Best Readers' Tips This wonderful collection of quiltmaking tips comes from you, our readers! A while ago, on our McCall's Quilting and Quick Quilts web sites, we asked you to share with us your best quiltmaking tips. We heard back from many of you, offering advice on fabric choice, design, cutting, piecing, and much more. Certain themes arose over and over in your tips, and there was an overwhelming emphasis on the importance of accuracy—when cutting, piecing, and pressing. Many thanks to all of you who contributed. We are pleased to be able to share with you a comprehensive list of the tips you submitted. FABRIC CHOICE AND PREPARATION 1. Don't be afraid to use color in your quilts. 2. Pick a print that grabs your attention. Coordinate colors around that print. 3. Always pick a fabric that is a little different from the others to add interest. 4. Choose fabrics from the same collection. They usually blend well and have a variety of lights, mediums, and darks, as well as different scales. 5. Purchase extra fabric (1/4 yd. or more). You might make a mistake or need an extra strip or two. Plans for quilts change! 6. When shopping for fabrics, take the pattern. Also, tack fabric samples to a 3" x 6" index card so you can find just the right fabric by comparing it to what you already have. 7. Wash and press fabric before cutting. 8. When prewashing fabrics, clip the corner of each piece to prevent a big, tangled, spider web mess when the machine stops! 9. To straighten fabric after washing, in preparation for cutting, fold across the bias and pull. Get a friend to help. Pull at the fold and every few inches out to the points. QUALITY COUNTS 10. Get the right tools 11. Use high-quality, 100% cotton fabrics. ACCURACY MATTERS 12. Press as you go. 13. Be sure to cut accurate templates. 14. Cut accurately when using the rotary cutter. 15. Do whatever is necessary to achieve accurate 1/4" seams. You'll have fewer headaches! 16. Learn to sew accurate strip sets. 17. Be sure to square up each block before stitching them together. Square up your quilt top before adding borders. 18. "From my dad, a master cabinetmaker, MEASURE TWICE, CUT ONCE."