AboutConnie Hester Expertise Quilting and applique expert.Can advise on the following topics:quilting, art quilts, quilt design and construction, machine and hand quilting, paper foundation piecing, machine piecing, hand piecing, raw edge applique, turned-edge applique and fiber art.
Experience Winning awards in international fiber and art competitions since 1983; http://www.conniehester.com/
BS,MS
See my work and books at http://www.conniehester.com/
Question I am new at this craft and I was wondering where do you start when you free-motion machine quilt? I have a Viking quilting machine and it seems to do pretty well when I practice using this method. Should I just start somewhere in the middle of my quilt? Also what kind of thread would you recommend . I have already machine appliqued pieces on the top using a blanket stitch around the edges. Do I remove the safety pins just in the area I am working on and leave the rest? Any other suggestions? Thanks
Answer Hi, Karin,
Yes, you should start in the middle of the quilt and work outwards.
I prefer .004mm clear nylon thread in both the needle and the bobbin when I machine-quilt. Cotton thread in the needle and/or the bobbin are also appropriate, depending on the effect you prefer. With clear thread, the visual emphasis is on the holes left by the needle (I prefer to use a size 11 machine needle). With cotton thread, the visual emphasis will be on the thread.
The layers need to be basted with thread rather than safety pins, which will be in the way. If you remove them, they won't be performing the job for which they were inserted in the first place. Your layers will shift around while stitching. I hand-baste about 1 1/2"-to-2" apart all over the surface of the quilt. While it is time consuming, it is well worth the stabilizing effect it has upon manipulating the quilt during the quilting process.
If you have not free-motion machine quilted before, I would strongly suggest preparing a practice square of basted layers to get the hang of it before working on your quilt.
Let me know if I can help further.
