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i call them leaders and enders, my machine doesn't usually bite

Quote:

Originally Posted by grammy17 (Post 6122393)

I do not understand how you get a quilt from your leaders and enders. I have lots of little pieces. Just trim off 1/8" and keep sewing a line 1/4" from the edge until it is too small and it goes in the doggie bag with the rest of its pieces.

Instead of just sewing onto and off of a scrap for leaders/enders, you would actually be piecing scraps or patches together. Bonnie Hunter has a system for doing this Oof course!), but I have not tried it yet. And I don't trim my leader/ender pieces, just keep sewing over them till they're so full of thread they're too thick and toss them. I mostly use them to conserve thread, my newer machine only "bites" if it's in a bad mood!

My straight stitch plate hasn't eaten anything yet, but.....

I call that tiny piece of fabric a starter. I was taught to use one when I started quilting 3 years ago, but I rarely use one. My machine doesn't usually fuss.

Dina

that used to happen with my Singer but not so much with my Janome. I have a plate on that came with the machine and so far, so good. The singer had two plates. one for straight stitching and another for zig zag or more.

my machine usually behaves, so I don't use the leaders & enders idea, but want to, to help work on a scrap quilt for someday :)

Most of my machines don't 'bite', but I use a leader and ender to save thread.

We call leaders etc, pigs.
I have a selection of machines and don't use them I prefer to just hold ends as I start.

my Brother doesn't bite but I use starters and enders to save thread.

Quote:

Originally Posted by grammy17 (Post 6122393)

I am sewing two scrap blocks together as leaders/enders. The smallest scrap I keep in my "food chain" is 2" blocks. Anything smaller than that gets used as stuffing or is tossed. I always cut as many 2" squares from my scraps as possible. I keep them all mixed together in a drawer next to my sewing machine. I just grab two random pieces at a time to sew together. 2" blocks are the perfect size for leaders/enders and I really do save a lot of thread by using them. After they are sewn together and clipped off of my chained pieces I just throw them into a bin to be pressed and sewn together later. It will probably take forever and a day to get a quilt out of them, but little by little they are adding up quickly!