Using Your Sewing Machine to Quilt is Easy!

I get asked all the time, “Can I quilt using my sewing machine?” And the answer is always an absolute, “YES!” You can quilt on your sewing machine! Some refer to this as quilting on their domestic sewing machine or at-home sewing machine. It’s all the same thing. That cute little workhorse that you pieced an entire quilt with? Use it to quilt too and save yourself some longarm fees!

I will say that if you are a beginner, I would start out with a small quilt, like a baby quilt, miniature quilt, or even a table runner. Take it from me: do not start out with a king-sized monster of a quilt that will be hard to navigate through your machine and one that you have invested a lot of money for the fabric already in it. Start small, friends. Start small.

You’ve Got Options!

Next up, decide which method of quilting you want to use on your quilt. You’ve got options when it comes to technique! The first one is free-motion quilting. I like to refer to this as “quilt doodling,” because you’re basically just doodling (with thread of course, not a pen) all over your quilt. In order to free-motion quilt, you will need to be able to lower the feed dogs on your sewing machine. Most sewing machines have this feature. Check your owner’s manual if you’re not sure how to do that.

Free-Motion Quilting

Free-motion quilting is continuous quilting all over your quilt, in a design of your choice. The best way to practice free-motion quilting is to actually doodle on paper (using a pen this time, not thread. lol). Your brain will remember the way you did it and form what is referred to as “muscle memory.” The next time you sit down at your machine and are ready to free-motion quilt, your brain will remember how you did it on paper. Free-motion quilting is fun and turns out so cute!

Straight-Line Quilting

The next technique for quilting on your sewing machine at home is straight-line quilting. You will not lower your feed dogs for straight-line quilting. Depending on the thickness of your quilt, you may need a walking foot on your machine. Straight-line stitching is basically just sewing straight lines all the way across your project, one right after the other. These lines can be evenly spaced or a little wonky. They can be perfectly straight or slightly wavy. It’s totally up to you and the look you are going for. Natalie from Missouri Star Quilt Co. has an amazing tutorial on straight-line quilting on your sewing machine.

Quilt-As-You-Go

Another common technique for quilting on your home sewing machine is Quilt-As-You-Go (commonly referred to as QAYG). QAYG allows you to quilt each block of your quilt as you make them. Each quilted block is then sewn together and voila! You have a quilt! This is a fantastic method and is so fun to make! Check out the tutorial below.

So honestly friends, you can totally learn to quilt your own quilt tops with your at-home domestic sewing machine! You can do it! Quilting with your sewing machine allows you to make the entire quilt from start to finish all by yourself! No need to send your quilt to a longarmer! Happy sewing! (And QUILTING!!)

‘Til next time,

Beth

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P.S. If you don’t want to quilt your own quilts, click here to learn about how you can send your quilts to Missouri Star Quilt Co. to have them professionally quilted!