Quilting Equipment
Quilting Resolutions
With the new year upon us, quilters everywhere are thinking of resolutions. Here are a few tips to help fellow quilters keep those resolutions.
Most quilters will resolve to be better organized or get a good grasp on time management. For those who want to get organized, get the right tools to help you be successful. If you have quilting fabric, threads, scissors, strewn from your sewing room to other rooms of the house, maybe you need a project box or bag. This would allow you to keep your work mobile, but would keep it all together, too.
If your threads and bobbins need organizing, select a rack or thread box to help contain them. While it may take some training of yourself to actually put your threads away once you’ve finished working with them, stay diligent at the task for a month. After that, it should become almost second nature!
If your fabric stash is getting out of hand, find a storage method that works for you. Maybe a shelf on which you can stack your fabric is all you need. A shelf allows you to see exactly what you have on hand. If you’d like, you can organize it by theme or color.
Other fabric storage ideas include bins, plastic totes with lids, wooden chests, wire baskets and shelves. There are many options. Consider the space you have and your needs to select the storage organization that’s right for you.
Time management is a personal resolution. Each quilter must decide how much time to relegate to quilting. That decision will likely depend on whether quilting is a hobby, a source of part time income, or is a full time job. Whatever your situation, make sure to set aside enough time to fulfill your personal quilting needs and remember to make time for family and taking care of yourself. Those are also important resolutions!
If you are a hobby quilter with dreams of turning your passion into dollars, why not resolve to start your business in the coming year? Pick a goal, such as having enough quilts to sell at a favorite craft fair. Start making those quilts and get a booth at that fair.
If your resolution is to learn a new technique, there are plenty from which to choose. If you typically create traditional pieced quilt blocks, resolve to learn appliqué next year. If you usually have someone else quilt the tops you piece, resolve to quilt one of your own this coming year. If you have never made a rag quilt, try one next year.
If your resolutions involve buying equipment, be sure to do your research ahead of time. Maybe you plan to add a new quilting machine or embroidery machine in the new year. If so, keep your warranty information in a safe place and hang onto the receipt. If you do not usually do those things, make that a resolution too.
The most important resolution quilters can make is to continue quilting in the new year. Quilters may face new challenges in stressed economic times. Some fabric stores are closing which means traveling a little farther to shop or buying fabric online. This would be a great time to form a fabric co-op with other quilters in your area. Arrange a monthly fabric swap with your fellow quilters or carpool once a month to those fabric stores.
No matter what your quilting resolution is for the coming year, remember to enjoy your craft. Share it with others when you can. Your quilts will bring as much joy to the recipient as it brought to you while making it!
About the Author
Penny Halgren
http://www.TheQuiltingCoach.com
Penny has been a quilter for more than 27 years. She enjoys exploring all aspects of quilting and sharing her knowledge with all quilters. If you are looking for an Internet quilting club with a wide variety of resources for all level quilters, check out http://www.TheQuiltingCoach.com .
Quilting Equipment
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Motorcycle ATV Dirt Bike Motocross MX Off-Road ATV Snowmobile Biker Knee Guards Pad Racing Gear Brace Style Protector $23.99 … |
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Q-Snap Floor Frame Extension Kit $42.18 Light and durable frames clamp fabric gently and securely in place…. |
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Organizing Solutions for Every Quilter: An Illustrated Guide to the Space of Your Dreams $12.16 A daily serving of tidy makes all the difference • Practical guide shows you how to organize and maintain your quilting space, no matter what size• Learn handy ways to sort and arrange all of your fabrics and supplies into easy-to-use stations• Actual organizing solutions from quilters’ studios, including Alex Anderson and Diana McClun Create a calm and happy place for all your belo… |
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That Perfect Stitch: The Secrets of Fine Hand Stitching $14.65 This bestselling book by Roxanne McElroy is now completely revised and updated to reflect changes and new products. Dierdra McElroy has rewritten the book for today”s hand quilter, making sure that it still provides a core of Roxanne’s excellent guidance on making small, perfect quilting stitches. Dozens of color photographs and beautiful quilts make this a wonderful blend of instruction and insp… |
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Organizing Your Craft Space $6.24 Every crafter wants a work space that’s usable, attractive, and well-organised, and here’s how to achieve that goal. Inside this spiral-bound guide, with colour-coded pages for easy reference, are hints, tips, and dos and don’ts for each individual craft. There are craft categories so that individual problems are addressed (Mosaic and stained glass, knitting and crocheting, needlepoint and embroid… |
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Motorcycle ATV Dirt Bike Motocross MX Off-Road ATV Snowmobile Biker Knee Guards Pad Racing Gear Brace Style Protector $23.99 … |
|
|
Q-Snap Floor Frame Extension Kit $42.18 Light and durable frames clamp fabric gently and securely in place…. |
|
|
Organizing Solutions for Every Quilter: An Illustrated Guide to the Space of Your Dreams $12.16 A daily serving of tidy makes all the difference • Practical guide shows you how to organize and maintain your quilting space, no matter what size• Learn handy ways to sort and arrange all of your fabrics and supplies into easy-to-use stations• Actual organizing solutions from quilters’ studios, including Alex Anderson and Diana McClun Create a calm and happy place for all your belo… |
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That Perfect Stitch: The Secrets of Fine Hand Stitching $14.65 This bestselling book by Roxanne McElroy is now completely revised and updated to reflect changes and new products. Dierdra McElroy has rewritten the book for today”s hand quilter, making sure that it still provides a core of Roxanne’s excellent guidance on making small, perfect quilting stitches. Dozens of color photographs and beautiful quilts make this a wonderful blend of instruction and insp… |
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|
Organizing Your Craft Space $6.24 Every crafter wants a work space that’s usable, attractive, and well-organised, and here’s how to achieve that goal. Inside this spiral-bound guide, with colour-coded pages for easy reference, are hints, tips, and dos and don’ts for each individual craft. There are craft categories so that individual problems are addressed (Mosaic and stained glass, knitting and crocheting, needlepoint and embroid… |
