Deborah Louie’s Top 10 Machine Quilting Tips.
- I love the way on the Bernina machines we can have our current stitch length and width held for us while selecting other stitches. Example : I start quilting with very small 0.60 length stiches at # 1 and then go to # 2 zig zag, I take the length up to 3.5 and the width to 0 and quilt, the machine holds this so when I want to stop at the bottom of a row of stitches I just have to press # 1 again and there is my small running stitches. Also great when appliquéing, you go from #1 to start then # 46 for double blanket stitch on the Aurora stitch around shape with desired width and length, I prefer 3.0 width and length for Blanket so it gets a nice square look and press # 1 again to finish off. Easy, such a great time saver.
- Great wadding certainly helps make a great quilt. I only use Australian Matildas wadding and I love the wool/poly combination for high loft full looking quilts and wall hangings and the wool/ cotton combination is perfect for bed quilts, all wadding should have a scrim on them when machine quilting to stop bearding and you can quilt up to 10 inches apart if you desire.
- When you are starting free motion quilting for the first time it really helps if you draw over and over on paper with a pencil the desired design this way you are more familiar where you need to stitch.
- Free Motion quilting for my students is very exciting, I ask them to start slow needle and slow hands to get the feel, and it is so different to any other stitching done before. When your stitches start getting longer just speed up the needle a little to match your hands speed. Try to be smooth not jerky with your hands.
- # 29 free motion foot is excellent for echo and shadow quilting it gives you perfect view of your work as the foot is clear plastic, none of your work is hidden by the foot, excellent viewing when quilting backwards and sideways.
- When I first started free motion quilting a took squares of calico and wadding pinned together and just scribbled , meandered all over the fabric with lots of different coloured threads I had a great time getting the rhythm I needed. Then I cut them up into small squares and glued them on to cards and sent them out for birthdays etc, practicing and making something practical as well.
- Ansell hi- Flex all purpose gloves are fantastic quilting gloves. They are available at most supermarkets for around $5.00. They are easy pull on and off and have rubber on the entire inside of the gloves making your hands and shoulders relaxed.
- Make sure when sitting at your machine your elbows are the same height as the flat bed of your machine, therefore your arm is a right angle. If you’re too low your shoulders rise and you start getting very sore shoulders.
- When new to machine quilting starting on small projects to get your confidence is great, like place mats or table runners. Just draw up a cross s hatch of 1 inch with a ruler and pencil on pretty fabric then with your walking foot quilt with a blending thread top and bobbin, stitch following the line. Place an existing place mat over paper for a pattern and place over quilted mat and cut shape out. Cut Binding on the bias and attach. Lovely gifts for someone while you practice you’re quilting skills.
- When trying to decide what colour thread to use on your quilt I always lay a few different options on the fabric, some lighter or darker and the colour that best blends in or disappears in the print is the perfect one for a blended colour on colour look.
Deborah can be contacted through her website:
Web: www.deborahlouie.com.au
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