My 3 helpful tips are:
1) Using one of your rulers draw a line on your ironing board in permanent marker then when pressing boarders, strips etc. I line them up on the line and know I am pressing them straight and no curves in my strip sets.
2) To clean my iron when I don't have iron cleaner I use a drier fabric softener sheet. Press and rub your iron on the fabric softener sheet when it is hot and it will be clean. For stubborn residue I sometimes use a wooden clothespin wrapped in a sheet for pinpointing the stubborn stuff.
3) I always cut the pieces for only one block and put it together from scrap. Then I know if the measurements are correct, if I need to make any adjustments before cutting into my planned quilt fabric and I then have a sample block to pin up near my machine to refer to like a map for proper placement and pressing direction.
Always In Stitches,
Marj
