Heather Thomas talks about her love for machine quilting, and she stresses the importance of practicing constantly to get the hang of the difficult process. When she was initially learning, she practiced by creating 10×10” stitch books, which both helped her get used to machine quilting and provided her with endless possibilities to add to a quilt.
6 Responses to “Machine Quilting Tutorial: Techniques and Tips”
-
3:47
Using Ripped and Torn Fabric in Strip Quilts
Are you afraid of ripping fabric? Torn or ripped fabric can make a great focal point for your quilts. In this video, Heather Thomas shares some tips for how to rip fabric correctly and ideas for incorporating the strip pieces in your quilt projects. With Heather’s help, you can create gorgeous strip quilts with the…
Watch Now >> -
4:33
The Right Needles for Your Sewing Machine
Heather Thomas explains in depth the benefits and qualities of each sewing machine needle. These tips and techniques will help you choose the right sewing needle and learn which needles work well with different threads. Learn the many possibilities associated with specific needles and threads. Use these tips to start sewing more efficiently with different-sized…
Watch Now >> -
10:19
Quilt Feathers Patterns and Techniques
Peg Spradlin adds some elegance and beauty to your quilt top by teaching you how to add freeing feathers. Learn how to draft a traditional feather starting with the height and spine. As you become more comfortable with this you will be able to make feathered cables and feathered wreaths.
Watch Now >> -
21:25
How to Cut Fabric for Quilting Blocks
Laura Roberts teaches you how to cut novelty fabric into little squares and make it into a block. She recommends using fabric with motifs that are easy to cut out to make a block, but also shows you how to use stripes, a bias cut strip, a border stripe and templates you may have made.
Watch Now >>
SIGN UP FOR THE NEWSLETTER
ENJOY THIS FREE VIDEO!
- Choose Annual or Monthly Plan
- All-Access Video Pass
- New Videos Every Week
- View on Computer or Mobile
THANK YOU for this video, I am new to machine quilting, am actually just starting this week… am frustrated. but now I feel so much better. I will start your suggestion of practicing 20 min a day for 21 days… wish me luck 🙂
It’s a good job I have two sewing machines! I’ll be able to keep one on quilt setting to practice my freehand quilting (I love the mixed “pebbles”, feathers and straight lines – perfect for my Anne Hathaway project!) and I will make a book/s as a resource for future quilting projects. I can’t wait to get on with it!
It is a proven fact in education that one needs regular daily repetition in order to train your brain to the new skill and have it become “comfortable” and “natural.” So your advice to practice for 21 days for 20 minutes makes a tremendous amount of sense to me. I agree that you need to go to work on something you have made and not just practice on paper or scraps. Thank you for the tips!
Thank you. I have been a dressmaker all of my life, even supported my family making bridal/formal wear for over 35 years before entering the work world late in life. But I am new to quilting (not as new as I thought as I just repaired a long forgotten quilt I made for my 34 year old daughter when she was in middle school. I am amazed at what I’ve learned since then.) Since I retired, I have so many quilts floating around in my head that I want to put to fabric. This tutorial gave me the courage and direction to experiment. It is, after all, the process that counts. I am going to practice 20 minutes a day for the next 21 days. By the time my next project is ready for quilting, I should be a pro! Can’t wait to get started!
Thanks for sharing your story, Susan! We hope your journey back into the world of quilting is a successful one – and good luck with your 21 days! What a great idea!
wow wowwww I am very impressed with all the technical textile manipulation handles professor tutorial, thank you very much for sharing