Tips for Holding Virtual Guild Meetings

We’ve been using ZOOM in The Quilter’s Way for over a year now to allow our members (who live in many different countries) to interact with each other virtually. Recently, we held our first virtual quilt retreat, Energize!, to great success. Participating in a virtual meeting is not quite the same as attending one in-person but it sure is a lot more convenient (i.e. no travel and no “forgotten” items). It can allow for some extra creativity such as sharing video courses or photos as part of your meeting. It’s also very easy to host guest speakers from different locations – and it’s a lot cheaper too!

A number of guilds, including the local one that I belong to, are adapting to social distancing by holding virtual meetings. This is a great way to interact with your other guild members at a time when it’s difficult, if not impossible, to be in the same place together. It does take a little getting used to get comfortable using this type of technology, but it isn’t hard and it’s the perfect way to connect with your quilting friends.

If you are considering holding a virtual meeting in your guild, I have a few tips to help the meeting go smoothly:

• Assign someone to “run” the meeting and manage the technology and member interaction to ensure everyone gets to participate. It is difficult to be “leading” the guild meeting and managing the members and technology at the same time.

• Have someone available to help members who may be struggling with technology.

• Decide if the interaction with members is going to be via the chat feature (where people can type in their comments) or video/audio. Video is more interactive but requires a more structured approach to the meeting to ensure everyone gets a “turn” and that only one person talks at a time.

• Provide a fun activity (even just a chat) at the start of the meeting to keep members entertained while people are joining the meeting. It can sometimes take a minute or two for everyone to be admitted to the meeting.

• Encourage members to have good lighting especially if they want to show off their quilts.

• If you are having a guest speak at your guild, work with them ahead of time to make sure that any tech issues are resolved and that they have the right amount of control of their portion of the meeting. Supporting them with member interaction or chat responses helps them focus on their presentation and makes the experience better for everyone.

I am currently booking for virtual presentations or workshops. If you are planning your guild program, I offer the following presentations:

• Conquer Your Fear of Free Motion Quilting

• Setting up Your Studio Space

• How to “Wrangle Your Scraps”

You can go to the Chatterbox Quilts website here to get more information or you can email me at kjh@chatterboxquilts.com if you are interested in hiring me for a guild presentation or workshop. I’d love to speak to your guild or quilt group.

Take Care,

Kim

Creatively,

How to Sell A Vintage Sewing Machine Successfully

Most people that are selling a vintage sewing machine will sell for a price that is too low because they don’t know much about their machine. It is worth getting to know your machine a little bit so that you can make it as attractive as possible to prospective customers.

Assessing your vintage sewing machine will not only help you determine the price that you can sell it for but will also provide information about whether the effort to sell will be worth it. You don’t want to spend lot of time and money preparing a machine for sale if the likely selling price is very low.

The amount of money you can sell your machine will be dependent on the demand for the specific model of your machine. Getting the best price for your specific vintage sewing machine is dependent on three main factors:

Inherent Value

Understanding the inherent value of your machine is necessary for setting a selling price but it is also important for determining how much effort you want to put into selling the machine. Singer made many models over the decades and each has its own value to prospective customers. Determining the value of your machine will require that you know its model, that you assess its condition and determine if it still works properly.

Attractiveness

Although purchasers are interested in machines that work, many people purchase vintage sewing machines for their appearance. Making sure that your machine looks as attractive as possible and operates smoothly is extremely important if you wish to get the best price. Most purchasers will be “turned off” by pictures of dirty or neglected machines because it suggests that the previous owners have not taken care of them.

Selling

The actual sale of a vintage sewing machine can be simple, painless process if you have prepared properly. Your success will be determined by how you set your price, how and where you list the machine, and how prepared you are once a prospective customer visits to see the machine. The selling process does not have to be a lot of work, a few simple actions will pay big dividends when the sale actually takes place. 

Most people who are looking to buy a vintage sewing machine are doing it out of the love of these unique and attractive machines. They will want the machine to work because part of the attraction is being able to use the machine to create quilts or garments, however they could get the same functions from a modern used machine. It is the look and style of the vintage sewing machine that is what attracts the buyer so, as the seller, it is important that you respect that love and present your machine in the best possible way. Do a little homework, apply some elbow grease, and display your machine effectively and you will sell your machine for the best price.

If you would like to learn more about how to sell your vintage sewing machine you may be interested in my eBook “How to Sell A Singer Vintage Sewing Machine – A 3 Step Process for Successful Selling”. In this eBook I provide a simple 3 step process to help you sell your vintage sewing machine. The process contains details on how to set the appropriate price, how to make your machine as attractive as possible and what actions to take to ensure that your selling efforts are successful. Click here if you would like more information on my eBook.

Creatively,

Tips for Solving Bobbin Thread Issues

In a recent TQW Live, one of the members was having problems with her bobbin thread when making the strip pieced blocks for the Diamond Bright project. The blocks for the project are made using a paper (or fabric) foundation and she wasn't getting great bobbin stitches. There are a few reasons for this:

1. You could be using the wrong bobbin or not have it wound evenly. Check to ensure that you're using the proper bobbin for your brand of sewing machine. In this case, she is using a Janome machine, so Janome bobbins are the best to use. 

2. Your bobbin tension might need adjusting. If you have the ability to adjust the tension in your bobbin case, this is something you should do first before addressing the top tension. If you don't know how to adjust your bobbin tension, check out this video from Handi Quilter (while she is working with a longarm machine, the same information applies when talking about how to check the bobbin tension).

3. Your bobbin area might need cleaning. Follow the instructions in your manual and clean out the entire area, checking to ensure that there aren't any little bits of thread or lint caught in this area. If appropriate, oil that area as well.

3. You might be using the wrong size needle. Make sure you're using the right size needle for the thread you are using. Most needle manufacturers have charts to show you what size needle works best with what weight of thread. 

4. You might need to rethread your sewing machine. Check your manual to ensure you are threading the machine correctly. With the model that is being used in this case, she needs to lock out the machine first before threading it. Not locking out when threading it can cause issues.

5. You might need to change to a different bobbin. While it can be hard to see with the naked eye, the bobbin you are using, while appropriate for your brand of sewing machine, might be damaged. Try winding a completely new bobbin and see if this helps.

6. You might need to adjust your top tension. If your bobbin tension is set properly and you are still having problems with the bobbin thread, you may need to tighten or loosen the top tension. Try making gradual changes in the top tension and check your results.

When having issues like this, it's best to start from scratch and use a new bobbin and a new needle. Unthread your machine, clean out the bobbin area, insert a new needle, wind up a new bobbin, and then rethread your machine and see how it goes. Hopefully one or several of these suggestions will solve our problem.

Creatively,

P.S. Do you strive to improve your quilting skills? Do you want to have fun doing it? Do you want to meet other quilters in a supportive, safe environment?  If you answered “yes” to these questions, you need to join The Quilter’s Way. The Quilter’s Way is the only quilting membership site that includes both training and an active, supportive online community. It’s not your grandmother’s quilting circle! Don’t wait another day! Join now.

P.S. I am an Amazon affiliate and, if you purchase items by clicking through the links in this post, I will receive a small amount of commission. This doesn’t cost you any more $$$, but helps me to continue creating free content for you. Thanks! 

My Favourite Quilting Tools 2020

I know you have them: those tried and true tools that you use all the time in your studio. They might not be fancy or expensive - the don’t have to be, they just have to work!

Martelli Palm Quilting Paddle Set

I have tools that I love to use in the Chatterbox Quilts’ studio and I recently shared them with my YouTube audience. If you’re wondering what I like to use and can recommend will work well for you, check out my video below. #affiliatelink

For more information on all of these items, be sure to check in the Description below the video.

If you would like to see more of my favourite tools and books visit here.

Creatively,

P.S. Do you strive to improve your quilting skills? Do you want to have fun doing it? Do you want to meet other quilters in a supportive, safe environment?  If you answered “yes” to these questions, you need to join The Quilter’s Way. The Quilter’s Way is the only quilting membership site that includes both training and an active, supportive online community. It’s not your grandmother’s quilting circle! Don’t wait another day! Join now.

P.S. I am an Amazon affiliate and, if you purchase items by clicking through the links in this post, I will receive a small amount of commission. This doesn’t cost you any more $$$, but helps me to continue creating free content for you. Thanks! 

Quilting is harder than it looks on quilting videos

When I watch a quilting video, the teacher always seems so calm. Everything runs smoothly and any little hiccup is met with a small chuckle and an amusing comment. We all know that is not what real quilting is about. I would hazard a guess the most quilt studios have been witness to at least one massive meltdown and have echoed with the sounds of the English language being used in ways not appropriate for civilized company. It has been my experience that the same creativity that can result in a one-of-a-kind quilt is sometimes used to express the quilter’s frustrations in creative and unusual sentence structures.

Real quilters know that there is always going to be times when a project is just not going well. No matter how hard you try, the situation does not seem to improve and the frustration just builds. This is the moment in the video where the director calls cut and everyone takes break to regain their equilibrium before restarting the filming. Unfortunately real quilters do not have a director to tell them to take break and they are often juggling a number of things while trying to squeeze in some quality quilting time, such as cleaning or cooking (yes, some quilters do these things as well as quilting). 

Let’s compare video quilting and real quilting in a few common situations.

Thread Breaks

In video quilting, the camera stops, the teacher goes for coffee and fixes her make-up while an assistant rethreads and tests machine before the filming starts again.

In real quilting, the quilter rethreads the sewing machine, the thread breaks again. The quilter looks for new thread and rethreads the machine. The thread breaks again. The quilter reads the manual, adjusts her machine and finally starts quilting only to be interrupted by their spouse , children or pets, who are hungry for dinner.

Wrong Pieces are Stitched Together

In video quilting, the camera stops, the teacher goes for coffee and fixes her make-up while an assistant unpicks the stitching and the camera restarts.

In real quilting, the quilter stops quilting and refers to the pattern in a state of denial. After a short period of grieving she unpicks the stitching, answers the door bell, brings in the mail, restarts quilting and makes the same mistake again at which point she is interrupted by her husband (Dan the Quilter Man), children or pets, who are looking for dinner.

Are you seeing the difference yet? 

Let's take a look at one more scenario for comparison.

Pressing During Quilt Construction

In video quilting, the teacher reaches below the table and brings out perfectly cut and pressed pieces for the next part of the pattern. The pieces are laid out on the table in perfect geometric order, a magic iron that requires no heat is applied to the fabric resulting in the perfect piece for the next step.

In real quilting, the quilter reads the pattern and goes looking for the material that is required for the next part. The quilter cuts the appropriate pieces and turns the iron on in preparation for pressing. Hearing a noise in the other room, the quilter investigates to find that the cat has hacked up a hairball on the carpet. The quilter returns 15 minutes later to press the fabric only to realize too late that the fusible web on the appliqué is facing up and spends the next half hour cleaning the fusible web off the iron.

..and Finally, The Clean-up

The difference between the video quilter and the real quilter is also obvious at the end of the day. When filming is done for the day, the on-line teacher leaves the set, an assistant completes the project overnight and the teacher shows up the next morning to begin filming with the completed project all ready to be displayed. Our real life quilter admits defeat at the end of the day with the quilt half done. She leaves her studio to be confronted by her family members who inform her that they are out of groceries. The quilter orders pizza, has a libation - or two - of her choice (alcoholic, of course) and goes to bed exhausted, hoping for a better day tomorrow.

No wonder real quilters aren't calm.

There is quite a difference between the "reality" you see on video compared to how real quilting actually works. You don't see the seam ripping or hear the cursing that occurred, thanks to the magic of editing, which makes everything appear easy and seamless. Video instructors never appear ruffled or upset. Don't be fooled: there is a lot of "real quilting" going on behind the scenes in instructional courses and videos. 

Chatterquote: “Don’t Do Drugs – Do chocolate and an occasional glass of wine”

Creatively,

P.S. Do you strive to improve your quilting skills? Do you want to have fun doing it? Do you want to meet other quilters in a supportive, safe environment?  If you answered “yes” to these questions, you need to join The Quilter’s Way. The Quilter’s Way is the only quilting membership site that includes both training and an active, supportive online community. It’s not your grandmother’s quilting circle! Don’t wait another day! Join now.

P.S. I am an Amazon affiliate and, if you purchase items by clicking through the links in this post, I will receive a small amount of commission. This doesn’t cost you any more $$$, but helps me to continue creating free content for you. Thanks!