Welcome back Quiltdom Press readers!

As the summer draws to a close, there's no better way to welcome a new month than by embracing organization and efficiency in your quilting.

This week, we delve into strategies for boosting productivity through techniques like chain piecing and utilizing thread trimming stands, plus we’ll provide other organizational help to streamline your quilting process.

And you’ll discover inspiring scrap-busting projects to transform those leftover fabric pieces into stunning creations!

Here’s what you’ll get today!

• Tips to Make Your Quilting Life Easier: Chain Piecing

• Tools We Love: Thread Cutting Stands

• Fabric Feature: The Coriander Colors Collection

• Make Your Life Quilty: Inspiration from Around the Web

• Popular on Our Blog

TIPS TO MAKE YOUR QUILT LIFE EASIER

Quilting is considered therapeutic by many people (and we totally agree!), but nothing is more frustrating than feeling like you aren’t making any progress on your projects.

While efficiency may not be the top priority when you just start your quilting journey, it can be so helpful to maintain your motivation and inspiration after you get down the basics. 

One of the best ways to increase your efficiency? Chain piecing!

Chain piecing is when you continually feed quilt blocks through your sewing machine, without stopping to cut the threads in between. This saves time, thread, and prevents thread nests!

You start by organizing your fabric into stacks that will turn into blocks. You can even label them to keep things extra organized! Once you have your stacks, you are ready to get sewing. Feed the first one through and then continue sewing blocks as you go, without stopping in between to cut the thread and feed a new block. 

Emily, from Homemade Emily Jane, shares a beginners guide to chain piecing and even includes a video to help walk you through the process!

Popular On Our Blog

11 Quilt Planners to Organize Your Projects: Do you have several quilt projects you would like to make but have no idea how to organize your thoughts and ideas? Check out these 11 planners with various features and categories to help you keep it all together!

Most Gorgeous 12-Inch Quilt Block Patterns When selecting a quilt pattern, it’s good to know the size of the quilt blocks. We will discuss why designers like to use 12” blocks, how many you will need for a full-size quilt.

21 Fabric Storage Ideas: Has your fabric collection has gotten so large that you need to do some legit organizing to keep track of everything? We’re sharing some tips and products to manage all of those beautiful scraps and yardage. 

GAME-CHANGING TOOLS

This thread cutter stand complements chain piecing perfectly and proves invaluable for other thread trimming tasks as well! Rather than discarding your old rotary blades, this stand breathes new life into them by securely holding them between the flowers, allowing you to trim by simply putting pressure on the thread.

This stand enhances efficiency and ensures a smoother workflow, making it a must-have tool for quilters. Plus, it offers a gentler alternative to scissors, making it easier on your hands. We’ll take the relief where we can get it, right?

More efficiency resources:

Sew Organized Series - This four part organizational series from Andy at A Bright Corner is a must-read! She goes over storage and organization for rulers, tools, fabric, projects, and more. Having a clean, fresh start can make the world of a difference in your process.

The 7 Day Challenge Book - If you want to start making the most of your quilting time, give this 7 day challenge a try! Use it to get back in the habit of sewing and increase efficiency, so you can get more done with the time you have.

Time Saving Hacks - We get it, not everyone has hours a day available to quilt, that’s why these time saving hacks are a must. If you want to use up every valuable minute to get closer to a finished quilt, check out these tips!

FABRIC FEATURE

This week’s fabric feature is the Coriander Colors Collection from Moda Fabrics by Corey Yoder. Polka dots, stripes, and gingham, oh my! This collection features a range of basic prints in a rainbow of colors, making them the perfect addition to any quilting project.

This Purry Stars quilt, a pattern by Corey Yoder herself, is such a fun way to showcase the fabrics and born to be in your fall decor (or year round decor, for all of you cat lovers!).

The inspo is endless! @theruralstitchco shares a variety of new patterns that are a match made in heaven for this collection.

This adorable Candy Twist Pouch is fun, quick, and mini charm friendly. See how Chrissy Lux of Sew Lux fabrics made it, in her recent blog post.

MAKE YOUR LIFE QUILTY

We all have scrap piles, it’s inevitable with quilting. The good news is that they don’t have to go to waste. There are many scrap-busting projects out there, just begging to save your scraps from the trash. Here are some of our favorites - we hope they inspire you!

These scrappy coasters are a quick sew and have endless style options. Plus, they make a perfect gift!

Ready for the ultimate scrap quilt? Take a look at the Confetti Quilt Pattern by Stitched in Color. This project uses all the smallest scraps, down to 1.5” squares and is the ideal way to showcase all of your scraps, like chapters in your quilting story!

Another small project  - this adorable pincushion is the perfect addition to any sewing room and takes minimal scraps to make. How can you possibly resist such an quick and satisfying project?

Peace, love, and quilting!

The Quiltdom Press Team