Quilting designs for beginners
The quilting is the stitching that holds the top, batting and backing together. The easiest designs for a first quilt are straight lines with a walking foot: 12 of the 19 designs here are beginner level on a home sewing machine.
Each design is drawn as its real stitch path on one of our quilts, with how to stitch it on a home machine and a longarm, and how much thread it takes for every bed size. Check your batting label for how far apart the quilting can be; battings allow anywhere from 3" to 10", depending on the brand.
Walking foot designs
Straight linesBeginner on a home machine
MatchstickBeginner on a home machine
CrosshatchBeginner on a home machine
GridBeginner on a home machine
Wavy linesBeginner on a home machine
ZigzagBeginner on a home machine
Square spiralBeginner on a home machine
Stitch in the ditchBeginner on a home machine
OutlineBeginner on a home machine
SpiralIntermediate on a home machine
Free motion designs
Traditional designs
Every design by difficulty
| Design | Home machine | Longarm | Lines | Thread for a throw |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meander | Beginner, free-motion foot | Beginner | 1¼" | 245 yd |
| Loops | Beginner, free-motion foot | Beginner | 2" rows | 560 yd |
| Straight lines | Beginner, walking foot | Intermediate | 1" | 330 yd |
| Matchstick | Beginner, walking foot | Intermediate | ¼" | 1319 yd |
| Crosshatch | Beginner, walking foot | Intermediate | 1½" | 440 yd |
| Grid | Beginner, walking foot | Intermediate | 2" | 330 yd |
| Wavy lines | Beginner, walking foot | Beginner | 1½" | 242 yd |
| Zigzag | Beginner, walking foot | Intermediate | 1½" | 246 yd |
| Square spiral | Beginner, walking foot | Intermediate | ¾" | 451 yd |
| Echo | Beginner, walking foot or free motion | Intermediate | ½" | 291 yd |
| Stitch in the ditch | Beginner, walking foot or ditch foot | Intermediate | along the seams | 302 yd |
| Outline | Beginner, walking foot | Intermediate | ¼" inside the seams | 216 yd |
| Stippling | Intermediate, free-motion foot | Beginner | ½" | 614 yd |
| Boxy meander | Intermediate, free-motion foot | Intermediate | ¾" | 441 yd |
| Spiral | Intermediate, walking foot | Intermediate | ¾" | 440 yd |
| Baptist fan | Intermediate, free-motion foot, marked | Beginner | 4" fans | 478 yd |
| Clamshell | Intermediate, walking foot or free motion, marked | Intermediate | 3" shells | 345 yd |
| Orange peel | Intermediate, walking foot or free motion | Intermediate | 3" squares | 692 yd |
| Pebbles | Advanced, free-motion foot | Intermediate | circles up to 1¾" | 1153 yd |
Thread is top and bobbin together for a 60" × 72" throw, with 10% for starts and tails.
See the quilting on your quilt
Quiltspiration draws your quilt in your own fabric, quilting included.