When working with small projects the little things show more than they would in a full size quilt. So it is more important to take a little extra care with each step. It is also easier to prevent problems  rather than go back and tear out and fix things after you are done. Very!! frustrating!!

           Tip 1 

   Pay attention to your template while you are cutting out around it and make sure it stays in place and does not slip around. Any moving will make your square not so square and that will make your pieced top not fit together very well. It will distort the lovely picture you are trying to make.  The trick is to keep one hand on the template as you cut and rotate the mini mat as you cut with the hand not on the template. Keep an eye on it as you cut and as you turn so you can stop it from moving. 

           Trick: 

   Glue a small strip of fine grade sand paper on the bottom of your template so it won't slip. 

           Tip 2  

   When your  template begins to get chipped on the corners replace it so your squares will truly be square!!       

           Tip 3  

   Remember to baste the  pieced top to the batting before you sew the hotpad together. If you don't take time to do this you will have trouble with the batting shifting around when you try to sew around the hotpad.  It is not fun believe me to fight that batting.

           Tip 4  

   Don't forget to sew on the loop before you pin your layers together!!

           Tip 5  

    It pays sometimes to take the time to tack instead of pin. Pins are fine most of the time but when you are working with squares sometimes tacking prevents things from shifting out of whack.  I do sew assembly line fashion a lot but when you use pins it can be really frustrating to find  the edges of  two blocks did not stay in place well enough and if you leave it it will affect your piecing in a not so great way!  Prevent slipping by tacking seams together and the edges of seams. It pays  if you want lines to meet in your pieced top.

           Tip 6    

   Joining a specialty block like the Star Point has it's own problems.  The trick is to  tack where the seam of the Star Point meets the next Star Point  

   In this picture you can see the navy seam on the left is a 1/8" above the seam on the right.

 If you leave it your star will look like this   If you take the time to tack- your picture

  this is not a pretty picture                should look more like this

   To join two blocks -- tack where the star points meet then tack on each end. Make sure you place your tacks where your seam will be - not on the top where you will need to open the seam

    When joining two sets of blocks-- I start to tack where the block seams meet. Then I tack where the star points meet. Then I tack the ends.  You can open the blocks and check  whether your tacks are meeting right. That's another thing you can't do  if you use pins instead of tacking.

    I also trim gently where needed to square off blocks -but be careful you don't trim too much

         Tip 7  

   Iron! Iron!  Iron!  Iron each and every step of the way. The flatter your fabric and your blocks are the  better everything goes together.  I iron everything within an inch of it's life!!  I want it flat!!  Some of my students tell me they don't iron til they get completely done. That means your fabric slips and moves as you work with it and you will get puckers because the fabric is not flat!  Some people finger press but in small projects you want that fabric flat not fluffy. The lines of your picture ( every quilt is a picture) will not meet if you don't iron. It is an ounce of prevention that really pays off!  

       Trick

   Cover a small board about  12" x 18" or whatever size you want with a folded piece of cotton fabric. You could use an old curtain or a part of an old sheet.  Wrap your cotton sheet around the board tucking the extra  underneath  it.  Now find a place or make a place to have your makeshift ironing board right beside your sewing machine. It's a great benefit to be able to iron each piece as  you sew and having to get up each time makes it difficult to do that.                      

Take the time to prevent problems before they can make your project a nightmare!!