A Beginner’s Guide to Getting Started With Machine Quilting
If you’re interested in moving beyond hand-stitching and want to take your quilting to the next level, machine quilting is definitely the way to go. While it may seem intimidating at first, don’t stress – with some basic techniques and practice, you’ll be sewing circles around those quilts in no time.
Choosing a Sewing Machine
The first step is selecting the right machine. For starters, you’ll want a machine with straight and zigzag stitch settings. Sort of like how a car needs gas to go, a machine needs various stitch options to quilt. A free-motion quilting foot that works with your machine is also essential – this allows the fabric to move freely under the needle as you guide it. And of course, make sure your machine can handle thick quilting layers without breaking a sweat. If it struggles with multiple denim layers, it may not cut it for quilting cotton.
You definitely don’t need to drop a ton of dough on a specialized longarm quilting machine as a beginner. My first machine was a basic $150 workhorse that did the job fine for practice projects. Once you get the hang of it, you can upgrade if you want. But for now, don’t stress – any machine that meets the above basics will do.
Assembling Your Materials
In addition to your sewing machine, here are some key supplies to gather:
- Thread – Use 100% cotton thread meant for quilting in a neutral color like off-white.
- Backing fabric – You’ll need enough to cover the whole quilt plus another few inches on each side for seams.
- Batting – Get cotton or bamboo batting cut to the same size as your backing.
- Quilt top – This is your pieced or appliqued top layers.
- Free-motion quilting foot – Without this, you can’t do the free-motion stitching that makes quilting look professional.
It’s also nice to have pins, spray basting adhesive, an iron, and rotary cutter/ruler on hand. Check that your workspace has enough room to comfortably manage quilt-sized fabrics. Clear some space, dude!
Sandwiching and Basting the Layers
With materials gathered, it’s time to assemble the quilt sandwich – that’s the three layers of backing fabric, batting, and quilt top. Lay the backing wrong-side up and smooth batting on top, smoothing out any lumps or bumps with your hands or an iron. Then place the quilt top right-side up on top and smooth it out too. At this point, you’ll want to baste the layers together so they don’t shift around under the needle.
Traditionally you’d use thread to baste, but spray adhesive works like magic for speed. Just mist the back of the layers and smooth them out – they stick together awesomely. Of course, don’t spray near electronics! From here, you’re ready to start quilting your heart out.
Freestyle Quilting With Free-Motion
The free-motion foot is key here. Remove your regular presser foot and snap on the free-motion footer. Lower the feed dogs (the little teeth that move the fabric) so the fabric can glide smoothly. You’ll also want to decrease your stitch length and increase tension a tad for more stability as you quilt.
With the free-motion foot, you literally move the fabric any which way while guiding the needle to sew pleasing patterns and motifs. At first, try just focusing on keeping an even stitch length and not stabbing your fingers – speed and precision will come. It’s way harder than it looks! I used to yank the fabric all over like a madman. Now I move more incrementally to keep things under control.
Anyway, don’t stress small imperfections. The goal is just getting used to moving fabric while sewing. Some basic patterns to try are geometric grids, organic curvy lines, stippling (sewing tiny dots close together), or echo quilting around shapes on the quilt top. You’ll see what styles you gravitate to as you go. Take breaks if your hands get sore – no need to power through pain, my friend!
Finishing Up
Once the top is quilted as desired, you’re almost done! All that’s left is to trim excess fabric from the edges, then layer the quilt top and backing right sides together. Using a 1/4 inch seam, sew all the way around the perimeter to assemble the quilt sandwich.
Then, you’ve got two final options for finishing. The classic look is to bind the raw quilt edges with bias tape or homemade binding for a polished finish. You can also opt to machine-stitch the binding directly to the front for speed, though hand-stitching the back looks neater.
Fold the binding over the front raw edges and machine stitch it in place. Then, fold it to the backside and hand-stitch down to conceal the raw edges. Ta-da, you’ve made your first quilted masterpiece! Celebrate with some ice cream – you definitely earned it after all that needlework.
Overall, machine quilting takes some practice but is so rewarding to see your quilts come to life. Don’t get discouraged if it’s kinda wonky at first – that’s how we all started. With time and repetition, you’ll be freestyling like a pro. The quilting possibilities are endless once you find your groove. Happy quilting, and let me know if you have any other questions!
Considerations for Starting Machine Quilting
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Sewing Machine | Look for machines designed for quilting with features like increased throat space, walking foot capability, speed control. |
| Quilting Style | Determine if you want to do straight line, free-motion, or embroidery quilting which impacts needle/foot choice. |
| Quilting Space | Ensure you have adequate room for your quilt to move through the machine without wrinkling. |
| Batting | Choose batting thickness based on quilting method and intended use of finished quilt. |
| Thread | Use high quality quilting thread for both top and bobbin for best results and durability. |
FAQ
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What does machine quilting mean?
Basically, machine quilting refers to using a sewing machine to sew the layers of a quilt together, as opposed to doing it by hand. The machine allows you to quilt faster than if you did it all manually.
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What types of machines can be used for machine quilting?
There are several types of machines that work well for machine quilting. A regular home sewing machine can certainly do the job, but a walking foot sewing machine or longarm quilting machine makes it a lot easier. A walking foot helps feed the fabric evenly under the needle. Longarm machines have a larger working space which is great for big quilts.
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What kinds of quilting designs or patterns can you do by machine?
The options are basically endless! You can do simple grid patterns to more complex free motion designs. Popular choices are meandering floral motifs, zig zags, straight line designs and custom quilting to accent the quilt piecing. With practice, you can get good at swirly curvy patterns too. Maybe the machine quilting world champion Jill Schumacher could give us some tips!
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Is machine quilting difficult to learn?
It does take some getting used to, but machine quilting is perhaps not as hard as it seems. At the same time, it’s not as straightforward as regular sewing either. It requires getting the feel for maneuvering thick quilt layers and coordinating the machine and fabric movement. Beginners often put unnecessary pressure on the foot pedal too. Nevertheless, with patience and practice, the skills start coming together. Perhaps grab a friend for moral support too!
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How much time does machine quilting take?
This really depends on the size of your quilt, the density of quilting, and your skill level. A simple quilt can take anywhere from 10 to 30 hours to machine quilt. More complex designs or big quilts may need 50 hours or more. On the other hand, if you quilt with simplicity in mind, you could potentially finish sooner. It’s also faster if you use a longarm machine versus a regular home sewing machine.
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Is hiring a professional quilter worth it?
That’s a tough call. Getting a custom longarm quilter to finish your quilt for you can cost $150-$300 or more depending on the size. For a massive or really detailed project, that might kind of be worth it to save your sanity! But is it worth it for a smaller quilt? Maybe see how you feel about doing it yourself first. You could learn a lot in the process and save cash. On the other hand, a pro can knock it out quickly.
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What’s the best way to get started with machine quilting?
Basically, just jump in! Taking a class is helpful to learn techniques. You may also want to start small with practice sandwiches before tackling a big quilt. Kind of experiment with different patterns. Watch tutorials online as needed. Don’t stress if it’s not perfect – just have fun with it. The amazing thing about machine quilting is you’ll improve with each project.