Table of Contents. Instructions: Rotary Cutting 3. Piecing Guidelines 5. Quilting, Stitch in the Ditch 6. Sample file. Bias Tape Application 8

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1 Table of Contents Instructions: Page: Rotary Cutting 3 Piecing Guidelines 5 Quilting, Stitch in the Ditch 6 Hand Sewing 7 Bias Tape Application 8 Projects: Nine Patch Potholder 9 Little Bag Purse 11 Circle Potholder 13 House Potholder 15 Strip Quilted Pillow 18 Doll Quilt 20 Quick Bias Placemats 24 Patterns: House Potholder 26

2 eéàtüç Vâàà Çz fâññä xá Accuracy in cutting is essential for success with quilting projects. The rotary cutting supplies below help you cut precisely and make perfect squares. There are many specialty shapes and sizes, but you can complete most projects with these basics: Quilters Square - This is a see through square with 1 inch pieced grid lines. You will use it to straighten project blocks into perfect squares. Squares come in several sizes..i prefer the 12 1/2 X 12 1/2 size, it can be used with smaller sizes as well. Quilters Ruler - These rulers provide a straight edge to run the rotary cutter along, and are used in many ways similar to a tape measure. They come in several sizes..i find the 6 X 24 size most versatile. Matt Board - This cutting board protects your table. Most have a plain side and a gridded side to them. They are made to be used with the rotary cutter, and are self-healing after use. Cutting is much easier on a larger board. Rotary Cutter - This tool makes cutting fast and fun. A very sharp, round blade cuts fabric in open position. For safety, the blade locks in closed position. Most have ergonomically designed handles for comfort, and can be used with either the right or left hand.

3 [Éã gé háx g{x eéàtüç VâààxÜ TÇw `tàà Using a Rotary Cutter and Matt Board: Fold your fabric lengthwise, on the fold, selvages together. Place your fabric onto your rotary matt with the selvages next to you and the fold away from you. The length of your fabric runs side to side. Place the edge of a quilters square on the fold line, near the cut edge. Place the longer quilters ruler next to it as shown in Diagram 1. Hold the ruler in position with your left hand, fingers spread. Pick up the rotary cutter with your right hand, and expose the blade. Hold it straight up, and following the edge of the longer quilters ruler, slowly apply a small amount of pressure to the cutter, trimming your fabric so it is perfectly squared (2, 3). If you are making a long cut, you may pause with your cutter, and move your left hand fingers farther up the ruler to stabilize your cutting edge. (4). Always roll the cutter away from you, and be sure to keep your fingers out of the way! If you find that the ruler moves on you, you may want to purchase some small grips to stick on the underside of your ruler to grip to the fabric. Reverse this process if you are left-handed Cutting Strips: Most fabric cuts will be made from selvage to selvage. This is why it is important to begin with a perfectly straight, squared strip. Once your fabric has been squared, you may now cut straight lengths of fabric from this edge. Your ruler has see-through grid marks. If you would like to cut a 4 wide strip, line up the 4 line on the ruler with the trimmed edge of fabric. Using the rotary cutter, cut along the edge of the ruler, using your left hand to hold the ruler in place. You may want to periodically open up your fabric to check that the strip is still straight. If not, re-square your fabric (5). Cutting through several thicknesses at once does save time, but you will be compromising accuracy In the process. I limit myself to 4 thickness of cotton fabric Straight like this. Not like this.

4 Piecing Guidelines Cutting: Accuracy is most important. Follow grainlines. The exception is when using a printed on plaid or check, follow the printed lines. You will want to check if the printing follows the grainline prior to purchasing your fabric. Pressing: Always press a seam before joining it to another seam. Press the seam flat, as you stitched it, to set the stitches and eliminate puckers. Press the seam allowance together to the darker colored side. 1/4 Seam Allowance: Use your needle position lever to move the needle to a scant 1/4 seam allowance. Place the 1/4 marker on your hem gauge at the edge of your presser foot. Then move your needle to the end of the hem gauge. Use the edge of the presser foot as a guide for your fabric. If the needle position doesn t move on your machine, you will have to measure and mark your machine somehow. I suggest masking tape, or a rubber band around the free arm to use as a guide. Cut three pieces of fabric 1 1/2 by 3. Sew them together lengthwise at 1/4 (A). After pressing, the center section should measure exactly 1 wide (B). If it is over 1 your seam allowance is too narrow. If it is under 1, the seam allowance is too wide. Make adjustments, and repeat this procedure until you have established an exact 1/4 seam allowance. B. A. 1 Be sure to record the changes you made so you don t have to repeat this process between projects. Stitching: No backstitching - it will leave a bump, making it difficult to stitch over. Reduce you stitch length to 2.0. Pin only the seams that meet. Too many pins will pucker the fabric. Place pins close to, but not into your seam allowance. Squaring: Correctly cut pieces, and correct seam allowances mean that pieces will fit together and your final product will be the correct size. However, no one sews perfectly! A Quilters Square can be used to trim your block into a perfect square.

5 Quilting Everyone loves to snuggle with a warm quilt. Quilts are not very difficult to make, and if you can straight stitch, you have already mastered the main technique! There are 3 changes you will make from sewing to quilting. They are: Seam Allowance - always use a 1/4 inch seam allowance when stitching together quilt tops. Pressing - do not open a seam to press it flat. Both edges of the seam allowance will be pressed in one direction. This gives more strength to the seam. Seam Finishes - do not zig-zag or apply any type of seam finish to the fabric pieces when quilting. All seams will be enclosed and quilted, therefore eliminating raveling. Quilts consist of layers of fabrics and batting: Your top layer is usually pieced. That means you will be sewing small pieces of fabric together to make a larger pattern. Your middle layer will be your batting. Batting makes your quilt warm and gives it puff. Your bottom layer will be your backing fabric. Stitch In The Ditch Quilting Stitch in the ditch is a technique you will be using in garment sewing as well as for quilting projects. It is used to secure, to hide stitching, and to attach layers of fabrics together. To stitch in the ditch, you stitch from the top side of your fabric into the ditch (or groove) made from your seam after it has been pressed to one side. This stitching will actually go into the stitching of the original seam. It will blend in and not be noticeable from the top side if you stitch straight, and if your thread closely matches your fabric.

6 Hand Sewing Threading a Needle: Cut your thread at a slant. Hold the needle in one hand, and bring the thread to and through the eye of the needle as shown: To tie the knot, wrap the end of the thread around the end of your index finger. Roll the crossed end into a loop as you push the loop off the end of your finger with your thumb. As you do this, pull the knot down to the end of the thread. Basic Hand Stitches: The RUNNING STITCH is what you will use to embellish your potholder. It is also used for basting, gathering and mending. Take several stitches forward, weaving the needle in and out of the fabric. Your end use is what decides the size of the stitches you take. Running Stitch Slip Stitch The SLIP STITCH is what you use when you don t want the stitches to show. It is what you will use to hand stitch openings closed, as well as for hemming. Slip the needle through the edge of the fold of the top fabric. Then, with a small stitch, pick up a thread of the lower fabric. Stitches through the fold should be about 1/4 inch long, spaced evenly. Check to see that the thread doesn t show or pull on the right side. Every 3 inches take an extra stitch in the folded fabric to reinforce and prevent a snag from pulling out your entire stitching.