Time To Share Hands 2 Help

I am a part of this years Hands 2 Help on line quilting charity not only as a recipient for Layers of Hope - Quilting 911 but as a quilter who will donate 2 quilts to a charity in Canada this year.

Why you might ask am I donating to Canada? Simply because when we have had large needs, our wonderful quilting neighbors from the north have stepped up and sent quilts to us and I feel it is now time to give back to them.

This week we are to share a quilting tip, tutorial, recipe to help someone else. Hmmmm, lets see what I will do since our lovely hostess Sarah at Confessions of a Fabric Addict posted that wonderful one pot easy to make dinner my family loves and I love to give to others. I will have to think about this for a moment!

My tip? ALWAYS keep your machine clean!!! Do not skimp on this step or you will be asking for trouble.  This is how I do it:
1-Keep your sewing machine manual close by
2-Open it and read it and see what the manufacturer says to do when cleaning it
3- NEVER open areas it doesn't say to open
4- Purchase yourself some good quality sewing machine oil...cooking oil, baby oil or other oils will NOT work only use sewing machine oil on your machine
5-Purchase a pack of small different sized paint brushes with long handles such as the ones pictured as they will get into tiny narrow spaces and pull out more lint than you ever thought was possible

6-Clean your machine after each quilt and if you are quilting with fleece or flannel, clean it about half way through the project. 
*Recently I was having an issue with my bobbin and my thread kept breaking. Finally I took it apart and realized it had so much lint under the bobbin case that it had actually raised the bobbin case up so it wasn't even aligned. Won't make that mistake again.

Still trying to think of a recipe. Hmmmm!!!

Do you have issues with binding and your corners? Take a minute to watch this tutorial by amazing fabric designer Patrick lose at:
http://www.freequiltpatterns.info/video---binding-with-patrick-lose.htm 
I have used it since I received a copy of his quilting magazine a few years back! Amazingly easy!

It isn't mine, it isn't an original but I have the stuff at home to make tonight and I can't wait. I am sorry I don't have a picture, but if you follow the link, you will see it.
It is called Zesty Lime Shrimp and Avocado and since my trainer says I can have avocado and I am on a grain free diet for weight loss, this looked yummy!

Head over to the Skinny Taste blog and find it there.

Enjoy your week and I hope you will think about making a quilt for one of the three charities listed in this years Hands2Help!