Four layers of fabric ready to cut
Today, I thought that I would talk some more about speed sewing. One of my new friends out there in blog land mentioned something that I have so I take it for granted – good lighting.
We purchased our home in 1998 and it was a real fixer-upper. We immediately started remodeling. When we got ready to create the sewing room, it was a small bedroom on the main floor. We were nearly done with that room when I got a new job which included a new sewing machine and a serger. I instantly outgrew that sewing room. It only had one standard light fixture with one bulb. That was not enough.
We started again with a big sewing studio in the basement. I told my husband I needed lots of light. He put in track lighting around the perimeter. I still didn’t feel like I had enough light. But then he bought a pool table and my sewing room got moved again.
For the third try, the sewing room/laundry room combo was created. It is in the basement. We learned from the previous try in the pool room and we have two light fixtures plus track lighting around three sides of my present sewing room. And it is enough.
Some of the newer sewing machines have wonderful lighting. If you are shopping for a machine, be sure to check out that feature.
Another wonderful feature in my sewing room is my cutting table. It is taller than the typical table or desk that most of us use for a sewing surface. If I remember right, it is 35” tall. I don’t know if I sew faster with that tall cutting table but I am certain that I can work longer with the tall cutting table.
One more thing in my sewing room that I want to tell you about and it has nothing to do with sewing fast but everything to do with being safe. I don’t like the irons that shut off by themselves. It seems that every time I’m ready to press, the iron has shut itself off and is too cool to press well. So I don’t buy irons that have that feature. I do not wish to leave the iron on when I leave the room and in order not to forget, I had the plug in that I use for the iron wired with the light switch. When I shut off the lights, I shut off the outlet that the iron is plugged into.
There are several things you can do when you need a project in a hurry. Big blocks are great time savers. First because it takes fewer blocks to make something of significant size and second because they are forgiving. If your stitching is just a bit off, you can coax a large block and make it work.
Another thing is to take full advantage of your tools. For example, I have a 6½” wide ruler so my borders are seldom any wider than 6” finished when I want to be done in a hurry.
Four layers ready to cut into 1/2 square triangles
And here’s a third idea. When cutting identical pieces that will be sewn together, put the fabric right sides together and cut both pieces at once. Because you cut them together, they are perfectly lined up. Because they are right sides together, they are ready to sew. I frequently cut up to 4 layers at once. It’s really important to have a GOOD blade in your rotary cutter. You might want to experiment on a block or two and see if that works for you.
Don’t forget about our 12 Days of Christmas Best Quilts Blog tour. Mary Kate will be posting every day to tell you who the blogger for that day is.
Happy Quilting!
I agree with you. But I have had a hard time finding an iron that doesn’t shut off by it self. Do you have recommendations for a good one? Preferably medium priced. My trick for turning off is using power strips. My house has three outlets in the sewing room, none of which are particularly accessible. I have a strip for the sewing area, one for the cutting area and one for the iron. That way, when I am done for the day, I turn each strip off and it’s done. My house is nearly a hundred years old, so if we ever rewire, I’m going to use your idea.
Thanks for the tips, I like big block sewing. I like to see somethnig come together
with less time used!
I had the same frustration with the irons that shut themselves off, too, so when the last one ‘died’, I had to go shop for a replacement. Being frugal, I found it a little harder to find what I wanted ( an iron that did not shut itself off) at a price I was willing to pay, but Best Buy had the perfect one for me – it was less than $20 and does NOT shut itself off ; it’s a Rival brand and a pretty shade of blue and white.
I have 3 gel-filled mats on the floor to help prevent fatigue. My flooring is tile. We made a big board for ironing and set it on top of two 3 shelf bookcases so it is taller.
While shopping in my local thrift store -I happened to see a cute small blue and white iron for sale. It was a steam iron-made about 15 years ago I think. Never used, still in the box with instructions. I bought it and simply love it. Just the right size, weight etc. And it was only $1.50—-so check out your thrift shops.
My iron is a shut off but it takes just a moment or two to have it go on. Most of the time it does not bother me. I have a regular size cutting table that I bought at JoAnn’s when it was 50% off to 75% off a couple of years ago. It was one of the best buys I have ever made.