Life is busy. That means it’s important to take advantage of the time we do have for sewing and quilting, working efficiently (but still accurately!) to get our sewing done.
One way that we can do this is by using batch processing.
Batch processing is the practice of processing similar things together in a single batch. It’s a common practice in industries such as manufacturing and computer engineering. You might already be using batch processing in your own home if you do any kind of weekly meal prep!
The focus of batch processing is to group similar tasks together and process them all at the same time, one after another. This keeps your mind present on the work at hand and prevents losing your focus by switching between different activities. You’ll also be using muscle memory to make it easier to repeat the same action over and over again.
Batch processing can be used in so many different ways in your quilting practice! Here are a few examples.
- Cutting. Cut out all of your pieces at once so you only have to stand at your cutting table that one time. Be sure to label all of your cut pieces carefully so nothing gets mixed up.
- Sewing. Are you making lots of similar blocks, like for a nine-patch block? Sew your blocks in sets so you’re only sewing one kind of seam at a time.
- Pressing. After you’ve sewn a sew of blocks, press all of them at once time. Use all of the available space on your ironing board to lay out and press multiple blocks quickly.
- Trimming. Trim up your blocks quickly by processing multiple blocks at once. You’ll quickly get in the groove and can trim with efficiency and accuracy.
What other ways do you use batch processing in your sewing and quilting practice?
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