Stippling quilting
Stippling is one continuous line that wanders in rounded curves without ever crossing itself, packed close together, here ½" apart. It flattens the area it covers and makes the unquilted parts next to it puff up.
By Editorial Staff
How to stitch stippling
- Drop or cover the feed dogs and fit a free-motion (darning) foot. Run the machine at a steady medium speed and move the quilt smoothly with both hands; the speed of your hands sets the stitch length, and 10 to 12 stitches an inch is the usual aim.
- Bring the bobbin thread to the top, take a few tiny stitches to lock it, and start in a corner of the area.
- Stitch rounded lobes like puzzle-piece edges: out, round and back alongside the line you just made, keeping the same gap. Change direction often so no rows form.
- Work across the area in a loose band about a hand-width tall, then come back the other way, filling as you go. If you stitch yourself into a corner, follow a seam or stitch alongside an existing line to get out.
Home machine, longarm or by hand
| Level | How | |
|---|---|---|
| Home machine | Intermediate | Free-motion foot |
| Longarm | Beginner | Freehand or computerized |
| By hand | Better by machine | Too dense or too long a line to stitch by hand |
Thread for stippling
A 50 weight cotton that matches the fabric hides small wobbles; 40 weight shows the texture more. Use the same weight in the bobbin, in a color that matches the backing.
| Size | Quilt | Stitching | Top thread | Bobbin thread |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crib | 45" × 60" | 140 yd | 192 yd | 192 yd |
| Throw | 60" × 72" | 223 yd | 307 yd | 307 yd |
| Twin | 70" × 90" | 326 yd | 448 yd | 448 yd |
| Full | 84" × 96" | 417 yd | 574 yd | 574 yd |
| Queen | 90" × 108" | 503 yd | 691 yd | 691 yd |
| King | 108" × 108" | 603 yd | 830 yd | 830 yd |
Stitching is measured on the drawing above at ½". 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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