Machine Quilting Unlimited - Special Edition - Winter 2011

Art Studio
1
2
3
Quilting by the Slightly Obsessive
© 2009 Nancy G. Cook
People often ask me about my quilting
process. There is no one answer, but
techniques learned from the masters provide
the tools for allowing the design and
the quilting to be integrated. In planning
the design I take into account where the
quilting will show up and where it will
play a subordinate role to focal points.
(Photo 1, Before the Waxwings)
Setting Up to Quilt
A batting of wool and polyester blend is
easy to work and does not retain creases
if folded. On Ruth McDowell’s advice,
I use a backing fabric of heavy weight
decorator cotton, which reduces the
likelihood of quilting in tucks on the
backing.
One of the challenges is for the finished
wall quilt to lie straight and flat after
quilting heavily in some areas and only
outlining others. Step one is to square
the backing and top layer with each
other when preparing the quilt sandwich
(top, batting and backing). Next
I pin baste closely with long Japanese
flower-head pins. I used to use bent
safety pins but they killed my fingers.
Sharp straight pins reduce stress on the
hands. (Photo 2)
I then hand baste in a three-inch grid
of half-inch stitches, using silk thread
and a fine needle. Silk slides easily
through the layers, reduces stress on
the hands and speeds along. I learned
the importance of fine basting from
Cherilyn Martin. I remove the pins
as I baste. Hand basting may seem
redundant, but it helps to secure the
sandwich throughout the quilting
process. (Photo 3)
Selecting Threads—
A Joy, Two Ways
The fun begins with selecting the quilting
threads. An analysis of what will set
off the design helps guide the selections.
Does the design need to be warmer,
cooler, more definition, softer? While
the quilting is important, I use threads
that blend with background or design
elements, rather than creating strong
contrasts. I love variegated threads
that have little value changes. They are
hard to find, but worth looking for. The
first selection will be modified during
quilting. Thread becomes my paint for
the details. I love the King Tut Tone on
Tone, YLI Machine quilting, Mettler silkfinish
multi, some Sulky Blendables,
and Oliver Twist. I recently used the
variegated YLI silk thread and loved it.
I will add more of these to my thread
stash. Invariably I find that I need to
purchase a new thread—or two—or
three. Oh joy! (Photo 4)
Setting up the Machine for
Quilting
On the advice of Linda Fiedler and Libby
Lehman, I purchased a single needle
soleplate for the sewing machine. It gives
a much nicer stitch for both straight
stitching and free-motion stitching. I use
the single needle soleplate, an embroidery
sewing machine needle that allows
me to change threads easily, and I clean
out and oil the machine before beginning.
Before quilting, I double-check
the thread balance on a sample quilt
sandwich. I use an open-toed embroidery
foot and the built-in walking foot on
my old 1473 Pfaff. Feed dogs are UP and
28 Machine Quilting Unlimited | Special Edition Winter 2011