HOW TO MACHINE QUILT A LARGE QUILT
How to machine quilt a large quilt .Quilting a large quilt on a home machine is overwhelming, but it is totally doable. Even the word blanket has different meanings. It refers to a quilt made up of three layers and the stitching of those three layers together (like a quilt and quilt). Now, for some inexplicable reason, the word quilt refers to a person who makes quilts, even if they don’t necessarily know how to quilt them. You can be an expert quilter and still not be able to quilt because your expertise may lie in one of the many ways to make a quilt.
Although quilting is sometimes used as a short form of “patchwork and quilting” (like when you say you’re starting to quilt when you’re learning patchwork), you’ll find in the dictionary that there are two different meanings for quilting. Quilting is the quilting that holds all three layers of the quilt together and is also the act of creating those stitches.
You can quilt a large quilt with a regular sewing machine. With a machine you already own; if you have the tools and want to learn. You can do this in two ways: straight quilting with a walking foot or you can also quilt any design with a free-motion quilting foot.
WHAT TO CONSIDER WHEN LEARNING TO QUILT – HOW TO MACHINE QUILT A LARGE QUILT
How to machine quilt a large quilt .Here are some other tips you will come across as you learn about machine quilting.
- In Ditch, the stitch is very close to the bottom of the seam, making it almost invisible. The low side is the side without the seam allowance
- Contour stitching is stitching done inside each patch about ¼” from the seam line or stitching around the shape as in Echo stitching. Sometimes confused with trench stitch, contour stitching is meant to show the stitching.
- Motif quilting creates a patterned design on the quilt top. There are different marking tools and many techniques for marking a quilt pattern.
- Accent stitching is stitching that complements the main design. Selective stitching is used to emphasize certain parts of the design.
- All-over quilting ignores seam lines and fills the entire quilt top with the design.
- Past unto is “fattening” areas of the quilt design to create brilliant texture. Trap unto is most effective when the background stitching is densely stitched around the “fattened” area. This will make chubby areas stand out more.
- Quilt as You Go means you quilt and assemble all your blocks individually. The smaller pieces are quilted separately and then joined together to form a large quilt. It is easier to get advice and sew a smaller piece under the sewing machine instead of a huge blanket.
BEST TYPES OF MACHINE QUILTING -HOW TO MACHINE QUILT A LARGE QUILT
- Machine location
The most important thing about the position of your machine is that it is safe and stable. If at all possible, having a machine on your desk is ideal (I recommend this Arrow sewing cabinet as an affordable and portable option). Not only is this much easier on your shoulders and elbows (and makes it easier to adjust the chair to the correct height), but it also makes your machine more stable. If you have a smaller, lighter machine, like the sometimes sewn Sparrow 30 shown above, be careful not to let the weight and bulk of the quilt overwhelm the machine when sewing. Placing the machine on a table makes it less likely to tip over and reduces “bounce” if you’re going really fast.
- Quilt support
One of the most common questions I get about machine quilting in the home is “What am I going to do with that entire quilt? This is a great question and taking the time to make sure there is room for the quilt will help you succeed. First, if your machine is not set up on a table, I highly recommend a “quilting table” that extends the bed of your machine for a larger, flatter quilting surface. Also, make sure you have as much table space as possible to the left and back of the machine to support the weight of the quilt. This will reduce the stress on your body trying to fight gravity by pulling on the blanket and reduce the stress on your needle. Too much resistance can lead to broken needles!
- Chair height
Make sure you are sitting on top of the blanket. If you are on the shorter side, you may need to lift the foot pedal on a box or stack of books to raise the chair so that the edge of your quilting surface is about belly button height (This means the quilting table, not the table if your machine is not level with your work surface). Your arms should be at a 90 degree angle or greater, not crouched down to your body like dinosaur arms. Being on top of your work will improve visibility and reduce strain and pain in your shoulders, neck and elbows over time.
- Start in the Center / Secure the Quilt
As you can imagine, the most challenging part of the quilt is the center, as this is where the neck of your machine has the most volume. So if possible, I recommend starting in the center to get it over with! Working from the center out also helps ensure that any shifting (when aligning seams, etc.) goes evenly around the quilt, not just to one side or corner. But sometimes I know it’s hard to work out your quilting plan to start in the center and move smoothly through the quilt. In these cases, I recommend spending time quilting in the trench between the blocks. Then everything is nice and safe and you can move around the blanket as you please.
- Work Small
At any point, the only area of the quilt you really have control over is the 4 or 5 inch triangle that falls between your hands (see above). Your motifs can only be so big, and when you’ve filled the area between the arms, it’s time to stop and move the quilt. If you leave the work surface too large or too far away, it will damage your body and affect your quilting.
BEST TIPS FOR QUILTING LARGE QUILT-HOW TO MACHINE QUILT A LARGE QUILT
How to machine quilt a large quilt. With a little practice and following these small machine quilting tips, you should be able to get better results quilting a bed size quilt on your small machine.
- Wear gloves
If you plan to quilt a large quilt on your home machine, a great tip is to wear quilting gloves. Gloves are made to grip the fabric as you move it, taking some of the weight off your arms and shoulders. If you’ve ever felt your body tense up while quilting or even machine binding, you can make it easier by wearing gloves like Machingers (or even gardening gloves!).
- Pre-wind all coils
No one likes to get into a quilting groove only to realize their bobbin is empty! Prepare several coils in advance so you don’t miss a minute when it’s time to change the coil.
- Use that table
You probably have a sewing machine on your desk, right? Depending on the size of this table and the length of your quilt, you may want to set up other tables around your sewing space. The larger surface area helps hold the weight of the blanket and prevents it from shrinking. If having a standing table isn’t convenient, maybe you can move to a kitchen table or look at a folding table to set up next to your quilting station. Some quilters recommended height adjustable tables from Costco. Others use two tables at right angles so that one can hold the machine while the other supports the rest of the quilt.
- Scratch, don’t roll
If you’ve tried rolling the blanket into a tube and aren’t getting great results, try crumpling it instead! By tucking the excess quilt into the neck of the machine, you can get it out of the way without limiting your ability to level and maneuver the rest of the quilt. A quilt sandwich rolled into a tube is a bit more cumbersome to work with, especially if you are free motion quilting and need to move the quilt top from side to side.
- Start on Wednesday
This tip works for both walking foot quilting and free motion work. If you start quilting in the center and work your way to the sides, you will only need to place half of the quilt in the throat of your machine at a time. Turn your project so it is quilting the opposite side instead of trying to press the whole thing. You can also try quilting on the diagonal, so you remove the largest diagonal row of quilting first and the weight of the rest of the quilt is lighter.
NEEDLE THREADING TIPS – HOW TO MACHINE QUILT A LARGE QUILT
- Angela Madden – When you have threading problems… put a little hairspray on the end of the thread, twist it between your fingers and let it dry (a few seconds) then trim the end with sharp scissors so the lashes don’t stray anywhere… the hairspray will give the thread enough strength , to help you push it through the hole.
- Wendy Gardiner – When threading sewing machine by hand, slide a piece of white paper behind the eye of the needle so you can see it clearly.
- Wendy Gardiner – When threading a hand needle, cut the threads at a 45 degree angle and wet the eye of the needle so that the thread will stretch easily.
- Ann Dibble – Use the correct needle for your thread and project. If you can’t get the needle through several layers of fabric or you’re doing crazy quilting or even slow sewing, use a balloon (not inflated!) to catch it. Needle and pull it through.
- Cutandalter – Cut the thread at a 45 degree angle for easier needle threading.
CONCLUSION
How to machine quilt a large quilt. Knowing how to quilt is a wonderful skill that allows you to create beautiful quilted creations that can be passed down to your family as heirlooms. Thanks to innovations in machine quilting, it no longer takes months to create a beautiful large bedspread, as it did when hand sewing was the only means available. However, to learn how to quilt properly, it is better to sew your first creations by hand to better understand the practical nature of the craft.
