Are you new to quilting in straight lines? Perhaps all you’re trying to do is become better at what you’re doing. In any scenario, these seven straightforward suggestions may assist in elevating your straight-line quilting endeavor.
7 Easy Tips for Quilting in Straight Lines.
Use the foot you use to walk.
Use your walking foot if your machine doesn’t have a dual feed system. You won’t regret purchasing one if you don’t already have one. Check the owner’s handbook to make sure the walking foot you buy is compatible with your machine.
Your top quilt, batting, and backing will go through the machine evenly and swiftly with the assistance of a walking foot. Less worry about dragging or skipping stitches exists since your layers pass through the machine in an equal manner.
Don’t sprint; instead, stroll with your walking foot. It is not a competition. Move half as quickly as you typically would. Maximum-speed sewing might lead to tension problems and a wavy mess.
Purchase a Quality Set of Quilting Gloves.
However, you may use them for any kind of quilting, including straight-line quilting. Quilting gloves are often linked with free-motion quilting.
Gloves have the benefit of providing a little bit more grip, which makes it simpler to move and run your quilt through the machine.
Quilting-specific gloves are available, although many quilters also use regular work gloves or gardening gloves. Here, it truly comes down to personal choice.
For parallel lines, try using quilting bars.
If you want to create perfectly straight parallel lines, quilting bars might be a useful tool. To guarantee that your lines are appropriately spaced, position these bars to the right or left of the walking foot.
Set the bar to the appropriate spacing after stitching the first line. Continue from your previous line by doing so.
Guide bars are reasonably priced, and they may greatly improve your straight-line quilting results.
In the same direction, move.
If this is your first time attempting straight-line quilting, you may believe that you should flip the quilt and go in the other way once you reach the line’s end. But you’d be mistaken!
Move in the same direction with each line rather than in opposition to it. Return to where you began and begin sewing when you reach the end of the line.
It is possible to avoid tension problems that lead to wavy quilts by moving in the same direction.
However, what if you need to handle a large quilt? You might start in the middle of the quilt and stitch in the same direction for the full length of that half of the quilt rather than going from one to the other. After you’ve completed, turn the quilt 180 degrees and repeat the procedure on the other side.
Despite the fact that you are technically quilting in the other direction, you ought should be able to prevent tension problems.
Be Fearless of Quilting Closer.
Try quilting closer rather than at a distance of 8–10 inches. A quilt will typically be more durable and able to endure repeated washings if it is quilted every 4 to 5 inches.
Less tension will be placed on each stitch while washing and using the quilt if your lines are closer together.
You can go even closer if you’d like. Dense quilting patterns may be both attractive and useful.
If you want absolutely straight lines, mark.
Marking your lines before you begin quilting is another approach to get precisely straight lines. Mark the lines you wish to follow using a ruler.
If there are no seams or lines to follow, marking might be extremely useful.
To quilt, alternate the lines.
Try quilting every other line while sewing parallel lines first, and then return to stitch between these lines. For instance, begin quilting every 4 inches if you want your lines to be 2 inches apart. After that, stitch a quilt between each line. This may aid in maintaining equal spacing as well as avoiding puckering and tension problems.
Final thoughts
Whether you’re a beginner or an expert at straight-line quilting, these seven ideas may help you refine your technique and create your greatest quilting project yet. For more knowledge and new ideas, always read new quilting blogs from experienced quilters.