Bridget’s Truth

I have a small work area for working on quilts.  OK really its my dining room table.  So it’s really important to keep everything neat and tidy in case I have to move it quickly.  I usually keep an empty tissue box on the table so I can put scraps, threads and anything that I want to throw away in a nice little confined area.  Hope you can use my little tip to keep your area as organized.  Until next time, Happy Quilting!

It always seems I will stick myself with a pin at sometime when making a quilt.  There is nothing I hate more than bleeding on the fabric.   I have found that dipping a cotton ball in hydrogen peroxide and rubbing it on the spot will make it vanish.   I’m still love getting all of your quilting tips.  So don’t be afraid to share them with us.  Until till next time, Happy Quilting!

We all hate them.  They are our enemy.  They are not cute and cuddly.  They even cause allergies.  They are dust bunnies. 

Use small pieces of left over batting to do your dusting.  Batting  picks up dust and holds onto it.  You can even cut it to fit your Swiffer. 

Please let me know what your tips are.   We love to hear them.  Happy Quilting!

I hate having to deal with loose threads when quilting.  They annoy me to no end.  I have found that using a lint roller, the sticky kind, on your work surface will keep the area thread and lint free. 

One thing that makes me nervous when quilting is getting pricked by needles.  I don’t want to bleed on my masterpiece and let’s not forget it doesn’t feel to great either.  The pain even lingers for a bit.

If your fingers are sore from too many pin pricks use bag balm.  It’s an antiseptic ointment used for treating cows udders.  So why not soothe your fingers as well.  You can find it in some quilt shops or your local feed and farm supply stores. 

I have made several quilts as gifts for family and friends for Christmas, baby showers, birthday’s, etc…  Most people understand that making a quilt takes a lot of time and talent and have a great appreciation for it.  It’s nice to know that when they use the quilt they know it was made by yours truly.

So to make sure that the label you add to your quilt cannot be removed,  stitch it to the back of the quilt before it is completed.  Then quilt right through the label.  

Happy Quilting!

I have one quilt that everybody loves.  If we have friends or family over to watch movies or just a night to relax and play games, they always go for that quilt.   It’s soft, cozy and warm but too small to share.  In fact my husband and I always fight over it when laying on the couch watching TV.  The only solution, make a bigger one. 

To make a quilt larger than the pattern: make the blocks larger, add more borders, add more sashing between the blocks or use a combination of these techniques.

Please let me know what your tip is.  I look forward to hearing what you have to share!  Until next time…Happy Quilting!

I know some of you out there have so much fabric it has taken over your spare room, your basement and possibly even a storage unit.  If you are storing that fabric in a bookcase or on shelving, roll the fabric into cylinders and hold it in place with a piece of tape or ribbon.  Write down the measurements on a Post-It or a small piece of paper and tuck it under the ribbon.  Place it on it’s side so the rolled ends are visible.  That way at a glance you know what colors and prints you have for your next masterpiece.

Some of you know I learned to quilt about 10 years ago.  It has been a few years since I have put the pedal to the floor but after working with quilter’s and educators I have become excited again and have picked up the needle and thread.  I am anxious to start my next quilt and am so happy to have found quilting tips to help me in my adventure.  I hope some of you find these tips as helpful as I do.  So here it is for this week.

To achieve the wrinkled “antique” look in quilts, use cotton batting and fabrics that have NOT been pre-washed.  Wash the quilt when you are finished.

Please let me know if you have any tips you would like to share.  I’m always looking for ways to help improve my technique and I’m sure others are as well.   I look forward to hearing from you all.  Until next time, Happy Quilting!

I have had a couple of you call me this week to ask if I am going to be blogging quilting tips each day.  I will do my best to make it a daily routine, but I may let a couple days pass, just so you miss me!

Today’s quilting tip is this:  Be sure to press all seams with an up and down motion rather than an ironing motion, so not to distort the fabric.

Happy Quilting!