QUILTING ON A DOMESTIC SEWING MACHINE
Quilting on a domestic sewing machine. .Getting started with machine quilting at home is not that difficult and there are a few simple rules to be aware of: First, make sure you pin the quilt securely by stretching it first, and as you quilt, start from the center and spiral outwards. . You work. If you work side to side or start from a corner, your quilt is likely to curl, so you’ve been warned.
Do not try to use long arm sewing machines for home quilting because the large 28″ to 30″ necks and 14″ frames are mainly for the quilting industry. When they first appeared on the home scene, there were no other systems for home quilting, so they were with cleverly marketed to home quilters with great success the good news is that Mid-arm systems are now specifically designed for home quilters.
When deciding on your machine, it is important that you have access to batting when quilting. If you can’t reach it or it’s inconvenient, it’s going to be a problem. First, request an in-store demo. A great tip is to use an ironing board. Simply remove the cover and you will notice the ease of movement as the blanket glides smoothly over the metal surface. The ironing board is easy to adjust as needed and also folds down when finished.
FIVE TIPS TO IMPROVE QUILTING ON DOMESTIC SEWING MACHINE
Quilting on a domestic sewing machine. .If you’re on a similar journey to making your own quilts on your home sewing machine from start to finish, and then these top 5 quilting tips are for you.
- SLOW DOWN
There are so many layers going through a sewing machine and adding too much speed to the equation can result in uneven and skipped stitches. Not to mention it’s much more challenging to hold things well when you are going that fast.
- LOOKING AHEAD
Look where you want to go, not your needle. It’s the same as quilting. This is especially important if you are doing any kind of quilting or dot quilting in a trench. But really it’s just how I fold and quilt. It’s a good habit to get into.
- ASK FOR RESOURCES
Invest in quilting resources. If you are struggling to decide on quilting motifs, then I highly recommend picking up the book *Walk by Jacquie Gering. As with most things quilting, it really takes practice, but helpful resources can provide guidance and inspiration.
- BURN OR BURN
Roll up or summarize? I tried both methods and had the most success with clustering. Rolling tends to create a much heavier weight and can be difficult to feed through the harp space (especially with smaller neck spaces). This also creates a bigger resistance problem. The pile weighs less on my shoulders. Try both methods and see which one works best for you.
- CHECK THAT VOLTAGE
Check your voltage in time. I take a few stitches and then stop and look at my back. This ensures that if you have a tension problem you catch it nice and early (fewer stitches to tear too. A great tip is to have a test patch to check the tension after each bobbin change. Make sure you use fabric from your project to test as with similar.
SOME IMPORTANT KEY THINGS TO START QUILTING ON DOMESTIC SEWING MACHINE
Quilting on a domestic sewing machine. .Quilting a large quilt on a home machine is overwhelming, but it is totally doable. 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.
- Quilt support
One of the most common questions I get about machine quilting in the home is “What should I do with the quilt? Also, make sure you have as much room as possible on the table to the left and back of your machine to support the weight this will reduce the stress on your body trying to fight gravity by pulling the quilt and will reduce the stress on your needle.
- 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.
- Start in the Center / Secure the Quilt
As you can imagine, the most challenging part of a quilt is the center, as this is when the throat of your machine has the most bulk. 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 (as the seams line up, etc.) will be evenly around the quilt and not 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 across the quilt.
- 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. Leaving your work area too large or too far to one side will damage your body and affect your quilting.
HOW TO QUILT BIG QUILTS ON A DOMESTIC SEWING MACHINE
Quilting on a domestic sewing machine. .There are so many steps to making a quilt, from choosing the pattern and fabric, to the final binding stitch (by hand or machine. And it often feels like quilting the top of the quilt and the quilting step itself are two very, very different tasks.
- BLANKET IN SECTIONS
The bigger your quilt, the more quilting to do, the more daunting it is. But here’s the best trick – think of it as 2 smaller quilts or 4 smaller quilts or even smaller quilts! Looking at your quilt as two halves or four quarters will not only help you feel less overwhelmed by the amount of space that needs to be quilted, but it will also help you physically quilt the messy thing by working on it too piecewise.
- STITCHED BY AREA
Thinking about how to differentiate what I meant by sections and this tip, I decided the best description was “area”! By areas I mean background vs. crosshatch vs. blocks/prints where you stitch the same areas at once. This can help you physically break the quilt down into areas, but it can also help you mentally keep track of what you need to do and help give you some mini milestones to reach in the process.
- GO THROUGH THE HARDEST PART FIRST
Growing up, I always ate the most boring parts of dinner first so I could finish with the good stuff. I will often take the same approach to quilting! If it’s a motif I’m comfortable with, or especially straight quilting, I’ll do the heaviest part of the quilt first – the part that requires the most quilts in the machine at once.
- STITCHING: SMOOSH VS ROLL
This is definitely one of those personal preference moments, depending on your machine, quilt and setup, but personally. Rolling a blanket can be limiting in terms of being able to move it where it’s needed, when it’s needed, if it’s tightly rolled. But on the other hand, if your home sewing machine has a small neck (less than 6″), you may need the tighter roller to fit snugly. And if you are doing straight quilting, then you clearly know how much quilting space you need and how much can be rolled.
- STRETCH + WATER
Quilting large quilts on a home sewing machine is part of the physical management of a quilt, but it’s also part of the mindset! Breaking down what may seem like a daunting, overwhelming task into manageable chunks both physically and mentally will help you conquer that quilt and get you across that finish line.
SOME OF THE BEST QUITTING OPTIONS ON A DOMESTIC SEWING MACHINE
Quilting on a domestic sewing machine. .If you are aware that we cannot accept hand-stitched or bound quilts and remember that we sew tightly, with lines no more than 3″ apart, there are many options for sewing machine quilting:
- Stitch in the Ditch – requires a steady hand as you guide stitches directly into the seam line between patches or blocks. If you’re not that precise, another good way to stitch using the “titch” as a guide is to use a snake stitch and stitch a wavy line across the seam line, or try another decorative stitch along the seam line.
- Contour quilting, also known as “echo quilting” – guide the stitches around the block or motif, usually 1/4” from the edge.
- Grid stitching – can be diagonal format or vertical/lateral. Some machines are equipped with a grid line. Alternatively, the lines on the quilt can be marked with chalk, masking tape, or a bar of hand soap.
- Free Motion – if you have a quilting or quilting foot and can throw off feed dogs, you will love free motion quilting. It takes a little practice, but it’s fun and creative. As you practice and learn more about Free Motion, you may want to try some of the wonderful quilts created and shown by the wonderful young quilter Leah Day on her blog. Have fun with machine quilting and combine different techniques. You may find this the most interesting part of the quilt making process.
CONCLUSION
Quilting on a domestic sewing machine. There is not much difference between the process of sewing and quilting. You have to choose the right thread, presser foot and needle and sew together three layers of fabric. So you can use almost any sewing machine for quilting. Have fun with it. Remember, you quilt for fun. So try not to stress any fluctuations in the stitching lines or small wrinkles in the pad. Honestly, you notice these mistakes more than anyone else. Quilting a large quilt on a home machine is overwhelming, but it is totally possible.
