Quilting is an old traditional form of stitch. In those days, the quilt is hand made. Even now, we can see hand sewn quilts, in some places all over the world. In India, the traditional quilts are still practiced. 

Quilting is used for binding two or more fabrics.This gives a firm shape to the material and also soft & smooth finishing.

A basic quilt is made by stitching different repeated geometric shapes using straight lines (Running stitch). Free motion quilting in sewing machines is more popular now, using various designs and curves.

A Quilt normally has 3 layers,

• Top Layer (Outer Main Fabric)
• Middle Layer (Batting / Interfacing)
• Bottom Layer (Inner Fabric)

The top layer is the main fabric in which the quilting is done. It can be a single piece of cloth or many fabric scraps sewn together.

Let us learn simple machine quilting on fabric. This quilted fabric can be used for making different kinds of purses, bags, cushions, pillow – covers, bed – covers, garments and decorative wall hangings.

Materials Needed:

Main Fabric (Top Layer)

   – Single piece of fabric as per required

Foam sheet / Sponge sheet (Middle Layer)

   – I used 6 mm sponge

Non – Woven fabric (Bottom Layer)

   – We can also use fabric or Gaada cloth

Thread – Same or contrast colour of fabric

Tutorial

Step 1:

When quilting on the main fabric, the inner fabric may shrink a little. To avoid this, cut the non – woven or the inner fabric 1/2 ” or 1 ” extra, as shown above.

Place the main fabric, right side up, foam sheet in the middle and the inner fabric right side down. Foam is in between the two fabrics (Refer image above).

Now the whole picture will look like below.

Pin all the sides.

Step 2:

Draw lines using scale and fabric marker (chalk / crayon). I have drawn diagonal lines.

You can mark horizontal, vertical, diagonal lines or any other design.

Step 3:

Start the stitching from one corner of the fabric.

Always stitch the lines in the same direction.

Back stitch at both the ends of each line.

After quilting one side of diagonal lines, tilt your fabric and start quilting from the other side to get the diamond shape.

Step 4:

This is the fabric, after quilting.

Trim on all sides.

Now, your quilted fabric is ready!!