FREE MOTION QUILTING


Welcome to my little business called "Jitterbug's Machine Quilting". I started my business in the summer of 2004 and never dreamed it would evolve into such a wonderful experience. Each and everyone of my customers have been a joy to get to know and I thank all of them for giving me the opportunity to quilt their works of art.

I have taught free motion quilting at one of the local quilt shops in my local area and would like to share some of my hints and tips used in teaching free motion quilting.

For more information on quilting click on the name to send an email and I will try to answer any question you have on free motion quilting:
Jitterbug's Machine Quilting

Meander quilting is a randomly stitched free-motion technique that is not marked on the quilt top but rather guided by the quilter. The stitching lines in meander quilting can touch or even cross each other in some designs (such as loops), while in other designs they may never touch. Either way is acceptable, unlike stipple quilting, where the lines do not cross each other. Stipple quilting is as small as 1/8-inch width between the stitching lines.

The scale of any meander-quilting pattern can be whatever size you feel is appropriate for your project. If you want to flatten an area of a quilt, small-scale meander quilting spaced at 1/4-inch intervals works well. For a more open area, space the stitching lines of any type of meander quilting pattern up to 1-inch apart.

A very important step in a perfect project is determined by the sandwiching of the three layers. The sandwiching of the layers can be done several different ways.
1. Spray basting with Sullivans or 505 spray baste or any other basting spray. This is the only method I have ever used and prefer.
2. Basting the quilt with water soluble thread
3. Safety pins



Getting Started:

Using quilting gloves is a must in controlling the quilt while free motion quilting. I prefer Machingers gloves because they are lightweight.


Presser Foot: darning foot Stitch Setting: straight
Top & bobbin threads: a good quality thread
of cotton, polyester,
rayon can be used
(use same color thread in
the top and bobbin
so you don't see thread dots
on the top or back
of your finished quilt		 Stitch Length: not applicable
The stitch length is controlled
by the slow or fast movement of your hands
and the pressure of the foot on the machine foot pedal.
Hardly any movement of hands and
fast speed = too small of stitches
Too fast hands with slow speed = too large of stitches
Slow hand with med. to fast speed = good consistent stitches
Needle:size 80/12 sharp embroidery needle Stitch Width: 0
Needle Position: centered Feed Dogs: lowered
Top Tension: normal for your machine
(adjust by sewing on a test sample)
Tension at 4 is a good starting point

Helpful hints for smooth meandering:
1. Fill several bobbins before you begin to quilt.
2. Always practice your meander quilting on a scrap before starting on the quilt. Preferably, use the same fabric sandwich as your quilt. The top tension may need to be adjusted and it is best to make the adjustment on a sample. Once you are satisfied with the top and bottom stitches then move on to your quilt project.
3. No matter how perfect the tensions are, if the colors of the thread in the top and bobbin contrast highly, you will always have problems with either the bobbin thread showing slightly on the top or the top thread showing on the back. I prefer to use matching or similar colors for the top and bobbin threads. A busy print for the backing is a good choice to hide any thread dots.
4. Brush out the fuzz in your bobbin case area often. A good time is when you change the bobbin.
5. Remove any basting spray from the needle by periodically cleaning the needle with a lubricant of silicone (Lube-it-All silicone lubricant) on a piece of batting or if you don't have silicone use alcohol. Doing a light spray and waiting 8 to 10 hours helps keep the build up of spary to a minimum. A product called "Innovations Needle Release" is and excellent item to have to clean off the basting spray and it also helps keep the needle sharp. Change your needle after every 5 hours of quilting.

Meandering on a practice sandwich.


Meander quilting is good for large areas or for covering the entire quilt top. Use low-loft batting and plan a quilting scheme that is evenly balanced overall to ensure a quilt that lies flat. Some good choices are: 100% cotton by Warm and Natural, 80% cotton/20% polyester by Hobbs, 100% cotton by Quilter's Dream Cotton.

With no lines or motifs to follow, your imagination will be your guide as you quilt. To get stitches consistent in spacing and scale, practice on a test sandwich until the speed of your moving hands and the pressure of your foot on the pedal remain steady.

Avoid quilting yourself into a corner to avoid having to lock your stitches and move to another area and begin again. Keep your working area moving from top to bottom and side. Visualize the area as small sections to be filled in working within the areas of your thumbs and fingers of both hands. Before you finish a section, look ahead to decide where to quilt next and how best to get there without stopping. Then quilt in that direction. Look at where you are going and not the needle will keep you from crossing over previously stitched areas.

REMEMBER: The quilt is guided by "you" not the machine. Relax and enjoy!!!

Feed dogs dropped, darning foot down and the needle down Let's begin!
1. Starting at the top and middle of the square, move the needle down into the fabric and bring it back up catching the bobbin thread. Pull the bobbin thread to the top. Drop the needle back down into the fabric.
2. With NEEDLE DOWN hold the top and bobbin threads to prevent tangling and gradually shorten the stitch length and take 8 to 10 short stitches to lock the stitching. Some machines have a locking stitch built in. If so, you can use the locking stitch on your machine. Cut off the thread tails so they don't get tangled in your work. Place your thumbs and index fingers on either side of the presser foot about 5 inches from the foot to hold the faric taut and smooth and begin to stitch jigsaw puzzle pieces or S-shapes. Think of your stitching lines as S-shapes or puzzles pieces that meander in every direction across your quilt. Your stitch length will be determined by the speed of your hands and the speed of the needle controlled by the pressure put on the foot pedal. Continue stitching while moving the fabric sideways, back and forth, and in a circular motion, always keeping bottom side (or 6 o'clock part) of the fabric parallel to the front edge of the machine. Remember, on an actual quilt you cannot turn the quilt to stitch around a block or in a circular motion, because half of the quilt will be rolled or stuffed into the opening in the body of the machine.
3. After you have filled the area between your thumbs and forefingers, pause to reposition your hands in front of the needle. If you need to stop stitching to change thread or when you wish to end your stitching line, gradually shorten the stitch length and take four or five short stitches. Then take one more slightly longer stitch, which will pull a small loop of bobbin thread to the top. This allows you to clip both the top and bobbin threads, remove the bobbin thread easily, and eliminate having to turn a large quilt top over to end a line of stitching. Some machines have an automatic cutter on them. When using the automatic cutter you do not have to follow the procedure above but will have to go back and cut the small threads on the back of the quilt when finished quilting the project. Continue stitching S-shaped or jigsaw puzzle curves until you fill each area between your thumbs and forefingers until you have completed all the areas to be quilted.


CONSISTENT STITCH LENGTH
1. Slow down your hands. You need a fairly fast speed on the machine and slow even hand movements.
2. If you have a slow-speed button on your machine, engage it to slow until you are more comfortable and then step up the pace and go faster. Too slow will create uneven and jerky stiching.
3. Use quilting gloves to grip the quilt for better control Your hands have a tendency to slide on the fabric sandwich and you won't be able to guide the quilt.
4. Listening to soft music keeps me calm. You don't want your music so loud that you don't hear any problems that might be going on with your machine. A problem with the bobbin thread does make a distinctly different sound than normal stitching.
5. Always keep your hands on the quilt while you are stitching; if you move your hands while you are sewing you will get uncontrolled stitches. When you need to reposition your hands, stop with the needle down in the quilt. If you have trouble starting again with even, consistent stitches, try making the first stitch in the same hole where you stopped. To keep the needle from jumping over from the stitching line, release your needle down, manually move the needle back about 1/8 inch from the end of the stitching line, insert the needle into the previously stitched line and begin stitching tiny stitches to lock off the stitching.

Read, watch and study everything you can by well-known machine quilters. Try new things and adapt the bits that work best for you; develop a technique that is truly your own. PRACTICE - PRACTICE - PRACTICE
MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL, Don't be so hard on yourself, jump right in and quilt a wall hanging or lap quilt.


Click here to view a picture of large meander quilting up close.


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Music playing is "Ida".

The graphic quilt block at the top of the page is from Dawn's Quilting Clip Art.
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