Good, Better, Best and Quilting

This week's installment has actually taken me two weeks to write. and I didn't even cover all I have accomplished these past two weeks. Life is still getting in the way of my wants. But I think it's worth the wait. I think I will take what I didn't get in this blog into next weeks.  Maybe consider them installments on how I'm improving. Join me again for next week's saga. LOL - Amy

I'm sure that anyone who works in industry some where will agree that there are all sorts of buzz words and phrases that are meant to convey vital messages. My work is in the food industry, specifically Quality in the food industry.  One of the phrases I hear a lot is: Good, Better, Best.  Usually they are talking about policies or way we do things.  For example, a good practice would be to send out random samples periodically for microbiological testing, a better practice would be to send out a random sample daily for microbiological testing, the best practice is to routinely gather samples throughout the day and send all off for compositing and microbiological testing.  While all practices deal with making sure the food we produce is safe, the best practice does more to ensure all the food produced is safe by taking more samples. Good, Better, Best

As I have thought of this phrase I've come to realize that it can (and probably should) be applied to other areas in our lives. For the purpose of today's blog, it's Quilting.  Let me start right now by saying I am not a competition quilter. I doubt that I will ever
enter a quilt in a show.  But I love to quilt and I am striving to be better at it. Hence the Good Better Best.  I am sure everyone has quilting habits that could be improved and I am starting to pick out a few of my own to work on.

Stitching straight - I tend to quilt as a way to relieve stress. So some times I am distracted.  I want that 1/4 inch seam.  The good practice was to use a quarter inch foot. I just needed to line up the edge of the fabric with the edge of the quarter inch foot. But I had to pay really close attention to keep it there.  The better practice was to get a quarter inch foot with a blade on the side to run the fabric against. It was easier to keep the fabric in the right place but I had a tendency to let the fabric slide to one side before the foot which made the stitching a little wavy.  Also I discovered that both of the quarter inch feet move just a little so who knows how accurate they were. 

After watching a video about stitching straight by Karen Brown from Just Get It Done Quilts, I decided to make some changes.  I went for a best practice. First I started with a sewing ledge. A
sewing ledge is several layers of painter's tape stacked up and place on your machine 1/4 inch from the needle.  I used my Add a Quarter ruler. I brought the needle down on the center line, made sure it was straight by using a small level, then lined up my tape with the edge of the ruler.  It worked like a charm. Why yes, that is my 1/4 inch foot on the machine.  There is about a 16th of and inch difference in the presser foot and the sewing ledge. When I laid the quarter inch ruler on the edge of the seam allowance the stitching was right on the line. The sewing ledge worked like a charm.

Now a sewing ledge is nothing new to me. I used it when I taught 4-H girls to sew.  But I am an experienced sewist and thought I didn't need it.  I let my pride get in the way of making things easier.  Hey in this day and age we all need to admit our short comings and not let pride get in the way of improving.

Another strategy I had heard of but never used was starting and ending strips. If I am not paying attention, When I start stitching a seam I will get a bird nest of thread under the beginning of the piece. Not a best practice by any means. By using a small scrap of fabric to start on the bird's nest will be on the scrap. The ending strips would be to keep units separate. So all pieces from one block would be between the two strips when you are chain piecing. I haven't really used the ending strips because I haven't been working with any complicated block designs. I tend to do all the blocks in steps. Another tip I picked up somewhere was to put the needle down and push the fabric up against the needle to start.  That helps keep the fabric from being pulled down my the feed dogs.


So I started doing both of these as I sewed my wind mill blocks.  I also took Karen Brown's advice to cut scraps into block sizes and use those for starters.  I've made a few four patches while  getting the windmill blocks done.  I even set up a bunch more to use for the putting the blocks together.  I have to say this is a little bit energizing.  It's like getting two for one. I get the threads under control and I get a few more blocks for another quilt.  I think I may use these four patches for the center of a star block or churn and dash.  Maybe the center of a scrappy nine patch.  The possibilities are kind of exciting.

One more area that I struggle keeping my seams straight is when I stitch over the center of a four patch or especially a windmill.  The center seam is really thick and my presser foot likes to stall out. I usually end up tugging it to get it to move. Not even a good practice. Every time I end up with a little arc in the seam. I've tried stitching over it again and I've never been terribly happy with the results. Thick, bulky seams are the worse for accuracy. The little arc creates fullness that keeps the top from being flat.  All of that is bad for the long armer who quilts it.  In my case it's me.  Fixing things now makes my job easier later on.

But Karen Brown to the rescue again.  She suggests that you take some of your starter squares and fold them up. Then when you get to that Bulky seam raise the presser foot and place you folded fabric in the back of the needle. Lower the presser foot and stitch away. It really works.  I didn't have to restitch due to crooked stitching.  Definitely a best practice.

I did have to rip out a few seams because I didn't make sure the seam allowances were flat.  That caused part the seam allowance to flip and left an open seam on the back.  It could be worse, and in the past I would have let it go. But I felt that I was working for better results. Besides it would be easier to meet the seams when I constructed the top if I fixed it.  But if I'm paying attention when I sew I don't have that problem.  It all comes down to me paying attention.

I was so excited with what I learned and figured out these past few weeks that I had to show my daughters. They all were very positive, even the non quilters, but Tatianna seemed to soak it up and I am sure she will start using these techniques in her quilting.

I think that is enough for this week.  I have a lot more to share and I will again next week.  But for now I am really happy with my nice, square, flat blocks that are ready to go on the design wall and be put into a top.  I feel like maybe, just maybe I am improving my skills.  I just need to accept my short comings, and continue to break bad habits.

How are your skills coming?