QUILTsocial | Issue 11

Double the fun:twin needle quilting
with decorative stitches
I talked about some basic techniques for machine quilting
using various sizes and types of SCHMETZ twin needles.
Though we used both a walking foot and a darning foot, the
only stitch we used up until now is the straight stitch.
It’s time to double the fun!
In this last part of 'everything you ever wanted to know about
quilting with a twin needle', I’ll use my sewing machine’s
decorative stitches.
A simple zigzag stitch will take on new beauty when used for
twin needle quilting.
This is a side motion, machine stitched zig zag not to be
confused with the false zigzag created by the bobbin thread
when sewing with a twin needle.
This one is stitched with a 4.0 twin needle.
A single zig zag takes on new beauty.
Even simple decorative stitches look complex when stitched with a twin needle
Preparing your machine for decorative stitching
A walking foot is essential to help the decorative stitches
feed evenly.
Many machines have walking feet with bases that can be
changed for different kinds of stitching.
The ideal machine set-up would be to have one of these with a
bottom plate designed for decorative stitching.
If this isn't possible then a traditional open toe walking foot will
work.
Activate your machine’s internal setting for twin needle quilting,
if required.
Though the wider twin needles can be used for decorative
stitching they can limit the amount of side to side motion that
your machine is able to do. This will sometimes have the effect
of flattening out the stitch.
A 2.5 or smaller twin needle will work well for decorative stitching.
To start, I'll use some standard construction stitches and make
them decorative!
A three step zigzag does exactly that. This is a construction
stitch used to finish raw edges or build in stretch.
Doesn’t it look amazing as a decorative twin needle quilting stitch?
A three step zig zag stitched with a 1.6 twin needle
Q
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