Could anyone kindly explain to me how to use a "tail"....that little piece of unrelated fabric used to start stitching so as not to feed those hungry feed dogs ! I've tried some ways and just laugh at myself. Oh to have my Mommy still here !
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Could anyone kindly explain to me how to use a "tail"....that little piece of unrelated fabric used to start stitching so as not to feed those hungry feed dogs ! I've tried some ways and just laugh at myself. Oh to have my Mommy still here !
Hey Lynn, it's called leader fabric QuikTip: Leader Fabric with Assembly Sewing - YouTube
lol at the tail though :)
I never would have found anything calling it a tail...but a leader ? Many thanks !Quote:
Originally Posted by Hulamoon
A friend of mine had small squares next to her machine, would sew a 1/4 seam as a leader and then would do another 2 at the end of her seam, she made those little squares into a lap quilt.
I have a bunch of little tumblers cut in Christmas fabric, will be sewing those together at the start and end of seams, eventually I think they will be placemats.
I just fold over a small scrap and use that over and over...until I drop it somewhere and can't find it...I am sure there is a group of them huddled in a corner somewhere scared to death that I will find them...lol
Lol that is what I do as well! I'm sure mine are all hugging scared in the vacuum cleaner bag!Quote:
Originally Posted by tdimitrov77
That thing with making a quilt with leaders and enders is really appealing for me BUT I always start sewing in th middle (or thereabout) on the scrap I'm using as a leader, so there is no risk of the corner being sucked down into my machine (which sometimes happens, especially with somewhat flimsy fabric). So I don't think that would work for me. I'll just have to make the effort all in one go some day and make the entire scrap quilt. :)
I use small piece of paper. I cover the hole with it and start a couple stitches on the paper before getting to the fabric. The needle perforates the paper and it tears right off.
Most of the time they are called a spider because of the hanging threads after you use it a while. It is basically just a smallish scrap of fabric that you begin sewing on and when you get to the end of the spider you align your real fabric up and sew off the spider right onto your project. You will snip your spider off after each seam and reuse it. Barb
My quilting instructor called these pieces of fabric (tails, leaders, whatever) granny squares. She provided them for us during our quilting class. I keep a small container of granny squares next to my machine. However, many of them are triangles, trimmed when making flying geese. The fabric pieces can be any leftover pieces from any project. I fold & press them in half for a double thickness. I start my needle ~1/4" from the edge. The leader can be used multiple times. I also use these for making sure my machine is stitching ok after I've re-threaded the needle or changed the bobbin. I've never seen Jenny use one, but she doesn't seem to have any problems with the feed dogs catching her fabric. I always use them, except when I start sewing in the middle of the block. For any quilt block larger than 9", I start in the middle & sew to each side. JCY
Sometimes I use squares of paper or Post It Notes and you can use them over and over. Usually I have extras handy because you cannot always find the one you just used. If the paper you have seems flimsy just fold it over a time or so and sew away.
A whole new world opened up to me when I found Bonnie Hunter from QuiltVille. She explains the process very well on her tips and tricks page for Leaders & Enders I have several projects going right now. A split 9 patch
Attachment 65298 You can't see very well, but this is the individual 2 1/2" pieces pinned together in blocks in a velveeta cheese box sitting in the drawer waiting for me to grab one. I have about 90 of them ready to stitch up yet. Here's some of the finished blocks
Attachment 65299Attachment 65300 I also have some 1 1/2" squares I'm working on 4 patches with random squares pinned together. Here's some of the two parts waiting to be matched up to 4 patches. Attachment 65301
I also have some dresden blades cut and waiting to be fed through the machine in the drawer. It's great fun to have another quilt or two done while chain piecing.
The quilts that I end up with will be fantastic charity quilts.
Thank you all for the very good info !!
Sorry I was wrong about the tail. I guess there is a tail. Always something to learn :)Quote:
Originally Posted by lynnl55
We can use whatever term that pleases us !! :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Hulamoon
Attachment 65357
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Finally someone gave ya what ya asked for ~ lol!! I've actually heard it called a starty and a stoppy ;) It is such a helpful little thing i put little 2"-ish size scraps that may have the selvedge (sp?) edge on it to the right of my sewing machine where my on off switch is so when one is sewn over so much i can grab a fresh one.Quote:
Originally Posted by K. McEuen
