Question - Meander Style Quilting?

Having done a lot of quilts on my longarm *and* my home machine, I can tell you that anything that can be done on a longarm can be done on a home machine.

To start doing more than straight line quilting on your home machine, I'd suggest getting a "hopping foot" (and lots of practice! *grin*)

Not a stupid question at all. Your walking foot will help your machine quilt, but only in straight lines and some curves. Most of the meandering done on home sewing machines is done with the darning foot using free motion quilting. That takes more practice than using the walking foot. But there is hope for those of us who are just starting to machine quilt with the walking foot. IIRC, one of the ladies here was able to make a wavy line vine with simple leaf shapes on it with her walking foot by sewing half of each leaf in reverse and the other half of the leaf and the vine line in forward. Other people have done lovely loop-de-loops, stars on flowing strings, and lots of other quilting patterns.

To find out how curvy your walking foot will allow you to quilt, make a two foot square practice quilt sandwich out of some muslin or other inexpensive fabric and batting scraps, put the walking foot on the machine, and try turning the practice square slowly while sewing. Curving too sharply will bind up the walking foot, and possibly even break it if you are sewing fast, so start with a large flowing curve and a moderate sewing speed and work your way down to tighter curves until you think the walking foot is doing all it can do. You might find that you can do a very large version of meandering with the walking foot, or that you can do some nice loop-de-loops that you like. If your walking foot won't meander as tightly as you would like you can move on to trying free motion quilting with your darning foot. Debra in VA See my quilts at

Thank you, Debra and Kathy, for the great advice. You're right -- I think practice is the key and I'll make a small practice square as you suggest. :) We'll see how it goes.

NancyB

Several years ago, I took a class on machine quilting that included meander stitching - We used muslin/batting/muslin sandwiches (aabout 18"-24" square) and a darning foot. We also used different colors for the top thread and in the bobbin so we could see if our tension was even (and and the different colors showed up on the muslin as opposed to a floral or print fabric - we could tell more easily where the tension needed to be adjusted.) We tried circles, "meanders" - and then the instructor had us try to write our names in cursive! She also suggested to put on some good music to get you in the mood and get your rhythym down. It DOES take practice, but is lots of fun once you get the hang of it. ME-Judy

Thanks, Judy. All good suggestions once again. :) I'm looking forward to giving it a try!

NancyB

Thanks, Taria! There are some great tips on that site and I'll keep my eye out for those books. :) NancyB

Nancy, No stupid questions here! No quilt police here, either. Most of us do NOT own long arm machines. I do not. I meander quilt nicely with the help of the lovely Pfilomina Pfaff.

Generally one uses a 'darning foot' or a 'free motion foot' for meander stitch, not the walking foot. To each his/her own ... some may prefer another way. (See sentence #2 again.)

PAT > Do all you who do such *wonderful* meander style quilting

I started meandering on the border of one of my Christmas Quilts for the first time, but ended up doing more of a Viennese Waltz with swirls and holly leaves - got quite carried away. My machine is a Janome 6500 with a darning/free embroidery foot on so I can wizz away in all directions. Found it very addictive and difficult to know when to stop!

No long arm machine - no space and I'm quite happy with my Janome.

-- Sally at the Seaside ~~~~~~~~~~ (uk)

Nancy,

That's good to hear, Pat. I'm really anxious to try it! I have a "darning plate" so perhaps I have a darning foot. :) I must rummage through the accessories that came with the machine. ::blush:: NancyB

Your swirls and holly leaves sound beautiful -- your quilts are all lovely. :) Thanks for your input; I'm feeling more confident about giving it a go.

This is one of the websites I recommend to students, it has a video clip from Diane Gaudinski....

it willgive you the basic movement of meander quilting....then practice onmuslin like others have said....but also some advice, use ONLY cottonwhen you start , ie batting (thin like warm n natural), thread andfabric...This eliminates some of the problems you might have....coveror lower feed dogs, and if you have it, use a single hole plate ratherthan the zig zag plate that is standard on most machines nowdays. Andof course practice practice practice, then practice some more...thehardest of all to learn to relax as you quilt. (Another less stressfulway to start to get the feel, is to use an old UNTHREADED needle andpretend to quilt through a sheet of paper)Mauvice M

NancyB wrote:

Yes, I can see where breathing would definitely help.

My machine is a lowly Kenmore 33-stitch. :) But it does have quite a few accessories with it. It needs to be serviced, and while waiting for that, I've been using my mother's tiny little Kenmore -- straight stitch, zigzag and that's about it. But it sews well and has allowed me to almost complete the baby quilt I'm working on.

That's probably not specific enough to be of much help. Thanks for your input!

NancyB (NS, Canada)

Oh my gosh, that video was really helpful! She makes it look so easy. And I'm thinking it must get harder once you're working with a pieced top, seams and all? Whatever, it's excellent and I'm sure I'll replay it a few times. I like the idea of the empty needle and paper, too, to get the feel for the movement. Thanks so much!

NancyB (NS, Canada)

you can find lots of free "pantographs" (designs for free motion quilting) on the internet.

it IS fun, whether you're good at it or not. i loved it the first time i tried it ---- last week.

i ordered a darning foot for my very inexpensive brother machine and it works very well. i do notice a difference in the stitches when stitching backwards. but really don't know what to do about it.

patty

Thanks for sharing, Patty. :) I'm looking forward to trying it as well. I will have to get a darning foot for my machine. I can't wait to play!

NancyB (NS, Canada)

Wow, a newbie I think. Welcome to RCTQ Patty!! We have quite a few Pat- or Patrick- or Patricia-derivitives here! (Looks like you have two at your house.) I'm in Virginia (duh!) where it is HOT right now.

So, I am asking newbies to hold off on their chocolate vetting until October. Then newbies can all send a pound or two of chocolate to my Palace and I will taste test it. Just my volunteer job here.

PAT, Official Chocolate Taster for RCTQ

patandpatty wrote:

Hello Pat in Virginia! and thanks for making me feel welcomed......

Yes, i'm a newbie to posting (still can't see where my post is) and quilting (the top is sewn together) -- but not to chocolate connoisseur-ing.....

btw, you mentioned October....my birthday's in october - and butterfingers(esp. the new ones), baby ruths, chocolate covered almonds are all my favorites :)

till next time, patty p.s. is there any place in the US where it isn't hot??? the heat index here in GA has been 105 to 113 and the humidity stays up well over 50%. going outside is like walking into a sauna. BUT i'm thankful we're not dodging bombs -----yet.