My BestTips For Getting More Quilting Done

Since I work full time outside my home, I don't get a huge number of quilts done. I am amazed at how many quilts some ladies get done! Even though I consider myself to be a slow poke quilter, I do have a few tips for turning out more quilts.

1. Choose simple patterns. Even the simplest patterns can look complex and turn out great! For recurring gifts, such as baby gifts, use a favorite simple pattern over and over again, using different color combinations. Its much faster to make a pattern you are familar with. My "go to" quilt for babies is Stacked Coins from Crazy Mom Quilts. It always turns out great and goes together easily and quickly.

Here's the most recent version. I am in the process of making another one for another little girl, but this one will have more green in it.





2. Designate a certain amount of time you will work on quilting each day in order to meet a self imposed deadline. I recently completed a quilt by making a decision that I would work on the quilt at least an hour each night so that it would be finished by the end of the following weekend. I succeeded by pure perserverance!

3. Stay home. This isn't hard for me, because I stay home unless its absolutely necessary to go somewhere, most of the time. But, If I am out and about on Saturday, I end up getting very little quilting done.

4. Leave the quilt out in progress. I know this is hard if you don't have a separate sewing room, but it helps to be able to go back to where you left off without having to get everything out again.

This is an old picture of my sewing area. Trust me, it doesn't look this neat right now!