HGTV.comHGTV.com

Freeform Machine Quilting

Simply Quilts : Episode QLT-829 -- More Projects »
PHOTO
Materials:
book: Show Me How To Machine Quilt by Kathy Sandbach
fabrics
muslin fabric
low-loft cotton batting
masking tape
safety pins
darning foot (free motion foot)
90/14 needles: sharp, topstitch or quilting needle*
100-percent cotton machine quilting thread – 40 or 50 weight
metallic thread - Apply six rows of liquid silicone to a spool of metallic thread to prevent thread breakage
liquid silicone
quilting gloves

Freeform quilting is a "no-marking" approach to machine quilting consisting of stitching freeform designs on a quilt. Machine quilting expert Kathy Sandbach groups quilts into five main categories for free-motion quilting including floral, star, water, children and holiday theme quilts. Freeform designs may include vines, leaves, flowers, stars, boats, toys, holly, geometric designs or the fabric itself may inspire a design.

PHOTO

Figure A
Steps:

  1. Draft a continuous-line drawing without lifting pencil on paper (figure A). Practice the design four or five times without lifting the pencil.
PHOTO

Figure B
  • Practice machine stitching the design on muslin fabric (figure B).

    Basting
    Precision basting eliminates pleats from forming on the quilt.

    1. Freshly press the quilt backing.

    2. Tape the quilt backing around the perimeter (borders) with masking tape to secure in place.
    • PHOTO

    Figure C
  • Place cotton batting and the quilt top on the quilt backing (figure C).

  • Pin-baste the quilt top, batting and backing in place with safety pins approximately four to six inches apart. Thread basting isn't recommended for machine quilting because when the basting is removed the quilting seams could also unravel.
    • PHOTO

    Figure D
  • Remove the masking tape and trim the batting 1/2-inch all around the quilt (figure D).

  • Stitch in the ditch (grid quilting) with a north/south east/west motion in the blocks, then freeform machine stitch the decorative quilting.

    Freeform stitching tips:

    • PHOTO

    Figure E
  • Begin with a simple free-motion flower motif with large petals (figure E).
  • Most quilts have a square or a perimeter. Freeform machine quilt within that design.
  • Quilter's gloves are recommended to keep the fabric pulled taut and to guide the fabric for even stitches.
  • For larger quilts, machine quilt half of the quilt then rotate and quilt the other half.
  • Low-loft cotton batting is recommended for its compactness (or its capacity to take up less space) especially for larger quilts.
    • Resources
    Show Me How To Machine Quilt: A Fun, No-Mark Approach by Kathy Sandbach
    C & T Publishing Inc.
    Website: www.ctpub.com
    Guests
    Kathy Sandbach
    Quilt maker
    E-mail: quiltlady8@msn.com
    Website: www.machinequiltlady.com
    Also in this Episode
    Simply Quilts : Episode QLT-829
    •Freeform Machine Quilting
    •Seam Consistency
    HGTV.com
    Services Popular Content About
    Our Sister Sites

    Comparison Shop for Home Decor & Garden Tools at Shopzilla & BizRate

    UpMyStreet and uSwitch.com provide UK comparison services.

    © 2008 Scripps Networks, LLC. All rights reserved.