Three Ways to Drastically Improve Your Quilt Piecing

In this video, I share 10 things I wish I had know when I first started quilting. My hope is that this will help you avoid some of the frustration I have experienced!
Videos:
One Fabric Fact All Quilters Should Know
• One Fabric Fact Every ...
Videos on pre-starching:
Twelve Reasons to Pre-starch Your Fabric
• Twelve Reasons to Pre-...
Two Options for Pre-Starching Your Fabrics
• Two Options for Pre-St...
Three Ways to Drastically Improve Your Quilt Piecing
• Three Ways to Drastica...
How to Press Quilt Seams
• How to Press Quilt Seams

[@sandyvotel3484]

Michele!! Been binging your videos. I have work to do! But I can’t stop. I LOVE your videos. So helpful. But today I rewatched one with your son and husband. It’s so good! And funny. And sweet. Thank you! How nice to have such a great family.

[@thesimplequilter7499]

Thanks for watching and sharing! I’m glad you are enjoying my videos!

[@beckyferris2390]

Excellent tips Michelle. You are so right about prestarching being a game changer. I think the time spent prestarching is gained back when piecing because everything fits together so much easier. Thanks for another great video.

[@thesimplequilter7499]

Thank you and you are most welcome!

[@FaithMoore-pn1fg]

I have starched for two years and will not go back to non starched fabric. However I don’t use it on baby quilts. I soak my fabric with Faltless. I buy it by the case. At our county fair I won three first places and Best of Division for each.

[@thesimplequilter7499]

I don't plan to go back to non starched either unless it is a UFO or a precut that needs all of the fabric.

[@BEVERLYRANDOLPH-lx4qu]

Just had my first prestarching experience. In a word: exhausting! This quilt is a jelly roll pattern plus border fabric and backing fabric. I’m about to start cutting and piecing the starched strips. I’ll post later and report how my piecing goes-and decide whether this work was worth the effort!!! Thanks for another good video, Michelle!

[@thesimplequilter7499]

It is all worth it to me! The accuracy is just amazing! I'm anxious to hear how it goes and how you like it!

[@Carol_Sews]

I have a couple of tips I follow. First, you need to know that I prewash (and often use Best Press before I cut).Sometimes I “iron” that washed fabric before I fold it for storage. I always move the iron (I use steam) along the lengthwise grain of the fabric to prevent stretching. Moving the iron across the width of fabric will cause the fabric to stretch and distort. Also, if you wet a section of fabric to get a wrinkle out and press it while it’s wet, that section of fabric will stretch. When I have a stored piece of fabric that has creases that won’t press out easily, I re-wet the fabric, dry it, press it, and cut my pieces before I fold it again. I always cut pressed fabric. Seeing KZbin quilters cut fabric that contains folds drives me nuts. The size of their pieces will not be accurate. Finally, if the center fold of the fabric is stubborn and I just can’t remove it, I do everything possible to cut around it.

[@ksharpe8137]

Same here. Drivers me crazy watching them cut when the fabric is wrinkled.

[@helenpeddycord2241]

It amazes me how many KZbin “teachers” piece with wrinkle fabric! That dirty little center seam is a thorn in the flesh at times😜😂😂😂 Best Press usually works very well. Altho, I do starch my fabric for best results🧡🧵

[@thesimplequilter7499]

Thanks for sharing!

[@marinaabad4995]

Prewashing fabric is not laundering fabric. I prewash mine in cold water, no detergent/softener, in the express/quick cycle. I then dry it but not bone dry, a bit damp, then I iron it without steam and starch it if I going to use it soon.

[@Carol_Sews]

@@marinaabad4995 I use Synthrapol if the fabric I am washing is a dark or medium color. I use a small amount of my regular detergent for light colored fabric. I use a warm (sometimes hot for Synthrapol) wash and cold rinse. I like to wash my fabric the same way I will wash the finished quilt. I usually throw in some color catchers too. I rarely have color catchers come out white if I’m washing dark or medium fabrics.

[@patriciamoller3060]

As always , wise words , thankyou

[@thesimplequilter7499]

So nice of you

[@pattysherwood7091]

I dont know if I am ready to advance beyond the sloppy stage of my sewing hobby. But seriously...thank you! 👍 Now I know a couple of reasons my work looks like a 5 year old did it.

[@thesimplequilter7499]

Lol! If that is what you enjoy, that is all that matters!!

[@awertz1271]

😂

[@livingweirdestherc6644]

Lots of great tips. Thanks

[@thesimplequilter7499]

You are most welcome!

[@Ally-dz9us]

Your Awesome! This is terrific information and key to our craft! Really enjoy your thoroughness, and taking the time to make videos, I watch them!🪡 Thank you!❤

[@thesimplequilter7499]

You are so welcome! I am so glad you are enjoying my videos!

[@JC-sf2qm]

Michelle.... those tips may be simple but they sure make difference 😊

[@thesimplequilter7499]

I think so too!

[@nevafitzgerald2402]

Thank you Michelle!

[@thesimplequilter7499]

You are so welcome!

[@loiscasey1338]

I just want to have fun LOL!!!! I love the smell of the various sprays such as Best Press etc. as long as I finish and it looks presentable I’m Happy. But I appreciate the video and always learn something from them so thanks!!!!!!

[@thesimplequilter7499]

You are most welcome! Always do what works best for you! Enjoy!

[@terribishop5313]

Many of your tips and ideas over the years have helped me so much I appreciate your videos. Quilting only 3 yrs one problem I still find is where everyone 6:03 says the line on the ruler is supposed to go when cutting. The gal at the shop says the fabric goes up to the edge of the line on the ruler not on or under it. Its a needle width difference and adds up, How do you do it.

[@thesimplequilter7499]

Terri, I am right handed and I put the edge of the fabric on the outside of the line on the left. I hope that makes sense!

[@terribishop5313]

@@thesimplequilter7499 yes ty

[@pearllucas452]

I’m new at this and appreciate your tips .

[@thesimplequilter7499]

You are so welcome!

[@marinaabad4995]

Another way is gluing small complicated patch work seams. Starched fabric and glue for accurate piecing.

[@thesimplequilter7499]

Great tip!

[@pammeinzer6757]

I wash and prestarch. It makes everything easier to cut and easier to work with.

[@thesimplequilter7499]

Yes! I agree! A real game changer!!!

[@sherryfaires7931]

Great tips!

[@thesimplequilter7499]

Glad you enjoyed them!

[@dianehuntley2493]

Love to prestarch-but not with precuts😊

[@thesimplequilter7499]

I agree!

[@roseswalls3468]

I think I have mentioned before that our life has been going through some changes. But BEFORE all that begain, I think last year, I had a bunch of crumb blocks made. I do not use a foundation paper...I just make it them big enough till I can cut out a 6.5 inch square. I never cut them till I am ready to make the quilt top. So, i would stand in there and starch as many as would fit on my clothes drying rack that I had bought just for that.let them try over night and press them. Start more...I think 36 fit nicely on the rack. Let them dry, press, repeat. I did use sashing and cornerstones, so I starched those, too. It did go together wonderfully. I really would like to get settled down and do some more sewing with starched fabric....it was just so much easier to even match the edges together...and the seams seemed to nest easier.

[@thesimplequilter7499]

I love this idea and would love to make a crumb quilt!!!!

[@roseswalls3468]

I am the queen of crumb quilts. LOL We have had a lot of ups and downs the past few years, and when unsettled mentally/worried, I could always make crumb blocks. And in 2018 I broke my leg/ankle area and was bad...off my feet way longer than normal. I even learned to use the foot petal with left foot to do quilting. But I would not have did anything that took precise piecing. LOL@@thesimplequilter7499

[@afternoononthedock]

I was taught to pin in strategic places for accuracy. Also, my first quilting instructor advised us to stop and clean up as soon as we felt tired, hungry or rushed. Pushing through isn't for beginners like me! Ask my seam ripper :)

[@helenpeddycord2241]

I hear ya!😂 Ol Jack has a thousand tales to tell on me😎🤣🤣

[@thesimplequilter7499]

Thanks for sharing!

[@ddoehling]

Do you prefer Best Press or spray starch when you prestarch? Love your videos especially the mug rugs.

[@rainydaydiva6320]

Definitely Best Press for me.

[@thesimplequilter7499]

I used to just use Best Press. I will still use Best Press on my old UFOs. I do prefer StaFlo starch and I do use some spray starch. I prefer the fabric to be stiffer and it just doesn't get that way with Best Press.

[@ingridhunt7841]

The shrinkage thing was a big one for me. I use steam when I press my blocks and they were always too small. Now I wash all my fabric and starch it afterward. No more small blocks.

[@thesimplequilter7499]

Excellent!!!

[@sandycampbell6600]

How do you handle prestarching when/if using precuts? BTW, love your QUILT tshirt! Where to find?

[@rainydaydiva6320]

I prestarch all my jelly rolls, they will shrink a tiny bit in the length but not the width. The only time I won’t starch a jelly roll is if the pattern I’m using calls for the entire 42” length of the jelly roll. Jelly rolls won’t loose their 2.5” in width when starched. Layer cakes and charm packs, I use the same logic I do with a jellyroll. If your pattern needs the entire 5” of the charm pack or the entire 10” of the layer cake don’t starch. If there is fabric to spare, depending on your pattern, then I always starch..all precuts will shrink a tad bit when starched, but for me, it’s well worth it to prestarch, again depending on my pattern. 😊

[@thesimplequilter7499]

I have only used starch on jelly rolls or yardage. I do not plan to use it on others because of shrinkage. That is one reason I do not plan to buy precuts anymore. Well....if I didn't need the full amount I might starch.....I have really liked the starching so much I don't want to sew without it!

[@thesimplequilter7499]

I agree!

[@sandraberkman592]

Should you pre-wash your fabric before quilting? I am a newbie so any tips would help.

[@thesimplequilter7499]

Sandra, Some quilters do and some don't. I prestarch my fabric which preshrinks it also. Just realize if you don't prewash it or do something to preshrink it, then you should not expose your quilt pieces, when constructing a quilt, to any type of liquid including steam, water, starch or starch alternatives because 100% cotton quilting fabric will shrink.

[@sheryltruman2029]

How do you Pre-starch your fabric?

[@thesimplequilter7499]

Sheryl, This video of mine will show you how I starch: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jpnHYYR4pciAnLs

[@nancysmith9545]

So, I washed all my fabric and then thought, “What good is this if the batting is going to shrink?” Is is possible to “pre-shrink” batting?

[@thesimplequilter7499]

Be sure you read the manufactures directions first. The batting shrinking does not impact quilt piecing. I pre-starch which in turn preshrinks the fabric to improve my piecing.

[@kimcarter1810]

Do you have a preference for starching?

[@thesimplequilter7499]

I prefer Sta-Flo; however, I also use spray starch also. I have a couple of videos out showing how I starch and why.

[@awa1179]

Can you tell us what iron you use? It has so many steam holes!!

[@thesimplequilter7499]

I use a Chi and an Oliso

[@terryannsturm9141]

I cut my pieces and give some extra length and width to the cut. As an example if I have six 4x6 rectangles I make sure the piece will accommodate the cuts with some “extra” wiggle room. I don’t precut a complete project, just what I can do over a day or a week. I starch the pieces with the liquid starch. Easier to manage than large pieces of fabric with hanging and drying faster, so I can keep going with the project.

[@thesimplequilter7499]

Great tips! Thank so much for sharing!