Hi everyone,
I've sewn together some of my hexagons but was suspicious my stitching was too loose. I took them to my local quilting shop and the lady kindly told me to sew my stitches closer together and pull them tighter. Has anyone found a helpful video regarding slip stitch, or is it a skill I will improve with practise?!!
Happy sewing and weekend!
Hi Chris, My fabric just arrived and I needed to find a resource too. This seems to be a good one:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVkV8JBNaIQ
Jennifer
Chris and Jennifer -- In my opinion, paper piecing is the hardest of all quilting skills. But, it's worth the time and practice to get it right. I HATED my first project, kind of tolerated the second and I found with Genevieve's block that I was really enjoying myself for the first time. So, it definitely just gets easier and nicer looking with time. That said, I do have a couple of tips that were given to me when I started. First, use applique thread vs. regular thread (obviously try to find as close a match to the fabric as you can). Second, try wrapping tin foil around the fabric and the template, pressing lightly with a dry iron, then removing the tin foil. This will give your edges a nice crispness. Then, make sure you are using a very fine, sharp needle. Lastly, try to use the sharp needle and the crisp edge to lift just a few threads of fabric from each side as you take your stitch. Aim for 14-16 stitches per inch. Do not worry that you aren't catching enough fabric with the stitch -- occasionally I've made mistakes and had to pull a seam out and it's shocking how tough those little stitches all so close together can be! And then one other thought: a chain of hexagons will be easier to produce than trying to inset the hexagons on two or even three seams. Good luck! xo Meg
ReplyDeleteHi Meg, Thanks so much for all of those tips!!!
ReplyDeletexoJennifer
Hi Meg, I've been meaning to write and say thank you! It's been great to hear about your experiences and tips....even if I did soldier ahead before reading your comment. :))
ReplyDelete