I admit it, I tend to be a prepper. I like to get my things lined up and ready to go for faster and less interrupted stitching. If I am hopping up every five minutes to cut out fabric for another block, or press a couple of half square triangles, I don't find sewing such a relaxing experience.
I like to prep my block units ahead of time. The little basket above has my block units all ready to sew for the Civil War Stars project Barbara Brackman is hosting. There must be three or four dozen blocks ready to sew in that little container.
And when I sew, I usually make a large number of block units that need pressing all at one time. For instance, the star blocks all have flying geese units. I will make dozens of them and then get up and press all at one time. I think it is a more efficient use of time to do it that way, rather than hop up and down to press the flying geese for one block at a time.
Make one side of the of flying geese, press, make the other half of the geese, press, then sew the blocks together and press. The end result is that I have a dozen or so finished blocks all at one time.
Works for me anyway!
This is how I work on the Past and Present blocks I posted on yesterday. Each stack has the segments for the four block units required for one larger block. What you see in the photo above is the units for sixteen block quadrants or four full sized blocks.
Another advantage of having your block units prepped and ready to sew is that if you have fifteen or twenty minutes you can sit down and actually accomplish something without too much dithering around. You are all set to go.
30 responses to “Prepping”
I, too, like to have everything cut and ready to go. I also press all at once but thankfully with my ironing table right next to my sewing table, I just turn to press … no having to get up to go to the ironing board. Saves time and effort. 😉
I, too, like to have everything cut and ready to go. I also press all at once but thankfully with my ironing table right next to my sewing table, I just turn to press … no having to get up to go to the ironing board. Saves time and effort. 😉
I, too, like to have everything cut and ready to go. I also press all at once but thankfully with my ironing table right next to my sewing table, I just turn to press … no having to get up to go to the ironing board. Saves time and effort. 😉
I love chain piecing but am mindful to get up and walk around at least every 30 min. so my joints and circulation stay happy.
In the book “Rx for Quilters” by Dr. Susan Mech, she has good advice for all sorts of helpful suggestions to keep quilting despite age and physical problems. One fact that amazed me is that our need for increased lighting wattage increases a lot as we age. Some lamps that can take only a 40 watt light bulb will have to go. Dr. Mech is also a quilter.
We have about 6″ of new, wet snow this morning.
Hugs!
I love chain piecing but am mindful to get up and walk around at least every 30 min. so my joints and circulation stay happy.
In the book “Rx for Quilters” by Dr. Susan Mech, she has good advice for all sorts of helpful suggestions to keep quilting despite age and physical problems. One fact that amazed me is that our need for increased lighting wattage increases a lot as we age. Some lamps that can take only a 40 watt light bulb will have to go. Dr. Mech is also a quilter.
We have about 6″ of new, wet snow this morning.
Hugs!
I love chain piecing but am mindful to get up and walk around at least every 30 min. so my joints and circulation stay happy.
In the book “Rx for Quilters” by Dr. Susan Mech, she has good advice for all sorts of helpful suggestions to keep quilting despite age and physical problems. One fact that amazed me is that our need for increased lighting wattage increases a lot as we age. Some lamps that can take only a 40 watt light bulb will have to go. Dr. Mech is also a quilter.
We have about 6″ of new, wet snow this morning.
Hugs!
Getting up to constantly press pieces drives me nuts. But, on the other hand, it’s not good to sit for long periods of time, either. I try to sew quite a few of the same pieces then press & trim them all at once. At retreats I keep a small pressing pad & travel-sized iron next to me to avoid passing the snack table on the way to the ‘big’ ironing boards!
Getting up to constantly press pieces drives me nuts. But, on the other hand, it’s not good to sit for long periods of time, either. I try to sew quite a few of the same pieces then press & trim them all at once. At retreats I keep a small pressing pad & travel-sized iron next to me to avoid passing the snack table on the way to the ‘big’ ironing boards!
Getting up to constantly press pieces drives me nuts. But, on the other hand, it’s not good to sit for long periods of time, either. I try to sew quite a few of the same pieces then press & trim them all at once. At retreats I keep a small pressing pad & travel-sized iron next to me to avoid passing the snack table on the way to the ‘big’ ironing boards!
I am more of a slow stitcher. Mark Lipinski’s Slow Stitching Movement must have had me in mind. Rather than chain piecing lots of blocks, I work on one at a time. I tend to make mistakes if I go too fast and I have lots of experience unsewing lots of seams. I feel like I can spend more time playing with my fabrics and making different choices as I see the quilt develop on the design wall. Since I’m not retired yet, the pace of my work can be frustrating!
Karen L.
I am more of a slow stitcher. Mark Lipinski’s Slow Stitching Movement must have had me in mind. Rather than chain piecing lots of blocks, I work on one at a time. I tend to make mistakes if I go too fast and I have lots of experience unsewing lots of seams. I feel like I can spend more time playing with my fabrics and making different choices as I see the quilt develop on the design wall. Since I’m not retired yet, the pace of my work can be frustrating!
Karen L.
I am more of a slow stitcher. Mark Lipinski’s Slow Stitching Movement must have had me in mind. Rather than chain piecing lots of blocks, I work on one at a time. I tend to make mistakes if I go too fast and I have lots of experience unsewing lots of seams. I feel like I can spend more time playing with my fabrics and making different choices as I see the quilt develop on the design wall. Since I’m not retired yet, the pace of my work can be frustrating!
Karen L.
You are SO organized 😀
I have my ironing board right next to me when I am sewing that way I do not have to get up all the time to iron. I also cut all my pieces first and have them on the ironing board stacked so that I can just grab them and sew 😉
You are SO organized 😀
I have my ironing board right next to me when I am sewing that way I do not have to get up all the time to iron. I also cut all my pieces first and have them on the ironing board stacked so that I can just grab them and sew 😉
You are SO organized 😀
I have my ironing board right next to me when I am sewing that way I do not have to get up all the time to iron. I also cut all my pieces first and have them on the ironing board stacked so that I can just grab them and sew 😉
I am a prepper also. Anything to streamline the process and make it enjoyable. That is why we quilt, right?
I am a prepper also. Anything to streamline the process and make it enjoyable. That is why we quilt, right?
I am a prepper also. Anything to streamline the process and make it enjoyable. That is why we quilt, right?
Not me. I like to finish one block at a time so that if I put the project away for awhile, I don’t have a lot of fabric cut up. Sometimes I just outgrow a project and don’t want to waste any more fabric on it.
But then being organized like you are sounds tempting…..
Not me. I like to finish one block at a time so that if I put the project away for awhile, I don’t have a lot of fabric cut up. Sometimes I just outgrow a project and don’t want to waste any more fabric on it.
But then being organized like you are sounds tempting…..
Not me. I like to finish one block at a time so that if I put the project away for awhile, I don’t have a lot of fabric cut up. Sometimes I just outgrow a project and don’t want to waste any more fabric on it.
But then being organized like you are sounds tempting…..
same here! feels like i get much more done with this strategy. ;p
same here! feels like i get much more done with this strategy. ;p
same here! feels like i get much more done with this strategy. ;p
Prepping is a lot of work up front, but you’re right, it allows for more uninterrupted stitching later! I don’t prep as much as I should. I almost prefer a lot of getting up and down as sitting too long makes my back hurt. I purposely keep my ironing board set so I have to get up to iron 🙂
Prepping is a lot of work up front, but you’re right, it allows for more uninterrupted stitching later! I don’t prep as much as I should. I almost prefer a lot of getting up and down as sitting too long makes my back hurt. I purposely keep my ironing board set so I have to get up to iron 🙂
Prepping is a lot of work up front, but you’re right, it allows for more uninterrupted stitching later! I don’t prep as much as I should. I almost prefer a lot of getting up and down as sitting too long makes my back hurt. I purposely keep my ironing board set so I have to get up to iron 🙂
I do the same thing, and I find it helps me cut down on mistakes, too, when I get into a rhythm doing one thing at a time.
I do the same thing, and I find it helps me cut down on mistakes, too, when I get into a rhythm doing one thing at a time.
I do the same thing, and I find it helps me cut down on mistakes, too, when I get into a rhythm doing one thing at a time.