Once you’ve finished your perfectly pieced
quilt top, it’s time to transform it into a quilt.
Here’s how to add texture and secure your layers
ALL ABOUT
QUILTING
When we talk about ‘quilting’ we don’t
just mean making a quilt. We’re
actually talking about the straight or
decorative stitching that you sew
through all three layers of your quilt
sandwich to secure them, and to add
depth and texture.
Additionally, if the layers of your
project include batting (a padded layer,
also known as wadding), you’ll need to
quilt to make sure it doesn’t fall apart in
the wash later on. Decorative quilting,
however simple, is where a quilt springs
to life, adding surface texture and
embellishment to your design. There are
many quilting options out there for you
to try – you can stitch by hand or
machine, stitch ‘in the ditch’ in straight
lines, sew geometric patterns or get
creative with free-motion stitching (see
page 149). But first, here are the basics...What pattern
should I quilt?
When you’re starting out, straight-line
quilting is easiest. You’ll only need
minimal marking before you get
stitching and you can gradually build uppatterns as you go. The following are just
a few of our favourite techniques.In-the-ditch quilting
Follow the seam lines of your patchwork
blocks or the smaller units that make up
the blocks. Most quilters stitch in the
ditch with a machine, but you can easily
stitch by hand if preferred.
In-the-ditch quilting can be the main
stitched design, or you can use it to
secure the basic areas of a quilt before
you go on to add more detailed stitched
patterns across the quilt.Outline or contour quilting
Follow the patchwork or appliqué
shapes in your quilt top. Work a small
distance away from the seams usually ¼
or^3 / 8 in, keeping a consistent distance
for a neat effect. If you’re quilting by
machine, it helps to use the width of the
machine foot as a guide.Grid or crosshatch quilting
Quilt in parallel lines in a grid pattern or
diagonal crosshatch pattern. This is very
easy and great for adding interest to plainfabric sections. If you’re quilting by hand,
mark the lines lightly with a pencil or
make creases first.Echo quilting
This is similar to contour quilting but
you repeat the shape lines again and
again in an outwards direction, rippling
out and following the shape. This is useful
for outlining appliqué motifs.How to mark a design
For a neat finish, mark the patterns you
want to quilt before you start stitching.
For in-the-ditch quilting or following
designs in your patchwork you may not
need marks, but for other techniques it
works as a handy guide.
Simple quilting lines can be marked
with a ruler and pencil or erasable pen,
alternatively run tailor’s chalk against the
edge of strips of masking tape. Another
option is to use a ‘hera’ marker or blunt
needle to make a temporary crease,
which you then quilt over.
Test your marking tools first – how well
do they mark? Do the marks come out
easily after you’ve stitched along them?IN-THE-DITCH QUILTINGQuilting
following
Seams pressed seam line
to one side0102