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The magic trick for faster sewing is chain piecing: sew a series of fabric pieces one after another without cutting the thread between each seam. It can reduce repeated stop-and-cut interruptions and help keep quilt pieces in order.
What chain piecing means
Instead of sewing one pair of pieces, cutting the thread, and starting over for the next pair, you feed each successive set under the machine needle. The completed sets remain connected by thread tails until you separate them later or handle them together.
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- 27 Unique Built-in Stitches: The Brother XM2701 sewing machine includes 27 built-in stitches including decorative, blind hem, zigzag, and stretch stitches and an auto-size buttonhole
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- Versatile Free Arm: This free arm sewing machine is a simple sewing machine, perfect for a wide range of everyday sewing projects, and users from beginners to advanced
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American Patchwork & Quilting’s October 13, 2016 article describes the method as helping “keep everything in order” and as “a really great time saving tip.” The article presents a practical how-to, not a measured test: it gives no specific time saved, percentage, or study result. Read the original chain-piecing demonstration.
How to chain piece quilt squares
- Arrange the pieces. Lay the fabric squares out in the order they belong before you begin sewing.
- Sew the first pair. Stitch the two squares together, then finger press the seam allowance as shown in the example.
- Add the next piece. Place another square with the next piece in the sequence and sew that pair. Leave the thread connecting the sets rather than cutting it after each seam.
- Continue through the sequence. Feed the next pairs through one after another. There may be a stitch or two between sets, or no gap, depending on how you work through them.
- Keep the chain in order. Once the sequence is sewn, handle the connected pieces or rows together and continue joining seams. Cut the links when you need the pieces separated for the next step.
When the method is useful
Chain piecing is most useful for repeated seams or batches of pieces assembled in the same way, such as quilt squares. It avoids stopping to cut the thread after every small unit and leaves the sewn pieces linked in sequence, which can make it easier to preserve their order. It is not a universal shortcut for every construction step; use it where the pieces can be sewn consecutively without disrupting the intended layout.
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- 17 built-in stitches
- 4-step buttonhole style
- Reverse button
- Free arm for sewing
- LED lighting for the work area
What you need
The demonstration uses a sewing machine and fabric squares. It does not call for a special machine feature, identify a recommended brand or model, or establish that you need to upgrade equipment. The speed benefit is qualitative: the source does not quantify how much time chain piecing saves.
Quick Recap
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- 60 UNIQUE BUILT-IN STITCHES: The Brother CS5055 sewing machine includes 60 built-in stitches including utility, decorative and heirloom stitch functions, and 7 1-step auto-size buttonholes
- IMPROVED NEEDLE THREADER: Easier than ever to use, the automatic needle threader reliably pushes the thread through the needle. The convenient, jam resistant drop-in top bobbin easy to load and helps ensure your bobbin stays in place
- INCLUDED ACCESSORIES: The CS5055 includes 7 sewing feet, 4 bobbins, a needle set, a trilingual English/Spanish/French user manual and more
- METAL FRAME and FIXED NEEDLE BAR: The durable metal frame construction allows your machine to tackle any project, and the needle is fixed in place while you work, allowing for cleaner stitching and even lines
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