PIECING & PRESSING
98 Quilts & More | WINTER 2020
- MACHINE
NEEDLES
The preferred
sewing machine
needle for woven
cotton fabrics is
called a sharp. Sizes
75/11 and 80/12
are good choices
for piecing, quilting,
and binding. Use
a smaller needle
(70/10) if you’re
piecing tightly
woven batiks and
a larger needle
(90/14) for flannels.
3. PINNING
Place pins
perpendicular to
edge being sewn.
When joining
two pieced units,
“nest” your seams
by matching
seam allowances
pressed in opposite
directions. Pin
so that pieces
don’t shift. Avoid
sewing over pins—
it can damage
your machine
and injure you. - THREAD
Match thread fiber
to your fabric. For
piecing and quilting,
we recommend
high-quality 100%
cotton or cotton
blend threads
because they leave
less fuzz, which
can damage your
machine over
time. In general,
choose 40-weight
or 50-weight thread
and use the same
thread in both the
bobbin and the top
of the machine.
4.^1 ⁄ 4 " SEAM
Use exact 1/4" seam
allowances, unless
otherwise noted,
so that units match
up. Be sure to
frequently test the
accuracy of your 1/4"
seam and adjust
as needed. A 1/4"
sewing machine
foot or seam guide
can help you sew a
consistent 1/4" seam. - STITCHING
Use a stitch
length of 10 –12
stitches per inch
(2.0-millimeter
setting). To chain-
piece, sew several
units, one after
the other, without
trimming thread
in between. Cut
connecting threads
after all pieces
are sewn. This
technique saves
time and thread.
Check out how to test your 1/4" seam
accuracy! AllPeopleQuilt.com/seam
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096-103 Back to Basics.indd 98 FINAL 9/26/19 3:21 PM