Machine Quilting

There are two types of machine quilting: machine guided quilting and free motion quilting. Machine guided quilting is where the feed dogs of the sewing machine are helping guide the material during the sewing. Free motion is where the feed dogs of the sewing machine are lowered and the more experienced quilter guides the material during the sewing. Machine guided quilting is for straight and slightly curved sewing lines, and free motion quilting is for patterns and engraving.

Before starting to quilt be sure you have a the guide to your sewing machine handy to help with selecting the stitch length and needle sizes. You should have four or five needles, as sharp needles are needed to penetrate the layers of material and batting, and will have to be replaced when needed. Also you will need thread that matches the color of the backing, and should be 100 percent cotton. The top can be matching thread or monofilament nylon or "invisible" thread. If making a baby quilt it is safer to use 100 percent cotton thread. A special needle is needed for monofilament nylon thread.

Be sure and use spray starch and iron the backing so it is smooth before the layer of batting and the top is laid out to pin in place. Do not sew over pins, and have a table behind your machine to keep the layers from stretching as the quilt goes through the machine. Start in the middle of the quilt and work toward the outer part of the quilt. The part of the quilt that is in front of you can be rolled, and unrolled as you sew. It is best to back stitch two or three stitches at the beginning and end of a line of stitching to keep the threads from unraveling. It might be a good idea to practice by making a place mat before starting your quilt.