Echo Quilting by machine

Monday, July 9, 2018 Filed in: Hawaiian Quilt | How To | Instructional | Quilting

Here is my three color version of You are in Our Hearts Hawaiian Wall Quilt. This quilt was created using one of the Hoffman Supernova Panels. I am just loving this color combination and how it also shows off the plumeria blossoms. You can find an earlier blog post about Multi-colored Hawaiian Quilts and how to create them by clicking on the link.

While working on this quilt I decided I wanted to have it complete for the Medford Quilt Show so in order to complete it, it was going to have to be quilted by machine. It also needed to be the traditional quilting method of echo quilting.

A few months ago I purchased a Sew Steady Free Motion Ruler Foot with a 1/2 inch echo guide. I thought this was the perfect opportunity for me to give this a try. I also have never made a how to video. There was no time like the present. You can find the video on YouTube. Here I walk you through the process of using this wonderful little tool. The best part was there was no need to draw quilting lines on the quilt top. I usually use the Clover chalk pencils to add my 1/2 inch quilting lines before going to the machine and I did the entire quilt without tracing the lines and it was a great option. The Sew Steady Free motion Ruler foot and the 1/2 inch echo guide are available from your local sewing machine shops or online by following the link on each item. You will need the Ruler foot and the echo guides. Before beginning with the echo quilting lines I do ALWAYS stitch in the ditch around the entire applique.

Aurifil's 28Wt hand quilting thread was used on top and the Aurifil 50Wt thread in the bobbin. This gave a little more importance to the quilting lines. I am happy to report that it worked wonderfully. Always remember when you are using a heavier weight thread you will want to make sure you have the proper needle to accommodate the size of the thread, you might also have to adjust your tension a bit.

Take a look at the video and let me know what you think and if you have any other ideas for videos you would like to see a demonstration on just let me know.

Happy Stitching!