How to Machine Quilt Your First Quilt

Beginning Quilting 101 Instructions continued...

This "How to Machine Quilt" section is based on the rail fence quilt block.

This type of quilt is characteristic of your beginning quilts. Simple construction. The perfect project to practice both your basic piecing and machine quilting skills.

Your first quilts will require the basic techniques of quilting with your walking foot, and, sometimes, simple free motion quilting with your darning foot. This section deals solely with quilting with your walking foot.

At this point in learning how to machine quilt:

• Your quilt sandwich is pin basted with enough safety pins.
• Your sewing machine is set up for stitch in the ditch:
  • Walking foot is attached or Pfaff IDT engaged.
  • Feed dogs are up
  • Stitch length of 2.0 to 3.0
  • Machine is threaded
  • Sewing machine tension is adjusted

You're ready to learn how to machine quilt your quilt!

Stabilize and Anchor

The first lines of quilting are to prevent the quilt sandwich from shifting.

To do this, you'll ditch quilt in the seam lines of the major elements of the quilt top, i.e. seam lines between blocks or along borders or sashing. (You are not quilting within a block at this time.)

If you've used a variety of fabrics in different colors and values (lights, mediums and darks), try using monofilament thread. Anchoring stitches are not meant to show. And stitching in the ditch with monofilament thread is less apt to show.

How to Machine Quilt a Straight Set

Figure 1

This type of quilt is arranged with the blocks in horizontal rows, with or without sashing and borders.

The first two lines of this anchor quilting are along the center most seam, both vertically and horizontally. (Figure 1)

Make it a habit, as you learn how to machine quilt, to stitch the seam line that lies on the lengthwise grain (the most stable grain) of the backing fabric first. Then turn your quilt 90 degrees. Quilt the crosswise center most seam. These stitching lines form a "+" on the quilt top.

If there is no seam in the very center, stitch the next one closest to the center, instead.

Note that each line is stitched from one side to the other. Do not quilt these lines out from the center. It will distort your quilt.

How to Machine Quilt a Diagonal Set

Figure 2

This type of quilt is arranged with the blocks set in diagonal rows, with or without sashing and/or borders.

The first lines of quilting are along the bias grain of the backing fabric.

Bias can stretch as you stitch. To compensate and control the layers, use plenty of safety pins to baste.

For a square quilt, the first two lines of stitching are along the center most diagonal lines running from corner to corner. These lines of stitching form an "X" across your quilt top. (Figure 2)

Figure 3

For a rectangular, diagonally set quilt, begin at one corner and stitch in the ditch along the center-most diagonal line to the opposite side.

Move to the next corner and stitch along the diagonal center-most line for the line that crosses the first.

Turn the quilt 180 degrees and repeat for the remaining two corners. (Figure 3)

In our example, the first pair stitching lines is shown in red, the second is orange.

At this point, you may wish to anchor the seam lines between the borders and center of the quilt.

Secure Those Thread Tails

For some quilts the stitching starts within the borders of the quilt. Hand knot or microstitch to begin and end these lines of quilting to secure the thread tails.(Figures 1, 3)

Lines of quilting that begin at the very edge of the quilt (the square diagonal set with no borders, Figure 2) should start and stop several stitches past the edges of the quilt top. These stitches will be secured when the binding is sewn to the quilt.

Inspect Your Work...

...after these first stabilizing stitches are complete.

Are there any tucks where the lines of quilting meet? Tucks on the back are a sign the quilt wasn't pin basted properly. Either not enough pins were used or the backing was not taut enough during the basting. Tucks, here, indicate you'll probably have tucks throughout the quilting. This is the time to rip out your stitching and re-baste your quilt top before there are too many problems.

Finish the Ditch Quilting

In the following illustrations, quilting lines shown in black were stitched in previous steps.

Once the anchor quilting is complete, return to the the first line of quilting. Ditch quilt the first line to the right side of the center stitched line. Stitch from the top edge to the bottom. Continue in this manner until there are no more lines to quilt. Stitch all of these lines of quilting in the same direction. Tie off both ends of the quilting lines when they begin within the body of the quilt. (Figure 4)

Figure 4

Figure 5

Rotate your quilt 180 degrees. Find the first unstitched seam line to the right of center. Stitch in the ditch from top to bottom. Repeat until all seam lines are stitched. (Figure 5)

Next turn the quilt 90 degrees, and ditch quilt the seam lines, working out from the center. (Figure 6)

Figure 6

Figure 7

Finally, turn the quilt 180 degrees and ditch quilt the remaining vertical seam lines. (Figure 7)

Learn how to machine quilt this way so only half the quilt is ever under the arm of your sewing machine. It's easier to quilt with less bulk under the arm because it leaves more room for your hands. You have more control.

For diagonal sets like Figures 2 & 3, follow this same pattern of quilting. Start from the closest diagonal line to the center and work out to the right, rotating and stitching as each group of structural lines is stitched.

How to Machine Quilt the Border

If you've followed the instructions, the seams between the borders and center are already stitched.

Can you stitch in one continuous line around the whole border? The answer is..."Yes, BUT..."

You risk pulling the quilt out of square or stretching the batting.

But it is YOUR quilt and the choice is yours. If you quilt the border in a continuous line, take care at the corners. Stop with your needle down in the very corner. Re-adjust the quilt. Make sure everything lays neat and flat to avoid tucks. Then continue quilting.

Some quilters add a line of stitching within a 1/4" of the quilt's edge so they can remove the safety pins at the edge early on. Be sure your binding will cover this stitching later on.

The Quilting is Finished...?

Just like our rail fence quilt pattern, for many beginning quilts, once this anchor quilting is done, the quilt is quilted. If you've used a lot of "busy" prints in your quilt top, most decorative quilting won't even show. Only ditch quilting is needed.

Moving On

As your piecing becomes more involved, so too, will your quilting plan.

Complete any additional quilting in the following order:

1. Any stitching with a walking foot.
2. Free motion design quilting. These are the pretty designs you add to a quilt. Feathers and stenciled designs. The "WOW" quilting.
3. Free motion background fills like stippling or pebbles. This type of quilting is always done last. It has a tendency to "draw up" or shrink your quilt top.

Regardless of how much quilting your finished quilt has, once you've learned how to machine quilt to stabilize and anchor the main structural lines, you have the freedom to move from block to block.

Table of Contents
for Beginning Machine Quilting 101

Introduction

• Beginning Quilting 101: Quilting Instructions for the Beginner

Preparing to Quilt

• Use Your Domestic Sewing for Quilting
• To Prewash Quilt Fabric or Not
• Your Sewing Machine Needle
• Machine Quilting Thread and Tension
• Quilting Ergonomics: Choose the Best Quilting Table and Chair
• Batting
• Machine Quilting Supplies

The Quilt Sandwich

• Preparing the Quilt Layers for Quilting
• Basting

And finally, the Quilting!

• Ditch Quilting
• How to Machine Quilt Your First Quilt
• Free Motion Quilting 101

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