Walk the {Quilted} Line
Dear walking foot:
Where have you been all my life? And why am I just now learning to use one? Crazy.
Do you know the difference between a regular presser foot and a walking foot? All I knew for the longest time was that if you wanted to quilt straight lines (and have them look good), you would need the latter.
So what makes a walking foot so special? Feed dogs.
Because of a quilt’s added thickness, one set of feed dogs is not enough. A walking foot adds an extra set to sit on top of the quilt, ensuring that all the quilt’s layers are fed through the machine evenly. Otherwise, you get bunching.
I’m going to use my walking foot to quilt an autumn table runner. For this project, I want to do a bunch of random lines so I’m using Therm O Web’s PeelnStick Ruler Tape to help me mark 1/2″ pairs of lines.
Now, normally if I want to quilt straight lines I don’t need to mark the lines–I use the existing seams or quilted lines as a guide for my walking foot. In this case, however, I wanted them to be a bit random, so I just laid the ruler tape down wherever I wanted and traced along it on both sides. (The whole point of marking these lines was to show me where to guide the needle and keep the lines perfectly straight.)
I started out by centering the table runner within grid lines on my cutting mat. Then, I laid the ruler tape down to split the center.
Using Crayola washable markers (a wonderful tip I learned from Lu), I drew along the ruler on both sides.
Then I added another set of lines a few inches away on both sides…
I still wanted more lines, so I rotated the table runner so that its bottom side lined up along a diagonal line on the cutting mat. I added more lines about 3 1/2″ apart all across the table runner. There is no rule about where you should lay the ruler tape! Just wherever you want!
Once I was satisfied with the amount of lines, I started sewing. I used both hands to help guide the fabric and stay on the lines.
Next, I washed the table runner to remove all traces of the washable marker. After it dried, I ironed it with starch. Ta da!
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11 Comments
~Damita's Pretty Wrap~
September 28, 2011 at 2:17 pmYour runner looks beautiful!!
Anonymous
September 28, 2011 at 5:17 pmBeautiful Runner Vanessa and what an awesome tip! Love it!!
Melissa
September 29, 2011 at 4:18 pmI've needed this! Thank you! 🙂
LuLu
October 3, 2011 at 12:05 pmIt looks gorgeous! I love how you only did one direction of the diagonal. I'm totally inspired to do something fall-ish for my table now. A walking foot is a real must have! I almost never take mine off.
Alyssa
October 6, 2011 at 6:56 amOh, no! Another project I MUST make! Very cute! Thanks.
Richelle Nicole
October 9, 2011 at 12:09 pmGorgeous! Thanks for the nifty tips! I have a walking foot and I've been wanting to try my hand at quilting, I think a project this size is just the place to start!
Laura
March 9, 2012 at 12:12 pmThanks for the tutorial! Just finished one up for my mother's birthday. Turned out great!
Cakes and Cookies by Clau
August 13, 2012 at 12:31 pmThe runner looks lovely! I have a Singer sewing machine and I've been wanting to get the Walking Foot, the Zipper foot, etc. Is there a universal one (for each) or I need to get them from a Singer store? Any comments will be appreciated. Tks!
Katie A
November 18, 2012 at 11:57 amThis is just what I've been looking for. Thank you so much for the great tutorial! 🙂
Janette's Minutes
May 12, 2013 at 10:30 pmI read that you can't backstitch with a walking foot so how do you secure your stitches?
Unknown
October 2, 2013 at 8:39 amI'm a new quilter. This was extremely helpful. Thanks!