Smooth the top from the center out until it is very flat and wrinkle free. Take a stitch through the quilt sandwich, front to back and then back to front about 1/4" away. If you pinned the bottom side, move to the top side. with painter’s tape. It’s important to make sure your fabric doesn’t have any slack, but isn’t pulled unnaturally tight like a trampoline. Make sure pin point faces in toward fabric center and pin head extends over fabric edges. Place your sewing foot on that marker, sew a few stitches and then back tack a few. Place the border along the side of the quilt, right sides together and midpoints matched. Then I fill the corners, creating a square, and I continue with four new pins in the middle of each line and then move towards the corners. I put the first pin roughly in the middle of the quilt, and then the next ones about a fist width apart above and below and on both sides of that first one, making a cross. Pin the quilt layers and machine stitch the quilt together. Lay out your quilt backing, pattern side facing down, on a flat surface or floor, and smooth away any wrinkles. That way the quilt top has fewer gaps in pin coverage, and is more stabilized. Greek Key Quilt-Along, Week 1: Fabric Requirements and Cutting Instructions, How to Pin Baste a Quilt ~ We All Sew ~ Fresh Lemons Modern Quilts, Diamonds Quilt Along, Part 5: Making Use of Scraps, T-Shirt Upcycle: Transform a Crew Neck into a V-Neck. Free Laughing Flowers pattern. If I have a long reach to center blocks, I save those for the end. Using a long straight pin with a flat head, pin the binding from the inside to the outside edge of the binding- make sure you catch the layers you need to secure. Fold the binding to the back 1/8″ past the stitch line to attach the binding to the top. Use a straight stitch for the entire quilt, unless you want to use a decorative stitch for some of the design elements while you're free-motion quilting. Often times, a quilter will pin baste a quilt that will be machine quilted and hand-baste one that will be quilted by hand. Quilt Backing–I prefer my backing about 4″ larger than my quilt top on all sides. Before you begin basting, press your quilt top and backing well, using smoothing spray or starch. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. I recommend pressing any seams on the quilt back open. Check your local quilt shop or craft store. A sewing machine; Thread; A pair of scissors; A rotary cutter; A cutting mat; A quilter’s ruler; An iron; An ironing board; Directions: In this excellent one-day scrappy quilt video tutorial by Prairie Point Quilt And Fabric Shop, on YouTube, you will learn to make this gorgeous string quilt in a few easy steps. Starting on one of the long sides of the quilt around the middle, pin the raw edge of the bias tape to the edge of the quilt, leaving a 6 inch tail of bias tape. May 3, 2016 - Create a quilt hanging system, and bind the quilt using 2 sewing tools that make the job easier. Repeat this process again with the two remaining quilt backing sides. Still other people like to quilt their own quilt tops with a regular sewing machine. this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. Step 2. Batting—I prefer my batting about 3″ larger than my quilt top on all sides. Repeat with the second long border. 1. See how to pin your project in this video. When you pin in a grid layout, you’re continually pinning the same warp and weft threads over and over again. Pin the layers together. Step 7. Tying a quilt: This beginner-friendly method works best with a stable batting. Move to the next corner and stitch in the diagonal, center-most seam for the line that crosses the first. Match and pin the bottom end of the border to the bottom edge of the quilt, then match and pin the other end of the border to the quilt. 2. It could comfortably fit on a side table or a portion of your dining room table. I will try this method as it looks like a better way to maintain the loft. This should require very little to no stretching and pulling of the quilt top, as long as you smoothed it nicely in the previous step. Repeat and place a pin about every 4″ until you reach the edge of the quilt. Pin through both layers at the match to keep fabrics from shifting. Our step-by-steps make it easy to recreate these quilting designs on your own quilts! Saved by Lisa Blumthal. Once again, starting at the center edge of the quilt, pull the quilt backing so it is free of wrinkles or loose sections, but do not pull it unnaturally tight. The curved safety pins make this very easy. Gently smooth with your hand if necessary, so that no bumps, warps or wrinkles appear. Step 8. Once your quilt backing is pinned to the floor on all four sides, lay your batting on top of it. My advice is to do what you are comfortable with. Step 10. Test new markers to make sure their lines are easy to remove when quilting is complete. A sewing machine isn’t that big in and of itself. Allpeoplequilt is part of the Meredith Home Group. Lay your quilt top on top of your batting, taking care to lay it down straight. Grab a project that is ready to go and in the size realm of 36-50 inches max. 1. Step 3. Make the nine-patch blocks first. Begin stitching fabrics together, removing each pin just before the needle reaches it. How to - BORDERS, BACKING, BINDING, QUILTING - For ANY Quilt Top!! I will point those out as we come to them. Place pins perpendicular -- or sideways -- to the edge that will be stitched. If you are new to quilting it can be hard to know where to start, and disappointing to finish a quilt only to notice the back is full of puckers and folds. Then begin laying out your binding on the quilt top, playing around with it to get the strips placed just right. Mark where you finished stitching the last edge with a pin or chalk pencil. Then pin one long border to the long side of the quilt, lining up the end squares with the short borders. I never knew how to pin baste, I’ve heard about it, but never saw it demonstrated. Be sure to press the seams as instructed. While sewing the different parts of the blocks is not difficult, sewing the blocks together is for experienced quilters. It is time to quilt the pieces you have sewn. Step 1. See figure 2. All Rights Reserved. You will find nothing but frustration down that alley!!! Step 4 – Sew the rows together and make the Quilt Top My mom taught me her method when I first started quilting. More. Cut out 1 1/2-inch squares of fabric. If the quilt is small enough, I use my folding cutting table which is much easier on the back and rolls around as I pin. If you pinned the left side, move to the right side. Chain sewing is one of my favorite techniques for quickly piecing many blocks at one time. It allows me a long reach without putting unnecessary pressure from my body weight on my quilt sandwich. This can be a … Lay out your quilt backing flat and smooth, right side down towards the carpet. Once again, start in the center of one of the quilt top edges. I like my batting to be slightly smaller than my quilt backing, so that I always know where the edge of my backing is located. Once you are finished, your quilt top should look like the quilt photo below. Step 12. Pin or sew baste the three layers together with a stitch or pin placed at least every six inches. Sew with a 5 ⁄ 8 in seam allowance. Pin in place to the carpet. I have been taught, and also teach my students, to NOT line up safety pins in rows. Using ball head pins, weave each pin in and out of layered fabrics. Types of Sewing Pins and Choosing the Right One. How you plan to quilt it may determine which you will want to do. Place pins about every 3″. Remember, there are two sets on each side—the quilt backing set and the quilt top set. Today I’m going to show you how to take those three all-important layers (quilt top, batting, and quilt backing) and prepare them to quilt. From cuddly baby quilts to quilted play throws, these quilts will be treasured for years to come. Do this for each corner. 3. Continue pinning every six inches or so until you reach the corner. Step 16. Sew the blocks together into rows to complete the quilt top. Starting from the center of the quilt, pin through the … NOTE: If you are basting on a solid surface floor, skip to Step 14. Using ball head pins, weave each pin in and out of layered fabrics. * I sometimes will use spray baste on small items, such as pillows or bag panels, but for medium and large quilts I receive my best results when pin basting. Pinning perpendicular in this way ensures smooth seams inside....and out. Sew the block together. Purses, totes, and shoulder bags--we have all the free bag patterns you need! I like to start basting my quilts on the center edge of any quilt side. Step 2. Find the quilt's horizontal midpoint. I have had great success using the edge of a long quilting ruler to smooth out my quilt tops. That way I am putting my body weight on areas of the quilt that have already been completely basted. You'll line this raw edge up with the edge of your quilt. Sew them together with a 1/4 inch seam allowance. I simply start in the middle, and slide the angled edge of the quilting ruler towards the side of the quilt. in fact, it was under their instruction that I made one of my very first quilting projects. Our step-by-step instructions make it easy to re-create these quilting designs! Fat quarters are fun to collect and even more fun to use! Repeat until you have 25 of each of the blocks (see “Sew Many Squares” PDF for instructions). To put it simply, chain sewing saves time & thread! I always angle my pins on the bias. Step 6. 2. The key to successfully pinning a quilt is to pin it so that there are no puckers on either the back or front. If you have pin basted your quilt together, you must remove the safety pins […] Take one open curved basting pin and push point vertically down through the edge of the quilt, into the carpet until secure. Ball head pins are easy to pull out. There are two types of sewing pins. Get in touch with your local BERNINA store. Lay out your quilt backing flat and smooth, right side down towards the carpet. Continue placing pins down each side of the center pin, about every 4″, just as you did in Steps 3 and 4. How to Quilt with a Sewing Machine~ * Start off SMALL!!! Usually this involves some slight repositioning once it’s laid out. Repeat in all directions. Repeat with the second short border. I like to start basting my quilts on the center edge of any quilt side. Pin basting a purple quilt I decided to start quilting one of my finished tops that were piling up, ready to topple over. Step 3. Turn the quilt over so you are working on the backside of the quilt. Thanks. To pin baste the quilt layers: 1. Step 4. NOTE: If you are basting on a solid surface floor, use painter’s tape to adhere your edges to the floor rather than pins. If you want to align any of the seams on the top with seams on the backing, do that now. I cannot kneel without pain so instead of the floor, I use the top of my hot tub (on a breezeless day!) Step 1. Each machine quilting technique requires a different type of presser foot and machine setting, so read through the following information carefully. Take one open curved basting pin and push point vertically down through the edge of the quilt, into the carpet until secure. © Copyright 2021 Meredith Corporation. Basting a quilt properly is key to a successful, professional, and pucker-free finished quilt. Take sewing pins and insert them through the backing, batting, and T-shirt top. Now is the time those curved basting pins come in handy! So I chose this purple Scrap Jar Stars quilt. Make sure pin point faces in toward fabric center and pin head extends over fabric edges. Use a contrasting pencil or chalk to mark the quilting motifs on top of the quilt. Don’t sew though the batting or the backing fabric. I especially like to pin at seam lines and intersections. I know it can be tempting to spread out the pins to 6″, 7″, 8″… but taking care to use the appropriate amount of pins and spacing are what will help insure a successful quilting process. There are varying opinions on whether or not to pin at this stage. One of the very first online quilters that I ever started watching was My Sewing Room. You can bend or break the machine needle and damage your machine. You are now basted and ready for quilting! See how to quilt commonly used quilt blocks on your domestic sewing machine. It's perfect to hold my epp papers, thread, scissors, etc for trips and c... Barn Quilt. Long Quilting Ruler (optional)—I use this about halfway through the tutorial for smoothing. Remember to make sure your fabric is wrinkle free and smooth, but not pulled unnaturally tight. Step 9. FINISH YOUR QUILTS! Pin all quilt top edges to the carpet. Sew the quilt tops of Side 1 and Side 2 together. This seems to be a great idea, if you have carpet. 3. If you don’t have access to carpet or a rug large enough to use this method, you can use painter’s tape at select points in the tutorial. 7. To chain sew, you simply sew a bunch of pieces one after the other without snipping the thread in between until you’re done. Removing the pins as you go. But when I press it to my backing and pieced tops, it often flattens out too much and the quilt loses a lot of the loft. If you have chosen to machine quilt your project, you need to prepare your machine for the chore at hand. Once you have both opposing sides pinned to the carpet, your quilt back should look like the photo below. Don’t get all excited and load up the biggest quilt you have and off you go. Step 14. You have now pinned one side of your quilt backing to the floor. Carefully work your way around your basted quilt and remove the pins that were placed into the carpet. They enter more easily that way. Many types of markers can be used to draw lines on a quilt. Instructions to Pin Baste a Quilt. Put at least 1 sewing pin in each square to secure the layers as you handle the quilt. I’ve also heard of some quilters using carpeted space in their church, local library, local quilt shop classrooms or community center. If you’re struggling for cutting and ironing space, think about converting a folding tray table into a temporary cutting and pressing table … Curved Basting Pins—these just make life easier! Line up the edges of your binding strips with the edges of your quilt and begin sewing using a 1/4-inch seam allowance. Starting on any side of the quilt, take an open pin and scoop it into the quilt, grabbing all three layers. - YouTube. (left) Others prefer to hire someone else to quilt their quilt tops. Place the batting over the backing followed by the quilt top with the right side facing up. Some people enjoy hand quilting. Let’s get started and learn how to pin baste a quilt! Carefully smooth the quilt backing edge of any winkles, and place another pin about 4″ away from your first pin. Place your fabrics with right sides together. View All Start Slideshow. Instead, pins should be scattered randomly, turned different directions, so as to pin/capture as many as possible of each warp and weft thread. You can pin baste it using safety pins, or baste it with needle and thread. Place your fabrics with right sides together. 8. Thread a crewel needle (large-eyed) with yarn or heavy thread. 9. Sewing pins come in many lengths and thicknesses, and have different pinheads, materials, and tips, each with a specific purpose. Although I’ve tried other techniques, such as spray basting*, I always come back to my trusty pin basting. If you're sewing a quilt with diagonal lines, sew from corner to corner to create an "x shape, instead. The most traditional way to pin a quilt is for a traditional binding. For a rectangular, diagonally set quilt, begin at one corner and stitch in the ditch in the center-most, diagonal seam to the opposite side. About Crazy Shortcut Quilts The quilt-as-you-go technique in Crazy Short-Cut Quilts eliminates intimidating quilting steps, and empowers sewers with the ability to create full quilts, in no tome, that accent any existing decor. Don't be tempted to sew over pins. Now we are going to pin the quilt top to the carpet, just like we did to the quilt backing earlier. See how to pin your project in this video. I think we all have been there at least once! You’ll find more than 50 ideas for stylish accessories. Get free quilt patterns that will make it easy for you to put your fat quarters to good use. If you ask 10 different quilters how they baste a quilt, you are likely to get 10 different answers. Pinning your fabric will save you time and ensure smooth sewing! See how to pin your projects. I found this cute sewing supplies tin at Home Goods last week. There are several options for quilting a quilt top. Learn how to quilt popular blocks on a domestic sewing machine. The most commonly used is the straight pin, also know as the hemming pin or basting pin. Step 5. Step 13. Sew with a 5 ⁄ 8 in seam allowance. Lay the quilt top on top of the batting, with right side up. Continue to place pins, working your way around the quilt. Repeat Step 3 and work your way out from the quilt edge center to the other corner of the quilt edge. Attach the binding tape to the next side of the quilt as before. Quilting For Beginners Quilting Tips Quilting Tutorials Beginner Quilting Quilt Boarders Homemade Quilts Shabby Fabrics Modern Quilt Patterns Missouri Star Quilt … 1. This video shows you how to quilt a queen size quilt on a small domestic sewing machine. You place the backing down first, right side down, then put the batting on top of it, and the end with the quilt top, face up. Turn the quilt 180 degrees and repeat for the remaining two corners. Move to the side directly opposite of the completed pinned side of your quilt. NOTE: I baste my quilts on carpet. Turn the quilt over and pin one short border to the short side of the quilt, RST (Fig I). Step 15. Mark the Quilt for Quilting . Double check your carpet for any open pins that may have fallen away—those are no fun to step on later! You also don’t want to go the extreme and start on something tiny. 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