Matchstick quilting
Matchstick quilting is straight lines very close together, about ¼" apart, so the quilt becomes dense and drapey with a fine texture. It takes four times the stitching of 1" lines.
By Editorial Staff
How to stitch matchstick
- 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.
- Quilt lines 1" apart across the quilt first to anchor all three layers.
- Go back and add three lines between each pair, using the edge of the presser foot as a ¼" guide.
Home machine, longarm or by hand
| Level | How | |
|---|---|---|
| Home machine | Beginner | Walking foot |
| Longarm | Intermediate | Straight ruler or computerized |
| By hand | Better by machine | Too dense or too long a line to stitch by hand |
Thread for matchstick
A 50 weight thread keeps the close lines from looking heavy. Buy more than you think: this quilt uses about four times the thread of 1" lines.
| Size | Quilt | Stitching | Top thread | Bobbin thread |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crib | 45" × 60" | 300 yd | 412 yd | 412 yd |
| Throw | 60" × 72" | 479 yd | 659 yd | 659 yd |
| Twin | 70" × 90" | 699 yd | 961 yd | 961 yd |
| Full | 84" × 96" | 895 yd | 1,231 yd | 1,231 yd |
| Queen | 90" × 108" | 1,079 yd | 1,483 yd | 1,483 yd |
| King | 108" × 108" | 1,295 yd | 1,780 yd | 1,780 yd |
Stitching is measured on the drawing above at ¼". 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.
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