Crosshatch quilting
Crosshatching is two sets of straight lines crossing on the diagonal, here 1½" apart, so the quilt is covered with small diamonds. It is one of the oldest hand quilting designs, and it works just as well by machine.
By Editorial Staff
How to stitch crosshatch
- Fit a walking foot and lengthen the stitch to about 3 mm, 8 to 9 stitches an inch. Roll the sides of the quilt so the part under the machine lies flat, and support its weight on the table so it doesn't drag.
- Mark the two longest diagonals of the quilt with chalk or a hera marker and quilt them first.
- Quilt the rest of the lines in one direction, 1½" apart, working from the center out. Then quilt the lines in the other direction.
- Check that the diamonds stay square every few lines; if they drift, re-mark the next line from the edge of the quilt.
Home machine, longarm or by hand
| Level | How | |
|---|---|---|
| Home machine | Beginner | Walking foot |
| Longarm | Intermediate | Straight ruler |
| By hand | Suits hand quilting | How to hand quilt |
Thread for crosshatch
40 or 50 weight cotton by machine; hand quilting thread, a glazed cotton, by hand.
| Size | Quilt | Stitching | Top thread | Bobbin thread |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crib | 45" × 60" | 100 yd | 137 yd | 137 yd |
| Throw | 60" × 72" | 160 yd | 220 yd | 220 yd |
| Twin | 70" × 90" | 233 yd | 321 yd | 321 yd |
| Full | 84" × 96" | 298 yd | 410 yd | 410 yd |
| Queen | 90" × 108" | 360 yd | 495 yd | 495 yd |
| King | 108" × 108" | 432 yd | 593 yd | 593 yd |
Stitching is measured on the drawing above at 1½". A lockstitch takes about 1¼" of top thread and 1¼" of bobbin thread for each inch it sews; we add 10% for starts and tails. To check your own machine, sew 12", then measure what came off each spool.
Pick the quilting for your quilt
Quiltspiration lets you choose a quilting design and see it on your quilt, in your fabric.