As a beginner quilter, I’ve been collecting great tips. We will add to this list as time goes on to create as comprehensive a list of tips as possible. Enjoy! If you have a tip that isn’t here, please add in the comments - we would love to include it!
Starch fabric prior to cutting - helps in sewing and pressing
Spray starch & iron when piecing a section together - helpful before trimming as it will keep any fraying down and will help to reduce what appears as undersized blocks which may really just have extra material in the folded seam. (Vickie Askins)
Use a wooden clapper - helps to set the seams
Press, don’t iron - to avoid stretching the fabric
Keep matching bobbins with the thread spool - use a rubber band to attach the matching bobbin to the spool
Cut the corner of fabric off before washing to reduce/eliminate fraying
Gardening gloves with the little rubber dots are great when free motion quilting - cheaper and breathable (check out a local dollar store to get them inexpensively
Use a toilet paper holder stand to put your binding roll on when sewing binding- keeps everything nice and neat
Use a scant 1/4” seam (sew just a thread or two shy of 1/4”) - this will help the seams nest together for perfect piecing
Repair cutting mat with cold, soapy water. Put a rolling pin under the matt to open the cut (gets the fibers out of the cracks). With a damp microfiber rag softly rub in circles
Use good thread - cheaper thread does not always hold up to the tension of the machine and will break
Leaders and Enders - use scrap pieces to sew at the beginning and end of your piecing (whether for one piece or chain piecing). This will ensure that you have fully sewn the entire piece and will use less thread if you don’t have an automatic cutter on your machine. Use 2 scrap pieces as the leaders and enders which will give you extra pieces to use in another project!
Take a picture with your phone’s camera of your arranged quilt blocks before piecing the top together. Using the black and white filter, you will be able to see the contrasts to make sure you have the right balance. It will also make it easier to see any block errors so that you can fix prior to piecing.
