Custom Quilting on the Sewing Side of Your Machine

In my previous blog HERE, I showed samples of custom quilting on the embroidery side of your machine. In this post, you'll see some options for using your sewing machine. These techniques for quilting on the sewing side of your machine will work for almost everyone!

Both blog posts were created as a follow-up to my recent Tea & Tutorials show featuring  Annie Unrein from byannie.com. The replay is HERE on YouTube.

Each of the samples shown here consist of a quilt sandwich made with cotton fabric on the top and bottom and byAnnie Soft & Stable in place of batting.

---

Technique #1
Let's start with straight line channel quilting!

In this sample I decided to use Wonderfil 12 wt. varigated Accent thread, available HERE. Since the thread is thicker than standard thread, a size 14 topstitch needle is recommended. 

Here is my common process for channel quilting: I start by drawing an X across my fabric from corner to corner. Then, I stitch each line of stitching with a walking foot. For all remaining rows I use a quilt guide with the walking foot to stitch evenly spaced rows. You'll find a YouTube video showing this process HERE.

Looking for a basic walking foot tutorial? You'll find it HERE. You can watch a video showing this process for making a custom sewing machine mat HERE on the Let's Go Sew with Joanne Banko YouTube channel.

---

Technique #2
Next technique: Twin needle stitchery!

Using a twin needle gives you two rows of stitching on the top. You'll find more information for using twin needles on your machine, including threading tips  in this blog post HERE.

I love using the serpentine stitch with a twin needle. The resulting pattern creates a scalloped effect. Below is an example of what a serpentine stitch looks like in the menu of a machine. It's a very common stitch. Check your machine for a stitch that matches the image. It's simply a wavy undulating straight stitch.

It's important to know that the twin needle has to "share" the bobbin thread. Below you'll see the bottom side where the bobbin thread floats between the two needles forming somewhat of a zig zaggy look. I only use this technique when the backside will not show, or is unimportant for the finished project.

---

Technique #3
Decorative stitches combined with straight

Look at the top side of this sample and you'll see beautiful rows of decorative stitches combined with straight line quilting. I'm always looking for ways to use the beautiful decorative stitches available on modern machines. Many of us have so many of them built right in to the machine!

​I know lots of quilters like to feature decorative stitches in their projects too. However, decorative stitches and quilt layers don't always play nicely together. The forward, backward, and sideways nature of decorative stitches can be problematic on thicker layers, causing distortion of the patterns. What's the solution? Well, if you take a look at the next photo, you see that only my straight stitching goes through the entire quilt sandwich. Take a look at the bottom side of my sample below:

Decorative stitches are basically baby embroidery designs and cotton quilt fabric needs to be well stabilized for decorative stitches to form properly. Here's the solution and the process I used to "quilt" with decorative stitches:

​I started by stabilizing my top fabric with crisp tear-way on the back, sewed the decorative stitches on just the top fabric, removed the excess stabilizer, then added the backing and foam layers for my quilt sandwich. Finally, I used straight stitches and my walking foot to add quilting between the rows of decorative stitches.

This technique provides the best of both worlds and beautiful results!

I hope you enjoyed this blog post and the featuring custom quilting using byAnnie Soft & Stable in place of batting. You'll find the post titled Custom Quilting wtih Your Embroidery Machine HERE. Leave your comments below and let me know if you have plans to try these techniques and some of your own!