Quilt in a Day Forums

I need help on how to start quilting with my machine. I also need to know how to figure out how to do the backing. I just finished a small quilt for my first great granddaughter.Please help. I really need help.
Thanks

Are you going to free motion or stitch in the ditch?
Debbie

Do you have a walking foot? The easiest way to machine quilt is straight lines with the walking foot. That could mean stitch in the ditch or it could mean a quarter inch from the seam or even grids. What is the quilt pattern you wish to quilt?

I do all my quilting on my old Kenmore machine,right now I am appliqing butterflies onto my blocks then I put them all together with the Quilt as you go method,or one block at a time.sometimes called Lap quilting.Georgia Bonesteel has a book called Lap Quilting Lives that shows you how to do this.It is really simple and easy and you do not have all that bulk to try and cram through your machine as the quilt always lays on the left of your needle as they go together. Georgia does her by hand but it works for machine quilting also.I have did the in the ditch but if you can lower your feeddogs you can also do free motion. You start by making a sandwich of your block,batting and backing,do your quilting then put them together one block at a time into rows then rows together.The back seams are then slip stitched down by hand. If I can be of any more help let me know.

grannysparlor the first quilt that I ever machine quilted, I did the "stitch in the ditch". Then I did the 1/4 inch away from the seams, or "outline" quilting. I didn't have a walking foot for a long time, just go slow if you don't have one. Like Q7, I wonder what pattern you have on your quilt??? And what problem do you have with your backing??

Joanne:0)

QIAD has a great book on the basics of machine quilting; it got me started.

I just received a PM and I am posting my answrer here as well.

I was just looking at the post again to see if you had answered my questions. Yes, start in the middle. I do not roll up my quilt. I puddle it. If you have not posted this information I am going to copy this before I answer and post it for you. Everyone is so good on this forum more people will help you.

Original Message
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The quilt pattern is called Farmer's Daughter. I do have a walking foot. I guess what I am asking is do I roll my quilt up. Do I start in the center or what do I do. I can use all the help I can get.<br />Thanks

It depends on how you have your quilt/batting/backing put together.
I use spray basting and just a few safty pins at the corners and edges and it doesn't matter where I start the quilting. I roll and re-roll as I go.
If you pin all the layers together, someone else better give you
advice. LOL

Good luck, and have fun!