Quilting Tips and Tricks

Stop Fabric Diving: Buy a single stitch plate for your sewing machine instead of using a slotted zigzag plate. It will be easier to begin new seams without the fabric sinking into the notch. In a pinch, use transparent tape to create a smaller hole.

Finger Traction: To improve traction for sliding fabric, use gardener's gloves, tips of rubber gloves, rubber fingertips or finger cots. Another tip: Use Sortkwik Fingertip Moistener or a similar gel product from an office supply store.

Walking Sewing Machine and Foot Pedals: Place a rubber shelf liner, rubber bathtub liner or rubber place mat or mouse pad under your sewing machine and foot pedal to keep them stationary (figure B).

How to Achieve a 1/4" Seam: Align and attach moleskin, masking tape, electrical tape, sticky notes or even a magnet to the 1/4-inch guide (figure C).

Bobbin Case Maintenance: Never blow into your bobbin case as moisture can damage it. A feather, chenille pipe cleaner, child's paintbrush (figure D) or canned air is usually more effective than the small brushes that come with the sewing machine.

Threading Machine Needle: Libby Lehman's tip is to thread the needle by sliding the thread along the groove on the needle and it will thread into place. Another tip: Dip the tip of the thread into clear nail polish or take the needle out of the machine to thread it. Or try wetting the needle and not the thread.

Measurement Guide: Use inexpensive electrical tape or masking tape as a guide for ruler measurements. If you are rotary cutting a quantity of strips, such as 2-1/4" widths, place masking tape at the bottom of the acrylic ruler. The tape nudges the edge of the fabric and ensures the correct measurement.

Breaking Thread: To moisturize old, dry thread and reduce breaking, place the spool in a plastic bag, spray lightly with water and refrigerate overnight.

See Dark Edges: Place a white or colored piece of paper under dark fabrics when rotary cutting on a dark mat so you can see the fabric edges more clearly.