Poor tension is the #1 issue machine quilters struggle to correct. The first critical step in solving it is getting over the fear of actually changing the top or bobbin case tension. Admonishments of “never touch the tension” from a home ec teacher might still sting your ears, but it’s time to silence that inner voice and put on a brave “I can do this” attitude!

Every other month, Dawn Cavanaugh, APQS Customer Service & Education Director, writes an article that features simple and actionable tips for your quilting projects. In this article we're sharing this year's top 5 most popular Quiting the Quilt articles here on the APQS blog. Enjoy!

Quilters on one side of the iron insist, “Always press toward the dark fabric!” The other side chants, “Always press to reduce bulk!” As a quilt piecer, I want it all—I don’t want my dark colors showing through my light fabrics; I want my patchwork to be accurate and I want it to be flat. But as a longarm quilter, eliminating bulky intersections that can break needles or distort quilting lines tops the list.

Quilters frequently use stipple and meander interchangeably when describing a quilting design that wanders aimlessly across the fabric...