Free Quilting Tips

May 2004

The tip for May is early since I will soon be leaving for my first AQS Show in Paducah this week! The tip for this month concerns tracing pattern pieces for applique. As you applique fans know, the most time consuming part of applique is preparing your patterns pieces FOR the applique! Tracing each piece can be tedious sometimes, and many students have complained that they do not trace well. They feel their lines are 'wobbly' and not straight when they are supposed to be straight and their curved edges are jerky. Well just remember, once you begin actually cutting the pieces out of fabric, your scissors can straighten those wobbly lines and make the rounded parts curve smoothly. Hold your scissors pointing out away from your body, and with your other hand, move the piece you are cutting whether its a straight line or a curve rather than holding the piece steady and moving the scissors. This way the cut line will be smoother and the curve will flow evenly.

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