How To Make A Quilt Without A Sewing Machine

No matter how popular modern quilting is, the appeal of hand quilting is always irrepressible. For crafting professionals who get awe-inspired by the magic of hand-quilting, here’s your guide to understanding more. Learn how to create incredible designs out of those teeny-tiny fabric pieces stitched together by hand.

The humble roots of quilting can be traced hundred centuries ago when an amateur designer crafted a beautiful without modern-day extraordinary tools, fancy sewing machine, or any DIY tutorial! If hand-quilting was possible then, what makes it difficult now? The answer is NOTHING!

Anticipating that hand-quilting is time-consuming would never be a false narrative. But despite taking a lot of time, quilting by hand is an intriguing experience. And the passion for hand-quilting is ineffable because it’s like solving a fabric puzzle. To experience the fun and amusement associated with hand-quilting, let’s read on to the 7 easy steps.

How To Make A Quilt Without A Sewing Machine

Did you know that the oldest evidence of hand-quilting can be traced on the Egyptian pharaoh’s ivory figure of the elephant? That’s another indication that quilting without a sewing machine is always possible. In fact, if you ask about quilters’ favorite quilts, they’d come up with the designs crafted manually.

Although hand-quilting is fun and intriguing, durability is always in question. Thus, considering the right selection of materials is important. Here’s more to learn:

• Take a needle of size 9 or 10
• Use 100% cotton thread (18” long)
• Knit with your favorite fabrics
• Use a thimble for classic quilting
• Maintain a ‘6 stitches per inch’ thing each time you sew

Let’s now dive into the steps without further delay!

Step 1: Lay The Quilt On a Flat Area and Observe

It’s time that you start gathering your quilt vision before delving into the process. Put the quilt on the flat surface and observe it carefully. Spend some time planning out how and where it should be quilted. Try understanding how to start with the stitching.

After you decide on the method, take the ruler. Also, keep a market for a handy use. With a ruler and a marker, detailing the lines is so easy.

Step 2: Keep The Basted Quilt Into the Hoop

After you have a plan in the mind, it’s time to put the basted quilt into the large, nice, quilting hoop. Using this device will benefit the process, as it offers tension on the fabric layers and batting. Also, it’ll keep the stitches plain, even, and straight.

But before proceeding, here’s one quick note. Please ensure that you don’t make it too hard or tight. Otherwise, it’ll become problematic in the latter part of stitching.

Step 3: Threading & Tying

Now that you have a great time with it, ensure that you work for quality. On that note, it’s imperative to thread one of the needles and tie a knot. Ensure that it’s perfect!

Step 4: Insert The Needle via Quilt Top

It’s time to be more careful now because this is when you’re supposed to insert the needle through your quilt top & battling fabric. You can draw it exactly from when you wish to start off with stitching. Ensure you choose a cotton thread and give it a tug.

Right when you do that, it’ll pull the knot to quilt layers’ inside. Here’s one pro tip. This place is also defined as “burying the threads”. As the term suggests, it’s cool to hide your tiny secrets inside the quilt layers.

Step 5: Inserting The Needle, Yet Again

So, it’s again the time to insert the needle down in the area where you would like your stitch to get completed. Ensure one thing! Always push through all the layers in this step.

Step 6: It’s Time to Rock The Needle Backwards

Push up on your chosen fabric with one hand, while you’re rocking the needle backwards with another. This move will create a little mountain in the hoop. When you see that, immediately push the needle back to the quilt layers’ top. This is your very first stitch.

Now, it’s time to repeat step numbers 5 and 6. Do so until the thread tail is just some inches long. You can alternatively end it after reaching your design’s end. Only remember that the key is to focus on every stitch, maintaining the constancy of the size.

Step 7: Tie a Knot in Thread Tail

When you do this, you are supposed to use your finger or needle to pull that knot close to your quilt. Please note that the distance between the quilt and knot should be minimum. After this, you’re required to draw your needle down into a hole.

Do so only through the batting and the quilt top. Now, it’s time to pull the needle through the top of an inch. Tug that thread until you see the knot getting disappeared into the layers. It’s purely magic!

To finish the stitches, implement the same techniques and ensure that the knot gets nicely hidden. Once it’s underneath the top, you can even use the batting layer to make the knot get tangled in batting’s fibers. It’ll ensure that the stitches are secure.

Hand Stitching – A History

Traditional quilting methods are not just the inception of a new craft, but it’s also an art culture that people celebrate even in the 21st century.

It seems that the significance of traditional hand-quilting has never faced away. Even professionals sometimes opt for this quilting method to produce aesthetically-pleasing pieces.

The fact that learning hand-quilting slows down our speed to live up to this hectic world is enough to consider it as significant as machine quilting.

Additionally, if you love to spend time in some needlework, it’s again a spell-bounding process. It might also act as a stress-buster for some people too.

On this note, let’s learn the quintessential factors through these frequently asked questions about quilting.

What Do You Understand By The Term Hand-Quilting?

Quilting is a process that joins at least three fabric layers together by hand via a thread and a needle. Multiple stitches get passed through these layers to create a 3D padded surface. layers are referred to as:

• Quilt top or top fabric
• Insulating material or batting; and
• Backing

What Are the Compulsory Supplies to Stock Up For Hand-Quilting?

If you’re seriously interested to craft awe-inspiring designs through quilting by hand, please ensure you know the essentials. Before diving into the process, learn where to start from. Thus, it is imperative to stock up these essentials:

• A needle
• A quarter ruler
• Cotton threads of 18” length
• Take a needle of size 9 or 10
• Your favorite fabrics
• Cutting mat
• Fabric markers; more
• Scissors (dressmaking scissors, embroidery scissors, and household scissors)

What Patterns Can You Create Out of Hand-Quilting?

If you have knack for hand-quilting and wish to take your hobby to the next level, you might try your hands on these quilting patterns manually. We aren’t sure whether you’ve got the level of patience required to create these intricate designs. But if you have, do not ignore the below-offered pointers!

• Bohemian Garden Quilt
• Bayside Quilt
• Kris Kross Quilt
• Mod Mountains Quilt
• Fly Away Quilt
• Maypole Quilt
• Modern Fans

Which Fabrics Are Great for Hand-Quilting?

Hand-quilting is all in the fabric selection. But if you’re a beginner, it might become really challenging to select one. Unless you’re an expert who can do the task in no time, you can select these fabrics for a better experience!

• Medium scale print
• Large-scale print
• Geometric or Striped variation
• Small-scale print
• Random Dots

What Are The Best Techniques for Advanced Quilts?

You can select a half square triangle (HST), which can be used to design complex quilts easily. With the help of HST, you can create an array of designs such as flying geese, chevrons, zigzag path, and herringbone.