Tips from the Techs II: BSR Support

I sure enjoyed having all of you in the BSR Blast Class! It was a blast. It made me think it might be nice to review some BSR strategies. 1: Practice makes perfect. Make a quilt sandwich and write a letter to someone on it:) Or just stipple. 2:Get out your Mastery workbook and practice the designs that are in Chapter 4 or 5 on the BSR. 3: Make sure you have the proper needle and thread. I recommend a #14 top stitch needle if you are using quilting thread. The thread is heavier and requires a bigger needle. The top stitch needle has a deeper grove that the thread fits down in. If you are using a regular sewing needle with quilting thread you may get skipping stitches. If your BSR is skipping, it not the BSR. The BSR counts the thread and moves the machine at a speed to have even stitiches. 4: Check your basting spray. I recommend Sullivan's Quilt basting spray to baste your fabrics together. Make sure you spray it on the batting not the fabric. If you have trouble with skipping and you have spray basted, the glue could be old (has about a 1-2 year shelf life) or it may be a brand that is "gooey". It gets glue residue on the needle and you can get skipped stitches, it can't pick up the bobbin thread. 5: Are you using cheap fabric? We had one sandwich in last class that was older loosely woven fabric. The stitch was terrible. We switched to a different fabric and it was beautiful. That is why you shop at Bear Paw, you know it is good fabric quality. 6: Is your alarm on? Check your manual to see how to turn it on. You must stay "under" the radar to get a perfect stitch. Next BSR Blast will be in May and we will be doing thread painting. Hope to se you there!