Tips & Techniques

Whether you are starting your first quilt or building on your existing skills, small techniques can make a big difference to the finished result. Explore these practical quilting tips to help you cut accurately, piece neatly and prepare your quilt layers with confidence.

Use a rotary cutter, quilting ruler and cutting mat to cut fabric pieces accurately. Check that the ruler is aligned with the fabric grain before cutting, as accurate pieces are easier to join and help the finished quilt sit flat.

(from Carol Jones)

Press each seam after sewing rather than waiting until the quilt top is finished. Pressing helps the blocks lie flat, improves accuracy when matching seams and gives the finished quilt a neater appearance.

(from Joan Smith)

When joining quilt blocks, align important seams first and secure them with pins or clips before sewing. This helps corners and pattern lines meet correctly and reduces the need to unpick and resew sections.

(from Joan Smith)

Before quilting, make sure the quilt top, batting and backing are smooth and securely basted together. This helps prevent puckering or shifting while the layers are being quilted.

(from Joan Smith)