Perfect Piecing Handy Pocket Guide: Tips & Tricks to Fine-Tune Your Patchwork & Quilting

By Patty Murphy

Determining what makes a great quilt is different for everyone. Most quilters agree that one important element of every beautiful quilt is impeccable piecing—square blocks, perfect points, little or no bulk in the seams. How do you get there? This pocket guide will show you how to use basic techniques and foolproof tips to solve common construction problems for the basic quilt blocks. Reach past your quilting style and focus solely on technique to make your piecing perfect—or at least more effortless!

• Language: English
• Publisher: C&T Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Nov 25, 2022
• ISBN: 9781644033616

Book preview

DEDICATION

For Mike, Sean, and Quinn.

You are my everything.

INTRODUCTION

Determining what makes a great quilt is different for everyone. Most quilters agree that one important element of every beautiful quilt is impeccable piecing—square blocks, perfect points, little or no bulk in the seams. How do you get there? Practice, trial and error, and learning a few tricks along the way.

This pocket guide will show you how to use a few basic techniques and tips to solve common construction problems for basic quilt blocks. Reach past your quilting style and focus solely on technique to make your piecing perfect—or at least less frustrating!

BASIC TOOLS

SEWING MACHINE

You don’t need a fancy sewing machine to piece a quilt. The sewing machine only needs to sew a straight line.

¼˝ PRESSER FOOT

I discuss how to use this foot, or make adjustments if you don’t have one, in The Scant ¼˝ Seam.

IRON

When choosing an iron, consider factors that are important to you: its weight and price; how smoothly it glides; and features such as spray, steam control, anti-scaling, and so forth. When you begin a project, make sure that your iron is on the proper fabric setting. If it is too hot, it can scorch the fabric.

MARKING TOOLS

A wide variety of tools are available to mark your blocks and quilts. Experiment to find out what you like best. Remember to always test your fabric with a marking tool before you begin.

Chalk is great for small projects. I recommend chalk if you have only a few pieces to sew together because the chalk lines brush off your fabric easily.

Air-soluble markers work well if you need lines marked for a day.

Water-soluble pens work well if you need lines marked for several days or weeks.

 TIP 

My favorite tool for marking lines is bar soap. When a bar of soap gets down to a nub, put it in the sewing cabinet.

The pieces are small and easy to store, and the soap washes out of quilt pieces!

When using air- or water-soluble markers, remember that even though the lines have faded or been washed away, the ink is still there. Remove water-soluble marks with cold water, and avoid