Threads, Needles, and Tension
There is a handy one-page document here. Â Download it. Print it. Laminate it. Hang it up near your machine. It’s good information when you are experiencing issues with Threads, Needles, and Tension. It will help you understand what’s going on with thread as you stitch. Let’s take a look at what is on it: […]
Read More
More Tools for Quilting
Last week I showed you how I use a laser level for quilting. There are some other tools I use that I may have “borrowed” (permanently) from the garage. Here’s a rundown of more tools for quilting that don’t come from the quilt shop. We saw the laser level and the carpenter’s tape measure last […]
Read More
Using a Laser Level for Quilting
Not all quilting tools are purchased in a quilt shop. In the last post on loading I promised to write about using a laser level to square my backing fabric. I also use the laser level to get nice straight cuts when taking batting from a bolt or roll. (Straight cuts make it easier to […]
Read More
12 Steps to Loading Your Quilt on Your Longarm Machine | Beginner Longarm Quilting #1
Are you ready to learn the super helpful steps to load your quilt on your longarm quilting machine? Are you, maybe, a little intimidated when it comes to avoiding the common mistakes quilters make when loading a quilt onto their longarm machines? If so, this blog post guide is for you! Loading Your Quilt on […]
Read More
Where Quilting Shows
Do you want your quilting to show? Well that’s a silly question. Right? We put lots of effort into planning and executing the quilting for our quilts. Of course we want our hard work to show. But, quilting shows more in some places than others. Where Quilting Shows I took some photos at the Minnesota […]
Read MoreFlange Binding
My favorite binding is a hand-stitched binding. But if I want to speed up the process with a machine-stitched binding, my favorite is a flange binding or 2-color binding. That’s what I used on my Seeing Stars Quilt-along quilt. Here is how I do it. Cut I cut the binding fabric in 1.25 inch wide […]
Read More
the QUILTING! – Seeing Stars Quilt Along
June is the month for the best part of the Seeing Stars quilt-along…the QUILTING! I don’t know about you, but it’s my favorite part of making a quilt. Adding personality to a quilt top with just the right quilting stitches, thread color, and designs makes my heart sing. Here is my process with some tips […]
Read More
Using the TOWA Guage
Have you book-marked the 6 Steps to Perfect Tension post? The #1 question we get here at Handi Quilter is about tension. It takes a little practice to get skillful at balancing your tension. But once you get it, you’ve got it forever. Just like riding a bike. There are tools that can make the […]
Read More
Assembling the quilt top – Seeing Stars Quilt-Along
This month we are sewing our blocks together and assembling the quilt top! It’s getting closer and closer to the good part…the quilting! 🙂 Check your layout Before you start sewing your blocks together, it’s a good idea to lay them out in the order you will sew them. This gives you a chance to […]
Read More
6 Steps to Perfect Tension
Perfect tension – it is the #1 skill you should learn when starting your longarm quilting journey. Tension can either make or break your quilting results. It can be scary to think you have to adjust your bobbin tension, especially since most modern sewing machines have automatic tension features. And we’ve been told to NEVER […]
Read More