Quilting is not an easy craft; however, it becomes an interesting endeavor once it is learned and practiced regularly. Hand quilting is the traditional quilting method, but nowadays quilting is predominantly performed using machines. Beginners and skilled quilters can find plenty of free machine quilting patterns for them to work or practice on using their home sewing machines. After reading through the descriptions of the designs presented here, you may set your sewing machine, threads, and fabrics to start quilting beautiful and interesting designs!
A basic technique in quilting is the straight line quilting, and it has many variations. Likewise, the popular free-motion quilting has numerous techniques using different shapes or designs line flowers, feathers, spirals, and loops. Quilting patterns are created and guides are marked on the quilt before the quilt layers are stitched together. Newbies may try simple quilting designs first before they venture into more intricate or detailed patterns. Quilting involves techniques such as piecing, patching, and appliqué so there are several fascinating patterns that you can create and design.
Simple Quilting Patterns Quilters accustomed to hand quilting or straight line quilting can try these simple quilt designs before trying free-motion quilting.
- Repeated concentric lines around a shape or symbol are created or echoed in straight line echo quilting.
- Circles of the same or alternating sizes are outlined in pebble quilting.
- In interlocking circles quilting, circles are stitched into the quilt tops to add texture.
- Quilters can stitch curved lines parallel to each other in either even or varying intervals in wavy walk quilting.
- Cross-hatch quilting is a basic straight line quilting design produced from intersecting or diagonal lines that create a diamond shape.
Shapes and Motifs Quilting Patterns Machine quilting can be used in designing common shapes onto quilts. Some of these can also fall under seasonal or nature quilting designs.
- A geometric shapes quilting has squares, rectangles, triangles, or diamonds as symbols stitched onto the quilt.
- Butterfly quilting Butterfly designs can be appliquéd or free-motion quilted onto a fabric or quilt.
- Winter quilts commonly have frost or snowflakes symbols quilted using free-motion quilting; autumn quilt designs include fall baskets, bouquets, or leaves.
Swirl Quilting Designs Swirls and fancy curlicues are considered perfect for practicing free-motion quilting, which allows quilters to move the quilt liberally because the machines feed dogs are not used.
- Puzzle or jigsaw pieces of any size or shape can be quilted in kids or babies quilts and beddings.
- Swirling ocean waves or current can be stitched onto quilts.
- Beginners can enjoy designing and quilting simple and random loops in loop-de-loop stitching.
Flower or Leaf Quilting Designs Flowers and leaves are traditional designs on quilts. Quilts can be made with flower swirls, orchid designs, and leafy branches outlines.
Feather Quilting Designs are also classic quilting patterns; they are generally attractive as an allover design.
- Basic feather shapes can be free-motion quilted onto fabrics.
- Feather wreaths are also lovely decorations on quilts and other quilted objects.
- Echoed paisley quilting has droplet-shaped vegetable motif paisley designed repetitively over the whole quilt.
Seasonal Quilting Patterns Seasonal motifs, embellishments, and decorations add fun and feeling in celebrating our favorite season or holiday. Shamrock quilt designs for wishing good luck and heart designs on quilted items during Valentines Day or Friendship Day can be wonderful presents to our loved ones. Pumpkins, candies, and other spooky symbols like small bats are common Halloween quilt decorations. Christmas quilts are made with patterns of gifts and ribbons, Christmas tree, mistletoe, bells, and poinsettia flowers. Houses, trees, clouds, and different designs of the sun are the usual summer quilt designs; wooly mittens are the familiar patterns on winter blankets and hangings.
If you are looking for the best quilting and sewing machine for use in your home there are a lot of great ones to choose from. Do your research or better yet, ask your local dealer and quilting friends.