How to Hand-Quilt Using a Square Quilting Frame

Nothing compares to a hand-quilted quilt. A lot of love, time, and energy go into creating an heirloom quilt that will be passed down from generation to generation. The art and technique of traditional hand-quilting can be mastered using the following simple steps.

After you have cut out your quilt pieces and sewn them (pieced them) together, you are ready to put your quilt on a quilt frame and begin quilting.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• carpet tacks
• traditional square quilting frame
• tack hammer
• quilting thread
• size 8 or 9 quilting needles
• a thimble that fits your index finger
• your completed quilt top
• lining
• batting
• pins

1. Arrange the four quilt frame legs to support the four corners of the quilt. Place the rails in the leg joints. The rails supporting the left and right sides of the quilt should be placed on top of the rails supporting the head and foot of the quilt. This will ensure your ability to roll the sides of the quilt as quilting progresses from the outer edges inward. Use metal vise grips to hold the rails firmly together.

2. Tack the quilt lining to the frame. To do this, you will use carpet tacks and a tack hammer. Place a tack about every 3 1/2" to 4" all the way around the quilt lining.

3. Put the quilt batting on top of the quilt lining. Batting should cover the quilt lining from about 1” from the inside edge of the quilting frame. You need to leave enough of the quilt backing exposed to turn under when the quilt is completed.

4. Lay your completed quilt top over the batting. Go around the edges of the quilt frame and pin the quilt top to the batting and lining.

5. Begin quilting the quilt. Use a weaving motion to navigate your needle in and out of the three layers of the quilt. Stitch evenly along your predetermined stitching pattern. Be sure to make the stitches close enough together so that the batting cannot bunch up when the quilt is being used after completion.

6. As you quilt, you will roll the completed edges of the quilt inward, so that the area to be quilted gets more narrow. Rolling the quilt under on the side rails makes it possible to quilt from the quilt edges to the quilt center.

7. When the quilting is complete, you will need to sew a binding around the edge of the quilt to finish it. You can either buy binding or make your own by cutting fabric 1" to 1 ¼" wide. Sew the binding to the lining of the quilt and then turn it over and whip-stitch the binding to the top of the quilt. Or, if you prefer, you can turn the exposed 1” edge of the lining to the top of the quilt and whip-stitch it to serve as the quilt binding.