The memory of someone telling us "a how to" can be a lifesaver. Over the years, these tried and true helpful hints have earned a special place in our lives. In the garden, in the kitchen, while out camping and even doing crafts we rely on others' experiences to make even the smallest task that much easier. We hope the hints and tips that we pass along to you are some you may have forgotten about. And the new ones you will keep in your memory bank for later use and to be shared with family and friends.

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Quick Jump to Tips in this Section
Tracing Patterns | Cutting Felt | Quilting | History in the Making |

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Tracing Patterns
Tracing patterns from a book or after downloading from the net are easiest done using a piece of heavy interfacing you can purchase from a fabric store. This type of material allows you to cut the pattern with ease as well as write notes on it. It is pliable, won't rip easily, takes up little space and allows you to store the original away in a safe place.
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Quilting Tips
Everyone has little tricks they use when sewing and quilting, here are some of ours.

• Keep a zip lock bag pinned near your sewing machine.
  ~ If you run out of a certain color of thread, place the spool in the bag. If it doesn't have the color number on the spool, write it on with a felt marker.
  
  ~ Keep a piece of paper in the bag to write down any other notions you may need.
  
  ~ If you want to purchase more material of a certain pattern or color, put a small swatch in the bag and make note of how much you need.
  
  The next time you go to the fabric or quilt shop, take along your bag. There will be no more guessing or trying to remember whatit was you needed.
  
  
• Prepare extra bobbins of the desired thread needed when working on large projects.
  
  
• If you have problems with rippling when you sew a boarder on a large quilt, start in the middle and pin and sew the border to the quilt all the way to the end. Return to the middle and pin and sew in the opposite direction to the other end.
  
  
• Most ironing boards have about 12 inches at one end that is quite useless when you are trying to press material or quilt blocks. Turn your ironing board around and place your iron on the pointed end of the board. This frees up the rest of the board to be used as needed.
  
  
• When you are buying fabric, check the back of the pieces you are looking at. You may discover a whole new piece of material and be able to use both sides in your quilt planning.
  
  
• Use up scraps to make sachets.

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Cutting Felt
Cutting felt to use in your craft projects should be done with old scissors. This material will make your rotary cutter and your good sewing scissors very dull very quickly.
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Do you have a favorite craft tip you would like to share with others?
Send them to Comfy Country Creations