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Thursday, September 5, 2024

Quilting Mistakes

Quilting can be an incredibly rewarding journey, but let’s be real—it can also have its fair share of “Oops!” moments.



If you’ve ever cut a piece too small, or your quilt top just won’t lay flat no matter how much you press it, know that you’re not alone. Every quilter, from newbie to seasoned pro, runs into a few snags along the way. The good news? Most mistakes are easily fixable with a little know-how and some patience.

 1. Inaccurate Cutting

The Oops: Misaligned cuts can throw your whole quilt design out of whack, making pieces that don’t fit together.

The Fix: Grab a sharp rotary cutter and a trusty ruler. Double-check those measurements before you cut, and make sure your cutting surface is steady. Applying even pressure along the ruler will save you a lot of hassle later.

2. Wobbly Seams

The Oops: If your seams aren’t even, your blocks can end up mismatched and/or not square.

The Fix: Stick with a consistent seam allowance—usually ¼ inch. A quarter-inch presser foot can be a lifesaver, or you can mark your needle plate for guidance. Don’t forget to press those seams flat, whether open or to the side, to keep everything nice and smooth.



3. Incorrect Fabric Selection

The Oops: Fabrics that clash or don’t have enough contrast can take away from the quilt’s overall impact.

The Fix: Take some time to plan your color scheme in advance. Lay out your fabric choices and see how they look together. If you’re feeling stuck, a color wheel or quilting apps can help you play with different combinations before committing. I love taking a picture of my fabric choices and then changing it to a black and white photo. This accurately shows the light, medium and dark fabrics and helps you choose the right one.

4. Skipping the Pressing

The Oops: Skipping the pressing step can lead to bulky seams and blocks that just won’t match up.

The Fix: Always press your fabric before cutting, and press after every seam. Use a hot iron, but go gently—you want to press, not iron. Sliding the iron back and forth can stretch your fabric out of shape. I use starch and a dry iron both to press before cuts and as I stitch.



5. Mismatched Points

The Oops: Points of triangles (or other shapes) that don’t align can make your quilt look a little less polished.

The Fix: Pin precisely where the points should meet, and slow down as you approach those intersections. If needed, adjust your seam ever so slightly to make sure everything lines up perfectly.

6. Backing Fabric Too Small

The Oops: Running out of backing fabric before the quilt is done? That can definitely throw off your finishing.

The Fix: Make sure your backing fabric is at least 4-6 inches larger than your quilt top on all sides. You’ll need that extra room for the quilting process, especially if you’re using a long-arm machine.

7. Quilt Top Not Laying Flat

The Oops: If your quilt top is wavy or doesn’t lay flat, it can cause problems down the line.

The Fix: Make sure your blocks are pieced and pressed accurately. Double-check your measurements frequently to avoid any distortion, and handle the quilt top gently when assembling to keep everything in place.



8. Puckering

The Oops: Fabric puckers while you’re quilting, creating an uneven look.

The Fix: Basting is your best friend! Thoroughly baste your quilt layers before quilting, whether you’re pinning, spraying, or hand-basting. A walking foot can help evenly feed the layers through your machine, and sewing slowly and steadily will prevent any puckering.

9. Running Out of Fabric

The Oops: There’s nothing worse than running out of fabric mid-project!

The Fix: Always buy a little extra, especially for key pieces. Keep your fabric organized and labeled, so you know what you’ve got on hand. If you do run short, consider adding a similar fabric as an accent or border to bring it all together.

10. Improper Binding

The Oops: Binding that’s too tight, too loose, or uneven can take away from the overall look of your quilt.

The Fix: Measure your quilt carefully before cutting the binding strips. Attach the binding with even stitching, and take special care at the corners to create clean, mitered edges.



11. Overstretching the Fabric

The Oops: Stretching fabric while cutting or sewing can cause distortion, leading to wonky blocks.

The Fix: Be gentle! Use starch if you need to stabilize the fabric, and always cut with the fabric lying flat on a stable surface. Watch out for bias edges—they’re especially prone to stretching.

12. Inconsistent Quilting Density

The Oops: Quilting that’s too dense in some spots and too sparse in others can make the quilt feel unbalanced.

The Fix: Plan your quilting design ahead of time, aiming for consistency across the quilt. Practice on a small piece to get a feel for the spacing, and adjust as needed before starting on your main quilt.


Petit Hibou

Avoiding these common mistakes can help you create a quilt that you’ll be proud of. Each project will become smoother and more enjoyable as you gain experience. So, embrace the process, learn from each hiccup, and, most importantly, happy quilting!

Go make something extraordinary.




Did you get my 5 Free Tips for Accurate Piecing yet? I would love to send it to you, sign up HERE!


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2024 Monthly Color Challenge

 

Find paper and digital patterns in my Etsy shop.

 

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Join the Quilt and Learn with Patterns By Jen Facebook page.

Sunday, September 1, 2024

2024 September Monthly Color Challenge Block

 Brown is a tough color, people tend to either love it or hate it. I love it in the fall, because to me it means crunchy leaves, sweatshirts and football.




Our challenge this month is inspired by tropical fish. Such beauty lays under the water, it's hard not to be inspired.


Photo Credit: The Spruce Pets


This month our color is brown and inspired by the Kuhli Loach. I chose this fish because of it's awesome patterning.




From The Spruce PetsThey may look like a more advanced fish, but the Kuhli Loach (Pangio kuhlii) is a great tropical fish species for beginning aquarists. This eel-like fish has an elongated body with small fins. Their bodies are dark brown and yellow striped, and they do well as single fish or in a group. The Kuhli Loach is a bottom feeder and is most active at dawn and dusk, so do not expect them to be very active during the day, and provide good hiding spots for them during this time.



The Kuhli Loach is a peaceful, community fish that will do well on many commercial tropical fish diets. They prefer slightly more acidic water, but this will not significantly limit their potential tank mates. If you have other bottom-dwelling fish, such as cory catfish, be sure there is plenty of space for everyone to forage freely.



I'm using Benartex's "Burlap" fabric line. I love the texture of the fabric, sooo much, and their browns are no exception.

Our featured blogger this month is:

Malgorzata of Pola Quilting

Find her on Instagram


Ready for the  block? This should be an easier block to put together so the rest of the month is yours to play.



Join the Quilt and Learn with Patterns By Jen Facebook group (make sure to answer the questions so I know you are a real person ðŸ˜‰) where you will get a lot of support and questions answered! If you aren't on Facebook you can also follow Patterns By Jen on Instagram. Use #2024MonthlyColorChallenge when sharing so I can be sure to see your block.

I hope my feed is swimming in brown this month!

Ready to get the pattern? Go to Payhip and download it now! The block is free for the month of September! Each set of instructions includes a "How To" video.

It's too late to receive the January through September block instructions or the layout through email, but you can still sign up to have the October - December Monthly Color Challenge blocks sent directly to your inbox. Sign up HERE.

 

Let's make something Extraordinary!

 



Did you get my 5 Free Tips for Accurate Piecing yet? I would love to send it to you, sign up HERE!

New to Patterns By Jen?

 

Don't forget to sign up for the Bites of PBJ newsletter while you are here for early releases and sales just for subscribers!

 

Newsletter sign up

 

2024 Monthly Color Challenge

 

Find paper and digital patterns in my Etsy shop.

 

Find fun PBJ merchandise at Teespring

 

Join the Quilt and Learn with Patterns By Jen Facebook page.