Sister's Choice Quilts

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My Best Ever Machine Quilting Effort

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If you have followed this blog for any length of time, you know that it has been my desire to improve my machine quilting skills.  I have been practicing my squiggles and loop d' loops and stippling and my results have been well, pretty much just ok.  Make no mistake, I am improving, but it is obvious that more practice will serve me well.

Recently I discovered the Pretty By Hand blog, where Kristyne has been teaching herself to be a Free Motion Quilter.  She recently posted that she has officially given up doing cross hatch quilting, as she feels her skills have improved enough that she is proud of her free motion skills to make that her preferred method.

I figured that if I wanted to teach myself to machine quilt, I was going to follow Kristyne's example and start out with doing cross hatching by machine.  The free motion stuff can come after I master that technique.  After searching for a half an hour for my painter's tape, I got started.  I placed the tape diagonally across the quilt, right through the middle and sewed my first line of stitching right along side the right hand edge of the tape.

Then I repositioned the tape to the right after each subsequent line of stitching, working my way from the middle to the right hand corner.  Once I got to the corner, I flipped the quilt top around and stitched the other half.

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My stitching lines were just as straight as could be!

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When the top was completely stitched with lines running in one direction, I repeated the process so that my stitching lines went the opposite direction, creating a cross hatch design across the entire top of the quilt.

I know this isn't the most creative process, but I was so pleased with my perfectly even one inch grid of quilting!  The quilting is dense and the top will wash up beautifully and be all quilty and puckery.  It is my plan to do a few more small quilts with this cross hatch technique, then branch out with more free motion patterns.  I just need to get my skill level and my confidence level up.  In the meantime, I am 100% happy with this method.

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This little Bennington Schnibble (from the book Schnibbles Times Two by Carrie Nelson) will go on my round kitchen table, but for now I have it over the back of one of our leather chairs.  Have you noticed that in the summer when you are wearing sleeveless or low backed clothes, sitting against the back of a leather chair is sticky uncomfortable?  What a perfect use for a small quilt!  It looks adorable and no more leaning up against hot old leather with your bare skin.

 

68 responses to “My Best Ever Machine Quilting Effort”

  3. Great job Nicole! And might I add that I found the book “Foolproof Machine Quilting” by Mary Mashuta to be an excellent resource for machine quilting with your walking foot. Mary’s book gave me confidence to start machine quilting my quilts doing things other then loop d’loops. I also recommend any of Patsy Thompson’s DVD’s. I love quilting my own quilts, and these gals have given me the visual helps that are making it possible 😉

  4. Great job Nicole! And might I add that I found the book “Foolproof Machine Quilting” by Mary Mashuta to be an excellent resource for machine quilting with your walking foot. Mary’s book gave me confidence to start machine quilting my quilts doing things other then loop d’loops. I also recommend any of Patsy Thompson’s DVD’s. I love quilting my own quilts, and these gals have given me the visual helps that are making it possible 😉

  5. I think you did a great job, too.
    I love coming here because as a beginning quilter, I’m learning so much!
    Keep the tips and techniques coming, and all your wonderful quilt pictures! 🙂

  6. I think you did a great job, too.
    I love coming here because as a beginning quilter, I’m learning so much!
    Keep the tips and techniques coming, and all your wonderful quilt pictures! 🙂

  9. Thanks, Nicole! I am so encouraged when I find that even the experts, like you, have struggles with FMQ. I am going to use your method first on my own Schnibbles Bennington small quilt, then on Open Season. Maybe in a year or two I will be brave enough to try the loop d’ loops!

  10. Thanks, Nicole! I am so encouraged when I find that even the experts, like you, have struggles with FMQ. I am going to use your method first on my own Schnibbles Bennington small quilt, then on Open Season. Maybe in a year or two I will be brave enough to try the loop d’ loops!

  11. Okay, so now I know why some of my friends have blue painters tape in their sewing rooms…never thought to ask. I actually have a bag pattern that I need to do this to the fabric before making the tote – I have been dreading drawing the lines on the fabric…now I can do this easily – thanks, Nicole for sharing this great technique!
    Your schnibble looks wonderful! On the chair and I am sure on the table later.
    Have a great day – boy you must wake up really early! It is before 9 here my time and you posted awhile ago!

  12. Okay, so now I know why some of my friends have blue painters tape in their sewing rooms…never thought to ask. I actually have a bag pattern that I need to do this to the fabric before making the tote – I have been dreading drawing the lines on the fabric…now I can do this easily – thanks, Nicole for sharing this great technique!
    Your schnibble looks wonderful! On the chair and I am sure on the table later.
    Have a great day – boy you must wake up really early! It is before 9 here my time and you posted awhile ago!

  13. I have done cross hatching, and find it easier than free motion quilting. My shoulders suffer so much when I try machine quilting. Good for you for staying with it. They say practice, practice, practice –I say send the big stuff out and let my long armer practice. LoL Judy C in NC

  14. I have done cross hatching, and find it easier than free motion quilting. My shoulders suffer so much when I try machine quilting. Good for you for staying with it. They say practice, practice, practice –I say send the big stuff out and let my long armer practice. LoL Judy C in NC

  15. Good job Nicole! I have finally gotten more comfortable with my free motion machine quilting skills over the last couple of years, but I still grid quilt a lot of quilts because many times those straight lines are just what the quilt needs.
    Love that quilt and congrats on the finish!

  16. Good job Nicole! I have finally gotten more comfortable with my free motion machine quilting skills over the last couple of years, but I still grid quilt a lot of quilts because many times those straight lines are just what the quilt needs.
    Love that quilt and congrats on the finish!

  17. I love the look of cross-hatching. It is timeless, and, as with Baptist Fans, looks great on any traditional quilt. You might want to experiment with different threads and the looks they give. I love doing cross-hatch with Bottom Line (Superior thread) as it seems to sink into the quilt so that the crinkle of the fabric shows more than the stitches. Congratulations on your new skill!

  18. I love the look of cross-hatching. It is timeless, and, as with Baptist Fans, looks great on any traditional quilt. You might want to experiment with different threads and the looks they give. I love doing cross-hatch with Bottom Line (Superior thread) as it seems to sink into the quilt so that the crinkle of the fabric shows more than the stitches. Congratulations on your new skill!

  19. Yay Nicole, fabulous job! Cross-hatching served me very well for some 20 odd years because it’s easy, quick, adjustable and I rarely came across a quilt design that didn’t look good cross-hatched. To me, it’s a classic. I mean, why else did Coco Chanel have her signature purse quilted with it?! 😉
    Turn it 45 degrees and you have a very modern-looking finish too.
    But yes, I have grown sooo tired of being LIMITED to cross-hatching (I’ve referred to myself as a 1″ grid whore for many years … haha).
    Best of luck on your journey. I’m cheering you on!

  20. Yay Nicole, fabulous job! Cross-hatching served me very well for some 20 odd years because it’s easy, quick, adjustable and I rarely came across a quilt design that didn’t look good cross-hatched. To me, it’s a classic. I mean, why else did Coco Chanel have her signature purse quilted with it?! 😉
    Turn it 45 degrees and you have a very modern-looking finish too.
    But yes, I have grown sooo tired of being LIMITED to cross-hatching (I’ve referred to myself as a 1″ grid whore for many years … haha).
    Best of luck on your journey. I’m cheering you on!

  21. Cross-hatching is one of the oldest quilting designs in the world, so you are right up there with the originators, lol! I love cross-hatching for lots of reasons, even though it can be time consuming on a large project–it looks just right for your little quilt. Congrats on fording that quilt-it-yourself stream 🙂

  22. Cross-hatching is one of the oldest quilting designs in the world, so you are right up there with the originators, lol! I love cross-hatching for lots of reasons, even though it can be time consuming on a large project–it looks just right for your little quilt. Congrats on fording that quilt-it-yourself stream 🙂

  23. Applause, applause!! Well done on your cross-hatch quilting design!!
    Yep! We’re back on the grid, with power restored about 4am today and the washing machine is working on the 2nd load. Cheers that we were without power for less than 72 hours from Hurricane Irene – but we did have a generator to help the fans and refrigerator. When Hurricane Isabel came thru in 2003, we had no generator and were without electricity for 9 days. No fun.
    Hugs!

  24. Applause, applause!! Well done on your cross-hatch quilting design!!
    Yep! We’re back on the grid, with power restored about 4am today and the washing machine is working on the 2nd load. Cheers that we were without power for less than 72 hours from Hurricane Irene – but we did have a generator to help the fans and refrigerator. When Hurricane Isabel came thru in 2003, we had no generator and were without electricity for 9 days. No fun.
    Hugs!

  25. Nicole, Thanks for mentioning the painter’s tape. I will be doing some crosshatch soon and had not thought of using the painters tape. I even have some.

  26. Nicole, Thanks for mentioning the painter’s tape. I will be doing some crosshatch soon and had not thought of using the painters tape. I even have some.

  27. I love the look of straight line quilting. a small Irish Chain is a great top to practice quilting one, x hatch the patchwork and then you only have the small open spaces to free motion, instead of the whole top.

  28. I love the look of straight line quilting. a small Irish Chain is a great top to practice quilting one, x hatch the patchwork and then you only have the small open spaces to free motion, instead of the whole top.

  29. Nice quilting! I too have been working on my machine quilting skills and seem to be my own worst critic. Relax and enjoy the process. It will improve. You are off to a great start. 🙂

  30. Nice quilting! I too have been working on my machine quilting skills and seem to be my own worst critic. Relax and enjoy the process. It will improve. You are off to a great start. 🙂

  31. Nicole . . . I love it !! . . .
    thanks for the painters tape idea . . . I just finished making doll bed quilts for my grand-daughters and was trying to decide if I wanted to quilt them myself . . . this settles it for me . . . I am going to try it !!
    can you tell me what setting you use for your stitch length ? . . . and do you always use 1″ tape ?? . . . thanks . . .

  32. Nicole . . . I love it !! . . .
    thanks for the painters tape idea . . . I just finished making doll bed quilts for my grand-daughters and was trying to decide if I wanted to quilt them myself . . . this settles it for me . . . I am going to try it !!
    can you tell me what setting you use for your stitch length ? . . . and do you always use 1″ tape ?? . . . thanks . . .

  33. You did a great job!
    FYI — I was a terrible free motion quilter when I started. I thought I’m never going to be able to do this, but I kept getting better after reading tips from various blogs and eventually it all started to click.
    I found the tips Oh Fransson’s site to be the best for me. http://www.ohfransson.com/oh_fransson/2009/03/quilt-along-14-freemotion-quilting.html
    In addition to her tips I also lower the machine speed a couple of notches. But that’s a personal preference.
    And… I love to practice on doll quilts. I have to be doing a project to do my best work. Just practicing on pieces of sandwiched fabric doesn’t cut it for me — I’ll give up too easily or mess up and figure – forget it then in trash it goes. LOL. But a doll quilt with something I can give to a little girl.. I’ll take my time and really try.
    Good luck… thanks for the tip on the tape. I’ll have to try that one for sure.

  34. You did a great job!
    FYI — I was a terrible free motion quilter when I started. I thought I’m never going to be able to do this, but I kept getting better after reading tips from various blogs and eventually it all started to click.
    I found the tips Oh Fransson’s site to be the best for me. http://www.ohfransson.com/oh_fransson/2009/03/quilt-along-14-freemotion-quilting.html
    In addition to her tips I also lower the machine speed a couple of notches. But that’s a personal preference.
    And… I love to practice on doll quilts. I have to be doing a project to do my best work. Just practicing on pieces of sandwiched fabric doesn’t cut it for me — I’ll give up too easily or mess up and figure – forget it then in trash it goes. LOL. But a doll quilt with something I can give to a little girl.. I’ll take my time and really try.
    Good luck… thanks for the tip on the tape. I’ll have to try that one for sure.

  35. Yay! Great job!! I am so intimidated by free motion quilting and so afraid of ruining a top but really really want to learn to get good at it… I found her site, too, and got so excited when I saw her cross hatching – I thought the same thing you did!! I have painter’s tape on my list so I can get started. Thanks for showing me how you did it! I love how it looks and can’t wait to try it! Love reading your blog and congrats on your new grandbaby she is precious! And Ozzie is so cute, too! I am enjoying watching your Farmer’s wife blocks come to life. I have just started paper piecing and am waiting on my Marti Michel template info to come in! Thanks for all the great inspiration! Bari

  36. Yay! Great job!! I am so intimidated by free motion quilting and so afraid of ruining a top but really really want to learn to get good at it… I found her site, too, and got so excited when I saw her cross hatching – I thought the same thing you did!! I have painter’s tape on my list so I can get started. Thanks for showing me how you did it! I love how it looks and can’t wait to try it! Love reading your blog and congrats on your new grandbaby she is precious! And Ozzie is so cute, too! I am enjoying watching your Farmer’s wife blocks come to life. I have just started paper piecing and am waiting on my Marti Michel template info to come in! Thanks for all the great inspiration! Bari

  37. I love the cross hatching; it looks wonderfully neat! Thanks for the link; September is my month to begin machine quilting in earnest. I have done only straight lines up to this point, and it is time to move forward!

  38. I love the cross hatching; it looks wonderfully neat! Thanks for the link; September is my month to begin machine quilting in earnest. I have done only straight lines up to this point, and it is time to move forward!

  43. I agree that using painter’s tape is a great idea. My LQS owner suggested that to me about a year ago for some of my small (christmas gifts) projects and it sure did the trick! The Schnibbles Bennington for fall looks terrific.

  44. I agree that using painter’s tape is a great idea. My LQS owner suggested that to me about a year ago for some of my small (christmas gifts) projects and it sure did the trick! The Schnibbles Bennington for fall looks terrific.

  45. Hi Nicole
    What a lovely result. Although I can free motion quilt I still love simple cross hatching.Did you see the old quilt blocks I bought?http://razzledazzlequilter.blogspot.com/2011/08/rescued-from-trade-me.html
    I think crosshatching is going to be just perfect for these. Lots of stopping and starting to get past the applique but I am sure it’s the right thing to do. I used to teach machine quilting. I always encouraged learners to do a good part of their quilting with the walking foot as it builds confidence.
    Sorry – bit long.
    Cheers
    Linda
    Taupo NZ

  46. Hi Nicole
    What a lovely result. Although I can free motion quilt I still love simple cross hatching.Did you see the old quilt blocks I bought?http://razzledazzlequilter.blogspot.com/2011/08/rescued-from-trade-me.html
    I think crosshatching is going to be just perfect for these. Lots of stopping and starting to get past the applique but I am sure it’s the right thing to do. I used to teach machine quilting. I always encouraged learners to do a good part of their quilting with the walking foot as it builds confidence.
    Sorry – bit long.
    Cheers
    Linda
    Taupo NZ

  47. Hey, I like the way you used the tape! I use cross hatching on small baby quilts because I like the look. However, I’ve been marking mine with water washable markers or with a Hera marker. I like your method better! Easier to see. ;0

  48. Hey, I like the way you used the tape! I use cross hatching on small baby quilts because I like the look. However, I’ve been marking mine with water washable markers or with a Hera marker. I like your method better! Easier to see. ;0

  49. Just in time! I had some straight lines to sew on a pink & cream Lily & Will fabric diaper bag today. Painters tape did the trick!! Thanks for a great tip! Your Schnibble looks great all quilted! Congrats!

  50. Just in time! I had some straight lines to sew on a pink & cream Lily & Will fabric diaper bag today. Painters tape did the trick!! Thanks for a great tip! Your Schnibble looks great all quilted! Congrats!

  51. I too, am stuggling with FMQ and want to get better but there again I’m pretty new to quilting as a whole.
    You have solved a big problem for me, I’ve got 2 baby quilts for twins to quilt as I can’t afford to put them out for quilting, this cross hatching quilting with masking tape will do the trick nicely – thank you

  52. I too, am stuggling with FMQ and want to get better but there again I’m pretty new to quilting as a whole.
    You have solved a big problem for me, I’ve got 2 baby quilts for twins to quilt as I can’t afford to put them out for quilting, this cross hatching quilting with masking tape will do the trick nicely – thank you

  55. Nicole,
    I see you have a Bernina. I have a Bernina and I have a walking foot. Once I get the straight line … like with the painter’s tape, I then use the walking foot that has a guide to set so that I don’t have to keep repositioning the tape. You may have a walking foot too! It does save time. This may help move quicker. I need to practice my stippling!
    I adore your quilt 🙂
    Hugs,
    Donna

  56. Nicole,
    I see you have a Bernina. I have a Bernina and I have a walking foot. Once I get the straight line … like with the painter’s tape, I then use the walking foot that has a guide to set so that I don’t have to keep repositioning the tape. You may have a walking foot too! It does save time. This may help move quicker. I need to practice my stippling!
    I adore your quilt 🙂
    Hugs,
    Donna

  57. Congratulations on an AWESOME finish Nicole!!!! Your quilt is stunning!!! I love the straight line quilting!!! Seriously, it’s perfect!! That method with the tape is genius!!! I’m wondering if it would help on a LA cuz straight line quilting can be a nightmare sometimes. You are going to me a beautiful machine quilter…I just know it!!! 🙂

  58. Congratulations on an AWESOME finish Nicole!!!! Your quilt is stunning!!! I love the straight line quilting!!! Seriously, it’s perfect!! That method with the tape is genius!!! I’m wondering if it would help on a LA cuz straight line quilting can be a nightmare sometimes. You are going to me a beautiful machine quilter…I just know it!!! 🙂

  59. Your quilting is wonderful. I can do the free motion but can’t seem to sew in a straight line. I’m going to try your painter’s tape idea. Your quilt is beautiful.

  60. Your quilting is wonderful. I can do the free motion but can’t seem to sew in a straight line. I’m going to try your painter’s tape idea. Your quilt is beautiful.

  63. Great job…I too have been following Kristyne’s blog and she has been doing some really pretty things…going back to the basics may be just what I need too…I have a Bernina also and the short arm has a lot to do with…atleast that is what I tell myself! Lisa in Texas

  64. Great job…I too have been following Kristyne’s blog and she has been doing some really pretty things…going back to the basics may be just what I need too…I have a Bernina also and the short arm has a lot to do with…atleast that is what I tell myself! Lisa in Texas

  65. Now that you’ve mastered quilting the cross hatches with your walking foot, will you now try it again with your free motion quilting (darning) foot instead?
    Many quilters assume that the only way to quilt straight lines is with a walking foot, but in fact you can also quilt them in free motion and this will be excellent practice and a skill builder for when you’re ready to start doing more free form work.
    Good luck on your free motion quilting journey!
    Leah Day

  66. Now that you’ve mastered quilting the cross hatches with your walking foot, will you now try it again with your free motion quilting (darning) foot instead?
    Many quilters assume that the only way to quilt straight lines is with a walking foot, but in fact you can also quilt them in free motion and this will be excellent practice and a skill builder for when you’re ready to start doing more free form work.
    Good luck on your free motion quilting journey!
    Leah Day

  67. Beautiful! And thank you for inspiring me to get going with some machine quilting of my own. I have some projects that I could finish up by using this method!

  68. Beautiful! And thank you for inspiring me to get going with some machine quilting of my own. I have some projects that I could finish up by using this method!