Finish a Quilt: Stitch Methods for Quilt Tops is Part 4 of a five-part series on finishing a quilt. Thus far, this series has explored types of batting, choosing fabrics for the back, and how to make a quilt sandwich.
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Now it’s time to stitch the quilt top! If you don't have a longarm machine, don't worry. We’re here to guide you through the process, even if this is your first attempt at quilting a quilt top.
By the conclusion of this article, you'll gain insights on how to determine what and where to quilt, create a quilting plan, identify essential tools and notions, and discover seven beginner-friendly straight line patterns. Additionally, we’ll introduce you to expert resources that include videos, online courses, and books to enhance your quilting skills.
But where do you begin when you’re new to quilting and ready to finish your very first quilt?
Understand that coming to a decision about stitch patterns is a common struggle. As you dive into the world of quilting, you'll become accustomed to different motifs, quilting stitches, and methods, enabling you to select the most suitable options for the purpose and design of your quilt. Let’s dive in!
Applying stitches to quilts not only enhances their aesthetic appeal with intricate lines, curves, and patterns, but also contributes to their sturdiness. The intended use of your quilt will dictate how much stitching is necessary.
How will your quilt be used?
Bed Quilt
When it comes to bed quilts designed for everyday use, washing and handling are involved; hence, the type of batting used plays a crucial role in determining the best spacing for your stitch patterns. Essentially, it's about how far apart your stitching lines can be while preventing the batting from loosening or bunching. Check the accompanying chart for detailed information on maximum stitching spacings, and refer to my post on Types of Batting for more guidance on selecting the right batting for your project.
If you prefer a plush, lofty appearance, using higher loft batting, such as wool, is ideal. For a bed quilt intended solely for decoration in a guest room, a medium or low density of stitches will suffice.
Love-and-tug quilt
Love-and-tug quilts benefit from high density quilting patterns due to the daily stress on seams and stitches! Opt for resilient batting like an 80/20 poly-cotton blend with scrim, wool, or 100% polyester. High density stitch patterns require spacing of one inch or less.
Baby quilt
Baby quilts are quick projects that are typically smaller and geared more toward decorative purposes or photographs. They require fewer stitches unless they’ll be used and washed frequently, in which case medium stitch density works well.
Table runners and pillows
Table runners and pillows should feature medium to dense stitching to ensure strength and maintain shape, as quilting cottons may stretch and shrink with use and laundering. Unlike heavier quilts, these smaller items do not put as much stress on seams when washed.
Quilted wall hanging and art quilt
Wall hangings and art quilts allow for a plethora of stitching styles. Many incorporate improvisational techniques, free motion designs, and hand quilting, with density varying from minimal to heavy. Depending on your display method, ensure that your stitching goes in multiple directions to stabilize the edges, as gravity tends to take its toll!
Quilted tote, purse, or carryall
For durability in bags, stitch designs closer together—between ¼ to ½ inch—using the matchstick quilting technique. Any straight line pattern enhances the durability while providing soft shaping to the bags.
The choice of batting significantly impacts your quilt's appearance, feel and durability. To better understand how to select batting for your project, learn more here. For your convenience, I have included a quick reference guide below to assist in choosing the right batting.
With regard to each stitch density for free motion quilting, each black outline square in the accompanying diagram represents ¼ inch. Boxes 1 and 3 depict medium density designs, while the large loops in Box 2 symbolize low density stitches suitable for free motion beginners. Lastly, the wonky spiral in Box 4 showcases a high density design that’s surprisingly simpler to create than a standard spiral—just wiggle and echo as you go!
Your Quilt's Design Speaks to You
What to Stitch and Where
After piecing your blocks, the next step is to apply stitching as a new design layer. Quilting stitches serve to outline and echo shapes, develop geometric designs, and enrich your quilt with dimensions, movement, texture, and color. Be mindful of what and where you choose to stitch, alongside the scale and density of your quilting patterns. It may seem like a lot, but it’s manageable!
Your quilt top communicates its needs. Recollect when you embarked on this creative journey—selecting the pattern, color, and fabrics was an expressive conversation in itself, one that sparked instant affection! Trust me; I've experienced this phenomenon countless times, and I'm sure many of you have as well.
Here’s a glimpse into my quilt, Rainbow Remix, which expressed its design desires clearly.
RAINBOW REMIX: My quirky shapes may not be perfectly square. They consist of wonky strips arranged in various positions.
ME: What stands out on my quilt?
RAINBOW REMIX: The squares seem to be in motion.
ME: They appear to be changing directions like waves.
BINGO! My quilt urged me to implement improvisational wavy lines. Let's get to it!
It's as straightforward as that. The improvisational wavy line complements many modern quilt designs and serves as a perfect stitching pattern for moments when you're pressed for time or patience.
As we proceed, we’ll shift into action, so when your quilt communicates, you’ll respond with enthusiasm rather than overwhelm!
Finish a Quilt - Stitch to Practice with a Plan
I typically approach my quilting plans simply and effectively. Experimenting with various quilting styles on both my domestic machine and longarm has led me to create a personal catalog of quilting stitches suitable for modern blocks and designs.
It’s about not just what I envision for the quilt but also what I enjoy doing. I’m particularly fond of straight lines and diverse stitching combinations—they’re uncomplicated and almost foolproof when utilizing my walking foot and guide.
With practice, you’ll discover your favorite quilting stitches and methods.
Creating a Stitching Plan for Beginners
As you prepare to quilt, it may be tempting to jump in without a plan, but this can lead to frustrating stitch-ripping experiences and dampen your enthusiasm.
Having a plan is essential.
Generating a plan is fun and emphasizes a hands-on approach. You’ve already gained familiarity with various quilting designs and methods—now, it's time to start developing your plan.
Assess your quilt top design
Creating a plan for the Well Wishes quilt was engaging because I utilized my favorite shapes—modern triangles.
I posed myself several questions:
Which shapes or blocks should I highlight using quilting stitches? Triangles.
Will I create movement with directional stitching lines? Absolutely! I highlighted the triangle angles using straight line stitching.
Is there a focal point needing emphasis? What direction should I sew in? Yes and no. The quilt design itself is the focal point, featuring a motif made from smaller triangles. I offset the linear triangles with curved lines and arcs to enhance the background's interest without distracting from the main focus.
Do I want the thread color to stand out or blend with the fabric? I prefer to accentuate the texture over the thread's visibility.
Do the borders require as much stitching as the inner quilt? No, since there are no borders; I matched the binding with the background fabric and quilted to the edge.
Select quilting stitches and patterns
Choose several quilting stitch patterns to experiment with—keep it straightforward. Below are some straight line stitching patterns, along with references from experienced quilting experts.
MAKE A MINI QUILT SANDWICH
Create a mini quilt sandwich using leftover fabric that measures at least 10 inches square. Practice various designs and experiment with your thread. This auditioning process for threads and designs is widely endorsed by quilters.
A quilt sandwich consists of three layers: a backing fabric on the base, batting in the center, and quilt top fabric on top. For specific instructions, refer to "How to Sandwich a Quilt."
Print your Thread Design Practice Sheets
Raylee devised a stitching plan for the Solstice BOM quilt as follows:
- Make a black-and-white copy of the coloring page that accompanies your quilt pattern or sketch a section of quilt blocks on paper.
- Enlarge a selected section of the coloring page by 200% using your printer.
- Create ten copies and begin sketching your quilting designs.
- Enjoy the process!
- Alternatively, place a clear vinyl sheet over a section of your quilt and use erasable markers to draw your designs.
- For a larger scale, enlarge a portion of the coloring template using a print shop.
Your plan will gain clarity as you engage in planning; embrace the fun and see what insights your quilt has in store for you.
Tools and Accessories for Quilting on your Home Sewing Machine
I do not keep an extensive collection of quilting gadgets or accessories in my sewing space; I prefer to stick to the essentials.
Here are the fundamental tools I recommend having at your disposal for machine quilting on your sewing machine—my focus is on simplicity, ease, and effective results.
NEEDLES
Always use a fresh needle when quilting the top. For low and medium loft batting, an 80/12 Micro Sharp needle works well with 40 weight thread, while a 90/14 needle suits 30 weight thread.
Small adjustments can yield significant results. If you encounter issues with thread shredding or breaking, consider using a Teflon, 90/14 Topstitch or 100/16 Denim needle. These needles are designed to handle dense layers effectively due to their longer backside groove and larger eye. Quilters often enjoy using smaller 80/12 Micro Sharp needles as well.
Bottom line: Experimenting with various needle types will help you find what works harmoniously with your machine, particularly with high loft batting.
THREAD
Invest in high-quality thread for basic straight line quilting and free motion quilting, such as brands like Aurifil, Superior Threads, Madeira, and Sulky. Threads formulated for machine quilting come in cotton, polyester, rayon, and blended varieties.
Professionals suggest using the same weight thread for both the bobbin and upper threads when quilting a top.
Think about how you want the quilting thread to appear against both the top and backing fabrics. Pull a long thread tail from a spool and lay it across the quilt top, trying this with several colors to determine which one works best. Choose a different bobbin thread color that blends seamlessly into the backing fabric.
Finding the right thread for the effect you desire leads to satisfying results!
quilting Gloves
Consider investing in quilting gloves when you begin your quilting journey. They offer a great grip on the fabric and help reduce fatigue and soreness. In my opinion, they are a must-have machine quilting accessory. While they may feel slightly cumbersome at first, you'll come to appreciate them.
RULER, TAPE AND HERA MARKING TOOL
Mark your initial line using a ruler along with a hera tool or chalk marker. The hera tool creates an imprint on the fabric to follow while stitching. It's particularly effective for light-colored fabrics; however, on darker materials, choose a light-colored chalk marker.
Painters tape or Dritz quilters tape can also come in handy for marking, but avoid using masking tape, which leaves adhesive residue on your fabric. Finding what works best for you is key—feel free to share your clever tricks in the comments!
Machine Quilting Stitches
Free motion quilting
Free motion quilting provides endless creative possibilities for quilters to design intricate thread patterns. This technique involves lowering the feed dogs beneath the needle plate and setting the stitch length to zero while using a free motion quilting foot. By disengaging the feed dogs, the quilt can move uninhibitedly in any direction at any speed to create quilting stitches. Synchronizing your stitching pace with hand movements is the secret sauce.
Free motion stitching can be utilized within blocks, outlining borders, or as repeating overall edge-to-edge patterns (pantographs). As patterns may vary on a quilt, The scale might change with repeated designs and shapes, requiring ongoing practice to master this skill.
I advise starting your stitching in the top center and working toward the edges, taking small sections at a time.
Free motion quilting designs may include:
- All-over continuous patterns, such as stippling and swirls
- Motifs like flowers, circles, vines, and feathers
- Combining filler quilting stitches with motifs
- Echo or outline quilting stitches
You can simplify the process by:
- Tracing a pattern onto designated blocks and borders and then stitching along the lines.
- Utilizing quilting templates featuring tiny holes and lines that mark designs with chalk powder. A chalk pounce works well for pattern delineation.
Be courageous! Embrace the learning curve, and after some practice, you'll notice significant improvements in your skills.
Straight line quilting with a walking foot
The good news is that you can machine quilt without needing free motion quilting skills just yet. You have plentiful options to quilt the top using straight stitching with your home sewing machine.
Straight lines can be exciting! You can combine them to form a myriad of bold, visually alluring geometric patterns (just take a look at the accompanying photos). Running stitches yield uniform results, which is ideal for sewing through multiple layers.
This technique is beginner-friendly, enabling the production of even stitches while preventing fabric layers from shifting and bunching during sewing. Your basic universal foot can also serve for straight line stitching.
I utilize my walking foot for both piecing and quilting. Replace your standard or quarter-inch foot with this tool to achieve more consistent results. Ensure you buy a walking foot that is compatible with your machine.
A walking foot moves the top and backing layers simultaneously beneath the needle, avoiding uneven edges. An added benefit is using a quilt guide—a metal arm that attaches to your walking foot—for straight lines and precise spacing. Setting the stitch length between 2.5 to 3 mm works best. If you prefer a reduced speed when sewing, make adjustments on your sewing machine.
Investing in a walking foot will pay off as the results speak volumes.
Hand Quilting Methods
Hand quilting remains quite popular! You can spot beautifully hand-quilted pieces at every quilt show, and it’s delightful to witness quilters still utilizing this method.
Although it takes more time than machine quilting, hand quilting brings a sense of accomplishment and connection to the quilt that many quilters treasure.
The fundamental running stitch is relatively simple to learn. I personally hand-quilted my daughter’s Dolly quilt utilizing a cross-hatch design. Admittedly, this takes time, but she cherished her quilt, and that’s what truly matters!
Similarly, I hand quilted my Pickledish quilt, relishing the crinkly finish that resulted.
Quilting Stitch Patterns with Straight Lines
For beginners, let's explore straightforward straight line quilting designs. These patterns harmonize fabulously with both traditional and modern quilts.
Start by sewing vertical straight lines at the midpoint of the quilt’s top, gradually adding rows of lines to the right of the previous one. Then rotate the quilt 180 degrees, sewing lines in the opposite direction starting from the midpoint.
It's essential to avoid stitching all lines in one direction from top to bottom across the quilt top, as this can lead to wavy quilt edges and twisting; reversing the sewing direction helps prevent layer shifting. Utilize your walking foot for optimal results.
Unlike the smaller stitches used for piecing, the stitch length for this method should fall between 2.5 to 3 mm.
Stitch in the Ditch
The "stitch in the ditch" technique involves stitching within the seams of the fabrics, generating inconspicuous quilting stitches. For the best effects, use a walking foot or an edge stitching foot, which keeps your stitches tidy within the "ditch" by anchoring the foot in the seam. This approach is favorable for daydreamers and Netflix enthusiasts alike!
Straight Line stitching method
Start by marking a center line from top to bottom, beginning from the midpoint on the quilt's edge. Stitch edge to edge, moving right of the previous line.
Rotate the quilt 180 degrees—the previously stitched lines will now be on the left side. Begin stitching again from the midpoint, moving to the right of the previous line.
Matchstick quilting
Matchstick quilting involves sewing closely spaced rows about ¼ to ½ inch apart. Begin with your initial rows at ¼ or ½ inch wide, following the basic straight line approach, and add the in-between lines in the same way, rotating the quilt 180 degrees after stitching from the midpoint to the right edge.
ECHO / OUTLINE QUILTING STITCHES
Utilize the quarter inch quilting foot to outline the shapes present on your quilt, yielding delightful results! For added flair, switch up thread colors on blocks or sections. Here's a pro tip: it’s perfectly fine not to outline every single block.
Cross Hatched Quilting Stitches
Cross hatching can be achieved in various ways. Start by sewing a quarter inch from the seam, either side of the seam, in both vertical and horizontal lines. Begin in the center and work towards the edges as you move outward.
Next, rotate the quilt 90 degrees and sew a quarter inch from the seam, also starting at the middle and working towards the edges.
Diagonal Quilting Stitches
Diagonal stitching transforms the quilt top, lending a far more interesting appearance to any project!
Diagonal stitching enriches the quilt top with added layers of thread, even when the colors closely match the fabric. The quilting develops visibility through shadows, highlights, movement, and contrast.
Diagonal stitch variations
Mixing designs can elevate your project’s appeal! Start by outlining first, then incorporating diagonal checkerboard stitching.
Feel free to experiment with chevron designs too, which involve simple point-to-point stitching.
So, gather your tools, form a plan, and dive into stitching your quilt top. You've got this!
WHAT'S NEXT
I will soon share Part 5 of the Finishing a Quilt series, featuring my foolproof binding method to complete your quilt. Soon, it will become YOUR go-to method!
For a more in-depth exploration of quilting techniques, discover a multitude of designs and patterns through online courses, videos, and informative books by quilting experts.
My friend Christa Watson offers a Craftsy class titled The Quilter's Path, where she demonstrates how to machine quilt diverse fun and effortless designs, utilizing both a walking foot and free-motion methods—all with a domestic sewing machine and no longarm required!
In addition, Angela Walters has authored several insightful books covering fascinating quilting stitches relevant to all shapes. She discusses various machine quilting topics through her books, videos, and live interactions—definitely check out her tutorials and lessons.
A wonderful resource for machine quilting is Catherine Redford's book Modern Machine Quilting.
Plus, HollyAnne Knight from String and Story aims to transform anxious beginners into proficient intermediate free motion quilters through her Free Motion Quilting Academy course lasting just 12 weeks.
Furthermore, Allie Aller's creative approach to crazy quilting comprising over 30 techniques is thoroughly explored in her book Quilting Just A Little Bit Crazy.
LEARN TO MAKE A MODERN TRIANGLE IN MY FREE 'OUTSHINE' CLASS
Do not miss out on my free tutorial and pattern featuring a versatile modern triangle block named Outshine. You’ll soon discover just how simple freezer paper piecing can be! I assure you, you may want to create a plethora of these blocks. Perhaps even an entire quilt!
Click here to enroll in the free triangle class.
MORE RESOURCES FOR FINISHING QUILTS
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