Hi everyone. When I started quilting, I was shocked at how hard it was to sew a straight seam. I have gathered what I now know and I'm sharing it with you. I hope they help you save a HST or two from being chewed up in your feet dogs. And don't forget to leave a comment to be entered in the fabric give-a-way
I love your videos! Very helpful and practical. I also use the tape for making straight lines and was tickled pink to see you show using a leader on the multiple layers. I never thought of that! Thank you!
I love your videos. They are so real, so practical. I know you have a FT job but please do continue! And yes, the darn feed dogs always want to eat my corners! Thank you!
Thank you, thank you, thank you! I'm a little new to quilting and somewhat new to sewing in general. I have a HST quilt I want to try but have been scared to begin! Your videos give me great tips and growing confidence!! Now maybe I can grab my tape and make a straight line!! Love, love, love your videos----my favorite of all I watch---please keep them coming!
As the only man in my town who sews and quilts, I get looked down on and treated badly alot, even at my local Bernina store. It's so refreshing for me to come here and see your smiling face and upbeat attitude. I love your methods and the way that you teach them!
@@MagicHeide Thank you! I try to ignore them as much as possible. The worst part is being the last one to be waited on at the store. But I can wait! It's worth it!
I have a quilt on my bed that has half square triangles and I still smile when I see those points match up. I made it several years ago. Lol I love your videos Karen. So quick, simple and smart. You have a gift!
Just rewatched this as I start to sew again. I can relate to your comment about the wandering mind! Mine doesn't just wander, it leaves the room, makes a cuppa and loves on the dog! 😂
Thanks to you I now have a sewing machine covered in Masking Tape, a dining room full of Fabric, and a husband so fed up with my clutter that he's building me a sewing room! I had never thought about using a header piece and snipping the ends, to correct the chewed up points of my HSTs. Thanks again for more great tips and a good excuse to sit down with a coffee and watch more of your videos!
I haven't sewn for over a year and a half, due to husband getting brain cancer, sold off machines to pay bills, now that all is caught up I am going to buy the Babylock Allegro, and it comes with locking stitches, and I found this video extremely helpful because in the past I have had trouble with straight line sewing. Thank you so much for all your help your video's are my best friend.
I looked for answers to how to correct my veering-off seams for 2 years. You, my dear, blessed, straight-talk *goddess*-- *YOU* have saved my bacon. *I love you, times infinity.*
Something that has helped me sew straighter is to be able to see what I'm sewing better. In addition to a good light (supplement to the light already on the machine), I also have 2 doorstops (the cheapie rubber type) that I have placed at the back of my machine to tilt the machine toward me.
GREAT idea Virginia! I have a window in front of my sewing table and do you think I can ever thread the needle? It's to bright. 🙄 That lift at the back of my machine with a doorstop would work GREAT! Great tip! Also, to the lady that mentioned dollar store glasses with magnifiers would surely help. Lol So many great comments on this site. Happy Seeing! Oops, I mean sewing!! 🤣
I am a beginner and find your videos totally addictive…I have learned more from you than any other source….even my husband keeps out of the way when I am listening to you!!!
I'm a new quilter. I started out thinking, I'll make a quilt. How hard could it be? Holy cow. There is so much that I didn't know. Thanks so much for this video, especially the part discussing the beginning of a seam, the middle, and the end. Mind blown. I think I intuitively had experienced these differences but it was only when you verbalized them that I thought, what a difference understanding these 3 parts of a seam can make. Just subscribed. Thanks again for this important video.
Me too. After an near perfect log cabin quilt I straightaway jumped to a big star quilt for my second attempt..boy that was too ambitious and tough ..HSQ blocks are tricky .wish I had Seen this vidoe early
Love these tips. I was trained from the beginning to use a header. I’ve adapted them by using a few: numbering them with a sharpie/permanent pen. When I’m chain piecing, I fold a small header, number it and sit it on the stack ready to be chain-pieced. I use them as breaks to help me remember what group of pieces go together and what is the top and bottom of the chain of pieces. If it’s a quilt with a ‘grid of blocks’, I label them A1,A2 etc. when I get to the machine, the A1 header goes under the needle first.
Your channel has been the BEST things that's ever happened to me! Your tips for ironing, cutting, and just getting the quilts DONE have been so helpful! Now this video comes along and gave me the best tips for making straight lines, which are always hit or miss for me!! I have found that I have to tape my machine from front to back. I dont know why my eyes always drift to the back of the machine, but it does. So taping all the way through, helps me as well! Thank you again, for sharing all your knowledge with us! I truly feel like I'm sitting in a room with an aunt, when watching your videos. You are so warm and comforting to listen to. Thank you!💖
I have learned more from you over the last week thank I learned from the 5 classes I took at my local quilt shop. Some people are just born teachers, you are one! Thank you and I'll keep watching!
4 years later and you've gone from 80,000 to 377,000 subscribers. Good work and well-earned! I very much enjoy your teaching style and I always learn something, even on reruns.
Hear ye, hear ye!!! Karen has it goin’ on when it comes to the techniques for perfect (nearly) seams. For the first time EVER, yesterday I had points match up thanks to all her tips on previous vids. Today I got even more tips with masking tape ledge/trial block and HST tips getting eaten by machine. THANK YOU, thank you. Seeing seams and lovely points match up is SO satisfying. Dog isn’t as pleased with Karen’s tips b/c now I sew more & the world is supposed to be about him.
I never know sewing could have so much attentions to such little detail, this would explain how I am missing that perfect finished look. Thank you for excellent videos and simple tricks like the masking tape. Thank you, I look forward to many new videos and hopefully upgrading from the beginners look on my projects.
Call me lazy but I often take my thermal pen & a ruler & draw myself a STRAIGHT line & focus on following it. I do this when 'straight' matters. (Btw: thanks for all you do for us with your clever brain power. I'm at the front of your fan club line.)
One of the things I’ve learned about keeping the seam “right” T the end is to be sure I’m still keeping the fabric to the left square and moving forward. We tend to let it drift at an angle because we’re focused on the seam rather than the whole piece of fabric. Also, I often use a piece of “tear away stabilizer” designed for machine embroidery as my header when I don’t need thickness to start. The advantage is that if it ends up overlapping the seam, no problem it just tears away.
Hi Karen. Your videos are simply GREAT! They’re clear, uncomplicated but also comprehensive! That is, you think of everything and cover it all! THANK YOU. 👍👏❤️
Many machines come with a tool just for that purpose. The last two machines I bought (Singer and Viking Husqvarna) had one. Both of mine are gray and look like a bent H. One side is a little larger to help you over larger seams. I use mine all the time.
Wow these are some fabulous tips! I struggle with every single one of the issues you have described and I've been "piecing" for many years. Starting today I am going to put these tips and tricks into effect and finally get those straight dwing lines without the wonky seams and the fabric being sucked into the feed dogs. Thank you SEW very much!!!
Organizing 40 ladies in a quilting project. Most have never made a quilt. Some have never seen! Sharing this video with all of them. We are making scrappy blocks that are very forgiving, but we still need straight quarter inch seams. Thank you Karen for all your help!!
My hubby is off helping a friend for the weekend, so I am binge watching quilt videos. I am sorry to say I never came across yours before. But you are terrific! My best tip for straight sewing is a pair of Reading glasses. Here in America we has Dollar Tree stores, but you can find them at Walmart and drug stores too. They are just magnifying glasses, and I have four pairs! Since making it a practice while sewing, my lines are much better! The stacked tape has helped too. But I’ve also noticed that I need to check my 1/4” periodically to ensure by tape doesn’t need to be adjusted. I love your vlog and I have subscribed! I’ve watched for 3 hours tonight. I finally understand color theory and what to do with all these blocks lying in piles and boxes! Thanks so much!
One of the best quilting tips videos I’ve ever seen!! Such a great job!! Not too much info and babbling on as many video’s do. This is just perfect!! SUBSCRIBING!!!! Thank you for the excellence!
I have agree whole heartily with this person. This was a “Lightbulb” moment to hear these tips… brilliant and so thankful!!!! Next thought, why didn’t I think of this years ago… keeping the video simply was also very much appreciated with the actual sewing tips. Thank you thank you!
I so wish I'd found this video prior to making my grandchildren's quilts! Seam rippers are a great invention but doing it with your tips will lessen the need for them! Thanks!
HSTs (especially frustrating when chain piecing) have been the bane of my quilting existence (well, one of the banes)! Thank you so much for the tip to trim the corners! I’ve tried leaders, special feet, masking tape, but those pesky corners still get eaten by my machine. I thought that trimming the corners was only for perfectionists and persnickety quilters. Now I know that there’s a logical and sanity-saving reason to trim. I subscribed to your RU-vid a while ago, and thanks for the reminder to subscribe to your newsletter. I look forward to reading/viewing more!
I recently found your channel and have spent the past few days reviewing prior videos. Yes, I subscribed and rang the bell. I just wanted to comment about your masking tape hack. When my son was in second grade, he decided he wanted to learn about "Mama's power tools". Besides the KitchenAid Mixer, he was curious about the sewing machine. He made his own Halloween costume that year. I cut all the fleece fabric for astronaut/Buzz Lightyear pants and sweatshirt. One by one, I sewed each seam of my younger son's outfit and Kevin did his own. He had trouble with keeping straight lines so I took Winnie the Pooh bandaids and lined them up like you did the masking tape. As he sewed, Kevin kept repeating, "no blankie for Pooh, no blankie for Pooh." Besides the Halloween outfit, Kevin sewed fleece hats for Christmas for all the family members that year. He still borrows my machine from time to time to make things for his tools or fishing supplies.
Thanks for another fantastic video. It's nice to know that I'm not the only one who struggles with all of those points (pun intended)! Instead of making a masking tape "wall" I simply put one layer of tape on my machine so the middle of the tape is directly in line with my needle in the centre position. Then I draw a line at 1/4" and line my fabric up with the line as I'm sewing. Of course I have to test my 1/4" seam to make sure the line is in the correct position. This way my fabric slides ON TOP of the tape and the sides of the tape don't get gummed up with lint. Keep the vids coming...they are great!
Oh yes my mind does wander. I love the tip about putting the header under the presser foot behind the needle. I have a tool that does that when I sew denim so makes perfect sense don't know why I never thought of that lol. Thanks for all your great tips.
I used that tool, too! Jean-a-ma-jig. It's a small white hard plastic shim that helps get past jean seams. Used it when I sewed my God sons queen sized millinial graduation quilt made all out of Jean patch squares - weighed 16 lbs w/o batting!! Can find at Joann's or quilt shops, even the small catalog sew shops online think it's made by Darice
Actually original white one is from Dritz - $3.49 Annie's catalog, or Wal-Mart has it for more (I don't do Wally World), Amazon has one type for $15 ?!? SRSLY?!? I never thought about using a small fabric layer shim to match those points. Cool idea 😎 Thanks
Just Get it Done Quilts Jean-a-ma-jig by Dritz. I have had mine for over 20 years, but I think they are still available. They "jump the bump" and prevent skipped stitches and broken needles. They fit on any machine!😊
@@JustGetitDoneQuilts Hello! A little late to this party, but in bag making circles, this type of tool is called a "hump jumper". :D It's super duper helpful to get over very thick seams, particularly when sewing with vinyl or leather.
this is my Achilles heel! sewing straight...I thought when I first started, which was earlier this year, "sewing straight will be so easy, that is probably going to be the easiest thing about learning to sew/quilt"...I should have worn my mint-flavored shoes because I put my foot in my mouth 🤦🏻♀️. Those fabrics on your giveaway are so purty!!
Thank you so much, you produce some of the very best quilting videos on RU-vid. No waffle, simple explanations and humour, what more could anyone want. I watch your videos over and over, both for tuition and entertainment. Please keep it going as long as possible xx
Omg! I’m so pleased that someone explained the why sometimes some stupid problems happen. Thank you so so much! 🙏🙏🙏🙏🥰🤩👌 You’re such a wonderful teacher! I’m glad I found you! All he best!
I taught both my granddaughters to sew and they are only 9 & 11. These tips will help them so much. They love making quilts. The first one is a little rough, but the 11 year old taught her 8 year old brother how to sew. I think they will really enjoy your videos, too, because they have the same problems we all do. Having some experience will help them to see where they make mistakes. Honestly, I've made all the mistakes you showed how to fix. Thank you.
Karen, you are right , sewing straight is the most difficult quilt action. I have try manny things too, I will try your tape idea, sounds very helpful. For me the secret is my “EYE” ......when I am sewing, if I fix my eyes in one specific point and keep all the time looking ONLY there and making sure that the fabric pass thru that point,line,or whatever helps me to keep straight is the solution. And patience, no hurry go slow steady , like to fix my eye where the edge of the fabric pass right under the left side front of my sewing foot,that in my case gives me the 1/4 very well. I am a beginner, have done may ,shirts for me(yes, yes, quilted shirts) and came out fabulous, did also table runners, bed spread.... and the main problem is caused by the not so straight line sewing because I was not concentrated and patience enough. Thanks for your tips , I like your style of teaching 🙏🏾💕🥰
Thank you so much for your tips and tricks. I love your tip on the header on doubling the header, I never understood why my the sewing machine was eating my fabric. You are straight forward and get to the point on how to get it done. Your channel is my favorite and go to , yo learn how to just get it done lol. Oh and by the way I am a beginner. Just been quilting for a year. Thanks again
hi doll! love your stuff but im an old lady now, used to make gorgeous clothes w fab fabrics. everything perfect. then i began quilting. body pains from bad hip surg, less than acute vision, and poor hand strength so. . .? i dont worry about perfection. i will oogle quilts at the Houston fest, plan original quilts, and watch how to vids, but the reality is that im having a great time and learned that even little miss perfect doesnt have to be perfect (or even very good) bc the whole process, if you arent bent on winning an award, is to have fun. thanks for the tips. good job w your subs success. stay well.😊🙋
Hi! I just want to say that I’m so glad I found your channel! I’ve found that there’s very few quilting channels that are interesting to me, but this is one of them! I’m 15, nearly 16 and I’ve been sewing for 7 years, but I just started quilting about a year ago. I’ve really enjoyed piecing quilt tops, but I’m not so great at the actual quilting part lol. But your channel has really gotten me excited about getting back into to practicing!! Hopefully at some point I can make quilts as beautiful as yours!
I was just at my local Quilt Guild's retreat and one of the quilters there told me about headers and footers. I had not heard of them before. I am a quilter of about 7 years and just love all of the tips that I learn from you. I have gone back to the first video I could find from you and watched them all. I just love the easy and fun style that you teach with. I never feel like I am dumb or stupid when done watching you. Thank you for that.
Hi, loved the 3 videos I have watched . I have saved them all so I can re watch. I guess I missed the fabric give away by 5 years. 😅 pity, I love a bargain. Typical Aberdonian. Thank you. 😊
This is the first tutorial I have found that addressed these issues. I am a self-taught quilter and needed this for better sewing techniques. I am the youngest of 14 children and by the time my mother got to me, she was tired and never taught me how to sew. I get that. The humorous part of this is she taught others to sew in 4-H. When I was much younger and before was born. I am very grateful for this tutorial. Thank you once again,
Thank you for some great ideas. I have been quilting for years and never thought to put the scrap under the back of the presser foot when you get to a high seam.
Just started quilting. All by hand and my stitching is neat and rearly seen. But now waiting for my machine to arrive... really happy to find you before i have started as these wrongs would have turned me off from even quilting.. so going to study your channel and a new follower... just wish i could find other quilters, new and old to chat and learn from. Have a coffee, and enjoy like minded people.. ...... even the cloth shop knows no one 😢...
An large old emery board (about 3/4" wide x 7" long) with the emery paper peeled off makes a perfect ledge to bring your presser foot up high enough to rise above multiple layers of fabric--even heavy weight stuff like denim. I keep it right at the sewing machine next to a stiletto so it's easy to grab. Thanks for all your tips and for your company. This is just a variation on the theme. (I like the orange stick tip, too. It's much gentler on fabric than a pointy stiletto.)
Thanks so much. Have sewed for years and just recently was getting frustrated that blocks were all not the same size. I watched your ironing techniques and then this on straight sewing. Got it now. You are fun and a great teacher and thanks also for the humor.
Love your videos you are open, honest, great sense of humor!! Been trying to quit for about a year with mixed results. I just finished a small quilt for my grandmother who turned 💯 in August. Crazy right! omg. Ponts every where. Almost did not give to her however she cannot see as she used too and being the grand daughter.... So I gave it to her and of course she loved it lol. Thank you for sharing biggest take away snip off tips of your triangle omg so simple. Thank s again take care
I've learned a ton this afternoon, just watching a few of your videos. I'm dealing with my parent's stash, larger fabric pieces, middle sized and scraps, bins and bins and bins. Mom died last November and Dad has just moved into a senior's residence. It somehow feels important to honour all this fabric and the craft that they (especially Mom) devoted hours and hours and hours to. I've made a few quilts, but don't think of myself as a quilter; I'm an artist. But again, I feel like I need to do this. I'm also planning to incorporate my mom's needlework pieces, embroidery and crochet because I can't throw them away or donate them. Just can't. So I'm going to let you help me with my quilting projects and learning tips and tricks. Thank you Karen. So glad I found you.
Those are the best tips I have received as a beginner sewer as I have experienced each of those problems and became so frustrated I thought I needed a new machine. I don’t have UFOs I have never done ohs. Now maybe I can actually get my next project going. Thank you!
Omg! Could you please make a video about quilting on a basic sewing machine with everything that it entails (like having to go over a big bump since you don't have the special elongated table and fitting your quilt into the tiny tiny space when it's time to machine quilt it)? It would be super helpful for this new quilter!!!
One year I made 55 quilts on a 70s basic machine in 92 and up to 30 other years. My simplest trick is to divide kings into 3 lengthwise strips and join after quilting. Queens in 2 strips. I didn't struggle much with twins and smaller. I used my son's bike clips for pant legs to control it. Good luck. Cotton batting would have been so much easier than poly we used then.
I'm an upholsterer and have experienced all of these things happening off and on, and honestly, had become so accustomed to it that I didn't even think to resolve the issue(s) anymore. Watching your video has changed that, and resulted in improved integrity and appearance on the finished product. THANK YOU!!
I used to sew quilts when I was in my 20s and 30s a lot of things happened in my life and now I'm here in my sixties and I want to start sewing again and looking to purchase a new machine quilting machine I had one at one time but it was nothing like they are today my goal is to quilt another quilt with the new design been a long time but I'm looking forward to it thank you very much Sandra Gregory
I'm working on a star pattern quilt. Those points😳 omg making sure there's enough fabric sticking out from the point to attach your next set of blocks without sewing the tip off😮give me a freaking break😂😂😂
I'm so new, you are so helpful. Actually I have found your tips and tricks to help me with my mistakes and issues. What was I thinking when I started to make a king size quilt? Well, like you, it is the size that fits our beds. So I backed off and went right down to one block, then two, pillows and placemats. When the covid19 pandemic clears, I am going to the dollar store to find some hacks, masking tape, flannel backed tablecloth, etc. I am in NJ and we are sheltered in place. Sourdough and sewing are getting us through. Sending your family well wishes and your son speedy recovery. -FrannSews
I just found you! Love, love, love how you present info: perfect ratio of graphics, video, data, explanation, humor and confidence! I subscribed and can't wait to binge watch all your previous videos - Keep up the great work!
(Goodness gracious! You referenced 80K subscribers, September 2019, and here, 16 mo. later, you're at 220K!!) Just wanted to say~~on a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the best--you got a 10++++ on this video! I've been sewing for forever, and utilize several of these tips, BUT! the one using the header at the block intersection blew my mind! DUHHHH!!! Also, never thought about using a multiple stack header at the seam start: another duh! Having sewn on denim and tackled THAT hurdle, it still didn't track in my brain to multiple fabric layers!! Hey~~I've got one of those jeans plastic seam attackers that raise the presser foot from behind....gonna' see if I can find it (doubtful!) and try it! Thanks, Karen, for this so-awesome, well-done, SMART and educational video!! ALL quilters AND sewists would benefit from watching it, regardless of "experience". GREAT JOB, lady!!!! :
So glad I found you! I'm old enough now that I find I have time to sew and I'm enjoying it immensely. Just decided to make myself a quilt, which I have never done, So grateful for all of you that works so hard to make these tutorials. You are a pleasure to watch and a very good teacher. Thank you.
I'm watching in June 2020 and just since this video in Sept 2019, subscribers have gone from 80K to 155K -- congrats!! I just started watching this month and have found your tutorials, hacks, and instructions invaluable for getting started. I haven't quilted since I was a child (over 50 years ago) and I am so glad to have found you to help me get going again -- thank you from a new subscriber!
Great video. I'm a seasoned sewer of 40+ years but still struggling with these problems. I recently bought a $2k Bernina thinking that will solve most of my 1/4" and straight sewing issues. But NO. Great tips and I'm going to try these tips today, especially the masking tape trick
Thank you! Hst's are my nemesis. I do more inappropriate yelling when trying to match up those points to sew them. Who knew just to trim the corner first! Love your videos please keep them coming 😍
Try also triangle papers. They work great! I bought a PDF file from Freshly Pieced that has all the sizes I could ever need. I can print out what I need, whenever I need, and as often as I need. Well worth the 10 dollars.
I am a beginner made a triangle quilt a few years ago. Points didn’t match so sat in closet fixed the bulking in middle as best as I can. I’m now ready to do more projects love how you explain. Thank you.
I found that watching the little red line on the back of the foot instead of the needle really helps especially when sewing stitch in the ditch. More stitches in the ditch yea!
