Beginner Quilt Piecing Tips - Quilting Basics Tutorial #2 with Leah Day

Learn how to piece your quilt blocks accurately in this Quilting Basics tutorial. Find an easy project to get started with at: leahday.com/products/2017-mac...
Each month Leah will release a new block pattern for you to follow along piecing and quilting. The patterns include both piecing AND machine quilting designs and templates for you to use to mark your quilt blocks. You'll also find new quilting video tutorials to guide you every step of the way.
At the end of the year we'll trim down our blocks and bind them together to create a beautiful Flower Festival quilt! This Quilt-as-you-Go technique is perfect for beginner level quilters with small home sewing machines.
Leah teaches quilting online through free KZbin videos uploaded weekly. Subscribe to our channel so you don't miss out on any of the new videos on patchwork and machine quilting uploaded weekly: / lcvday
Learn more about the Machine Quilting Block Party and find patterns for each monthy block right here: leahday.com/products/2017-mac...
Find tools and supplies, plus video workshops to guide you through all the steps to creating beautiful quilts on Leah's website: leahday.com/
Join the Machine Quilting Block Party Facebook Group so you can easily post photos and ask questions about this project: / quiltingblockparty

[@valeriestephen9617]

Thank you for your very informative teaching, you’re the only person I’ve seen who takes care to explain things with such precise detail which is what I need.

[@nch1646]

It may appear to be slow at first but then you realise that everything is done for a reason, the result is inspiring and you slow down...! Like “don’t get frustrated, piecing takes YEARS to master”! Thank you for the very good tutorial

[@LeahDay]

Yes, you're completely right!

[@karengardiner75]

Your seams are so perfect. You are a great Teacher with precision. 😊

[@deewinston5651]

Thank you so much. I have been having so much trouble with trying to make my seams straight. You are an excellent teacher and at 73, beginner quilter, I’m understanding what is wrong and why I am having so many problems. Bless you❤️

[@nancypollard4531]

using that scrap piece at the beginning and end is genius. Thank you.

[@LeahDay]

I'm so happy you like that tip!

[@annamelven355]

Thank you so much for doing these videos, I have been totally winging it and not been very pleased with my results. Now I know why! So thank you a million times over

[@deejcarter2003]

I’ve just started using starch and I’ll never go back. I’m shocked at how much easier it makes piecing.😱 I’m loving these tips.

[@witsnap]

thank you so much for this video! Super helpful!

[@orvetakecskes9778]

Leah I am just beginning to do my first throw quilt. I watched and watched your videos on each step. You are a great teacher! Keep the videos coming!

[@LeahDay]

Excellent! I'm so happy to help you create your first quilt. Don't worry - I've got lots more videos to come!

[@PattyAnnBlack]

Thank you😅

[@MEC03]

Thanks Leah! I've struggled with accurate piecing and matching seams. I've tried your fabric prep, cutting, pressing and stitching techniques with great results. My nine patches have matching seams. Thank you! Keep these great tutorials coming. :)

[@LeahDay]

Awesome! I'm so happy to hear this video helped you match things together a bit better. Quilting is definitely a building process so what you do in one step leads to the next. Let me know if you have suggestions for more videos you'd like to see!

[@maryburns8581]

Leah Day 0 op op op op 0

[@janetmichaud7797]

GREAT VIDEO...Thank You muchly🥰 jan

[@rekenhavoc1]

This was very helpful thank you

[@LeahDay]

Thank you Wesley! I'm so happy you enjoyed this video!

[@sharonc1282]

Great video, as always. I am so glad to hear that you press with a dry iron! Many other sites recommend steam, but every time I attempt using steam it ends up distorting my block something awful....so, I must be doing it wrong, but I do prefer dry. Thanks!

[@LeahDay]

I find the exact same thing! The only time I use steam is when I'm intentionally distorting fabric (yeah, sometimes that is my goal!) For everything else dry is the way to go and without water in the iron, it will last a lot longer.

[@missaney1]

My fabric always seems to stretch when I'm piecing. By the time I get to the end of my seam my top fabric is longer then the bottom piece. I have tried starching but still get the stretch especially on long seams. The longer the seam the more distortion I get. Any suggestions?

[@tamelascaggs1835]

Enjoying your tutorials! Many say to press to the dark side. Why don't you do that and does it make a difference if you use a longarm? Also, when cutting fabric, are the ruler lines on the fabric or outside the fabric?

[@susannipp9822]

I've been using the quarter inch guide. Time to change. When I use the quilting walking foot, do I also need the rotary hook? Love all you're teaching me. Thank you.

[@LeahDay]

Definitely try a few different feet until you find the one that gives you the most accurate 1/4 inch seam. I'm not sure what you meant by the rotary hook and your walking foot... Can you clarify?

[@jol2790]

Hi. This was a great video - thank you. You mentioned another video about learning to cut accurately. Can you please send me the link to that video. I didn’t see it in the video notes. Sorry if I missed it. Thanks again.

[@beth848]

Thanks for your helpful videos - don’t know how I’d have made a quilt without you. Question: what is the name of the pressure foot you are using? Thank you!

[@LeahDay]

In this video, I'm piecing on a vintage Bernina 1230 sewing machine. I believe I'm using the #24 patchwork foot. It's the plain patchwork foot that has no guide and is the same 1/4 inch seam allowance to both sides of the needle.

[@caroljpenn46]

Hi there Leah, I enjoyed watching your video. I am in the process of getting quilting tools, fabric etc together to start my 1st quilting experience. I have seen some videos on leaving seams and pressing in opposite directions. I like your method too. Is there any times you do need to press seams to the sides?Thank you.

[@LeahDay]

I'm so glad you enjoyed this! Yes, you will want to press to one side when hand piecing because the stitches will be bigger and possibly allow batting to leak through. Also some shapes like hexagons work better when pressed to one side and fanned through the corners.

[@jaclynmoylan1905]

When you are sliding your pieces under the foot with the needle down position do you slide it all the way up to the needle where you can feel the needle stop your fabric

[@LeahDay]

Yes! That is a very important step because it forces the needle to grab both fabrics at once. When you start down at the base of the foot, sometimes the foot can push the top fabric down and the feed dogs can grip the bottom fabric to pull up and the pieces end up out of alignment from the first stitch. By pushing the fabrics right up to the needle you're getting started on the right foot!

[@deneseswackhamer7767]

Do you press the seams flat before opening them to set the stitches first?

[@LeahDay]

No, I don't usually do that. I've never found that to be helpful because it heats up the fabric and makes it too hot to finger press. That's just my opinion though! Go with what works for you.

[@fotolotus]

Leah, I️ love your videos! I️ have a basic question: I’m working on a toss pillow cover with a quilt top. Except that it won’t have the batting and back. Basically, one side of the pillow will have the pieces sewn together like a quilt, and the back will be one coordinating fabric. My question is, if there’s no batting, how do I️ finish the edge of each square? Should I️ even finish them? Thank you for the help!

[@LeahDay]

I would advise basting and quilting at least the patchwork side of the pillow. The reason is it will strengthen the surface and make it wear a lot better over time. Pillows get a lot of abuse and the extra layers will make it puffier, and the quilting will help it hold together better. And it would sort out the raw edges too - win win in my opinion!

[@fotolotus]

Leah Day that's what I ended up doing, and it did turn out great. Since it's only for a toss pillow (18x18) it was very quick to do too. Thank you!

[@MeticulousShopper]

The nice thing if your block ends up a little too big is that you can just trim! 😋

[@LeahDay]

That's true!

[@jleclerc9937]

I really enjoy your videos! What size needle are you using? Thank you!

[@LeahDay]

I use a Schmetz Universal 80/12 needle.

[@edwardorecchio8702]

I have always been told not to press seams open, most often press toward dark. Do you always press open? Also, what do you wash finished starched quilt with? You do a great job teaching! Diane

[@LeahDay]

This is one of those things that not all quilters agree on. Yes, I always press seams open so the block lies flatter and is easier to quilt over. As for washing the quilt - starch washes out with plain water so you can soak your blocks or throw your whole quilt in the washer and that works fine too.

[@mlsutherland3821]

I changed my pressing method after watching your videos and absolutely love the way my quilt top is all nice and flat with seams pressed open - but my favorite tip so far is using the scrap charger! What a difference it makes in keeping the threads from tangling up on the bottom of my fabric - but the best part is not having to constantly cut threads and then trim them later, wasting all that thread. Thank you!!!

[@sueraabe3657]

Why do so many people recommend a scant 1/4" seam? I tried using colored tape to guide the fabric, but ended up ripping it out many times! I finally gave up and used the 1/4" foot, and used a fussy cut ruler to check it. The seam was a scant 1/4". Is it OK for the starch to leave a residue? The store didn't have the brand I used to use, and this brand seems to leave a white film on it. I'm a beginner, and decided I would learn from only one person, so as not to get confused. My friend gave me your book, and I find you instructions very clear and easy to understand. Thanks for explaining one topic at a time in your videos.

[@LeahDay]

You're very welcome and thank you for supporting my business! I don't like teaching scant 1/4 inch because I find it very confusing. If you're piecing with a 1/4 inch patchwork foot and thin thread (I recommend Aurifil 50 wt cotton) then you will be taking away exactly 1/4 inch. Worrying about sliding over another thread width or getting a different foot or moving the needle...uggh! I find it way too confusing. Starch sometimes leaves residue, but it should wash out completely after your quilt is complete. Try spraying the wrong side of fabric, then squishing it a bit, then flipping it over and pressing from the right side. That should reduce the residue on the surface. I do think it's a good idea to learn from one person because we all have a different opinion and way of teaching. Once you get the basics down and develop skills yourself, then try new things and branch out and you'll always have solid skills to fall back on.

[@juliam.7360]

As a very new quilter with a just a general purpose sewing machine (for now) these kind of tutorials are especially helpful -- thank you! Do you always press seams open, or are there certain patterns/shapes/arrangements that benefit from seams pressed to one side? If they point in opposite directions, nesting side pressed seams has helped me line up corners better, but I'm not skilled enough yet to make sure they all point the right way to do this for more complicated blocks.

[@LeahDay]

You're very welcome Julia! I think I press seams open 99% of the time. Only when paper piecing or piecing unique shapes like hexagons with Y seams do I press to one side to fan the seam allowances. I shared a quilting debate podcast about this so you can read and hear me rant a bit about this here! freemotionquilting.blogspot.com/2017/10/the-great-pressing-seams-debate-podcast.html

[@juliam.7360]

I do feel like this is not given enough focus in beginner tutorials -- appreciate the discussion and the link. I figured out the nesting feature from quite successfully (if I do say so myself) following along with this tutorial: kzbin.info/www/bejne/p4eQfYOApdFjgLc , but it seems like this fits into the unique shapes/y seams category. Also, as a potential topic idea (if it hasn't already been covered)- how often/for what circumstance or patterns it's best to trim or clean up edges before sewing (composite) pieces together. Thanks again!

[@martinataylor378]

I'm a beginner, I have inherited a lot of flower quilt pieces and I want to complete a quilt with them , they are assorted color, don't know where to begin

[@LeahDay]

I guess the best place to start is to arrange them on the floor or on a wall and spend time looking at them. That's the place I would start and stare at the blocks until I knew what to do.

[@kelseysellnow3216]

What ruler did you use for your block measurement?

[@LeahDay]

This was awhile ago so the rulers I was using might be discontinued. I really like Quilters Select rulers and Olfa Frosted. Pick one brand and buy the rulers you need from that one brand. Mixing up brands is a recipe for disaster!

[@RonsonDalby]

Hi Leah, you appear to be using the machine's 1/4 inch foot. These are normally exactly a 1/4 inch rather than a scant 1/4. Is that correct?

[@LeahDay]

Yep, I prefer a 1/4-inch seam over a scant seam, mostly because I press my seams open and use very thin thread. When piecing with a scant foot, that will result in a seam that is too small. If you press to one side and use thicker thread, then a scant foot makes more sense.

[@jean2852]

Hello. I call myself an advanced beginner at sewing. I was gifted my Mom's Bernina just like the one you have in the video. What foot are you using? What type of needle? Thank you. I am watching all your videos.

[@LeahDay]

I believe this is a #24 patchwork foot and I typically use Universal 80/12 needles. When looking for feet for any older (before 1630) machine, make sure to search Bernina Old Style to get the right type of feet.

[@jean2852]

Thank you. My Mom had all the feet I just couldn't see which one you were using. The machine is a great machine.

[@dianemadden2605]

Why dont you back stitch on the ends so the stitching dont come apart

[@LeahDay]

If you piece with a short stitch length (1.5 mm) this is unnecessary.