How to Use a Quilting Machine
With machine quilting, the home quilter as well as the professional can finish most quilting projects in a fraction of the time it would take to hand quilt. By using a properly equipped sewing machine, all layers of the quilt, from the quilt top through the batting to the backing can be quilted with fine, even stitches.
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Lightweight tracing paper
- Sewing machine with ample motor capability and feed dog maneuverability
- Machine quilting needle in correct gauge for depth of batting
- High quality quilting thread to match project
Instructions
-
-
1
Trace the quilting pattern onto lightweight tracing paper and pin it to the quilt layers. You will tear away the tracing paper once the project is complete.
-
2
Determine whether machine-guided quilting or free motion quilting is appropriate for your project. In machine-guided quilting, the feed dogs, or mechanism which guides the bottom of the fabric through the machine, are left up making this technique ideal for projects with lots of straight lines and minimal curves. Free motion quilting requires the feed dogs to be dropped so that you have more control over how the fabric moves through the machine.
-
-
3
Equip your sewing machine with the proper presser foot for quilting. Many machines come equipped with walking foots which are recommended for straight line quilting, as well as presser foots that are designed for free motion quilting.
-
4
Load the proper thread and bobbin for your project. Depending on the project, you may wish to select a complementary or contrasting thread. Bobbin thread should always be 100 percent cotton to avoid bobbin breakage.
-
5
Realize that you may need to quilt in small sections if you are working with a smaller sewing machine. These sections can then be joined by hand or by machine to complete the project. Frequent breaks should also be taken with smaller sewing machines to prevent the motor from overheating.
-
6
Use a card table next to your sewing machine to support the bulk of the quilt, particularly if you are working with a bed sized project.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Use 100 percent cotton thread when working on children's quilts, as monofilament fiber thread can present a choking hazard. Never use nylon or metallic thread when quilting a child's quilt.
