Quilting Technique from Harriet Hargrave

Here are more notes I took during my two day class with Harriet:

Setup:

open toe darning foot is best

put nylon thread in the top and embroidery thread in the bottom - check Harriet's book for all the details

Sit up high; look down on your quilting; use a special spray to make your sewing plate smooth or other slick surface (see Harriet's book for more details)

Tips for accurate, beautiful quilting...

1. Retrace the design over and over and over again with your fingers before you quilt

2. Wherever your eyes go, your hands will automatically follow

3. Look at what you want to hit (even if it's just a dot) and you will hit it! Do not watch the line or you will hesitate, fluctuate and have sloppy-looking quilting

4. Pause for two stitches (very briefly) to "pause" and then your corners will look sharp. Stop at the corner and make 2 stitches then stop immediately.

5. Curves and points: do one unit, stop, breathe; do another unit

6. ALWAYS MAKE A PRACTICE BLOCK BEFORE YOU ACTUALLY WORK ON YOUR QUILT

Marking quilting lines tips:

1. Store five blue markers for quilting in a Ziploc bag; when tracing patterns onto fabric, every five minutes switch to a new one

Recommended reading:
"Quilting Savvy" by Diane Guandynski
http://www.dianegaudynski.net/resume.htm