An Introduction to How to Quilt With a Sewing Machine for Beginners

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The Secret Guide to How to Quilt With a Sewing Machine for Beginners

Quilting is one of the greatest joys a sewer can have. In order to create stunning heritage quilts, mini-quilts, lap quilts, smaller home furnishings, quilted clothing, and more, quilters weave together layers of fabric.

The art of quilting has been handed down from mother to daughter for generations. That being said, here are some tips if you’re interested in learning how to quilt on your sewing machine. The following is a spoiler warning!

Here Are 5 Steps: How to Quilt with a Sewing Machine for Beginners

how quilt on machine

Regular sewing machines may be used for quilting. Straight-line quilting with a walking foot is one method. To create any pattern, you may use a free motion quilting foot to make it happen.

The following is a step-by-step instruction for novices on how to quilt with a sewing machine for beginners:

Find a table with the largest possible surface area

In the absence of a huge table, you’ll see a lot of dragging and dropping. Before you begin quilting, be sure the materials you’ll be using don’t fall off the table. A wide range of problems might arise for your sewing machine if this happens.

You won’t be able to work accurately on the quilt because of gravity. Because of gravity, the quilt will fall because of the friction it creates. It’s also possible that if the quilt falls, the stitches that are in excellent condition may be damaged.

For domestic use, a drop-in table is the best option. However, the drop may not always fit into a table.

In this case, it’s best to place the biggest table closest to you and the smallest table farthest away. The tables may be set up in a movable fashion so that you can keep an eye on a big number of things at once.

Ensure that you have enough area on your left side for your left hand, which is responsible for most of the work.

Begin by creating small units

Don’t overburden your system with unnecessary data. If you do, it will just make you more irritated.

Starting with little units is a good idea since you’ll be quilting on a domestic sewing machine. However, a little unit might lead you to lose days and even hours of your life.

Alternatively, you may stitch your finger instead of the fabric, so be cautious! You may use a 36-50-inch-long quilting machine for this purpose.

Select a Simple Shaped Block

Pick a basic and square block that is on the diagonal. The lack of ability to force straight sewing lines on a funny design will be excellent for you. In other words, the more dramatic the form, the greater the amount of suffering you will inflict.

In order to complete this task, the following are required:

Sewing machines are an absolute need when it comes to quilting. You’ll need to divide your cloth into three portions while you’re quilting a quilt.

  • Backing
  • Batting
  • Top piece

There should be a 2 to 3 inch margin between the top and bottom pieces. In order to avoid running out of fabric or the material shifting while you are stitching.

There are two types of batting. The two most common forms of batting are poly and cotton.

To properly bast all of the fabrics, you’ll need a basting spray. However, basting spray may not always be available. However, do not be alarmed! Using safety pins, you can do the same thing! It is my view that the basting spray is a better alternative to the safety pins than they are.

Instead of using pins to attach each piece of cloth, a little mist of spray will do the trick. Using a basting spray reduces the amount of time it takes to stitch the materials, making the process more efficient.

An ironing machine is also necessary for keeping the folds straight and flat so that the fabrics are simpler to deal with. In addition, you’ll need scissors, a rotary cutter, chalk markers, and a mat.

Sewing and Preparation

Make a quilt sandwich using two layers of fabric. To adhere to the grid:

  • Make use of a gridded card.
  • Make sure that the correct side of the backing piece is facing you.
  • Try to keep the surface as level as possible. That may be done using an iron with iron board or heating device.
  • Spray the backing with the basting spray and let it soak in. The batting piece will be used to cover it.
  • The batting should be sprayed one more time with the basting spray before putting in the top piece right side up on top of the batting. All three pieces should be flat and smooth once they’ve been pressed or ironed together.

Polyethylene fibers contract in the presence of heat. To prevent shrinkage, use a cold iron when ironing poly batting.

You’re now all set to start sewing. Make a second backing, batting, and topping unit by sewing all of the edges together and then completing the quilt. For the rest of the blocks, just follow the same procedure.

If you’re working on a tiny project, start stitching your pattern from the edge of the quilt sandwich. The cloth may be divided into four equal squares if you’re working on a bigger project.

Choosing a background piece is very important if you’re just starting out. If you select a dark backdrop, for example, you will be able to notice fewer flaws.

It’s impossible to detect errors such as missed stitches, over-stretching, or loose ends. The outcome might be an unwieldy piece of quilt.

Binding the Blocks to Each Other

Now that all of your preferred blocks have been prepared, it’s time to line them up. Trim any extra fabric with the rotary cutter first. Then, use a ruler to help you finish it off to your satisfaction.

You’ll need two types of binding for this project. Front and back bindings are 1.5 inches folded and 1 inch unfolded, respectively. To fold the front binding, you may use an ironing machine.

The same rules apply here! There must be an additional inch of binding on each sides of the block pieces. Extra fabric may be used to hide any mistakes that may have occurred.

Starch your bindings twice to stiffen and straighten them if they are wriggly.

  • The 1-inch strand should be inserted with the right side up, and then covered with the right side up quilt block edge.
  • Add the 1.5-inch folded strand on top of the two preceding portions. Make careful to lay the folded strand with the raw side facing up.
  • Using the gridding cardboard, position all three parts to the same degree of precision. Use a basic sewing machine to put all three pieces of this set together with a seam allowance of 1/4 inch. Check to see that everything is where it should be before continuing to stitch. Make sure it’s well-secured by sewing all the way to the end of the piece.

You’ll note that the one-inch back binding has decreased to around 12 inches when stitching is complete.

  • In order to remove the rear binding, flip the block right-side-up and press out the binding.
  • Place a second, right-side-up block on top of the first.
  • With the correct side up, place the first block on top of the second.
  • Align the border of the second block with the back binding. After that, neatly stitch it all together.
  • To begin, flip the two blocks to the right side, and then the first (1.5-inch) binding. Make your way towards the second block. Using an ironing machine is preferred, sew it to the neighboring block after making sure it’s aligned appropriately.

Keep it balanced and attractive by sewing it on the other side in the same manner. Repeat the procedure with the remaining blocks.

Completed task! Using your sewing machine, you’ve completed your first quilt!

Tips and Tricks for Quilting on a Machine

quilting on home sewing machine

Maximize the Usage of the Space You Have

Having adequate room to quilt on your home machine is a must-have if you want to do it well. When you buy a drop-in table, your machine is able to sit flush with the work surface.

Thread weight should be matched to the size of the needle

What to do when you have so many options when it comes to thread and needle? If you’re using a 40-50wt or a 28-30wt thread, use an 80 or 90 needle. Universal needles should be avoided in favor of sharps, topstitch, or quilting needles. The sharp points of these needles make it easier to penetrate all three layers of a quilt with them.

Use the same color for both the top and the bobbin threads

With the right tension, you can use any color combination of top and bobbin threads, although this isn’t usually the situation. A little amount of thread may be seen on either the front or back of your quilt if the threads have a high degree of contrast. It is not possible to utilize invisible threads in both the top and bobbin of a sewing machine at the same time.

Sew over A Drawing You’ve Made First

Before you begin sewing, draw you’re quilting pattern on a piece of paper, a picture, or a printout of the quilt top. If you know how the thread route moves, you can replicate it on your finished quilt.

Regularly practice free-motion quilting

Layer two 10″ squares of batting in the centre of numerous practice examples. Each day, you should complete one sample and date it. You’ll see a change within only seven days.

Embrace Your Walking Foot For What It Is

Beautiful, complicated designs may be created by quilting free-motion in any direction. However, don’t forget about the patterns. You might begin by putting pressure on the foot that is currently on the ground. In place of the traditional stitching in the ditch, consider using spirals or organic designs.

Using Real Quilts

Practice is the key to improvement. In this case, why not practice on a quilt that will be adored by the recipient?

Press the seams open to create a flatter quilt top

Contrary to common perception, pressing open seams does not weaken your quilt top. To stitch in the ditch, all you have to do is shorten your stitch length to secure the seams. When you quilt over a seam, it reinforces the quilt and guarantees that you don’t break a needle when you attempt to quilt over lumps and bumps.

To Baste Correctly, Take Your Time

When it comes to quilting, basting is the least loved part of the process, but it pays off in the long run. There should be no gaps between the top, middle, and bottom layers. While pin basters should use twice as many pins as normal, spray basters need to press the quilt on both sides of the adhesive to ensure it is well adhered to the fabric.

Positivity Is Key to Success

In the end, this is the most important piece of advice you can get. One-quarter of the quilt should be under the machine at any one moment. Make sure you take your time and remember that this is intended to be fun.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)

quilting pattern

What is the most basic quilt pattern for someone just starting out?

A simple patchwork quilt is one of the quilts that a novice may create that is considered to be one of the simplest. A square patchwork quilt is created by sewing together individual squares of cloth in a grid-like design to create the quilt top. Either you cut squares from your own fabrics or you start with a bundle of precut fabric called a charm pack or a layer cake.

Is it possible to quilt with a traditional sewing machine?

Quilting may be accomplished with an ordinary sewing machine. With the equipment you already have; Provided that you are keen to learn and have the necessary tools. You may achieve this in one of two ways: either by quilting in a straight line with a walking foot or by stitching whatever pattern you choose with a free motion quilting foot. Both of these methods are described further below.

What machine quilting stitch do you prefer?

It is recommended that the stitch length on your machine be set to between 2.5 and 3.0, which is equivalent to around 8-12 stitches per inch. This will allow you to create straight stitches. This range works pretty well for the majority of machine quilting projects, but whenever you set a rule, there are certain to be some notable exceptions. Make advantage of a greater stitch length when working with threads that shimmer or shine.

Which method, manual or machine quilting, produces superior results?

Quilting may be done by hand, by machine, or by a mix of the two. Some individuals prefer one method over the other. Because quilting is an art, there is no such thing as an appropriate or inappropriate method for completing the task at hand. At the end of the day, it all comes down to the things that offer you pleasure.

Conclusion

When done by hand, quilting is a breeze. However, using a sewing machine is clearly more convenient.

For novice quilters, new sewing machines come preloaded with quilting stitch patterns that are simple to use. They are also very ornamental, making it possible for even novice quilters to create stunning works of art.

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Aithley Balder

Hello there, my name is Aithley Balder from Texas. I am a cookware, sewing, toilet, technology enthusiast and I have been sharing my passion with my friends and likeminded folks for close to 4 years now. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with me via the contact page.

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