Very often your quilt pattern directions will end with “Quilt as Desired”. This is okay if you are an experienced quilter but for newbies this can be a quandary. I would like to share with you some of my favorite quilting methods.
Always wind a bobbin with the same thread used in the needle and attach a walking foot which helps feed all the layers of the quilt sandwich evenly. Lengthen the stitch to 3mm for a more defined look to the rows of stitches.
Keep in mind that more lines of stitching result in a flatter quilted area, leaving some areas free of stitches add dimension to your quilt.
Starting and Stopping:
1. At the start of each line of stitches, lower and raise the needle one time, then pull the needle thread tail to bring the bobbin thread to the top for a neat quilt back.
2. Set the stitch length to 0 and sew 3-4 stitches in place to secure the threads. If your machine has an auto-locking stitch simply touch this button without changing the stitch length.
3. If you have set the stitch length to 0, turn the length to 3mm and sew to the stopping point.
4. At the end of the line of stitches, set the stitch length to 0 and sew 3-4 stitches in place to secure the threads. If your machine has an auto-locking stitch simply touch this button.
5. Pull the needle thread to the back and cut off the tails.
Cross Hatch Quilting: This is a great way to fill a large area; the grid can be as large or small as desired. I used 1” spacing on the sample.
1. With a water soluble marker or chalk draw lines across the area to be filled in one direction. You can use 45°, 60°, or 90° angle.
2. Then draw lines in the opposite direction to create the grid.
3. Sew on all the lines stopping and starting at areas that will not be quilted.
Decorative Stitch Quilting: Decorative stitches are more forgiving than a straight stitch as lines that slightly creep off the line are disguised. Additionally they can give your quilt a more interesting look.
1. Choose a decorative stitch that moves forward such as the serpentine stitch so the walking foot can still do its job.
2. Test your decorative stitch on a quilt sandwich with the walking foot to make sure you like the results.
Echo Quilting: Rows of stitches repeat the shape of a selected area. Use this method to quilt around appliques or other focal points in a quilt block such as the house in the sample.
1. Line up the edge of the walking foot with the edge of the desired shape and sew completely around stopping at the starting point.
2. Move the fabric so the line of stitches lines up with the either the inside or outside edge of the walking foot and sew.
3. The width of the echoing will depend on where you place the foot.
4. Repeat for as many rows as desired.
Stitch in the Ditch: This is a great way help define a shape or area to be left free of stitches which gives that area a little dimension.
1. Line up the needle with the seam line.
2. Most quilt seams are pressed in one direction so the needle should rest in the “lower” side of the seam line.
3. Sew at a slow speed guiding the fabric so the needle stays “in the ditch”.
Straight Line Quilting: Rows of stitches run parallel and can be spaced as close together as desired. I used the width of the walking foot in my sample. If you prefer wider spacing use a quilt guide or draw the lines with chalk.
1. Line up the outside edge of the walking foot with the edge of the quilt block.
2. Sew the entire length/width of the block.
3. Line up the outside edge of the walking foot with the previous line of stitches and sew.
4. Repeat across the entire quilt block. You can choose to start and stop at focal points or simply sew through.
Once the piecing is completed it is a joy to add the final quilting details. Experiment with different methods. Mix methods to add visual interest to your chosen project.
Click here to make your own Welcome Home Mini Quilt designed by Janome Artisan Brenda Ratliffe.
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