Welcome to Tuesday’s Tips.  Today I would like to share with you some helpful information that I’ve discovered on other blogs this past week.   

• Cutting Bias Strips – Honestly, I’ve never cut bias strips for binding or anything else.  Is there anything other than binding you’d use bias strips for?  I’ve read instructions, but get confused.  Bite Sized Biggie (dot) com shares a video which shows an easy way of cutting bias strips.

I really think I might try cutting some bias strips after reading this post!  It really helps seeing it done in the video.

Note:  Several of the next Tips are from the Craftsy’s Blog.  While the main Craftsy site does require you to create a username (your email) and a password, the Blog does not.  When viewing their Blog, a dialog box may appear, but you can close it/cancel it and continue on to the Blog

• Tips for Disposal of Sharp Quilting Supplies – Craftsy’s Blog shares suggestions when you need to dispose of needles, rotary blades & pins.

Be safe!  Even a Rotary Blade that is no longer suitable for cutting fabric can do some serious injury.  When disposing of a sewing machine needle that has broken, I use some painter’s tape or duct tape to wrap the small piece to prevent it from getting lost.

• 10 Beginner Tips for Successful Free-Motion Quilting – Guest Blogger, Christa Watson shares some helpful information for doing Free-Motion Quilting on your Home/Domestic sewing machine.  Check out additional tips on her Blog – Click Here.

While a lot of the quilts I make are infant or children size, I like her tips, especially to have as much table space as possible – behind the sewing machine, to the side and extended to the left of your chair.  Many issues are created when the weight of the quilt drags or catches on the edge of the table.

• 6 Features You’ll Want in a Free-Motion Sewing Machine – Last month, Christa shared on the Craftsy’s Blog six features that you may want in your home sewing machine if you plan to Free-Motion Quilt.

I’d like to add a few more features: 

• A stitch regulator which helps keep the size of your stitches consistent;
• A knee-lift for your pressure foot so you can keep your hands on the quilt.

While many of these are not ‘necessary,’ if you will be doing a lot of quilting, they will make it more enjoyable!

• Christa Watson on her Blog, Christa Quilts, has several posts discussing Free-Motion Quilting.  I did a search for Free-Motion Quilting on her blog – Click Here to see the results.

That’s all the tips I have for today.  Now, I think I’ll head back to my sewing room and make a couple of pillowcases.

Happy Stitching!

Quilt Mouse