Straight line quilting
Straight lines 1" apart, all running the same way across the quilt. It is the simplest walking-foot quilting there is, and on a modern quilt it is often all the quilt needs.
By Editorial Staff
How to stitch straight lines
- 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 first line down the middle of the quilt with a hera marker or chalk, and quilt it.
- Use the edge of the walking foot or a guide bar to stitch each next line 1" from the last. Quilt from the center line out to one side, then turn the quilt and quilt from the center out to the other side.
- Sew every line in the same direction if the fabric starts to shift or ripple.
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 straight lines
40 or 50 weight cotton. Straight lines show every stitch, so a thread close to the fabric color is forgiving; a contrasting 28 weight makes the lines a feature.
| Size | Quilt | Stitching | Top thread | Bobbin thread |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crib | 45" × 60" | 75 yd | 103 yd | 103 yd |
| Throw | 60" × 72" | 120 yd | 165 yd | 165 yd |
| Twin | 70" × 90" | 175 yd | 240 yd | 240 yd |
| Full | 84" × 96" | 224 yd | 308 yd | 308 yd |
| Queen | 90" × 108" | 270 yd | 371 yd | 371 yd |
| King | 108" × 108" | 324 yd | 445 yd | 445 yd |
Stitching is measured on the drawing above at 1". 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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