How to Quilt With a Sewing Machine for Beginners

First time quilting? Beginners, learn how to quilt with pictures. See how to make a simple quilt with easy machine quilting techniques!

An example of how to quilt by machine is to stitch fabric with a 1/4 inch seam using a quarter inch presser foot.

In this section we will cover basic topics on quilting. It will show beginners how to machine quilt.

It's easy!

To quilt, you can use any sewing machine that can sew a straight stitch.

So, if it's your first time quilting, your current machine, or an inexpensive one if you have to buy, will do.

Note: I might point out at this particular juncture that quilting is not a cheap hobby. But you will have loads of fun! :-)

Quilting Supplies

To quilt you need supplies! In the beginning you won't need a lot of fancy supplies.

Here's a list of basic supplies and equipment that you need to get started...

*The design wall is optional.

However, you'll want to see how the quilt top comes together before stitching the blocks together. You need to have a large flat surface - floor, large table, bare wall - where you can arrange the blocks or pieces that make up your quilt top.

Machine Quilting Techniques for Beginners

You need some basic information before you actually make your quilt. To learn how to quilt,  review these quilting lessons for beginners...

• Quarter Inch Seam
• Preparing / Cutting Fabric
• How to Cut Strips
• How to Cut Quilt Squares
  
• Fussy Cut
  

Learn to Quilt: Some Building Blocks of Quilt Blocks

These units are used over and over again in many different quilt blocks. To help you make quilt blocks more easily, learn how to make these units...

• Half Square Triangles
• HSTs Using a Half Square Triangle Ruler
  
• Hourglass Block
• Mirror Image Split Quarter Square Triangles
• Non-Mirror Image 3 Patch Quarter Square Triangles
• Quarter Square Triangle Units With No Marking
• How to Use 1/4 Square Triangle Ruler
  
• Flying Geese One at a Time
• Square in a Square
• Corner Triangles for Setting Blocks on Point (Square In a Square)
  
• Stems for Leaf Blocks
• Triangle In a Square Using Tri Recs Rulers
  

How to Make a Quilt in Seven Steps

The steps for making a quilt are too involved to include them all on this single page. To learn (and see) how to make a simple quilt step-by-step from beginning to end, check out How to Make a Quilt in 7 Steps.

Time-Saving Quilting Techniques

Though we are (or become) passionate about quilting, we always look for ways to speed up the process.

Here are some techniques that will help us to complete the work of quilting and get to the enjoying the quilt part faster...

• Chain Piecing
• No Waste Flying Geese (4 At a Time)
• 4 Flying Geese At Once (Oversized and Trim)
  
• How to Make a Strip Set
• How To Use a Quarter Square Triangle Ruler
• How To Use a Half Square Triangle Ruler
• How To Make Flying Geese Using Half Square and Quarter Square Triangle Rulers
  

Improv Quilting Techniques

Sometimes we may feel constrained by traditional piecing techniques because at most times things need to line up just so in order to get a pleasing look.

I like to mix it up a little bit and add some improvisational quilting techniques. Here are a few...

• Stitch and Flip
  
• Slice and Insert
• Crazy Piecing

Improv techniques are very informal and very forgiving as you put together your
quilt top.

How to Quilt

This page (or this website) does not cover all quilting techniques... There are just too many!

However, these quilting basics (and maybe slightly beyond) will put you well on your way to becoming a confident quilter.

You will say... It's easy to learn how to quilt!