machine quilting with decorative stitches
03-26-2010, 03:28 AM
#81
Super Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Posts: 3,037
Originally Posted by mbunny
My machine, like most of the modern ones, has a bunch of "fancy" stitches. Usually I'd use them to decorate garments or home decor stuff, but do any of you use them to quilt with? The embroidery looking ones (yeah, we'll pretend that's a word) would be great on a crazy quilt, but I haven't tried them.
I know, I can experiment, and will, but thought I'd see how your experiments turned out ;)
I know, I can experiment, and will, but thought I'd see how your experiments turned out ;)
03-26-2010, 03:57 AM
#82
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Missouri
Posts: 959
Traditionally decorative stitches are done on crazy quilts. Using a different stitch for each piece. Decorative stitches are not usually used when quilting. Sometimes they are used on childrens quilts to add interest, and maybe just to use the stiches since our newer machines have so many. Same with the varity of threads available. I have used my machine embroidery threads on crazy quilts/childrens quilts.
03-26-2010, 07:45 AM
#83
Junior Member
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Columbus, Ohio
Posts: 233
Your sample and workmanship are beautiful. When I got my new machine, I used all the decorative stitches I liked around the edges of a cheater, crazy quilt with batting as my stabilizer and a contrasting color. Not knowing what I was doing, it worked well. When I placed my backing on, I used coordinating thread and stitched again. It turned out beautifully and no one is the wiser about whether or not it is a cheater. Of course, I dusted the machine inside frequently. Have fun with your stitches!
03-26-2010, 04:17 PM
#85
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 851
I just spent the afternoon making a sampler of all my decorative stitches. It took me quite a while. I made a quilt sandwich out of some scraps I have.
Some of them end up looking pretty utilitarian when they are stitched out, but some were definitely very pretty. I can imagine using them in a quilt. And the best part is that the look just as good on the bottom.
I tried out some variegated thread just for fun, and also some metallic thread. I am pretty sure some of them would have looked better in one color. Also, if you're nervous about the bobbin, I've had good results using monofilament thread in the bobbin with regular thread on the top. Then the stitches would be invisible on the bottom.
Some of them end up looking pretty utilitarian when they are stitched out, but some were definitely very pretty. I can imagine using them in a quilt. And the best part is that the look just as good on the bottom.
I tried out some variegated thread just for fun, and also some metallic thread. I am pretty sure some of them would have looked better in one color. Also, if you're nervous about the bobbin, I've had good results using monofilament thread in the bobbin with regular thread on the top. Then the stitches would be invisible on the bottom.
03-26-2010, 05:16 PM
#86
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Spring Valley, CA
Posts: 483
:thumbup: If only I had a machine that did embroidry I would use iy on the prayer quilts I make for my church. But I use a 76 year old Singer Featherweight and love it. Your stitches look wonderful on the shadow quilting. Good job
03-26-2010, 08:15 PM
#88
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: St. Cloud, Minnesota
Posts: 1,653
You have two options: You can use those decorative stitches thru just the pieced top or assemble pieced top with batting and backing and stitch thru them all. You can also use a heavier weight thread and get some amazing designs. Use a 90/14 topstitch needle. Most of all - experiment.
If stitching thru just your fabric top, you should stabilize it w/ several layers of spray starch and a fusible, medium weight interfacing. The layers of a quilt sandwich are stable enough to handle this type of stitching and don't require stabilizer.
If stitching thru just your fabric top, you should stabilize it w/ several layers of spray starch and a fusible, medium weight interfacing. The layers of a quilt sandwich are stable enough to handle this type of stitching and don't require stabilizer.
03-27-2010, 03:36 PM
#90
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Jackson, TN
Posts: 538
The way I "lock" the decorative stitches on my machine is to leave a thread tail of the top thread and the bobbin at the beginning and end. Then I pull the top threads through to the back, and with the bobbin threads I "bury" them as if I were hand quilting. My machine doesn't have a locking stitch and a zero stitch length on the decorative stitches wouldn't look good.
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