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A Little More on Machine Quilting

© Jeanne Walsh

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In this day of "Hurry, hurry" not many of us handquilt. And many of us are not prepared to lay out the cash for a professional machine quilter. So how are you going to get all those pieced tops on your shelf quilted? Your own sewing machine is the answer.

My August 1999 article Quick Quilting gives detailed instructions on the actual quilting but there are some preliminary steps, some advance planning to quilting by machine that will help make this a successful venture.

First of all the working area: Assuming that your machine is in a cabinet, there is working space on its open lid. A table placed in front of the machine will support the weight of the quilt and allow it to move freely through the machine. If your machine is a portable, a large sturdy table is vital to hold the machine steady and to support the quilt.

A good chair is important. If your chair is not adjustable, find something to sit on so that you don't have to bend over to reach the needle area. You should be able to sit straight without hunching over.

The quilt will need to be laid out flat, rolled and re-rolled several times, so locate a space (move the furniture back) that is convenient to the sewing area (See Quick Quilting ) where that can be done easily.

Next, machine preparation: Check over your machine. Has it been cleaned and oiled lately? If not, get out the owner's manual and follow directions. Using a soft brush remove all dust and lint around the moving parts. Clean the bobbin race. Insert a new needle. Check the manual for the correct size needle for this weight of fabrics.

Check the tension. Sew on a sample swatch of your quilt's 3 layers, adjust the tension so that the top and bottom threads meet in the middle. Again follow your manual's directions. (Be cautious of adjusting on the bobbin itself.)

If your machine did not come with an even feed foot, (my old Kenmore did not) there are "universal" even feed or walking foot attachments that work great for feeding those three layers evenly through the machine.

Choose matching cotton thread for both top and

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