Free motion quilting is a great way to add your own personal touch to a quilt. It’s also a relatively easy technique to learn and doesn’t require a fancy or expensive sewing machine. It is also a great way to add texture and interest to your quilts.
There are lots of reasons to love free-motion quilting. For one, it’s a great way to use up scraps of fabric. You can also get creative with your designs, and the endless possibilities are endless. Plus, it’s a fast and easy way to finish a quilt top.
It is a form of quilting where the sewer controls the fabric with their hands instead of using a feed dog. It allows for more intricate designs to be sewn into the quilt top. It is incredible because it gives the sewer more control over the final product and allows for much more creativity.
Let’s get started with steps of free motion quilt on a regular sewing machine and some great tips on how to use free motion quilting in your next quilt.
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How To Free Motion Quilt On A Regular Sewing Machine
If you love quilting but don’t have the money for a longarm machine, don’t worry! You can still free-motion quilt on a regular sewing machine. Here’s how:
- Lower your machine’s feed dogs. It will allow you to move the fabric around in any direction.
- Choose a walking foot or free-motion quilting foot for your machine.
- These feet have a shallow groove on the bottom that helps feed the fabric evenly.
- You will need to thread the machine with a quilting thread.
- The thread is thicker and stronger than regular sewing thread and will not break as easily.
- Draw some simple designs on a scrap piece of fabric and start stitching.
- Go slowly at first and increase your speed as you get comfortable with the motion.
- When you are finished quilting, you can raise the feed dogs and continue sewing with regular sewing thread.
The above points are a good start for free motion quilting.
Tips for successful free motion quilting
There are a few tips that I have learned while learning how to free-motion quilt on a regular sewing machine. Some of these tips are just common sense, but I thought it would be good to include them here for anyone who is new to the world of free motion quilting.
- Don’t be intimidated. It is a great way to learn some new skills and make something completely unique for yourself or for someone you love.
- It can be used in conjunction with more traditional quilting methods.
- Set up your sewing area so you have a good workspace and plenty of room to move around while sewing.
- Use a walking foot for free motion quilting with heavier weight fabric and batting.
- Use a needle with a large eye to make the threading process easier.
- One great tip is to use a quilting guide or ruler to help you keep your lines straight.
- It is a great way to use up all of those small scraps you have been saving for years – make them into something beautiful.
- Many people recommend using a hoop when you are first learning, but we prefer not to use one.
How to hold the fabric while quilting
There are a few different ways that you can hold the fabric while quilting. One way is to hold it with your hands. You can also use a quilting hoop or frame. If you are using a sewing machine, you will need to use a special foot called a darning or free-motion foot. This foot has a small opening in the centre that allows the needle to move up and down freely.
When holding the fabric in your hands, you will need to keep it tight so that it does not pucker when you stitch. You can also use your fingers to guide the fabric as you stitch. If you are using a quilting hoop, you will need to loosen the screw so that you can slide the hoop over the fabric. Once the hoop is in place, tighten the screw so that the fabric is held securely in place.
Conclusion
You can absolutely free-motion quilt on a regular sewing machine! You don’t need a special machine, just some patience and practice. With a little bit of time and effort, you can be free-motion quilting like a pro in no time. If you’re looking for a fun and unique way to add some extra flair to your quilts, give free motion quilting a try.
It’s not much difficult as your regular quilting, but you’ll love the finished product. I hope that you have enjoyed this article on free motion quilting.
