America's Quilting History

Many of us yearn to make quilts typical of bygone days but find we don't have the time or inclination to spend months on a single quilt. Even if we use a sewing machine to piece the quilt we are left with the daunting task of hand quilting the layers together. There is a solution to this problem and the book "Heirloom Machine Quilting" contains the guidance you need. Using easy to understand instructions it covers every tiny step you need to take from setting up your machine to the final binding. Harriet Hargrave is the foremost name in machine quilting and she has changed the face of quilting forever. No more do women hesitate to enter a machine quilted piece in a quilt show. Concerning the choice between hand or machine quilting Hargrave states, "I feel that we spend to much energy debating whether machine or hand is best. There are enough quilts in our heads that need to come out, that as long as the workmanship is of high quality, it should not matter what technique was used." ^p5

Learning to machine quilt is not an overnight process. You can learn some basic techniques like stitching "in the ditch" quickly enough and you will find the detailed instructions on this simple procedure to be invaluable. But the true challenge and joy of machine quilting comes when you learn "free motion quilting". So many possibilities are open to you when you can follow your favorite stencil patterns or even create your own freestyle movements to fill in an area. The first key to making "free motion quilting" work is set up your machine correctly with help from the book. Then you are ready to practice, practice, practice. Be sure to read all the tips provided and try the exercises that Hargrave suggests. When you are read to try out your new skills on a quilt start with some simple techniques on something small like a wall hanging or a baby quilt. The more you do "free motion quilting" the more skilled and confidant you become. Just take the leap and get started!

There are several beautiful full page pictures showing how quilts based on different periods and styles have been machine quilted. You will be amazed how machine quilting can give the look of the original handwork. Don't let the beauty and detail of these quilts scare you away. You can have a wonderful time machine quilting on a far simpler level. Just keep on quilting and perhaps some day you will be ready to take on a reproduction quilt much like the ones pictured.

© 2001 Anne Johnson (Do not reproduce any material from this site without permission.)