The right tool for the job

The other day I decided to look at the manual and actually use the 1/4" quilting foot which was provided with my Brother sewing machine.

If you line up the fabric to the marks and start/stop at the right place, not only do you get a 1/4" seam allowance along the edge, it also starts and stops 1/4" in from the ends of the fabric.  This means that when you are sewing cross joins, the back of the block ends up looking like it does when you hand quilt, and leaves less of a bump when it's pressed.

This also has the effect of producing perfectly matched seams on the front side!!

I don't know why I didn't try this before!  It just goes to show that these things are included with the machine for a reason.  I'm going to use this foot for all my quilts from now on, because it's not like it's hard to change the presser foot before sewing.  My poor industrial machine is having less and less uses.  I need to do more garment construction because he's brilliant at that.

Best turnng method ever!

I just read this post from Melly and Me about turning small softie parts.  What an AWESOME idea!

I didn't think that I needed help with turning small parts but that looks so much easier that what I end up doing.  From years of making hair scrunchies for profit I thought I was an old hand at turning tubes.  I think I might have to try different widths of pipes/straws for different pieces.  Something wider than a drinking straw could make arms/legs/bunny ears/etc a lot easier too.