What to do with your wonky blocks

I had a discussion a few blogs posts back regarding wonky quilt blocks.. well I found this awesome way to use those not quite even quilt blocks. Its called a TOPSY TURVY quilt top. What an awesome way to use up those not quite square blocks, that all of us make one time or another in our sewing :)
I have provided the link to go to the tutorial on how to make this awesome quilt featured in the above photo :)
http://quiltingpassion.com/blocks/topsy.html

There was also discussion on how to cut your blocks with a rotary cutter.. Yeah.... I found on youtube an abundance of wonderful videos on how to use your rotary cutters :) I have provided the link below ;)

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=rotary+cutting&search_type=&aq=f

Quick Tip to Prevent Fraying

If you prewash your fabrics by machine, you have probably suffered through the tangle of excess threads that sometimes pull away from the cut edges. Try this trick to help cut down on this problem--open the cut of fabric out flat and trip a small (1/2") triangle from each corner. Wash as usual, and prepare to be pleasantly surprised at the lack of tangled threads.

To Wash or Not to Wash?

Prewashing of quilting fabric is a subject for debate among quilters. Those in favor of prewashing do so to avoid the possibility of the excess fabric dyes running and ´bleeding´ onto a lighter piece of fabric and ruining many hours of hard work. Another reason to prewash all your fabric is to be sure that any shrinkage takes place before your blocks are cut out and sewn together.


Fans of not prewashing cite the crispness of the fabric as the top reason not to wash before piecing. If all your fabrics are washed before piecing, they will tend to shrink a little and give an old-fashioned ´puckered´ appearance.

Prewashing

When prewashing your fabric by machine, be sure to unfold the flat cuts completely. If you leave them folded as they come from the bolt, the center crease is much harder to remove by ironing.

Check Your Seams

A simple technique for accurate machine sewn seams involves a ruler and masking tape. Lower your machine´s needle at the 1/4" mark. Leave the ruler in place and place several layers of tape one on top of the other butted up against the ruler´s edge. This will leave a build up of tape that can be used to guide your pieces under the needle at just the right spot. Check the tape periodically to be sure that the mark has not shifted.

Chain Piecing

Speed up your machine quilting by using a technique called ´chain piecing.´ Match the first two pieces to be joined, stitch them together and stop the machine. Do not cut the threads. Match the next two pieces and place them under the pressure foot leaving a small gap after the first unit. Continue in this manner for as many units as you´d like. Snip apart, press, and you are ready to move on to the next step.

For more of these wonderful quilting techniques go to the following link :
http://quilting.lifetips.com/