I hope you all enjoy these tips! I get this question so often, so I wanted to share my methods. The quilt in the background is a little sneak peak for next week! :). If you want to see tutorials for many of the quilts that popped up in the beginning of the video, the playlist is right here: kzfaq.info/sun/PLEivWFjX-fGrRiqDpgMsdoxsL0JDXO_c3

I just finished your gradient quilt. I'm a 71 year old man, so if I can do it - anyone can.

Great Tips! I practice them all every day except the sewing triangle. I deliberately put my iron and cutting station across the room so I have to get up and move! I am retired so time isnt a big issue but staying mobile is! When I did work i would get all my chores done and would leave me about half hour before i had to leave for work that I would sew in that time! Be surprised how much you can get done in that short time!

Great tips, love #6! Sample block of same fabric line, GENIUS!!!

A work triangle? DUH! I immediately re-arranged my sewing room. What an amazing difference!!!

You are darling! Great tips to get organized. Thank you!

I love your tips! I’ve sewn for 60 years, but love hearing new ways of saving time!! Most of all, I love your enthusiasm for quilting!! Your organization is definitely enviable!! 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

CATS! I’m only on your 2nd tip & I am already seeing my cats in the baskets & laying on the pressing mat 😂 !

I was happy to find out I’m doing everything you are doing but your tip on bobbins reminded me of a funny situation. My granddaughter came to visit one summer and she asked to learn to sew. So we spent the entire vacation on her learning to sew. When she got home her dad bought her a sewing machine. I called her to find out what she was making and she said not much because it was soooo time consuming to fill a bobbin. After some discussion I realized she was winding her bobbins by hand. In all her lessons we had used bobbins that were already full. I had forgotten to show her how to fill a bobbin! I talked her through the quick way to fill a bobbin and we both had a good laugh. 😁

Love your basket system. OMG the thread cutter! Yes, work triangle! I'm jonesing for that bobbin saver! Your lip color is perfect and sets off your beautiful skin! Ooo the sample block quilt idea 💡! Outsource 🙌!

Winding multiply bobbins is the best tip I have heard on any video. That is genius! Thank you!!! It has made running out of bobbin thread so much less frustrating.

Having picked quilting up again due to time at home because of the pandemic, I really am enjoying your videos. They are really helpful and very well done! I bet your number of subscribers is going to increase fast!

Great tips! To add to the idea of being organized and making good use of small bits of time: before I finish I tidy up my space and prep for my next sewing opportunity. Pin together some pieces, select the thread to wind bobbins, etc. That way I can leave with anticipation of what's next, jump in quickly next time, and avoid dithering around trying to decide what to work on.

Thank you for your honesty in acknowledging the difference between someone who sews for a living and the rest of us. As usual your tips are very helpful. It's all so obvious, and still one has to be made aware of it and be constantly reminded. And you do that in such a kind, not-condescending way. Thanks also for the etsy link to the thread cutters. They actually ship them to Germany, yay! Of course, shipping is as much as the cutter ... :-) Well, a woman's gotta do what a woman's gotta do, I guess.

Thank you! I’m new to quilting, and I’ve realized I enjoy the process of making a top, not the quilting part. So I may try outsourcing it to a long arm. Thank you for making me feel better about doing so!

This was so helpful. I love the idea of sample blocks in one theme!

I used to make garments but hated the stress of them not fitting. I am working on my first quilt and have been loving your videos!

I learned many of these tips in the 80s from watching Nancy Zieman and reading her book “10-20-30 Minutes to Sew”. I use ziplock bags to hold my projects which go in a basket (space saver). I also marathon cut. I sew fashion as well as quilt and I “sew” something everyday. If I have a quilt project and fashion project that requires the same color thread, I chain piece all of it. I like to iron on an ironing board, so I don’t mind getting up, but if the project requires small pieces to be pressed frequently, I make the triangle.

Honestly, you are amazing! So many awesome tips! Tuesdays are my favourite days for real and I feel like my day hasn't officially started until I have my coffee and pencil/notebook out ready to watch your video. Thank you so much. This and the 1/4" seam videos are seriously two of the most helpful videos I have ever had the pleasure of watching. I think the last tip I would add is having a growth mindset: sometimes, especially as a beginner, things don't always work out. We all make mistakes, but seeing yourself as a creative and competent person who can learn and grow and improve is key. I remind myself that this is something I love to do - the results really aren't as important as enjoying the process. I am grateful for the all time and resources I am able to put towards this hobby: gratitude has really enabled me to experience more pure enjoyment and "flow". I have recently started keeping just a small quilt binder with pattern wish lists, quilt bucket lists, graph paper with block diagrams so I can figure out the maths or have a layout to refer to, etc., but I have also started writing down tips or tricks or even things about myself or techniques I tried or learned at the end of each project. Even though it's only been a few months, it has been both helpful and encouraging to look back and really be able to see how much I've improved and the volume projects I have accomplished. It has also been a great way to reinforce the lessons I have learned and keep myself from repeating the same mistakes (well, most of the time anyway...some things are harder to learn than others!). And truthfully, you have been a huge influence and guide in helping me improve. Many thanks. Love from Canada.

Practical and insightful tips. I engineer every project to use the most efficacious ways to produce my project. I evaluate construction methods to reduce seams or use multi block approaches such as 4x geese or 8x hst. I also trim in such a way that I do 1 pass on hst by using triangle ruler and trimming closed to make 1/2 as many cuts. Also I make 2 passes on piles of other blocks to make 1st two trims and set aside. I then rotate the full pile and make 2nd set. Every rotation on your ruler costs time and joint water and tear. With almost 1000 pieces or more in a quilt…small things add up. I’m a big believer in investing in rulers to save time,increase accuracy and save fabric.

Great video, I found cleaning my area regularly has helped so much. Thanks

You seem like the NICEST person! I pop a skinny seam ripper into the hole on a spool of thread and use it for a string piece cutter. Seemed like it might fall, but it works well until a cutter magically comes up as the bonus item in my thread and fabric shopping cart.

Omg I need that basket system, my quilts are tucked randomly around the house and when I find one I get inspo and add to it lol

Speaking of having bobbins ready: I use Gutermann exclusively. The small spools make pretty much 7 bobbins. I wind up those bobbins, and stack them on the extra spool holder on the top of my machine. Very handy!

THANK YOU for all of your very helpful suggestions. This is great and taking you up on these tips will make my sewing life a lot better and more efficient. Also, One thing I always tell everyone… There is no such thing as the quilting police. Do what you want. I really enjoyed this video.

I’m an older quilter with back issues so I spread my work stations apart so I get up and move often. 😊

These are are such insightful productivity tips! #RisingToBe #AsWeRise #Riser #KeepRising #ImARiser

I have a work triangle, but I often will set up my wool ironing pad and iron out on my large kitchen island so I get some steps in!

Wow congratulations to make many bquilts

These are some great tips! Thanks!

Im a new fan and also new to quiting. Thanks for sharing truly appreciate it.

Megan, these quilts are amazing! Thank you for taking time to tell us all of this!

So many great tips

Thank you so much! Love the tips 😉

Love the tips! A second area vs. Craft room...I get it!!

Great tips, thank you 😊

You inspire me to be more organized and creative. I keep a running chart of every quilt project I complete where I document the pattern source (including URLs), block size, finish size, and finish weight of the quilt. I also include what general type of fabric, thread weight, thread color, thread amount, and brand and type of batting I used. Finally, I make brief notes about the process, such as if I hand quilted or machine quilted. My desire to control quilt weight prompted me to start keeping these notes, but I have used the chart to compare finished projects and to remember favorite products or costly mistakes.

such great tips. I use empty shoe boxes for project storage, it's SO helpful to have everything for that 1 project in the same place. thanks for sharing 👍

Thank you.🌹

Thank you❤

I found you a few days ago and I love your videos!!!! I want to find your sew along videos. ❤️

Thank you for all the tips. Very graceful and informative.

Thank you for this video! Very helpful. Took quite a few and put them to use. Gave me more brain space and energy to get some tasks completed

Wonderful tips 🎈🎈🎈

Especially love the cutter, and the tip about sample blocks from the same line of fabric!

Thank you very much for making this great video!! Many awesome tips and so well explained.

i wrote down a bunch of these to try out later! great ideas! followed

Great tips. Most I do.

Thank you for this video! So many helpful suggestions! I always fail to have clear surfaces, sometimes I have and then they get messy again! And the triangle... so far away! And.. so on! When things get stressing the fun is lost! You look so calm and infuse trust in the process of organisation!Thank you! 🌼🌼🌼

Love your chair! Thanks for the great tips!!

Great ideas, Megan! The little cutter! SO CUTE!

Great ideas! Thank you.

Love the organization section!!

Great idea regarding using the same fabric line for our sample blocks. I like scrap quilts, but like you (as stated in a previous video) like my scrap quilts to have a theme and some cohesiveness.

Absolutely excellent video, thank you. 🌻

Thank you for the great tips. ❤️

Thanks so much for your clear and concise suggestions. Your plate is full but you get things done.

This was very informative! Thank you. 💕

Great tips! Well presented. Bravo!

Great list of tips and so much to the point. Thank you 😀

This is such a helpful video! thank you for all the tips. I'm new to this and it's so good to have these tips before i find them the hard way :D

Thanks for all your tips. Now I understand why you have so much fabric. I’m a fairly new quilter and learning a lot through videos. I do have a spare room that I use for quilting and it is setup in a triangle and works great. Again thanks for sharing 👍❤️😊

Thank you for your tips. In December, 2019, I started quilting and bag making and enjoy making both. I do have a full time job and work from 8-5. By the time I get home, I am tired and don't want to do much of anything. I also recently purchased two new machines. A Janome S-5, which I love very much, and an industrial Juki DDL-8700. Both machines work well making both items. I am an extreme procrastinator but I know once I get more organized, my procrastination will start to disappear. Your video is perfect for what I need to do to get myself in gear.

Very helpful tips! Thanks for sharing.

I love your channel, you give great tips.

Thank you for these tips

Wow, you are very productive! I am impressed.

This was terrific, thanks

Your advice is dead on. You nail it. Great video. Thank you

Very helpful...

Such good tips, I so need to start at step one, lol.

Fantastic video.

Where have u been all my quilting life....sheesh your brilliant! So helpful to ME, (organizationally challenged!)😊🌸❤️💯

Great tips! My first exposure to your videos and the headline really got my attention. Have subscribed and can’t wait to watch more!

yep. I think you are amazing! just wanted to tell you that!

Hi Megan, I really look forward to your videos and appreciate the work you do. I find it very helpful 🥰 Thanks for sharing, 💗 Chris-Raleigh NC

Every night when I finish sewing, I set up for the next day so that when I walk into my room, I can sit down and start without doing anything else first. I have a very small space, so everything is always organized to get me going on the next step and any tools that I won't be needing for that step are put away. Great video! Love your ideas and your quilts are beautiful! So glad I found your channel!

Super great tips. I feel better about the corner of the dining room table I often land on. It's a big table. 😁

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Bobbin winders are great..... great project for kids or grand children 👶

very helpful

Great suggestions. This is my first time I have you seen you and I already subscribed

Well....this was a ‘hint’ video that was actually helpful! Thank you, I’ll definitely be taking ideas away from this.

I also use the small sample blocks for pin cushion gifts.... the larger blocks I use for pillow tops.... gifts

Great tips Megan! Good stuff. I have borders left to do on my version of your Ombre Quilt ... I had some 1/4 yard cuts of ombre fabric and so made it all from my stash....and I love it!!

I use a bobbin winder and I wind a few at a time. I saw somewhere on the Net that you can save the wear and tear on your machine.

Brilliant! great tips - especially putting the different projects in boxes... mine just pile up at the end of the table:) Thank you :)

Excellent tips that I can certainly use. I fall victim to my own manufactured idea of needing large blocks of time or just forget about working on a large project today and hope tomorrow or soon I will have that kind of availability. As a mom, we all know that never happens because.....life. I need to get into using the smaller chunks of time more efficiently.

You're amazing. Love your suggestions. Sometimes the drive to quilt just isn't there even though there are projects that have to get done. Any suggestions on finding that get up and go to get in there and get going?

I am a new subscriber, and I just wanted to let you know that I love your aesthetic and your video quality is fantastic! Also, your skin is so pretty. You look great on camera. Just wanted to give you some positive feedback! :). As for quilting, I am a specialty ruler junkie!

*Ive got a janome 9400 qcp * IT IS a great machine

This is the first time one of your videos has appeared on my KZfaq feed. I was wondering if you have a video for the quilt that is hanging behind you in the video?

You are so awesome! Have I said that before? I'm sure I have :-) I just got the thread cutter! AMAZING!! These are good tips! I'm going to try it today :-)

Love your tips... for me the “fancy cutting machine” is essential. I bought mine when I noticed I was struggling with rotary cutter and ruler because a side effect of medication I was taking to boost my platelets (my immune system destroys them faster than I make them). I was taking the meds in cycles and it was effecting my sight during those cycles which lasted a minimum of six weeks. What I didn’t realise was this side effect was masking damage my immune system was doing to my eyes... so suddenly the sight didn’t “bounce back”. I’m now registered blind and without my AccuQuilt Go and the dies I’ve bought I would not be able to enjoy my sewing as I do. I see clearest 4 inches from my nose so cut and sew mostly by feel so I use a fiskars combination ruler with rotary cutter attached as a normal ruler and cutter is too much like an extreme sport. Using my fiskars I prepare fabric to go through my AccuQuilt and I’m finally getting more accurate sewing the pieces together as I used Bonnie Hunter’s Bonus Buddy Ruler to place a guide on my machine bed for an accurate seam allowance. Like you I keep projects in boxes but I also take the time to clip the cut pieces together so each block has all it’s components if it is essential to keep the correct fabrics together. For instance I’m doing a scrappy snail trail quilt where each block is made of 2 fabrics yet each block has a different combination of the various fabrics I’m using. I sew three blocks at a time to further contain the chaos to a level where I don’t end up sewing the wrong fabric in a block.

I am the world’s least productive quilter but I’m ok with that. I have a rule that I can only quilt with fabric that’s too small for making clothes out of. So I make improv blocks pretty slowly. One day I’ll have enough for a whole quilt

You do such a great job! Thanks for the tips today.

Your videos are excellent! I have a channel for weaving and know it’s a lot of work behind the scenes. Especially all the editing for each video. Your tips are very helpful. I am a sort of new quilter. I have made 4 t-shirt quilts and am finishing quilting my first pieced quilt which is for my new granddaughter. What do you do with all the quilts you make? Are they for orders or do you sell them? Just curious before I head down this rabbit hole. LOL

Re: making a sample block. I found a pattern that I hoped to use for multiple quilts for all the many family members' high school graduation gifts. I made one block, and HATED it! Soooo, not making that that design!

Great tips! I still have to get better at scheduling time to sew. I have a tip for you: rather than winding your bobbins on your sewing machine, you should get the little Sidewinder machine. It can wind your bobbins while you are sewing. It's small so doesn't take up a lot space and can run on batteries or be plugged in. You will need an extra spool of thread to use on it but I'm betting you have that already, Lol!

Great tips! Do you have a video on how you use the Creative Grids ruler for the flying geese? I would love to get one ruler that does all sizes.