quilting techniques Archives - Faodail Creation | Sewing, Quilting & Embroidery Tutorials

Cassie Cartmell – Faodail Creation

The Ultimate Guide: How to Wash a Quilt for the First Time

How to wash a quilt is a question many quilters ask, especially after completing a beautiful, time-consuming project. Washing a quilt for the first time can feel intimidating, but with the right steps, you can safely clean your quilt and enhance its texture and appearance. In this guide, I’ll walk you through how to wash a quilt from start to finish, share tips for color protection, and show you how to get that perfect crinkled look on your free motion quilting.

Why You Might Want to Wash Your Quilt

When learning how to wash a quilt, one of the first questions is whether you should wash it at all. Some quilters prefer to keep their quilts pristine until first use, while others want the quilt to get that soft, crinkled look that comes from washing.

For free motion quilting, washing your quilt after finishing all quilting and binding adds texture. The quilting stitches puff up, giving your quilt a dimensional, professional finish. Personally, I recommend finishing your entire quilt, including adding the label and completing the binding, before washing a quilt. Washing prematurely can make binding more complicated.

When to Wash a Quilt

Timing is essential when learning how to wash a quilt. Here’s the best sequence:

Complete all free motion quilting.
Add the binding.
Attach the quilt label.
Only then wash your quilt.

Following this process ensures your quilt shrinks evenly and maintains its shape. Washing too early can distort your edges or make binding trickier.

How to Wash a Quilt in a Front-Loader Washing Machine

Now let’s get practical. Here’s my step-by-step process for how to wash a quilt in a front-loading washing machine:

Wash quilts individually. Always wash your quilt on its own to prevent damage and color transfer.
Add scented laundry pellets (optional). I like to use little pellets that smell amazing, throwing them straight into the machine.
Consider using a color catcher. Quilts often contain multiple colors. Color catchers are sheets that absorb any loose dye to prevent color bleeding. Simply toss one in the washer with your quilt.

Tip: I’ll link some color catchers in the description box for your convenience.

Add fabric softener. Pull out the softener drawer and add a small amount for a softer, more luxurious feel.
Select the right cycle. For a brand-new quilt, I usually choose an express or gentle cycle. Warm/cold water is ideal. I also keep a high spin setting for proper water removal.
Start the machine. Your quilt will wash for a short period, just enough to relax the fibers and enhance the quilting texture.

Choosing the Right Temperature

Temperature matters when learning how to wash a quilt:

Warm/cold cycle: Helps prevent shrinkage and preserves fabric colors.
High spin: Removes excess water efficiently.

I usually avoid hot water for quilts, especially those with bright colors or delicate fabrics. A gentle warm/cold wash is safe and effective.

How to Dry a Quilt

After washing, it’s time to dry your quilt. Here’s my method for how to wash a quilt and get it perfectly fluffed:

Dry in the dryer for 30 minutes. A short tumble is usually sufficient.
Add a dryer sheet. This keeps the quilt soft and adds a fresh scent.

Tip: You can also air dry your quilt if you prefer, but a short tumble helps your free motion quilting puff up nicely.

Before and After: The Transformation of Free Motion Quilting

One of the joys of learning how to wash a quilt is seeing your quilting change. The flat stitching becomes puffy and textured, giving your quilt a professional finish. Learning how to wash a quilt properly ensures that your quilting not only stays intact but also gains that beautiful, dimensional look that every quilter loves.

For example:

Star sections in my quilt became more pronounced.
Wood grain patterns puffed up and looked much better after washing.
Squiggly designs maintained their charm but now with added dimension.

Washing brings out the best in your free motion quilting, showing off all the time, patience, and effort you put into your project.

Color and Thread Choices Matter

A key lesson I learned while exploring how to wash a quilt is the importance of thread and fabric color choices. For instance, one of my early quilts had a dark brown thread on the back. While it looked stunning on the front, the back was messy and not visually pleasing.

Pro tip: Use the same color thread on the back as you do on the front, especially if you are a beginner at free motion quilting. This avoids harsh contrasts and gives a cleaner finish.

Using Bedding Sheets for Quilt Backing

Another tip for quilters learning how to wash a quilt is that backing fabrics matter. For one of my projects, I used a store-bought bedding sheet for the quilt backing. Not only did it save money, but it also washed beautifully and held up well in the dryer.

Pale colors, like soft pinks, can look almost white after washing, creating subtle and sophisticated effects.
Using everyday fabrics like bedding sheets can simplify the quilting process while still producing a stunning final result.

Common Mistakes When Washing Quilts

Even with careful preparation, quilters often encounter a few common mistakes:

Washing before binding: This can distort edges and complicate finishing.
Using harsh detergents: Gentle detergents prevent color fading and fiber damage.
Ignoring color catchers: Especially important for quilts with bright or multiple colors.
Incorrect thread choices: As mentioned, contrasting back threads can detract from the overall look.

By following proper steps, you’ll minimize these issues and maintain your quilt’s integrity.

After learning how to wash a quilt, I encourage you to share your results. Show off your free motion quilting, the texture, and the vibrant colors. The transformation from flat stitching to puffy quilting is incredibly satisfying. Understanding how to wash a quilt properly will help your quilt maintain its shape and showcase all your hard work beautifully.

In my quilt series, I demonstrated how each section gained life after washing, including stars, wood grain patterns, and squiggly sections. Seeing your quilt evolve can be one of the most rewarding parts of quilting.

Final Thoughts on How to Wash a Quilt

Mastering how to wash a quilt is a rewarding skill for any quilter. With a careful approach—choosing the right cycle, using color catchers, picking the right thread, and drying properly—you’ll enhance your quilt’s look and feel.

Remember:

Always wash after quilting and binding.
Use gentle cycles and warm/cold water.
Add color catchers for multi-colored quilts.
Dry briefly to puff up free motion quilting.
Pay attention to thread and fabric color choices.

By following these tips, your quilts will not only be clean but also beautifully textured and full of life.

Here is the link to the tutorial : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=budnLNEF-WQ&t=1s

How to Make a Quilt Label on Your Baby Lock Soprano: A Simple & Creative Guide

3rd March 20263rd March 2026 faodailcreationsewingblog

Cassie Cartmell Baby Lock Educator and owner of Faodail Creation

How to Make a Quilt Label on the Baby Lock Soprano is a fun and meaningful way to personalize your handmade quilts. Whether you want to include a heartfelt message, a special date, or a name, creating a quilt label adds that perfect finishing touch.

As a Canadian Baby Lock Educator, I’ve worked with many Baby Lock machines over the years and fun fact I actually owned the Baby Lock Soprano long before I partnered with Baby Lock. It’s truly an amazing machine! The built-in lettering feature makes it easy to stitch professional-looking text directly onto your fabric no embroidery machine required.

In this tutorial, I’ll walk you through how to prepare your fabric, set up your Baby Lock Soprano for lettering, and create your own custom quilt label that adds charm, meaning, and personality to your finished quilt.

🧵 Why Add a Quilt Label?

Before diving into how to make a quilt label, let’s talk about why it matters. A quilt label is more than just decoration it’s a way to:

Remember when and why you made the quilt
Record your name or a gift message
Add sentimental value to your creation
Personalize your handmade projects

Adding a quilt label is like signing your artwork it marks your quilt as uniquely yours.

✂️ Materials You’ll Need to Make a Quilt Label

To create a beautiful label on your Baby Lock Soprano, gather these materials first:

There are affiliate links below and if you decide to purchase from one of them links I may receive a small commission at no extra charge to you.

Baby Lock Soprano
Tearaway stabilizer – keeps fabric taut while stitching – https://amzn.to/4bjKLwC
Cotton fabric – use a light or solid color for the label
Iron and pressing mat – to create crease guidelines – https://amzn.to/4bi7R6S
Small embroidery scissors – for cutting jump threads – https://amzn.to/4r0VEbj
Lint roller – helps clean up stray threads – https://amzn.to/3MG2pl3
Quick Reference Guide – to find lettering stitch numbers

Having everything ready before you start will make the process smoother and more enjoyable.

🧷 Step 1: Prepare Your Fabric and Stabilizer to Make a Quilt Label

Before you begin stitching your quilt label, you’ll need to stabilize your fabric. Place a piece of tearaway stabilizer behind your fabric to prevent puckering and stretching while stitching. This step is especially important when doing decorative work like lettering.

Use your iron to create light crease lines that will serve as guides for your text. These lines help you keep your lettering straight without needing to draw directly on the fabric.

🧵 Step 2: Choose the Font and Access Lettering Mode

On your Baby Lock Soprano, open the lettering options. For this tutorial, we’ll use the handwriting font, which gives a charming, italic look perfect for a handmade quilt label.

To select it:

Press the font button twice until you see the italic handwriting option.
Refer to page 18 of your Quick Reference Guide to find the correct stitch numbers for each letter.

Each letter has a corresponding number that you’ll type into your machine.

✍️ Step 3: Enter Your Text to Make a Quilt Label

Now comes the fun part typing your message! For this example, let’s say your label reads:

“This quilt was made for my cat on April 2018.”

To enter the letters:

Find the number for each character in the guide (e.g., T = 20, h = 34, i = 35, etc.)
Enter each number using the keypad on your Baby Lock Soprano.
To add a space, press 101 between words.

Continue until your full message appears on the screen.

Tip: For your first line, start your lettering along your crease line to ensure even placement.

Stitching lettering on the Baby Lock Soprano

🪡 Step 4: Stitch the First Line of Your Quilt Label

Once your text is ready:

Attach Presser Foot N, which the Baby Lock Soprano will prompt you to use for lettering.
Lower your presser foot and start stitching the machine will automatically write your letters from top to bottom, not left to right.

Gently guide the fabric as it moves, but don’t pull or push it. Let the machine do the work while you keep the fabric straight.

🧵 Step 5: Stitch Additional Lines of Text

After finishing your first line, it’s time to add the next. You can delete the previous text from the machine and type your next phrase, such as “Made for me and my cat.”

Align the second line with the next crease line on your fabric. The spacing between lines might take a bit of trial and error this is where your handmade charm shines! Don’t worry about perfect spacing; slightly uneven lines add character and authenticity to your quilt label.

If you’re unsure about placement, do a practice run on scrap fabric first.

✂️ Step 6: Remove Jump Threads and Clean Up

Once all your lettering is stitched, it’s time for cleanup. You’ll notice jump threads connecting letters or words. These are normal and easy to remove.

Use small embroidery scissors to trim the threads carefully. A lint roller can help lift away any leftover fibers for a clean finish.

For stabilizer removal, you have two choices:

Tear away the excess stabilizer around the lettering, or
Leave it on if your quilt label will be sewn onto the back of the quilt (it won’t cause harm).

🪡 Step 7: Attach the Label to Your Quilt

You can now attach your finished label to your quilt! Options include:

Hand-stitching it to the quilt backing
Machine stitching around the edges
Framing it with decorative fabric or embroidery stitches

Your Baby Lock Soprano quilt label is complete a personal and professional detail that makes your quilt truly special.

🌟 Tips for Perfect Baby Lock Soprano Lettering

Always test your lettering on a scrap piece of fabric first.
Use a tearaway stabilizer for cleaner stitching.
Keep your text short and readable.
Use crease lines instead of fabric markers to avoid ink residue.
Save your favorite lettering settings for future quilt labels.

💡 Why the Baby Lock Soprano Is Great for Quilt Labels

The Baby Lock Soprano is not just a sewing machine it’s a creative partner. It combines easy-to-use lettering features with precision stitching, allowing you to create beautiful labels without extra software or embroidery modules.

Its Quick Reference Guide, automated stitch options, and adjustable fonts make it ideal for labeling quilts, garments, or home decor projects. If you enjoy adding a professional touch to your handmade items, this machine is a fantastic choice.

❤️ Final Thoughts: on making a Quilt Label

Now that you know how to make a quilt label on your Baby Lock Soprano, you can personalize every quilt you create. From the message you write to the fabric you choose, each label tells a story your story.

Whether it’s a gift for a loved one, a memory of a special date, or a label for your first handmade project, these small details make quilting even more rewarding.

This is the Link to the you tube tutorial : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0UXvYzeQQg

DIY sewing project

AccuQuilt Go Me

14th February 202615th February 2026 faodailcreationsewingblog

The Easy Way to Cut Fabric Like a Pro with Faodail Creation

6–9 minutes

If you’ve ever dreaded cutting fabric for your quilting projects, the AccuQuilt Go Me might just become your new favorite tool. I’ll admit it I purchased mine about a few years ago, and it sat in the box far too long. But recently, I decided to finally take it out, test it, and share my honest experience with you.

This post isn’t sponsored I just wanted to show you how the AccuQuilt Go Me works, what makes it helpful for quilters, and whether it’s worth adding to your sewing space.

If you fancy purchasing one this is my amazon link and I may get a small commission if you decide to purchase via my affiliate link https://amzn.to/4kEiaW6

This is my main Amazon Store Link https://www.amazon.com/shop/faodailcreation?ccs_id=75c0d1fc-cb97-469a-93be-4c7e5f0f167d

What Is the AccuQuilt Go Me?

The AccuQuilt Go Me is a compact, hand-operated fabric cutting machine that helps quilters cut precise shapes quickly and accurately. Unlike rotary cutting, where you measure and slice fabric by hand, this tool uses metal dies to cut multiple layers of fabric at once all while maintaining perfect seam allowances.

It’s the smallest and most budget-friendly model in the AccuQuilt lineup, which also includes larger and electric versions. The Go Me is completely manual, so there’s no motor just a handy crank handle that you turn to feed your fabric through the machine.

Why I Bought the AccuQuilt Go Me

I originally purchased the AccuQuilt Go Me because I had a mountain of scrap fabric from previous quilting projects. Cutting small pieces is my least favorite part of quilting it’s tedious, time-consuming, and not my idea of fun.

I wanted something to make cutting faster and more enjoyable, and that’s where the Go Me shines. It’s designed to help you use up your scrap stash efficiently while producing beautifully consistent shapes.

How the AccuQuilt Go Me Works

When you open the AccuQuilt Go Me, you’ll see it folds out from both sides, making it super portable and easy to store. The cutting area is the dark gray section on the die that’s where the fabric gets cut.

Each die is metal on the inside, which is how it slices through fabric layers cleanly. The kit I purchased came with two dies, plus a cutting mat that sits on top when you’re cutting.

Here’s a simple step-by-step guide to using it:

1. Layer Your Fabric

You can cut up to six layers of fabric at once, but I usually start with four to keep things manageable. Place your fabric over the gray cutting area, ensuring it covers the entire shape.

2. Add the Cutting Mat

Place the clear cutting mat on top of your fabric. The mat is what protects the die and helps distribute pressure evenly during cutting. Flip the mat over occasionally it extends its life!

3. Feed It Through

Turn the hand crank to feed your fabric sandwich (fabric + die + mat) through the machine. It might need a little help catching at first, but once it grips, it glides through smoothly.

4. Remove and Reveal

As it rolls out the other side, you’ll see your perfectly cut shapes all with accurate seam allowances. It’s incredibly satisfying to lift off the mat and see everything ready to sew.

AccuQuilt Go Me in Action

Using the AccuQuilt Go Me feels a bit like sending fabric through a gentle conveyor belt. You simply crank the handle, and it applies the right amount of pressure to cleanly cut the layers beneath the mat.

It’s quick, smooth, and consistent. I tried it with several different fabrics and color combinations, and each time the results were sharp and uniform.

If you’re working on a quilt that requires repeating shapes squares, triangles, or strips this machine saves a huge amount of time compared to rotary cutting. It’s especially great if you’re someone who struggles with hand strain or uneven cutting.

About the Dies and Cutting Mats

When you purchase the AccuQuilt Go Me, you’ll receive:

The Go Me fabric cutter
Two starter dies (usually a square and a half-square triangle)
One cutting mat

The dies are where the magic happens. The dark gray foam surface hides the sharp metal blades underneath, perfectly positioned to give accurate cuts every time.

The cutting mat is the piece you’ll replace most often it wears down gradually from the pressure of cutting. Thankfully, they’re affordable and easy to find.

AccuQuilt Go Me: Waste and Fabric Efficiency

Now, let’s talk about wastage. The AccuQuilt Go Me is not completely zero-waste there will be some leftover fabric around the cut shapes.

If you’re someone who hates any fabric waste at all, that’s worth keeping in mind. Personally, I find the trade-off worth it. The precision and speed of cutting far outweigh the small amount of leftover fabric. Plus, you can always repurpose scraps for crumb quilting or appliqué projects.

Why the AccuQuilt Go Me Is Perfect for Beginners

If you’re new to quilting, the AccuQuilt Go Me makes the learning process much smoother. Here’s why:

Consistency: Every cut is identical, meaning your seams line up beautifully.
Speed: You’ll spend less time cutting and more time sewing.
Ease of Use: No complicated setup or software just crank and cut.
Portability: Lightweight and folds up for easy storage.

It’s an especially great option if you’re teaching a younger sewist or working in a small space.

Tips for Getting the Best Results

Flip the cutting mat after each use to extend its life.
Stack fabrics evenly so all layers cut cleanly.
Use scraps strategically plan your cuts to minimize waste.
Try different dies for variety in your projects.

Once you get comfortable, you can start using specialty dies to cut more complex shapes for advanced quilting patterns.

Projects You Can Make with the AccuQuilt Go Me

I’ll be sharing a fun little project next week using the shapes I cut with my AccuQuilt Go Me. It’s perfect for using up scraps and testing out your color combinations.

If you’re into quick makes, here are some ideas:

Scrappy patchwork cushions
Simple table runners
Baby quilts
Half-square triangle blocks
Mini wall hangings

This machine is ideal for quilters who want to sew more and cut less.

AccuQuilt Go Me vs. Electric Models

There are larger AccuQuilt machines available, including electric versions. The electric ones are faster and don’t require hand cranking, which is great if you’re cutting lots of pieces for large quilts.

However, for most hobby quilters, the Go Me offers the perfect balance between price, portability, and performance. It’s quiet, simple, and doesn’t require any power cords just your creativity.

My Honest Thoughts on the AccuQuilt Go Me

After finally using my AccuQuilt Go Me, I can honestly say I wish I hadn’t waited so long! It’s made cutting fabric my least favorite quilting task enjoyable again.

It’s accurate, fast, and satisfying to use. The small bit of fabric waste is minor compared to the time saved and the professional results.

If you’re a beginner quilter or someone who wants to speed up their process, the AccuQuilt Go Me is absolutely worth it.

Final Thoughts: Should You Buy the AccuQuilt Go Me?

If you want to:

Save time cutting fabric
Reduce measurement errors
Enjoy quilting more
Make use of your fabric scraps
struggle cutting due to finger or hand issues

Then the AccuQuilt Go Me is a wonderful investment.

It’s a compact, easy-to-use tool that helps you achieve perfect cuts every time. Whether you’re quilting for fun, gifting projects, or selling handmade pieces, this little cutter will help you work smarter, not harder.

Link to the you tube tutorial https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESLfdCQMnWw&t=1s