Thursday, December 9, 2010

Here’s another little tip for ya!!

So glad you all liked my little tip about cleaning your cutting board!!! Well, because you all asked so nicely ;o) .... I'm gonna share another little tip :o)!!!!

I'll show you how you can join your pieces of batting so that you don’t have to waste a scrap - AND … when you’re just that little bit short of batting you can just add a piece on – and it’s so easy :o)!!

See the first piccy below – Batting joins 002the batting has rough jagged edges. Place these edges together overlapping them by about 1/2” (see below) – so that you can cut down the middle of the overlap and get rid of the uneven edges. Be sure that you have both pieces the same way up (sometimes batting has a skrim).Batting joins 003Place your ruler on top of the overlap with the edge of the ruler right between the two rough edges …Batting joins 004 If you are joining pieces for a strip of batting – or you want to keep the pieces square then line up the top of the batting with one of the straight lines on your cutting board and square it up with the ruler.Batting joins 005 Then cut right down the middle of the overlap of the batting.Batting joins 006Discard the ragged edges. You will see that your two pieces of batting now butt up nicely to each other with their perfectly straight matching edges. They are now ready to join.Batting joins 008 Set your machine to a 3 stitch zig zag …Batting joins 010that’s number 11 on my machine. If you don’t have a 3 stitch zig zag on your machine then a single zig zag will do, just make sure it is wide enough to stitch across the join. Position the two pieces of batting under the foot as shown below with the straight edges butted up to each other.Batting joins 011Then sew across the join with the zig zag stitch all the while keeping the two edges together. I have used red thread for the purpose of these piccies, but of course you would use a light one to blend in with the batting, otherwise it might show through on lighter fabrics when you come to use it in a quilt.Batting joins 012Here it is all joined up….. Batting joins 013 Nice and neat and flat … ready to be used :o)!!Batting joins 015Hmmm, now I’ve got all that nasty fluff in my cutting board!!! Whatever will I do LOL????

18 comments:

Unknown said...

Thank You!!!

Jo in TAS said...

Nice tip!

Mrs A. said...

Very natty. Simple when you know how!

Sandi said...

Good to know. The ladies from quiltgroup say to always keep your offcuts of batting. I do keep it - I've got a few bags full.

Allie said...

Great tip, thank you Joy!!

Julie said...

Now, I already do this one! Didn't know the rubber tip though. Would you believe I have been joining scraps of wadding in November and have enough for THREE quilt tops. I didn't realise I had that many scraps. Saves buying new stuff.

Penny said...

Cool tip! Thanks Joy :)

Sheila said...

What a brilliant tip - I didn´t know that was the way to do it. And great tip re the cutting mat yesterday. Keep ´em coming :)

Janice said...

How simple is that. Your instructions are so nice and clear to follow. I'll definitely file that one and the one about the eraser away in the memory bank. Thanks for sharing. I keep the narrow strips (down to about an inch) for padding coathangers. Works a treat.

Maria said...

Thank you for sharing your tips.

Needled Mom said...

I do mine in a similar way, but use a rotary cutter and cut it in waves so there isn't a straight seam.

Scottish Nanna said...

Thank you for the great tip's.
Hugs Mary.

Anonymous said...

Hi Joy - I just wanted to let you know that I received my SSCS package yesterday! Thank You!! I love the ornament - Can you share how you made it? Can't wait for Christmas now. - Kristi

Micki said...

Great tips! I do it a bit differently, but love that idea!
Micki

Bev C said...

Thanks Joy, I use a Serpentine stitch to join my pieces of wadding. It is amazing how you can join pieces and use up all those leftovers into something useful. A great way to reduce and recycle.
Happy days.
Bev.xoxo

Pam said...

Thanks Joy, those are some really good tips.

John'aLee said...

Great tutorial! Thanks for sharing.

marina said...

thanks for the two great tips. I often join batting but never as neatly as that, but I will now!