This might be an old trick to you appliquers out there, but I just learned it from one of my students yesterday while giving a workshop on my
"Pretty Crazy" pattern at our delightful local quilt shop in Camas, Washginton:
RiverQuilts.
Yes, I said "learned this from one of my students". That is one of the many rewards of teaching--I always come home with new knowledge!
The Pretty Crazy pattern calls for lots of fabric strips with ironed under edges. Marie showed us an easy and great way to iron under those edges in a perfectly straight line, without burning your fingers.
All you need is a ruler, a
smooth dressmaker's tracing wheel,
like this one, and a hard surface.
What you do is run the wheel along the edge of the ruler where you want your fold to be. This "scores" the fabric, not cutting any fibers, but making a nice dent. Marie says she can get as small as a 1/8" fold this way (good for those fine flower stems in applique.)
Here is the flannel strip with it the edge folded up, before it is even ironed!
I didn't get a shot of the ironed strip, but you know it turned out perfect.
Thank you so much, Marie!!!
Great idea!
ReplyDeleteThank you!!!
ReplyDeleteDiane in Illinois!!!
That is genius! And I think I have a tracing wheel in some box somewhere, too.....a remnant from long ago dress making!! Yay!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea! Thanks for sharing it. Hey, I just saw your CQ playing cards. How fun is that?
ReplyDeleteGee thats a great idea I never knew it either.
ReplyDeleteWonderful! Sooo nice of her to share and you thru her! Or does that go taother way? Anyway... thank you! And you can teach an old dog new tricks (meaning me!)cause I just learned something!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Allie, for sharing what Marie shared with you. And the love goes round and round. (smile) I'll be trying this hint ASAP.
ReplyDeleteOh, man! Brilliant! I wish I knew about this yesterday, when I was pressing under the allowances for a quilt label that I made with the Scrabble tile fabric. I can now commit felonies with impunity, because I burned off my fingerprints with that bleepin' iron...
ReplyDeleteHoly smiles! Did this come at the perfect time! Our whole first lesson is ironing strips! If it's OK with you, I'd love to link to this tip...thanks for sharing it...you doll, you!
ReplyDeleteWhat a neat idea because I make a lot of purses with handles. I will definitely utilize this idea.
ReplyDeleteI learn something new everyday so this is my first (learn) for the day.
Lovely blog by the way. I just discovered you this morning.
That is sooooooooooo cool and I have to rush out and buy a dress makers wheel. I know this is one tip Ill find lots of uses for.. Thanks for sharing Allie... Gerry
ReplyDeleteBrilliant! Thank you, Marie and Allie!
ReplyDeleteExcellent tip, thanks bunches!
ReplyDeleteI just had to come back and let you know I tried your tip..after running the tracing wheel (my moms) a couple of times and removed the ruler edge I was like hum..didn't see anything. BUT it was perfect and had to just giggle to myself for being a skeptic. AWESOME!
ReplyDeleteThank you
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ReplyDeleteWell, well, well... that has got to be the best trick around! Thanks for sharing, now all I have to do is remember where my tracing wheel is??!!
ReplyDeleteAll my tracing wheels are notched. Hmm.. I'll try my pizza cutter.
DeleteWhat a great idea! I've been doing some fancy embellishments on my Mug Bucket pattern. Will try this with the trim.
Fantastic!
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ReplyDeleteBrilliant! My fingers and I both thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeletePS- I didn't proof read my first attempt at commenting.
Wow what a finger tip saver. Thanks to you for posting and to your student for teaching you.
ReplyDeletefantastic idea! thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea - I always get "bowed" lines when I try to eyeball my strips to press them :D I have the spokey tracing wheel too, but thanks to Georgia's comment I can try my pizza cutter too - LOVE THIS!
ReplyDeleteWOW!!!!! Thanks so very much for sharing!!!!
ReplyDeleteThis tip works fantastically . I used the back of the scissors blade, and it worked just fine.
ReplyDeleteOh what an exciting tidbit! If any of you can't find a smooth tracing wheel,Wawak.com has them.
ReplyDeleteTHANK YOU! How have I lived all these years without knowing this? You have saved me hours of aggravation!
ReplyDeleteThanks, just what I need!
ReplyDeleteI can't believe I never thought of this!. LOL. Awesome.
ReplyDelete