, make sure your fabric is straightened and properly aligned. Fold it with the selvage edges together and smooth out any wrinkles. Use an iron to press it straight if needed. This extra step can make a big difference in cutting out your pieces accurately and square.
- I love to use starch on my fabric. Before starting a quilting project, I give all the pieces a generous spray with canned starch. This slightly shrinks the fabric so you need to be mindful of that when looking at the quantity of fabric you have for a project. But starching gives me a slightly stiffer fabric that is easier to handle and cuts straighter than unstarched fabric.
- Measure Twice, Cut Once: Double-check your measurements before making any cuts. A small error can lead to big problems later on.
- I’ve incorrectly cut more than once in my life. Slow down to reduce these types of errors. And always be prepared that you might need a little extra fabric to compensate for these cutting mistakes.
- Cut Multiple Layers: If you’re comfortable, cut multiple layers of fabric at once. This can save time and ensure consistency across your pieces.
- Specialty rulers like the Stripology rulers make cutting multiple layers of fabric easier.
- Keep Your Blade Sharp: A dull rotary blade can cause jagged edges and imprecise cuts. Replace your blade regularly to maintain accuracy.
- Regular replacement of your rotary blades is not the place to skimp. Dull blades are more dangerous than sharp ones many times. It also can cause cutting mistakes that can ruin your fabric. I buy inexpensive rotary blades from Amazon, but I replace them every project or two depending on how many cuts I’ve had to make. As soon as it starts skipping threads, I replace the blade.
Precise Sewing
Once your pieces are accurately cut, the next step is precise sewing. Here are some tips to achieve perfect seams:
- Use a 1/4″ Foot: A 1/4″ foot on your sewing machine ensures a consistent seam allowance, which is crucial for accurate piecing.
- Chain Piecing: When sewing multiple pieces, use the chain piecing method. Sew continuously without cutting the thread between pieces to save time and maintain consistency.
- Pin Strategically: Pin your pieces together at key points to prevent shifting. For longer seams, pin at regular intervals to keep everything aligned.
- Diagonal Seam Tape: This seam tape is so handy, I wrote an entire blog post on it here!
- Press Seams Open or to the Side: Depending on your pattern, press seams open or to one side. Consistent pressing helps pieces fit together accurately.
- Check Your Seam Allowance: Periodically measure your seam allowance to ensure it remains consistent. Even a slight variation can affect your final quilt block size.
Effective Pressing
Pressing is often overlooked, but it’s a crucial step for achieving flat, well-aligned quilt blocks. In fact when I first started quilting, I rarely pressed my fabric unless it was excessively wrinkled. What a mistake! My accuracy of aligning blocks suffered greatly. Here are some pressing tips:
- Press, Don’t Iron: Pressing involves lifting and lowering the iron onto the fabric, while ironing involves sliding the iron back and forth. Pressing is gentler and helps maintain the fabric’s shape.
- Use Steam Sparingly: Too much steam can distort your fabric. Use a dry iron or a light mist if necessary.
- Set Your Seams: Before pressing seams to one side or open, set the seam by pressing it flat. This helps the stitches sink into the fabric and creates a crisper fold.
- Be extra careful on seams that are cut on the bias: Units like half square triangles and flying geese are very common in quilting. But with them comes bias seams; fabric cut on the diagonal. Bias seams are much easier to distort due to cutting diagonally across the grain of the fabric. Use extra care to press and not sliding the iron back and forth.
- Press from the Front: After pressing from the back to set seams, flip your block over and give it a final press from the front for a smooth finish.
- Keep Your Iron Clean: A clean iron prevents residue from transferring to your fabric. Regularly clean your iron’s soleplate and use a pressing cloth for added protection.
Quilting Basics: Putting It All Together
The quilting basics of accurate cutting, precise sewing, and effective pressing are the cornerstones of beautiful quilting. By paying attention to these basics, you’ll set yourself up for success and enjoy the process even more. Remember, practice makes perfect, and every quilt is an opportunity to refine your skills.
Happy quilting!
