Wondering how to quilt a quilt? While it may sound redundant, a quilt is not a quilt until it has been quilted. Once you have pieced together the fabric for your quilt top, quilting secures the two or more layers of the quilt together, most often a top fabric, sandwiched batting and backing fabric. Learning how to quilt a quilt is one of the most important steps for any quilter. Quilting is done by hand or machine with a straight or running stitch, and can be highly decorative.

Here are the different methods for how to quilt a quilt:

Hand Quilting

The old-fashioned method of hand quilting can be very time-consuming, but working by hand gives results that no machine can duplicate. The look is classic, with small variations and details that give character. Before experimenting with the different ways for how to quilt a quilt by hand, you will need to gather some essential materials:

• Quilting Needles- Quilting needles are also known as “betweens.” The smaller quilting needles with numbers from 11-12 will help create smaller stitches.
• Quilting Thimble- Because of the pressure needed to stitch the layers of a quilt, a quilting thimble on your quilting hand will help protect your fingers from soreness.
• Quilting Hoop or Frame- While optional, a quilting frame will help stabilize the fabric and create even stitches.
• Thread- You can use thread to match your design.

Hand quilting uses a running stitch. To start, take a length of thread no longer than 18 inches and make a quilter’s knot at one end. Place your free hand under the quilt to help guide the needle. Bring the needle down through the top of the quilt top one inch from where your first stitch should be and bring the needle back up through the beginning of the first stitch. Tug the quilter’s knot up so that it lodges in the batting between layers and cannot be seen.

Machine Quilting

You should be familiar with a sewing machine before learning how to quilt a quilt with one. Most sewing machines can be used for machine quilting, but some may require special feet. A card table or other extension helps hold a quilt while machine quilting. There are two methods for how to quilt a quilt with a sewing machine:

1. Feeddogs Up- Machine-Guided- The even stitches of machine-guided quilting are often used for straight and slightly-curved lines. You can use this method to create a nearly-invisble quilting along the lines of the quilt blocks. A walking foot on the sewing machine helps assist with straight lines.
2. Feeddogs Down- Free-Motion- Free-motion quilting is used for practically any quilting design. Free-motion is often used for decorating quilting. You can use a darning foot to assist in free-motion quilting. The speed of the needle and movement of quilt layers determines the stitch length. Even stitches requires some practice.

Quilters can first draw a quilting design onto a piece of paper, pin to the quilt and stitch over the lines. Then, simply tear away the paper from the top after quilting. Freezer paper can be ironed onto a quilt without the need for pins.