Originally Posted by amma

Starting in the middle and alternating directions will help your quilt lay flatter and you shouldn't get puckers either.

I like to use a wobble stitch. It is a very narrow zig zag stitch. It reinforces the seams, as the needle takes a bite on both sides of the seam.

It is very forgiving, if you miss here and there, too :wink:

Varigated thread is wonderful on scrappy quilts :D:D:D

Originally Posted by cjomomma

Here is a close up pic of my first quilt I did on my Brother, it is a small machine. I just gently moved the quilt back and forth. It's not perfect but DD loved it and snatched it up. If you decide to do something like this then turn your machine so that it is sideways with the needle side facing you then you won't have to fight to move the quilt thru the arm.
Hope this helps.

Originally Posted by MadQuilter

Hm, I don't recall which brand of invisible I used - been a while. But there are other threads on invisible threads - just use the search function.

Do you by chance have a SID foot for your machine? I have one for mine and it makes quite the difference. It actually has a guide down the center of the foot - looks a bit like a plough that runs down the seam.

Another suggestion for a better SID is pressing the seams on the back to one side. That is easier said than done though.

As for the cotton thread - it is my preferred thread. I acknowledge that I am far from perfect, so if the thread shows - it shows. I don't mind.

Variegated thread comes in many different color lines. If my quilt has lots of red in it, I pick a variegated that includes lots of red. I generally look at the colors in my quilt and pick a spool that has those colors in it.

The big deal for me was to give myself permission to just go for it and sew with cotton thread - EVEN IF the thread was slightly off the ditch.

Originally Posted by dungeonquilter

I STID on my son's quilt. The fabric wore out, but none of the seams ever came apart. When using monofilament thread, you need to loosen the top tension alot. The top thread is pulling up the bobbin thread. Practice on a scrap sandwich until you get the right tension.