How To Sew Designs On Quilts

Who had ever thought that quilting would become a famous sewing technique today? In fact, it includes a whole lot of designs, both hand-sewn and by machine. Here’s what to learn further about the steps.

As a matter of fact, quilting is an easy way to join patches of fabrics together. Here’s what you should learn about the steps to sew designs on quilts.

So, read on to learn about the best methods to sew designs on quilts. Learn and acquire the tips!

Here’s presenting the two methods of sewing designs on quilts both by hand and machine. Read more.

How To Sew Designs On Quilts by Machine

Step 1: Gathering Your Quilting Essentials

Before you begin the process, ensure that you have these essentials with you:

• Rotary Cutter
• Mat
• Sharp Scissors
• Clear Rulers
• Bias Tape Maker (or even a Ready-Made Bias Tape will do)
• Cotton Threads and Nylon Thread
• Long Pins
• 100% Cotton Fabric
• An Iron and Ironing Board
• Seam Ripper
• Batting
• Walking Foot For Your Machine

Please ensure that you have a nice setup before anatomizing a nine-square quilt. Also, give extra importance to batting as it’s a critical part of the procedure.

Opt for one of these three types: cotton, polyester, or wool! Also, choose the backing fabric as a flat sheet of the same size.

Step 2: Cutting The Squares

Use your rotary cutter to cut the squares. Assemble and sew the squares into one blog. Always choose two contrasting colors, or you can choose one pattern and one color.

After assembling them, finger-press the blocks to get an even seam allowance.

To achieve evenness, it’s imperative to sew at ? inches. The right edge is supposed to be ? inches. You can use masking tape and stick it on your machine where the fabric’s edge should lie.

After you decide on your final layout, you can iron the blocks to make them flat! Now is the time when you need to pin and number them accordingly.

Stack columns in proper order. Pin them together & number those columns to ensure they are in the right order.

Step 3: Sewing Quilting Part Together

Stitch the fabrics block by block and form a column. For this reason, take around three to four blocks in a single column. After ironing the parts, initiate sewing columns to make your quilt top.

Use pins to attach them in the process of sewing them together. Always get the edges secured in the machine. Eventually, pile the rest together. Until you are over with the task, keep sewing on additional columns.

Step 4: Quilt Sandwich

Iron the backing by positioning it on the neat floor. Smooth it out with your knees and hands. Start pinning the area once the ironing is done!

Now is the time to pin and trim! You can pin through three layers around the quilts’ outside. Once it gets pinned, trim the edges nicely.

One Quick Note: The more pins, the better the experience!

Step 5: Prepare for the Process of Quilting

So, you have to change the thread for quilting. Put the sewing machine at the table’s edge. Try hard to avoid letting your quilting hand from the table.

Now, work for the walking foot as it works wonders to keep fabrics aline. Also, it gives you extra flattening pulling power to prevent stitches from straining!

For quilting, start straight down from the first seam. Then, sew edges and together. Now, return to follow the ditch stitching method.

Then, remove pins. Again, sew the seam to the left! As you notice the fabric bunching up against your sewing machine, combat this and roll the quilt up on your right.

Until you get halfway, flip the quilt. Continue sewing the other side and rolling unless you finish the seams!

Now, turn your quilt and sew down the shorter side. Then, repeat! Eventually, sew & roll until you reach the middle. Then, flip & sew; roll again!

Step 6: Pinning Binding to The Quilt

After you make your binding, it’s time to pin it to the quilt. Start from the long side and reach the middle. Then, pin the edges until you reach corners.

Next, extend bias tape over your opposite. Fold it back. When it forms a triangle, fold strips over it such that the folded edges get lined up with raw edges.

Accordingly, perform the same thing for each corner. Upon reaching the beginning point, pin your bias tape around three inches away from it. Also, remember to use a regular foot for sewing the binding.

As you reach the corner, please stop here. Now, take the pin & run your fingers along those crease lines.

Then, sew, backstitch, and remove the quilt from your machine! After this, backstitch from the starting point. So, you need to sew until you reach the last pin!

Now, pin the binding and cover stitch lines from attaching your bias tape. Thus ensure that you pull it over and pin it. So, from the corners, fold up those edges.

At this point, switch out to the walking foot. Now, sew the binding following a continuous queue. Always remember, backstitching the beginning is important before taking the pins out.

While you get to the edges, leave the sewing needle in that fabric. After this, raise the presser foot and swing your fabric around. Ensure that you are keeping the bias tape in a continuous line.

Note: Always remember to line the stitch lines as you come around the starting point!

How To Sew Designs On Quilts by Hand

Step 1: Gathering The Essentials

Needless to say, before proceeding, ensure that you have these hand-quilting essentials:

• Fabric scraps
• Cutting mat
• A ruler, rotary cutter, or scissors
• Needle
• Quilt thread
• Quilt batting or a small package of pre-cut batting
• One yard muslin (alternatively, other suitable fabric for backing)
• Straight pins
• Safety pins

Step 2: Cutting Your Fabric

To acquire a 36 inches-by-36-inches size, cut the fabric accordingly. So, here’s a brief about your calculation:

Use a rotary cutter to cut the fabric accordingly.

Step 3: Now’s The Time for Sewing

Now, choose a crucial needle size and thread it with the quilting thread (usually thicker and stronger). Always sew a straight line around ? inches of the piece.

Generally speaking, tying a knot in the thread’s end is essential. So, start the seam by inserting your needle ? inches from its corner. With a running stitch, complete the process.

Note: Make the stitches small and neat and end each seam 1/4 inch from its corner. Also, mix different colors to add vibrancy!

Step 4: Pressings & Stitching

After acquiring the initial seam, iron the fabric! For quilting, you’d require pressing both the fabric layers to one side. So, take two pieces and hold them accordingly.

From a quarter-inch, sew the seam. Thus, it’s best to use pins at the intersections and ensure to pull the pins out.

So, sew 32 pairs into 16 sets of four (two by two) & 8 pairs of pieces into four strips of four (1 by four pieces). Again, press and continue pinning pieces. Sew seams and press.

Step 5: Layering The Quilt

Place your finished top over your batting layer. Ensure that there is batting & backing everywhere under your top. When you get to the top’s edge, put extra pins.

Step 6: Starting with Actual Quilting

Now is the time for sewing through the quilting layer. Stitch straight across the quilt to cut the thread around four to five inches. Tie the knot at the thread’s end and proceed.

Ensure that you make the binding strong. While getting into the corner, stop around ? inches from the edge. Fold binding at a 45-degree angle. Cut extra fabric, and that’s it!

What Are The Best Hand-Sewn and Machine-Sewn Quilt Designs?

The best designs for hand-sewn quilts are:

• Crosshatch
• Vertical Lines
• Echo quilting
• Simple Blossom, etc.

The best designs for machine-sewn quilts are:

• Straight line quilting
• Wavy quilting
• Free motion quilting, etc.