10 Simple Modern Quilting Tips To Make Your Life Easier

[@michele6708]

Ha! I love the idea of putting a project in time out!!

[@ISeeStarsQuilting]

🥰 thank you for watching! -- I always have a timeout corner in my room lol

[@jennyhesse4937]

I LOVE the tip about not collecting everything. I was an avid quilter about 4 years ago. I think I was so completely overwhelmed with all the gadgets, tools, patterns, etc in my stash that I had to step away from quilting. Way to many decisions I had to make just to start a project that my love for the art went into hibernation. About a year ago I unpacked it all and downsized A LOT! Today my love for the craft is back. I keep it simple and try to remember that I don’t need it all!

[@ISeeStarsQuilting]

Thanks for sharing!! I'm so glad you were able to discover your joy for it again!

[@debrakimbrough9070]

In relation to having more stash than space: a friend's quilting guild has an event each year in which members bring fabric, even large scraps, they that don't love as much as they did when they bought, or realize they have used enough. These fabrics are then given to a senior connection group which distributes them to quilters on limited budgets so they can enjoy the fun of creating.

[@kayball9784]

Thanks so much for these tips. You are a breath of fresh air.

[@ISeeStarsQuilting]

You are so welcome! 😘😘

[@TheQuiltingLunchLady]

Loved the we are crazy comment. Thanks for the laugh!! Particularly because well, we are!!🤣

[@ISeeStarsQuilting]

As long as we're all aware of it, I see no problem 😉

[@conniesoares157]

Great tips! All of them so true!

[@tamiwilbanks836]

You are awesome. Love your spirit! Just found you a few days ago. So glad I did.

[@ISeeStarsQuilting]

Thank you so much Tami! I'm glad you found me too 😘 Feel free to reach out if you have any questions!

[@pamelaalbert913]

Oh number 6 is definitely me ,takes me so long to decide to start

[@ISeeStarsQuilting]

You can do it. Keep forcing yourself to jump back in and create more and more!

[@bethkoch11]

Numbers 1 and 2 especially hit home for me. I have an old beat-up recliner in the corner of my sewing room, with a nice reading light. I never thought of it as a "sanity saver", but that's exactly what it is! When I need to "get away", that's where I go.

[@ISeeStarsQuilting]

We all need those "comfort corners" to call our safe place :)

[@maureennevers9039]

I started sewing “10 minutes a day” aka ‘going to my craft room to fail for 10 minutes’. It sounds negative but it actually helped me to be realistic about what I could do successfully, and initially it wasn’t much. I stopped planning to “sew a bag tonight” and instead was thrilled when I threaded my machine properly. It also built a crafting habit - motivation or time were not limiters, I did it anyway. Living by the phrase “don’t put it down, put it away” keeps my craft room from getting away from me. Lastly I remember “a done something is better than a perfect nothing” - which helps me in crafting and in life! Thanks for starting this conversation with your thoughtful list.

[@ISeeStarsQuilting]

I love everything about what you said. Maureen, you are really on to creating a beautiful creative life! I love it!

[@noelquentin57]

100% true and beautifully expressed!

[@lizmckay5812]

Just found ya and am binge listening (sneaking a peak every so often) as I am at the office LOL. Great tips, great energy and you are so thoughtful. Thank you for sharing all of your tips!!! I agree, we are a little bit crazy. We do take big pieces of fabric, cut it down and then sew it back together. I ADORE every second of it.....sign me up for the crazy

[@ISeeStarsQuilting]

haha yes. You get it! I love it. Thank you for watching the videos 🥰🥰

[@pjb3583]

Love, love your description of quilt craziness! Been there, still doing it. Peace from Ohio …

[@ISeeStarsQuilting]

Thank you! :) Yes, I think as long as you own up to it... you can be whatever level of crazy you want to be!

[@melindaostergren8115]

New subscriber here. Your tips video showed up as if by magic. I look forward to seeing many more videos.

[@ISeeStarsQuilting]

Hi Melinda! Thank you so much for letting me know, I appreciate your feedback and I'm happy it was helpful. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions! 😘

[@lindamorrison2758]

So much I really appreciate your website & your tutorials. You are inspiration to me. I applied for one pattern and downloaded a couple years ago. I signed up to take a class, and then I was just too overwhelmed. Not overwhelmed about your class, I was realizing I had a whole stack of projects which needed to be finished before I go to taking a class on more quilting. I have plenty of ideas so I just saved your jelly roll tricks to my list. I have many jelly rolls which have not done a thing with. Thank you Christian.

[@ISeeStarsQuilting]

You are so welcome. I'm glad you enjoyed it. I too have way too many projects and not enough time... as long as you're enjoying what you're doing... I think your "to-do list" can be as long as you want it to be 😘

[@lindamorrison2758]

@@ISeeStarsQuilting Thanks. You are sweet

[@erica8807]

Love all these tips! I felt like you are speaking straight to me. Love your videos. Look forward to many more 🤗

[@ISeeStarsQuilting]

Thank you so much! We must be quilting sisters 😘

[@JudithBrummett]

tip #3 is the best! a lot of quilters don't have a support system and some even have a spouse or SO that is critical or belittles what you enjoy doing.

[@ISeeStarsQuilting]

You are so right. I hope you have someone who gets what you do 😘

[@michelleaxsom7384]

Recently found your channel & am currently binge watching your videos. I’m really enjoying them & I love constantly learning new things. I started teaching myself to quilt about 8 years ago from books & moved on to watching Eleanor Burns, & then took a couple year hiatus & am now back at it. I’ve got 3 completed quilts under my belt, working on binding for 2, & half a dozen quilt tops from the early days that may or not get finished (very early on, my knowledge of matching seams was laughable & sometimes I just sewed because I wanted to get the feel of things & not necessarily to make anything anywhere near “perfect”). For me, the seam ripper & the time-out corner go hand-in-hand. When I have to un-sew something, of course I’m not happy, but if I’m really not in a good frame of mind, I pack up the project & come back to it later. I recently had a quilt that sat in time-out for a week before I could even look at it again at which time I made the decision that I couldn’t live with the binding job (my walking foot was malfunctioning & I didn’t realize it - thought it was my fault) & then it sat in time-out for another week before I could bring myself to start ripping the entire binding off. I can’t do a lot of hand sewing because of issues with my hand, so I kind of treat hand (un)sewing as a kind of a substitute & I get situated in my recliner, get a nice glass of ice water (no other beverage while quilt is in hand!), turn my favorite music on, and get to it. And this time as a bonus, I had recently learned of a different way to use a seam ripper & it was invaluable in removing the micro stitches that resulted from the malfunctioning walking foot. So, it turned out to be a good thing - more knowledge AND a quilt that although not perfect, I am proud to give to my best friend for her 50th birthday - only 3 months late. She is a good and patient friend - AND - she doesn’t “get” quilting but she is very supportive of me doing it. Thanks for your videos & sorry for the book. 🙃

[@ISeeStarsQuilting]

HI Michelle, I loved reading your story 🥰 So glad you're back at quilting and yes... those moments where we have to undo a whole big project happen to all of us. I call them learning moments 🥰 Thank you for watching!

[@stephaniedavid8820]

Thanks for your tips. I agree we are crazy but it’s so nice and appreciate by the person who have our quilts. Thanks for your videos. Take care.

[@ISeeStarsQuilting]

You are so welcome!

[@caroltomlinson1127]

Such good advice! Thank you! You are getting a little personal on the hoarding though! Lol!! Surely I will use that SOMEDAY... :)

[@ISeeStarsQuilting]

We each have our limits. Don't let anyone else tell you what they are 😘😘

[@lisamuir2091]

Spot on! Love these tips. 👌🏻

[@ISeeStarsQuilting]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@trudycrawford1815]

I love your videos! Common sense and educational and fun. Thank you

[@ISeeStarsQuilting]

Thanks for watching! I'm so glad you like them 🤩

[@lyndapatrick8303]

Great tips . Also love your hair today!! I realized that I need both a new needle 🪡 & a new blade in my rotary cutter

[@ISeeStarsQuilting]

Aw! Thank you so much! I just had it cut and fixed that morning 🤩

[@pamatt73]

Me too

[@mrsmac1974]

Thanks for this video. Good words of wisdom. Tip #6 is why I stopped quilting years ago. Tip #1 is my now problem.

[@ISeeStarsQuilting]

You got this 😘 Quilting is an ever changing and growing skill. Thank you for watching!

[@clovergreen9959]

Years ago, I was reading a food magazine article about sharpening kitchen knives. The main point was, do not remove any of the metal material on the cutting edge of the knife blade. The trick to knife sharpening is to simply realign the molecules of the cutting edge. I have an old piece of soapstone that was used to sharpen a scythe about a hundred years ago. Literally. A hundred years ago. And, my grandfather said virtually the same thing when he was explaining a scythe and how to use it. Just stroke lightly from the top down to the cutting edge to get the burrs (nicks) off the blade edge. Does anyone know if this was how women on the frontier kept their needles and scissors sharpened? By stroking the sewing tools across soapstone? I'm guessing, the process of sharpening a rotary blade would be virtually the same thing as cleaning a CD. Does anyone have any experience or information about removing nicks from a modern rotary blade with a soapstone? Or, sharpening a sewing machine needle with a soapstone? Just curious. Have a good day.

[@ISeeStarsQuilting]

This is something I would love to know more about too. I have tried sharpening rotary blades a long time ago, but I don't think the methods were all that great ( running it through a stack of tinfoil ) and perhaps only added a little more life to my blade. congrats on preserving a piece of history! :)

[@wilycat5290]

Really good tips, especially the last one. I had to work really hard to stop buying fabric. I have very limited storage space for it. Thank you for the video 😊👍💕

[@ISeeStarsQuilting]

It takes a lot of great restraint to not buy all the fabric, doesn't it?

[@bethk7648]

Not just one friend... consider finding a guild. You can attend just as a guest and get a sense of how the people are, what the guild does, what workshops and retreats they offer, and see if it feels like a fit for you. It took me two tries to find a guild that is a good fit for me - I have found my tribe! ♥️

[@ISeeStarsQuilting]

yesssss! Life is wonderful when you can find a whole group of quilting friends 😍

[@rebeccapuig7832]

Great job! You are spot on with your comments!

[@ISeeStarsQuilting]

Thank you! 🤩

[@sharonw.9091]

I sew intersections with a basting stitch until they are acceptable. This way the stitching is easy to remove if intersections don't match. I also serge the ends of fabrics that I prewash to prevent raveling. I enjoyed your tips.

[@ISeeStarsQuilting]

That is a really good idea. I will have to use that on particularly difficult pieces! 🤩 thanks for sharing!

[@chrisa4925]

Thanks for the wonderful video!

[@ISeeStarsQuilting]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@lindacusick1156]

Great video. All great advice. How about printing out a pattern and only to find you already printed it.

[@ISeeStarsQuilting]

That is obviously your brain being extra thoughtful and printing out a copy to trade with a friend 😘😘

[@laurienorton7422]

I had a very manageable fabric stash that was great for me. Then I was gifted an entire stash when a friend's mother passed away. It was all awesome quality nice fabric, but there was so much I was overwhelmed. I gave half to charity and still felt overwhelmed. Went through and cut smaller pieces into strips and shared half of those with a friend. Time to do it again with the next batch! I still have more than I have room to organize in an orderly manner. I don't want this much fabric at one time ever again. I have no idea how old some of it is, though it is in great condition now, how long will it hold up?

[@ISeeStarsQuilting]

What a blessing - but it is good that you realized your limits and held your ground. I'm glad that you found a place for the fabric to go and be used! 😘😘

[@laurienorton7422]

@@ISeeStarsQuilting There is a group of ladies at Rock Creek Baptist Church in Shawnee Oklahoma that makes a quilt for every child that goes through the foster homes across the street from the church as well as domestic violence shelters and homeless shelters. I took 6 big trash bags as full as the bags could hold the weight. Three weeks later it was ALL made into quilts!

[@maryrose6302]

I write the date on my rotary blade when I put it in.

[@ISeeStarsQuilting]

Mary, I'm not doing this. this is brilliant. thank you for this tip! 😍😍

[@hazelem1266]

I wish there was a simple video like this two years ago when I started quilting. Even though I hand sew everything, I found this video very informative. I made one big big mistake though, I bought every single pack of needles that everyone recommended, with the result that I have packs and packs of unused needles. The needles that I used to hand sew my queen size story memory quilt was a pack of 60 that I bought from the $2 shop. I only had one needle break on me. Tip no. 6 was directly to me because I wanted everything to be perfect even though it was my very first sewing project. Ever. And I chose to do different size blocks with stories using itty bitty piecing. But the tip on taking your tools with you, now that is resonating with me. Why? Because at this moment in time, I am in transit to South Africa to take this quilt to my only grandchild and I’m sitting in an apartment in Croatia finishing it off 😂 and oh yes, I still have to sew on the labels, yes labels, because I made two (nothing too simple for this ouma) but they are already prepared. So thank you so very much. I have joined this addictive crazy world as I’m going to hand sew a quilt for each of my three children as soon as I return.

[@ISeeStarsQuilting]

I loved this story. what sweet memories and love you bring to your children and family!! 🥰 Safe travels sweet friend. Take lots of photos with you, your children and the quilts!

[@pamkahmann3833]

Great advice!

[@ISeeStarsQuilting]

Glad it was helpful!

[@kathrynewilcox8832]

Any tips for working with diamonds? Been trying to piece the ebony and ivory quilt for 3 years.. those diamonds stress me out every time. It’s currently sitting in MY time out spot. Also, I find ANY crafter totally get that we quilters are absolutely NUTZ!!!

[@ISeeStarsQuilting]

I'm not sure which pattern you've got. I tried to look and there are a lot of quilts that come up with that name. I would suggest going really slow and being super perfectionist about 1 block. make your mistakes and correct them, unstitch etc. Get it right and learn all you can from it. Then, move on to the other blocks with the learned skills you have. just take it one at a time - and if it is really frustrating, take breaks. use it as a side project while you work on more fun easy projects in between. You can email me or reply here with the pattern designer and I'll see if I have any specific advice or techniques I can help with :)

[@kathrynewilcox8832]

@@ISeeStarsQuilting this one: Ebony and Ivory Quilt Pattern Download by Christine Stainbrook

[@quiltingwithcats5934]

My friend told me once that sewing m/crocheting mistakes are "design elements." I think you can appreciate that, lol! God bless!

[@ISeeStarsQuilting]

that is 100% true! lol 😂 "I meant to do that so mine is one of a kind"

[@karenbrunette6314]

New subscriber,new sewer ,new machine, have questions please,I have a janome 3160q it has the thread holder laying on its side, what’s the best thread to use for that position? I’m also thinking about getting a spool stand but how do I thread the machine then? Thank you for sharing your information and tips

[@ISeeStarsQuilting]

Ah! I LOVE that machine! I still have mine and I use it whenever I travel or go sew at a friend's house. I personally like using the thread stand because I can buy the larger spools of higher quality thread and they last longer than the smaller ones. I have purchased this set of white thread from amazon. Aurifil for a higher quality thread: amzn.to/3axFogG or these for a lesser cost: amzn.to/3tmsSqS If you use a thread stand.... you place your thread stand next to your machine on the right side and just skip over the sideways mount and go straight to the first part of your threading. Make sure your thread clears the hand winder circle because you don't want it to get wound up in that accidentally. 🤩🤩 Also, welcome to the quilting world! 🥳🥳

[@kellyhipkins5616]

So inspirational Wanted to know more on your classes but link doesn't work. Help 😀

[@ISeeStarsQuilting]

Hey girl, I'm in the middle of a big switchover for a better user experience. 😆 My class site is not its usual self right now. Stick with me. It should be ready and going again mid May! I have good things coming in mid-may too! You'll find them all here: stitch.academy/

[@wendyshill2]

I have a question for you: I have a quilt top that, obviously, has rows stitched together. On the back I have used a fabric that has “rows” of text. How can I get the front and back to be on the same direction and angle. I have tried to mark the back using pins and tried to transfer those to line up my top; I have used marks for the halfway point of all sides to match front to back. But somehow it all ends up looking skewed in the back. Any advice? (BTW, I have tried laying out on a table, on the floor, and on my design wall. Sooo frustrating!)

[@ISeeStarsQuilting]

That is a difficult position to be in... especially when you're trying to be precise and perfect. My best advice would be to make sure that your top of both pieces is perfectly straight and square with the line of text and blocks from the front. Then I would take my ruler and mark down 6 few inches or so on each piece and meticulously line up your2 guidelines, pin like you've got access to every single pin in the world with the batting in between. Use a basting stitch on your machine to stitch on that line... THEN go back and baste/spray or whatever the rest of the quilt using that line as your guide. I hope that gives you an idea and a plan. let me know if you have any questions. You could also make your first basting stitch be in the direct center of the quilt instead of the top

[@janemason9215]

Remember the process is suppose to be fun. 😉

[@marylouguajardo6634]

I am making my first bought a 2 12 jelly roll to try fro DT just blue white and gray want to make foe my grandson who is 10 but don't know how to start off i want to created a Dallas color Remember 1st tine quilt. So need easy tutorial thanks

[@ISeeStarsQuilting]

Did you check out my tutorial for the Jelly Roll Race quilt? I think this is easily doable for a first time quilter! kzbin.info/www/bejne/gKmqd4KfrdppraM

[@knitknack2285]

I guess your my new quilt friend lol

[@ISeeStarsQuilting]

I'm happy to be 🥰🥰

[@knitknack2285]

@@ISeeStarsQuilting 😃

[@jojomomster3772]

I’m friends with my stitch ripper, but I’m closer with my embroidery scissors.

[@ISeeStarsQuilting]

Haha, I love that Jojo.

[@vickiygonzales5566]

Make sure you start your project in a clean organized area and keep it that way.

[@ISeeStarsQuilting]

That's always the plan!... it sometimes works :)

[@coreygilles847]

Ah…the naughty quilt corner. A very useful corner

[@ISeeStarsQuilting]

I know, right? 😆

[@robbybarbaras5412]

If I'm making friends with my seem ripper then she needs a name. It is a she because girls rock! Patience is good because you need that when picking out those seems.

[@ISeeStarsQuilting]

ok ok I have to ask... what is her name? I have to work to call mine a seam ripper when I'm with other people because when I'm by myself I call it "that pokey thing"... get it? Because it has a pointed end and it slows me down? 😂 *womp womp womp* I know. Its the little things in life!

[@lindamcclellan8434]

Help, I still can’t cut straight……

[@ISeeStarsQuilting]

practice practice practice... and really figuring out where the issue is. Is it a wonky cutting table? Is it the wrong height table? is it an old blade? is it arthritis or shaky hands? Is it something simple like a ruler that wont stay put? There are so many things that could go wrong in it. Maybe start by narrowing down what it isn't - then work to adjust until you can figure it out and get better at cutting!

[@gojenn0927]

A quilter who doesn’t like the seam ripper is like a kindergartner not liking their ERASER!! Who wants to keep mistakes?!!

[@ISeeStarsQuilting]

But with mistakes come learning and progression for those skills we all need! haha

[@suzyinstitches273]

You are so much fun ❤️

[@ISeeStarsQuilting]

Aw thank you so much! Glad you enjoyed the video 😘😘

[@KarenShirey]

the tip about not collecting everything... Oops, too late. I am already a hoarder and haven't made my first quilt yet! 🫣

[@ISeeStarsQuilting]

Give yourself some grace 😂 as you get more into quilting you can start to define your style and what you'll really use and enjoy working with! ❤ I love that you're fully jumping in with both feet!