Leaders and Enders in Quilting – they are a life saver!

Leaders and Enders, a quilters best friend.

They’re like the silent helpers in your quilting journey, quietly making things easier without any fuss. Basically, leaders and enders are those little fabric bits you stitch before and after your main project.

They save thread, keep your stitches clean, and make your quilting process smoother overall.

No more annoying starts and stops with each seam – leaders and enders keep things flowing. And here’s the bonus: while you’re working on your main project, you can sneak in some extra quilt blocks on the side.

It’s like multitasking for quilters.

Whether you’re a seasoned quilter or just starting out, leaders and enders are a handy trick to have up your sleeve.

They’re like that reliable friend who always knows how to make things easier.

Stick around as we dig into how to make the most out of this simple yet genius technique.

Step 1

Sew like normal. I like chain piecing. This is a quick way to make a lot of progress in sewing the same thing repeatedly.

Step 2

Place the leader / ender in place before the needle. DON’T snip the thread or cut the thread using the thread cutter on your sewing machine.

Step 3

Stitch onto the leader / ender piece

Step 4

Snip off the blocks or whatever you’ve been sewing before the leader and ender. Leave the little piece of fabric in the machine needle area. Then continue sewing your pieces and blocks. Feeding them into the needle area, never snip the thread.

Step 5

Snip off the leader / ender after you have sewn a few pieces on. Leave the needle down in the piece before snipping the leader off. You can leave this on the whole chain if you’d like as well. It can stay there until you need the piece again and it won’t get lost in all the fabric pieces. You’ll know right where it’s at.

Step 5

You can also place the leader / ender on the side of your machine, near your sewing area so you don’t forget to use it again. It’s right at your finger tips and ready to use again.

Here’s a look at all my leaders and ender – it’s quite the collection!

I use a variety of scraps. Some are large. Small. Square. Rectangle. Some are even leftover half square triangles. They really don’t need to be anything special. Selvedge edges of the fabric also work great.

What is a leader / ender?

A leader/ender is that little piece of scrap fabric that you use to start and end a line of chain piecing.

What is a leader Ender quilt project?

There can be a fun side to using leaders and enders. If you can handle a few things going at one time – this is a great time to try out sewing a quilt on the side.

Have a pile of your pieces on the side of your machine instead of your scrap piece. Sewing four patch blocks, or even something like the mile a minute technique is a great way to ‘sew a free quilt’.

My biggest tip if you are going to do this is keep what you are sewing simple. You don’t want to sew something complicated or something that needs thinking or brain power.

You need something just quick and simple you can line up, toss under your needle and sew. If it takes too much thought of placement and combinations, then it can become overwhelming and frustrating and sometimes even lead to un-picking which is not fun. So keep it simple.

Using these for travel

I also use leaders and enders for traveling. I keep one in the needle — with the needle in the down position when moving my sewing machine. It keeps everything in place and the needle won’t snag on things when taken in and out of the carry bag.

I also keep the presser foot down as well to really sandwich it in.

This also is great when I am ready to sew, as the needle and thread is engaged and won’t unthread when I begin sewing.

Watch how I use leaders and enders

How to Use Leaders and Enders

Using leaders and enders in quilting is a simple yet effective technique that can streamline your quilting process and reduce thread waste. Here are the steps to get started:

1. Prepare Your Leaders and Enders: Cut scrap fabric into squares or rectangles to use as leaders and enders. These pieces should be slightly larger than the pieces you’re using for your main quilt project.
2. Begin Sewing: Before you start sewing your main quilt pieces together, place a leader fabric under the presser foot of your sewing machine. Sew a few stitches onto the leader fabric to secure the thread.
3. Sew Your Main Quilt Pieces: Once the leader fabric is secured, begin sewing your main quilt pieces together as usual. As you approach the end of each seam, stop sewing before you reach the edge of the fabric.
4. Add an Ender: Before removing your main quilt piece from the sewing machine, place an ender fabric under the presser foot. Sew a few stitches onto the ender fabric to secure the thread.
5. Repeat the Process: After sewing your main quilt pieces together, repeat the process by sewing another leader fabric before starting your next seam. Continue alternating between sewing main quilt pieces and adding leader and ender fabrics until your quilting session is complete.
6. Chain Piece Extra Blocks: In between sewing your main quilt pieces, use the leaders and enders to chain piece extra quilt blocks or units. This allows you to make efficient use of your sewing time and maximize productivity.
7. Trim and Press: Once you’ve finished sewing, trim the excess leader and ender fabrics from your quilt blocks. Press the seams flat to set the stitches and create crisp, clean blocks ready for assembly.

By following these steps and incorporating leaders and enders into your quilting process, you can save time, reduce thread waste, and make the most out of your quilting sessions.

Using Leaders and Enders for Postcards

Make postcards with leaders and enders. They are so quick and simple to make and because they are smaller, they don’t take a ton of time (unless you count the time it takes to decide what you are going to do!).

Scrappy Quilts

Got scraps??! Let’s make a quilt using them up. They are super cute, fun, simple and quick to make.

Scrappy Hot pads

The scrappy hot pad is the kind of project would be perfect for making – using the leader and ender method. They are smaller blocks and can be stitched up super quick just by sewing them at the beginning and ending of your chain piecing.

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