Square spiral quilting
One line that starts at the center of the quilt and turns a right angle at every side, growing ¾" each time, until it reaches the edges. Every turn is a pivot with the needle down.
By Editorial Staff
How to stitch square spiral
- 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.
- Start at the center with a short line, pivot, and sew a slightly longer line. Keep each side ¾" out from the one inside it.
- As the spiral grows, you will be turning the whole quilt at each corner. Roll it tightly and let the table hold its weight.
Home machine, longarm or by hand
| Level | How | |
|---|---|---|
| Home machine | Beginner | Walking foot |
| Longarm | Intermediate | Straight ruler |
| By hand | Better by machine | Too dense or too long a line to stitch by hand |
Thread for square spiral
40 or 50 weight cotton.
| Size | Quilt | Stitching | Top thread | Bobbin thread |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crib | 45" × 60" | 103 yd | 141 yd | 141 yd |
| Throw | 60" × 72" | 164 yd | 226 yd | 226 yd |
| Twin | 70" × 90" | 239 yd | 329 yd | 329 yd |
| Full | 84" × 96" | 306 yd | 421 yd | 421 yd |
| Queen | 90" × 108" | 369 yd | 507 yd | 507 yd |
| King | 108" × 108" | 443 yd | 609 yd | 609 yd |
Stitching is measured on the drawing above at ¾". 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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