I finished quilting my little quilt, Requisite Red. George behaved admirably once I put in Magnifico by Superior Threads. Magnifico is a 40 weight polyester thread specifically designed to stand up to the tension requirements of a machine like George. I used prewound bobbins of Bottom Line thread. I was able to achieve an acceptable tension with very little trouble. What a relief!
I decided to use facing to finish the edges of this quilt instead of binding it. Do you have a hammer in your tool box? That’s the secret to nice flat corners.
In the first photo above, you can see how the corner looks when it is simply pressed with an iron. Even after it is stitched down, I don’t think the edge of the quilt will lie perfectly flat. It will always be bulky and rounded. In the second photo, I put a scrap of fabric over the corner and hammered it several times. The scrap of fabric keeps the backing fabric from developing an unwanted sheen from the hammering. Now the edge lies much flatter and less bulky. Once it is stitched down, it lies perfectly flat. That’s what I like to see!
My other hint, whether you are using facing or traditional binding, is to use a fabric glue stick to hold down the edge so you can hand stitch it. I like Lapel Stick (no affiliation, of course) because it goes on smoothly and holds really well. Using glue stick instead of pinning means you aren’t going to get poked while you sew, and the thread won’t get tangled around the pins. So much nicer!
Ah, time to relax and play with Hazel since I’ve met my deadline.
Comments
7 responses to “Tutorial: hammers for flat corners”
Great tips, Maria. Thank you!
Hammer is a great suggestion ….thanks. I use Glu-Baste to secure fabric down….works better than Lapel Stick or like product and you can leave a smaller dot . I was disappointed in the Lapel Stick I bought at the MVAQN meeting. Just didn’t secure enough.
Lapel Stick is a temporary glue that will wash away completely (or can be left in) without damaging the fabric. I think the trick with Lapel Stick is to spread on only a few inches and then push down firmly. Then it holds very securely. There are times I glue something down and later I want to move it, and I can’t hardly pull the two pieces of fabric apart without dampening them a bit.
Perhaps I started working on the piece too soon as it didn’t hold. Only put down about 2 inches of it, not a long area. Pressed down with my fingers and it didn’t grip the 2 fabrics together all that well.
I have recently re-discovered using a clapper. Of course, my clapper is not some fancy purchased thing, but a piece of a four-by-four that I sanded down so I don’t get splinters. I press (without steam) and then clap the wood block down on the area and let it cool before moving. Oh my, the seams are so nice and smooth. You might try a clapper on a faced corner. That is unless you need to release some tension by hammering the bejebus out of the quilt! ๐
I’ve never actually owned or used a clapper. For those who wonder what it is, look here:
http://www.nancysnotions.com/product/tailors+clapper.do
But the idea of using the hammer to vent emotions is probably not a bad idea ๐
Hammer! I thought I had the flattest corners ever but your hammer tip will flatten them even more. Thanks, super idea! Might just try my chicken pounder–easier to get my hands on!