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The Sew What’s New Archive
This archived content is from Mary Wilkins’ sewing and
quilting message board “Sew What’s New,” which was
retired in August 2007. It is being provided by
“Sew What’s Up,”
which serves as the new home for many members of “Sew What’s New.”
From: lendube
Date: 02-13-2007, 01:00 PM (1 of 16)
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I am now done with the quilt top and am very pleased. I have a couple of questions that I can't find the answers to in my two reference books. #1 Is a "walking foot" really necessary? My quilt is going to be large but not thick. I'm using all cotton, front and back (muslin) and Hobbs Heirloom Premium Cotton Batting 1/8" thick. #2 I have a dark shade invisible thread to do the quilting. What do I put in the bobbin? All cotton off white to match the muslin? Invisible thread? Poly? Thanks, Lennie |
User: lendube
Member since: 08-06-2006 Total posts: 1548 |
From: cowqueenie
Date: 02-13-2007, 01:28 PM (2 of 16)
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Lennie, Hi there. I am new to this too so I had asked the same question to my mom and she said that it looks SOOO much better when done with a walking foot because it doesn't let the fabric gather while you are running thru the needle or as you come to the end of it. I did some quilting when I first started without one and my material gathered and got all clotty in one place. (real technical quilting terms I am using huh?) I did finally get a walking foot and I like it so much better. Jane  Oh and forgot, I am not sure about the thread. Someone else willhave to update you on that one! Sorry! "A trip to the fabric store is my therapy"
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User: cowqueenie
Member since: 10-30-2006 Total posts: 125 
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From: material_pakrat
Date: 02-13-2007, 04:21 PM (3 of 16)
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Lennie, I am still learning, but I honestly think a walking foot is essential. Especially when you see the progression of my quilts. The walking foot gives you a lovely finish on the back. If you are doing a wall hanging, or something where the back wont be seen, don't stress about it. I haven't mixed invisible thread with other threads, so I dont know how that would work. If I am using invisible thread, I use it in the bobbin too. I have mixed the colours on the top and bottom when using cotton. Cheers, Soph.
I'm happiest when I am sewing! |
User: material_pakrat
Member since: 12-13-2006 Total posts: 220 |
From: HeyJudee
Date: 02-13-2007, 04:41 PM (4 of 16)
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I rarely use invisible thread for quilting. I like using regular cotton threads both top & bottom. But on the rare occasion that I did use invisible...I used it on top and put regular cotton thread in the bobbin. I'd match the thread to the colour of the backing fabric...unless you want it to be seen...then you'd use any colour you want. And I'd second using a walking foot. It looks so much nicer as it evenly feeds the fabric. FYI - But my sister-in-law machine quilts hers with a regular sewing foot and her work is beautiful...but I think your quilt would have to be well pinned! Good Luck TTFN from
Judy |
User: HeyJudee
Member since: 01-25-2005 Total posts: 1366 
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From: HeyJudee
Date: 02-13-2007, 04:43 PM (5 of 16)
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BTW...what type of invisible thread are you using? I have used Sulky invisible in the past. Others have said that YLI makes a nice invisible thread too. I once tried the stuff that is like fishing line and sold in the sewing areas of some stores and it was dreadful!!!
TTFN from
Judy |
User: HeyJudee
Member since: 01-25-2005 Total posts: 1366
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From: lendube
Date: 02-13-2007, 04:53 PM (6 of 16)
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Thanks, everyone. The invisible thread I have is Gutterman. I haven't used it at all and will experiment a little before committing to using it on this quilt. Looks like a walking foot is the way to go. I'll pick one up when I pick up my sewing machine which is still in the shop for cleaning and tune up. I've been using my old machine for the piecing but want to use my good machine for the actual quilting. Lennie |
User: lendube
Member since: 08-06-2006 Total posts: 1548 |
From: Patty22
Date: 02-13-2007, 05:00 PM (7 of 16)
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A walking foot is when you do straight line machine quilting. It does the best job of applying the binding and prevents the "shirring" of the backing that cowqueenie was talking about. Leave your feed dogs up for this type of machine quilting. If you choose to do free motion quilting (random quilting, meandering or fluid designs), you will drop your feed dogs and use either an open toe embroidery foot or darning foot. Invisible thread is great. It works really well when you first learn machine quilting as your stitches blend in with the fabric and are less noticable. Match the bobbin thread with your backing. Be sure to wind a few up as it takes more thread than what you may think. Using a machine quilting needle is extremely helpful when using cotton batting. Patty
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User: Patty22
Member since: 03-29-2006 Total posts: 1194 |
From: lendube
Date: 02-13-2007, 05:05 PM (8 of 16)
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Thank you, thank you, thanks, Patty! Just the info I was looking for. (And btw, I have a new appreciation for machine quilting having come this far on my first project. It's been a lot of work but it's also been a lot of fun.  )Lennie |
User: lendube
Member since: 08-06-2006 Total posts: 1548 |
From: bridesmom
Date: 02-14-2007, 07:51 PM (9 of 16)
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Oh Oh Lennie! Another one bites the dust!! Quilting is sooo addicting!! My projects keep getting bigger and bigger, I'm starting my 7th quilted project and have two more waiting in the wings. At first I was thinking I wasn't going to like sewing all those little squares and triangles together, but I really enjoy it. Welcome to the club!
Laura
Tickled pink with my Innovis 4000D |
User: bridesmom
Member since: 01-21-2004 Total posts: 2026 |
From: lendube
Date: 02-14-2007, 08:31 PM (10 of 16)
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Thanks, Laura! Jeez, I sure hope mine don't get bigger and bigger. I'm already wrestling this beast!  I know I should have started smaller ~~ like a pincushion or something.  This quilt is twin bed size since it took up all of my batting which claimed to be sized for that. I actually went over just a wee bit on the sides and I figure at the worst I'll cut down the last border a bit. Or can I "add" batting in the places lacking?Any advice for that??? Anyone?  And also, I already know that putting the layers together is the part I like least. I spent an hour on the kitchen floor yesterday taping each layer to the floor and then basting from the center out twelve times! I only have enough itty bitty safety pins that would've been miserable to work with. That tile floor was pretty hard on the old joints!  Thanks, and yes, I didn't think I'd like the piecing as much as I did. It was a lot of fun. Oh oh...... Lennie |
User: lendube
Member since: 08-06-2006 Total posts: 1548 |
From: Magot
Date: 02-15-2007, 12:06 AM (11 of 16)
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My batting is as patchwork as the pieced top at times Lennie. You can add extra batting - butt it up and oversew it together with huge stitches - once the sandwich is assembled it will stay where you put it. I have yet to find a way around that crawling on the floor tacking like a mad woman moment but think I may have hit on something. For Suzie's quilt http://swn-archive.sew-whats-up.com/t-21486.html we used the fabric spray glue to hold the backing to the batting and the batting to the top. I was not sure how it would work out but it was so simple to use and it worked! I think I could be a convert as no matter how I try to keep everything flat I always end up with some ruching somewhere. I am going to try this again on a wall hanging before I move onto something much larger. I still regard myself as a beginner quilter Lennie, as although my tops are fun and imaginative - I have not mastered how to quilt the thing together in an exciting way. I have tried that stippling thing with the darning foot and I have yet to get it to my satisfaction. Some people ( like Judee for example) have an art of casually looping things like trailing vines and flowers over things without seeming to get their knickers in a twist like I do. Somewhere for me to develop I think. love and kisses, Jan
Guts-R-Us Cells a Speciality DNA to order. |
User: Magot
Member since: 12-22-2002 Total posts: 3626 
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From: HeyJudee
Date: 02-15-2007, 07:38 AM (12 of 16)
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I have tried that stippling thing with the darning foot and I have yet to get it to my satisfaction. Some people ( like Judee for example) have an art of casually looping things like trailing vines and flowers over things without seeming to get their knickers in a twist like I do. Somewhere for me to develop I think. Jan...I have to admit...I've had the opportunity to take a couple of machine quilting classes where I've learned some patterns and techniques and I've done practice sandwiches too. But for some reason, I was never able to stipple the way I wanted and would avoid it like the plague. But then I saw this video (http://www.taunton.com/threads/pages/tvt035.asp) by Diane Gaudynski and I found it really good to watch and learn the motions. I watched it before I tried stippling my spool block on the advent quilt. It helped me a lot. Maybe we should have beginner machine quilting lessons on SWN ....
TTFN from
Judy |
User: HeyJudee
Member since: 01-25-2005 Total posts: 1366
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From: lendube
Date: 02-15-2007, 12:38 PM (13 of 16)
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Thanks, Jan and Judy, for those posts. Boy, I love the idea of using the spray glue but with my luck I'd glue the damn thing to the floor! Or never be able to get the glue off of the floor. (I'd have permanently attached animals! What a picture that is. :bg I will absolutely try that with a smaller project. And it's good to know I can add batting. I would have hated to cut down the border. The top is just right as it is. I will watch the video, Judy. That will be interesting but sounds like it will entail buying another foot. I posted separately about buying a walking foot. Wow! I still can't believe how expensive that is. A local dealer wanted $86.95 but I found one on Ebay for $60.99. Strange to think of that price as a "deal". Lennie |
User: lendube
Member since: 08-06-2006 Total posts: 1548 |
From: Magot
Date: 02-15-2007, 02:23 PM (14 of 16)
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I have watched that video repeatedly Judee - I still lack the skill!
love and kisses, Jan
Guts-R-Us Cells a Speciality DNA to order. |
User: Magot
Member since: 12-22-2002 Total posts: 3626
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From: material_pakrat
Date: 02-15-2007, 10:44 PM (15 of 16)
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It's one of those "practise, practise, practise" skills, but it is worth it. I have stippled 2 quilts, and can see the difference in them. I am still trying to get the stitch length regulated, but I will get there eventually. And Lennie - don't panic. This is a cheaper foot by far. I paid $35Au for mine about 6 weeks ago. Unlike the walking foot, which is about $125Au. I patchwork a lot of my batting together. I just use big hand sewn stitches for the thicker batting ( I love the big fluffy batting), and a huge zig-zag for thinner denser batting. Gotta get some of that spray glue. It's the sandwiching of the quilt that I hate the most, rather than the quilting. Does the quilt feel stiff after using it?? How does it feel after washing it?? Cheers, Soph.
I'm happiest when I am sewing! |
User: material_pakrat
Member since: 12-13-2006 Total posts: 220 |
From: lendube
Date: 02-16-2007, 01:57 PM (16 of 16)
 Thanks for all of the tips. Gee, I love this site! Lennie |
User: lendube
Member since: 08-06-2006 Total posts: 1548 |
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