My Swedish Bloom quilt has been on hold for the last few weeks. Partly because it’s the school holidays but mainly because I had to do some unpicking and I get quilter’s block when it comes to unpicking.
I did my usual lazy technique for sewing the rows together, but this time it didn’t work out! My lazy technique is not to measure any of the rows, but to make the sashing longer than it needs to be and trim it back after sewing. The problem with sashing is that you don’t notice when your blocks start getting out of alignment. On one row I ended up with a 1/2″ difference between the flower blocks on either side of the sashing. It’s pretty hard to hide a 1/2″ overhang, although I did consider my options for a while, anything to avoid the dreaded unpicking! I wasn’t actually planning on advertising my mistake ( I don’t have any photographic evidence) but I decided to keep it real and maybe someone might benefit from my sewing tip!
With the unpicking finally done, I spent some time this afternoon ironing, pinning and sewing the row back together, applying my baggy bottom sewing tip. I used heaps of pins, I didn’t want any overhang this time!
The after shot, perfectly aligned rows!!
Hooray, quilter’s block over, back to finishing this top!
Here’s my baggy bottom sewing tip, I learnt it from a local quilter and I use it all the time… when sewing blocks or rows together, if one side is longer than the other, put the longer (baggy) side on the bottom, next to the feed dogs. I used this technique today and it worked a treat, I just made sure that I lined the two rows up and used plenty of pins. I’m guessing this technique works because of the way the two layers of fabric move between the foot and the feed dogs. Do you know this technique? If you don’t, give it a try!!
11 thoughts to “Baggy Bottom ~ A favourite sewing tip”
Ooh, this is looking pretty! I'm glad you got everything straightened out. 🙂
I use the same trick with sashing all the time – good to know that I should keep an eye open for making sure I try to line blocks up correctly! This is such a beautiful quilt top 🙂
I was taught the trick once…. But could never remember which side went up. Now, I'll never forget 🙂 Baggy Bottom!
I am so in love with this quilt!
I never heard such term 🙂 thanks for sharing. I just wanted to tell you that your quilt top is sew pretty!
Very cool…..thanks for sharing!
Thanks for the tip Rachel. The top looks so lovely, I love the color scheme you chose 🙂
Lovely quilt top – baggy or not! It's so fresh and vibrant. 🙂
I adore this quilt! Thanks for the tip – took me a minute to work out what you meant (it's old age, I swear) but I'm totally going to give it a go. I also make sashing longer and trim back and it' bit me in the bum a couple of times now.
What a good blog you have here. Please update it more often. This topics is my interest. Thank you. . . best sewing machine
Rachel.. Thanks for giving a quick tip. Because I searching from long time but I got today sewing in bottom.. Thanks for adding it.. best sewing machine