Margo, I definitely want to know more about your ironing surface. Where did you get it? Does it fit on an ironing board or a table? I have really considered buying a "big board", but the shipping costs are prohibitive.

I'm your neighbor to the north, btw ... *HI!* from Franklin!

Chelley

Hey Diane! You can save even more on starch if you get the liquid starch and mix it yourself! I prefer the Sta Flo brand in the blue bottle, and look for it at the local Dollar General store. I keep a spray bottle mixed up all the time.
You can mix it to whatever strength you want...I just use tap water and usually mix mine half and half, but you can add more or less water depending on how stiff you want your fabric.
If you wait a few minutes for the starch to completely soak into the fibers you won't get the nasty flaky stuff when you iron it, and, of course, iron from the back of the fabric.
Margo

Margo,

I like your studio.. I just wish I had more room to put up a larger ironing surface. I have started using starch on all my fabric now, and with the OBWs it is a life saver. (I buy my starch at Big Lots for 90 cents a can, instead of the grocery store). My ironing board is going to need to be washed soon, from all the starch on it, and I may have to consider covering it with something when ever I will be starching.

Diane

One of the things I can't imagine working without any more is my large pressing board. (See the photo of my "studio" on my profile page!) I bought a professional pad that is really firm (let me know if you want the source) and covered it with canvas weight duck fabric. I starch a lot of stuff, so sometimes I have to take the cover off and launder it, but I love having the room to iron a whole width of fabric at once!
SEW LONG!
Margo in SE Tennessee

The Block Maker Square up ruler and the Rule Steady. They are excellent products.

Diane, that's a great idea! I have one of those tack guns. I think I'll use that on my next OBW!

Thanks,
Chelley

I love my 1/4 inch edge guide foot, I use that for stitching my pieces together and always get an accurate seam.

You know, I have one of those rotating Olfa cutting mats, and forget to use it. That would work great when cutting smaller blocks or what not.

I also forget to use my trolley needle, and I got it to USE AS a stilleto, will have to dig that one out and start using it again.

I love the idea of your pressing board... will have to remember that the next time I need something a bit more firm than the one I use now.

Diane, who always seems to be saying DUH, why didn't I think of that earlier when someone posts simple tips or tricks.

#10 foot for my Bernina. If there's an edgestitch foot for your machine, grab one! Great for really clean stitch-in-the-ditch, easy satin stitch applique, and piped binding.

Small turntable-style Olfa mat, so I don't have to move stacks of cut pieces around to cut them.

Using a trolley needle as a stilleto. Stays on my finger so I don't have to reach for it when I need it. (Just remember it is there so you don't poke yourself in the eye!)

Making my own pressing surface for really sharp pressing of paper-pieced or tiny blocks. I just bought a legal-size clipboard at the offic supply store, wrapped it in foil and made a fabric sleeve for it. Much better pressing!

I just got the QuilTak, basting gun, and boy am I glad I did. It makes it so easy to baste quilts, I don't dread that part of quilting any more.
I'm also using it to hold my fabric together in the layers for my One Block Wonders instead of pins. With the tacks instead of pins, the ruler is much easier to move across the fabric, and if one of the tacks should happen to be where I need to cut, it doesn't destroy the rotary blade like running into a pin would.

Diane