So proud of myself...not as dumb as i feel sometimes

I am new to quilting while I have already made a couple quilts that I will NEVER post pics of because they are complete disasters but my technique osigetting better. I have always struggled with pattern marking pens, hence why I feel dumb, because I can never make them work. After racking my brain with finding a product that would work for me I have tried chalk, school and sidewalk, and the flixster pens which I LOVE but they do not last a extreme amount of time and dont really fit my budget to but alot them, I try to save to support my fabric addiction. Last night while going over my lastest quilting adventure masking tape popped in my head for marking my lines. I havent gotten brave enough to do anything other than stright lines. So far it has worked wonderful. Is there any reason I should not use this and if so anyone got any advice on what to use from items around the house.

People use painters tape (the blue masking tape) all the time to mark the straight lines for quilting. The only difference is the adhesive, the blue stuff doesn't come off the tape. I think that regular is probably okay to use as long as it's not old and gummy. You don't want that gunk to stick to your fabric. I've heard that you can even use your piece of tape more than once a lot of the time. Sew, move it to a different area, sew again.

I use masking tape all the time, when doing grid patterns. You shouldn't have an issue with it leaving any residue unless it is old an gummy, I would not use that. I will generally use the 2" wide then can quilt on either side before I have to move it. I have also used painters tape.

I hadnt thought of the 2in wide. I had my mom get me some today and she got the narrow which has worked really well for what i am doing. I am doing a QAYG but I dont like heavy dense quilting. I have never asked why you have to quilt so close together cause i always think if I like it than what does it matter. This is also my first quilt putting real batting in. Before I have used recycled baby blankets from the hospital and muslin in between a heavy material. Is there a reason you should quilt so close together?

The old type of batting used to require closer quilting to keep the batting from "traveling." When washed it tended to fall apart inside the quilt and ball up. Most today can be 3" or more between quilting lines, it usually tells how far apart you can go on the packages.

I used to mark my quilts painstakingly drawing lines, but then, Eureka, I discovered that I have an attachment, called a seam guide, for my walking foot that eliminates the need for lines! I draw only one down the middle then I use the tool to keep my lines straight. My tip of the day. Here is a pic of the walking foot with the seam guide Attachment 26184attachment.

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Originally Posted by BellasQuilts

I used to mark my quilts painstakingly drawing lines, but then, Eureka, I discovered that I have an attachment, called a seam guide, for my walking foot that eliminates the need for lines! I draw only one down the middle then I use the tool to keep my lines straight. My tip of the day. Here is a pic of the walking foot with the seam guide Attachment 26184attachment.

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I have one of these but have not used it yet. I think I am going to try it on the quilt I'm doing now. I plan on diagonal lines so it should work for me just fine.

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Originally Posted by Hsmith1127

I am new to quilting while I have already made a couple quilts that I will NEVER post pics of because they are complete disasters but my technique osigetting better. I have always struggled with pattern marking pens, hence why I feel dumb, because I can never make them work. After racking my brain with finding a product that would work for me I have tried chalk, school and sidewalk, and the flixster pens which I LOVE but they do not last a extreme amount of time and dont really fit my budget to but alot them, I try to save to support my fabric addiction. Last night while going over my lastest quilting adventure masking tape popped in my head for marking my lines. I havent gotten brave enough to do anything other than stright lines. So far it has worked wonderful. Is there any reason I should not use this and if so anyone got any advice on what to use from items around the house.

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You really should post pics anyway. Everyone here is very nice and would give you tips to try that will make your next one easier and ideas that you may not think of. I did and it helped a lot.

I use a tool called Hera Marker by Clover. Works really well. It makes creases on your fabric to give you straight lines. You can buy it from Nancy's Notions and you might even be able to find it at JoAnn's. : )

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Originally Posted by Madeforyouinma11

I have one of these but have not used it yet. I think I am going to try it on the quilt I'm doing now. I plan on diagonal lines so it should work for me just fine.

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I have one of those but didn't know what it was for or how to use. I had been sewing on my granny's 40+ yr old white which had one foot and two sticthes. My hubby surprised me with a used machine off of eBay and it came with everything under the sun but a manual. I am in love as I had never used another machine that could use a 1/4 foot. It is my best friend now.

My seam guide seems to move on me or maybe I’m just not skilled enough but I do better with painter’s tape. Very handy stuff. I'm going to check out the Hera Marker though. I love gadgets.

I haven't used my hera marker yet. Does the crease actually stay in the fabric for a while? Seems like it would disappear too quickly.

I have seen gadgets like that Hera marker and have wondered the same thing

To lady that sent me a message about this post it won let me respond back so I am goin to post my info here. The machine hubby got me was a Pfaff creative 7570 and I have found the books for it but apparently some folks think its printed on gold laced paper and the ones I have found are out of my budget range. My sweet sweet hubby just wen on the fact that I wanted/needed a new machine and that his moms 40yr old pfaff still works like new but I know from reading after purchase that this machine is a workhorse and a good machine but just not as user friendly as some machines. I love it and him for trying so hard. His hobby is chainsaws and he sold his favorite one to get me this machine.

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Originally Posted by BellasQuilts

I used to mark my quilts painstakingly drawing lines, but then, Eureka, I discovered that I have an attachment, called a seam guide, for my walking foot that eliminates the need for lines! I draw only one down the middle then I use the tool to keep my lines straight. My tip of the day. Here is a pic of the walking foot with the seam guide Attachment 26184attachment.

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Wow what a great idea...I have that attachment as well...I'm going to try that....thanks..

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Originally Posted by brook

I use a tool called Hera Marker by Clover. Works really well. It makes creases on your fabric to give you straight lines. You can buy it from Nancy's Notions and you might even be able to find it at JoAnn's. : )

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Thanks for this...I have a boning tool for paper crafts which is exactly the same thing, I'll have to try it.