Beginner Quilting Skills: How to Sew Straight with Karen Brown
The key quilting skills for a great quilt block are accurate cutting, straight sewing and a good ironing technique. In this video I'll show you tips and tricks to get a straight seam. With straight seams, your blocks will begin to nest and your points line up. If you are a beginner quilter, you might be struggling with sewing small or wonky blocks.
Instructor
Karen Brown
Karen Brown is a quilter and crafter who loves to make things and check things off the list. She loves trying new things, finding short cuts and new ways of using old things and sharing that information with other quilters at Just Get it Done Quilts.
Shop this tutorial
Common Questions
What is covered in Beginner Quilting Skills: How to Sew Straight with Karen Brown?
The key quilting skills for a great quilt block are accurate cutting, straight sewing and a good ironing technique. In this video I'll show you tips and tricks to get a straight seam. With straight seams, your blocks will begin to nest and your points line up. If you are a beg...
How long is the tutorial video?
The tutorial video is 00:10:07.
Is a transcript available?
Yes. A written transcript is available on the tutorial page.
Video Transcript
1. There are 3 distinct parts to a seam: a beginning, middle, end.
2. Before you start, clean your machine and start with a fresh needle. For everyday sewing use a Universal 80. For piecing, Karen prefers 2.1mm.
3. When you start to sew, use a header to get the tension going. (You can always add the headers to bonus blocks later).
4. If you have trouble with the tips of half square triangles, blunt the tips so they are square.
5. When you're joining pieces together, make sure your seams are nested and as flat as possible.
6. Try using a seam guide as a ledge. If you want a DIY remedy, Karen uses 5 layers of masking tape.
7. Use a stiletto. It can be a chopstick, or a tool, but use it to guide the fabric through at the end.
