I totally agree, Cynthia! The wavy lines tend to soften the repeating strips of the log cabin making it all look wonderful. Besides, it's very easy to do! Thanks so much for watching! Happy Quilting, Lea Louise
I agree. I either hand quilt or use my domestic machine as I'm not so fond of the long-arm look. This is a really useful tutorial. BTW there are a couple of books on using a walking foot which I found really helpful. They are Walk and Walk 2.0 by Gering.
Yes, Marcella! Give those guides a try and you'll see what a difference they can make. It's much easier to stay just where you want to quilt this way. Thanks so much for watching! Happy Quilting, Lea Louise
New subscriber and I’m learning so much. My machine came with one of those guides but no instructions so I’m extra grateful for this video. Thanks so much!
You're Welcome, Joy! Thanks for subscribing!! You'll love using your walking foot. They are a great tool for quilting. Thanks so much for watching! Happy Quilting, Lea Louise
It was a long time before the 'ditch' and I could work together, Glenda! I still use it occasionally but really enjoy the look of more visible quilting lines. Give it a try, you might just change your quilting style! Thanks so much for watching! Happy Quilting, Lea Louise
Thank you so much for this tutorial!! I love your approaches with diagonal quilting. Log cabin was my first quilt when I was learning to quilt 25 years ago; back then it was stitch in the ditch. I have an old Pfaff with the IDT system so I’ve never used the separate walking foot. Being able to have those top and bottom layers feed together is crucial no matter which one you have. In the 70’s before we had those options, we had to use a bit of trickery to make things even. 😊. Love the evolution of our equipment, but those old machines are still workhorses! Wish I still had my old one too, no electronic screen etc. to fail.
You're absolutely right! The new electronic options are awesome, but when you can't read the screen anymore you're out of luck! My husband says the same thing about cars, too. LOL I'd love to have my mother's old Singer that I learned to quilt on! Thanks so much for watching! Happy Quilting, Lea Louise
Wonderful tutorial As always. I have done wavy quilting lines but never used the guide. Hoping my machine came with one. Can't wait to try this. Love your videos. I always learn so much.
I recently quilted a placemat on my machine and that was fun and non stressful because I did straight diagonal line quilting and used my walking foot and guide the same as you are doing here. I know a placemat is not like a whole quilt like what you have but it was the second project I ever quilted myself. I have a quilt top that I almost finished (just need borders) and I will be quilting with wiggly lines like yours because it's a rail fence style and I think these lines will look best. Thank you for your guidance every week. I appreciate it so much and I am learning a lot with your videos.❤
This is absolutely perfect for rail fence blocks, Nancy! Just use the distance between our blocks to guide you from corner to corner. It'll look awesome! Congrats on doing the diagonal quilting. It's a beautiful pattern that looks so much harder than it really is. Thanks so much for watching! Happy Quilting, Lea Louise
I have a large quilt top (85x85) and it's been sitting waiting to be quilted but it's just been too warm in my sewing room to sit and wrestle with all that fabric. I think the wave lines are cute and definitely easier than straight lines, though I saw someone using painters' tape to get the lines straight and it worked! Aslo, I have used to cute little stitches (like the flowers etc. that some machines come with these days - mine has 99 of them lol) for the binding. It does take a lot of thread but can look really cute.
Yes, I've seen the painter's tape, too. It's perfect for straight lines. For me wavy lines are just easier to manage on a large quilt as it's so forgiving. I love your ideas with the decorative stitches for the binding. I use a buttonhole stitch that also looks nice. It does take a lot of thread but it sure isn't going to fall off!! 🤣 Thanks so much for watching! Happy Quilting, Lea Louise
🎉😅 Just in time! I was headed in sewing room to quilt a wedding quilt- and saw my Leah Louise! the marriage was yesterday, and I checked wording with the couple that will be center top. It's 102 square😳🫣 - low loft white batting says 10 inch 'between' is ok... THANK YOU SO MUCH for sharing. As you sew, my confidance builds...AND you give ' helps ' along the way- You are such a good TEACHER🎉😊
Your kind words mean a lot to me, Sandra! Your quilt is a big one and you'll appreciate that wider spacing. The newlyweds will love their special quilt! Thanks so much for watching! Happy Quilting, Lea Louise
So THAT’S what that little bar is for! Thanks! I’ve made 5 quilts and I’ve never “sent one out” to be quilted-just struggled along with some stitch in the ditch and hand quilting. I think I’m ready to make some waves!
Sheila, no more stitching in the ditch for you! Wavy lines are so much easier and they look great. So glad you got to see how those guides work. 😊 Thanks so much for watching! Happy Quilting, Lea Louise
That's a great tip, Arvetta! Those top feed dogs make a huge difference getting those top layers to move along. Thanks so much for watching! Happy Quilting, Lea Louise
I am getting ready to make a log cabin quilt and have been wondering how to quilt it. I know my straight lines would not be so straight. This looks awesome and i will be using this method of machine quilting. You came to my rescue! Thank you!
I love your technique for quilting!!! Would be easy to roll up the quilt before guilting?? Question when sewing fabric when you lower the feed dogs ,I get confused in that ,,so I don't it. Lol😂❤🙏
The only time I lower the feed dogs if for free-motion quilting, Neva. When I'm using the walking foot the bottom feed dogs work with the top ones and keep the fabric moving along nice and smooth. Yes, you can roll up the quilt before you start, but since it rolls from the corner, it's a bit harder for me to manage at first. Give it a try and see what works best for you! Thanks so much for watching! Happy Quilting, Lea Louise
I learned a lot from this video. Just to clarify, when using a walking foot to do the quilting do I need to lower the presser feet or leave them in place?
Hi Lea Louise, Wow gorgeous quilt! I have done this method from one of your video showing us, I do ok on the first half of my quilt BUT lol when I turn it for the other side, I don’t know what I do wrong, but it puckers sooooo bad and I have to rip out. (Just the first seam) Can you tell me what I’m doing wrong please? It’s like the fabric is stretching or something 🤷♀️🥺 and I’m very careful with rolling and making sure there’s no bulk. I do love this wavy quilting though, It’s a whole new game changer for me! Thank you for introducing it to us! God Bless ❤
My guess is that something is stretching or pulling somewhere, Pam. Here's something you might try. Take the quilt out from your machine completely after doing the first half. Then give it a good shake to put it back in shape as it may be getting distorted while you're quilting. Then you can turn it and start from the other side. Since it's just happening in that one spot, it shouldn't be the basting or anything like that. Try the 'Twist 'n Shake' method and see how it works! Thanks so much for watching! Happy Quilting, Lea Louise
💕 Lea, I have a question... I was told, to always start in the center ... is that because of the pulling, that could distort it? By the way, it turned out BEAUTIFUL! 💕
That is absolutely correct when you are free motion quilting, Jodi. You want to start from the center so any shifting of the fabric will move to the outer edges. On the other hand, walking foot quilt eliminates a lot of that shifting. I always quilt from one side to the other when using my walking foot. Unless I'm quilting circles, that's one that also needs to work from the center out. So many options! Plus I use a fabric spray basting adhesive which holds everything together nicely. So glad you enjoyed my quilt. It turned out so pretty! Thanks so much for watching! Happy Quilting, Lea Louise
The pre wound bobbins look like embroidery machine pre wounds. I never thought to use those bobbins for quilting. I use those bobbins for machine embroidery only. If they make the quilting turn out much better, I might just have to try them for quilting. I imagine the 60wt thread in the bobbin makes for smoother stitching.
I believe that's exactly what they are, Diane. Some savvy quilter said - let's try this! Now it's become a great time saver. And you're correct that the stitching turns out so much better. Thanks so much for watching! Happy Quilting, Lea Louise
Lea, wouldn't be easy to roll the fabric before you start quilting ? I'm I Little confused. And when do we lower the bottom feet dogs that always confuse me? I love this quilt ❤
Great question, Nancy! Those quarter log cabin blocks were my guide to quilt from corner to corner. At first I thought it'd be fine on either side, but the 'scrappy' side has multiple size blocks which makes it harder to stay on track without drawing a line. This worked great for me. Thanks so much for watching! Happy Quilting, Lea Louise
