Workshop Wednesday: Start with These 3 Basic Machine Quilting Techniques

Like many quilters, I find machine quilting my quilts more than a little challenging. I always worry I will mess up all my hard work. After many fits and starts here are a few things I’ve learned that can help you get the job done: enjoy these three basic machine quilting techniques!

Off the Wall Basting

My co-worker Gigi figured out the COOLEST way to baste quilts. If you don’t like to crawl around on the floor basting quilt then this is for you. I use this method all the time now. Check out the article here!

Stitch in the Ditch

“Stitching in the ditch” is quilting right in the seam between two patches. It’s a great way to quilt blocks that you just don’t have any idea how to quilt. I find it’s also helpful for stabilizing the quilt sandwich before launching into more complicated quilting. To stitch in the ditch you will find a walking foot very helpful.
Mary Fons has a great little demo you can watch here.

Stippling

Stipple quilting is a basic meandering stitch where the lines do not cross. You can vary the size of the meander from small to large depending on the project. Small stippling is great for applique background because it makes the applique shapes pop. Mary Fons and Ebony Love have a great demo of stippling you can watch here.

If you want to learn more quilting techniques we have a ton of really great classes! Here are a few that can help you get started:

• Finishing Your Quilt on a Home Sewing Machine with Amy Ellis
• Fearless Free Motion Stitching for Beginners