Today’s Topic: Loading the Quilt and the Double Batting
Good Morning, Quilters!
After a fabulous retreat and a not-so-fabulous second go with Covid, I’m back quilting the Carolina Lily quilt. If you recall, I finished piecing and appliqueing this classic red and white quilt nearly ten years ago. I love this quilt and have been afraid to quilt it. (Yes, we ALL suffer from this malady!)
Shortly after completing the quilt top, I made a few half-hearted attempts to design the quilting. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the proper tools or skills and it was an exercise in frustration. I used stencils and untested markers to draw on the quilt. When I tried to remove the marks-I quickly realized I was in trouble. That was enough for me to fold it up for nearly a decade. I’ve learned so much in the intervening years–about testing tools, designing on a photo, and creating samples-that I decided it was time to try again.
Up until recently, all of my quilts were stitched on a domestic sewing machine. Two years ago, I purchased the amazing BERNINA Q24 longarm quilting machine on a classic-sized frame. In this series, I will walk through my entire process of quilting The Carolina Lily on the longarm.
Quilting the Carolina Lily Re-Cap
To follow along, check out the first two Carolina Lily blog posts:
- Step One–Get over yourself! It’s only a quilt!
- Step Two-Press the quilt top and take a few photos
- Step Three-Start Planning the Design
- Designing and Samples
- Step Four-Choose and Mark the Major Design Lines
- Step Five-Sample batting, thread and motifs
- Step Six-Create and press backing (not shown here)
Loading the Quilt Backing
NOTE- I was so focused on getting started, I don’t have detailed photos for this blog post- sorry!
The first step is to load the quilt on the frame. Loading the quilt took less than an hour-which is one of THE major advantages of frame quilting! (Hand basting a large quilt usually takes a few hours-though spray basting is considerably quicker.)
Before loading the backing, I was careful to remove all stray threads and to press the seams open.
Loading the backing is simply a matter of pinning both top and bottom edges to their corresponding leaders while making sure the edges remain straight. (Twenty minutes)
Loading the Double Layer of Batting
I’ve noticed that many award winning quilters use two layers of batting to add more emphasis to the quilting line, so after making a sample, I decided to try the double batt.
I chose wool batting for it’s amazing loft and 80/20 cotton/poly for stability. Most quilters recommend layering the more stable batting (the cotton, poly blend) first. This layer will be required to absorb more of the stress when rolling on the frame. The wool batting is then layered on top.
However, I could only find natural color wool batting. When I created the samples, the color dulled the large areas of white in my quilt top.
While I don’t generally consider myself a risk taker (LOL) ….I decided to take my chances and layer the wool first and the white cotton/poly on top.
To load the quilt batting, I simply placed the first batting down, smoothed it carefully with a long ruler and then basted with long stitches across the top of the frame.
I repeated the process for the second layer of batting, allowing both layers of batting to float over the backing bar.
Loading the Quilt Top
Before I stared marking the quilt, I had carefully pressed it. I never the quilt again-to avoid either setting the marking lines or erasing them-depending on the type of marker used. Before installing the quilt top, I give it one last clean up to remove stray threads.
Loading the quilt top is slightly more time consuming. After pinning the quilt top to the leader, I took my time to make sure the seam lines remained very straight as I rolled it onto the bar.
This step took about 20 minutes…and finally, I was ready for the thrilling phase of quilting!
Testing Thread
While I’m always extremely eager to jump in and start quilting, I have to “slow the roll” as they say, and test threads and the tension–(boring but necessary).
In the margin of the quilt, I added a small piece of fabric to test quilt tension and thread color.
After sampling, I decided to use white, 40 wt polyester, Glide thread on top. I like the slight sheen compared to cotton thread and I know it is very strong thread-not prone to breaking. While 40 wt is considered on the slightly heavy side-I decided it would work well for most of the outlining and quilting.
Bobbin Thread
Choosing the bobbin thread required a bit of a compromise.
Generally, I like to match the color of the bobbin thread with the color of the top thread so as to make any slight tension issues from being visible on the top of the quilt. However, I really didn’t want to see white thread on the red backing of my quilt.
I tested three colors in the bobbin: red, pink and white.
After comparing the colors, I decided the only way to go was with the white. Even when the tension was perfect, the other colors seemed to make the white top thread less vibrant.
In the end, matching the bobbin and top thread color remained my go-to rule.
Because I wanted a lightweight, strong thread, I chose Sulky 60wt PolyLite thread in white for the bobbin. ( I could have used the 40 wt Glide–but the 60wt gives me more mileage in the bobbin.)
Tension Adjustments and Foot Height
Getting the tension right was a challenge. As I’ve mentioned, this is my first time using a double batting–and I had to lower the tension much more than I expected. In addition, I needed to use the adjustable foot height to allow the foot to glide across the quilt properly. BERNINA offers several feet with adjustable foot height. This is the first time I have needed to adjust the foot height and I was glad I already had all three of these feet.
(Later in the process, my top thread kept breaking and I found the foot height was the problem–needed a bit more tweaking!)
Finally, Ready to Quilt!
Testing threads and correcting the tension took more than an hour. This is time that a younger, less experienced version of me would have skipped right over. However, I’ve learned the hard way–testing now will save loads of time and frustration in the end.
NOW, I’m ready to quilt!
Next Steps-
- Begin stitching major lines
- Stitch in the Ditch quilting
- Continue to plan the design
Please Share!
Do YOU quilt on a frame or a sit-down machine?
Are you in the middle of any quilting projects?
Do YOU have any double-batting or tension tricks to share?
We’d LOVE to hear!
Happy Stitching,
Lily Lori Longing to Quilt!
PS…All tutorials, images and information are the property of Lori Kennedy Quilts and are intended for personal use only. Feel free to re-blog, pin or share with attribution to LKQ. For all other purposes, please contact me at Lori@LoriKennedyQuilts.com!
Check out my books on Etsy: LoriKennedyShop
119 comments
Lorraine Patti
How did you adjust your foot height to fix the thread breakage?
Linda Mahoney
I hope you are feeling better! Thanks for sharing – your quilting is lovely.
Glenda Reece
Hi Lori,
Love you are back in my email. I love FMQ and you have taught me so much. You are so beautiful, love the layout procedures, enjoy your new machine and I will enjoy your knowledge. beautiful quilt and quilting.
Glenda R
Julie
I quilt on my domestic & pin basting often does seem like it takes more time than the quilting. My favorite thing to do is making comfort quilts for my club & I generally only do walking foot quilting for those. I can do FMQ, usually not the intricate designs shown here, but I have your books & do try them out.
Linda Swanekamp
Great to see you are back. If I use Glide on the top, I use Glide 60 in the bobbin. You can get matching colors. If not, I use Glide 60 grey. I love the way it looks and it is not hard to balance tension. I use a Towa Gauge. I am quilting on a Nolting longarm.
susan hilsenbeck
I am just about ready to start quilting a small new but high-stakes project. Yikes (wait, get over yourself …). I only have a domestic sit-down machine, however, I also plan to go through all the same steps you mention. I have several extra dummy blocks, and one that I paper-pieced backwards (;-( ). They all use the real fabrics in the quilt, so I can layer up and test tension, thread colors, batting (probably wool or wool over something stable) and some design ideas. I also use an iPAD app and/or drawing on a vinyl sheet to help design. I have even taken a picture and printed on fabric (home printer or Spoonflower) to help test. I keep these little test pieces for future reference and to remind me of what I did after the piece has gone to its new home. I am looking forward to the next steps for Carolina Lily.
tstonecipher
Instead of using two layers of batting, I pre wash my wool. It shrinks up a bit and is thicker and fluffier. I put it in my kitchen sink in vary warm water until it is completely saturated. Then place it on a cookie cooling rack so that the water drips out. My rack has legs so it is about 5” from the bottom of the sink. Just let the water drip out. You can gently squeeze, also. When most of the water has drained, wrap it in a towel to remove more moisture. Now you can fluff it up and finish drying on low heat in the dryer. I use this method often.
Meg Harmon
This was very interesting to me as I woukd like to try double batting and I want to do it with wool and a second layer of poly cotton 80/20 batting. I want yo quilt this piece quite heavily so reading your blog wad helpful! Thank you.
Bobbie
I’m working on a domestic machine, trying to quilt an 88×86 inch quilt. Oh, what I’d give for a long arm! But your tutorials and books (I have all three!) have been invaluable in my learning. Thank you so much for sharing your wisdom and expertise, Lori!
Bonnie Blake
I spent the last year doing a BOM with the Quilt Show online. It’s really the first edge turned applique, machine stitched with a very very tiny blind hem stitch on my Bernina 440. I very recently had gotten all caught up with doing customer quilts on my longarm, so it was time to load this applique quilt which I’ll admit was a huge challenge. The name of the quilt is Garden Party Down Under. So the quilt was loaded taking all the steps that you’ve mentioned and I had to wait until the quilt spoke to me. And yes 80/20 Quilters Dream batting with wool on the top and than the quilt top. I’m doing some ruler work and some free motion fill to help the applique pop. Totally enjoying the journey!! Lori you’re quilt is going to be beautiful, can’t wait to see the process evolve..
Lorraine Doyno Evans
I was having tension problems that took me 3 days to resolve and then once I did I started to have shredding problems. After an AI search one of the things I didn’t already know was to sew slower. That did the trick. Try sewing slower if everything else doesn’t work.
Ellen
Yay! Lori in my inbox! I have missed you! I quilt on a domestic, and also have a Simply Sixteen longarm. My big mistake was going with the 5 ft. frame. I spend more time unclamping and clamping and moving the quilt than I do quilting!
And the worst part is that I still have to pin baste, as there is no other way to keep the quilt in place with all that clamping and unclamping. I’m hoping to pick up a used 10-12 ft. frame shortly.
Shari
Hi Ellen One of the best thing I de for friends is I machine baste their quilt sandwich for them on my longarm. It allows them to do their own quilting on their home machine. It would help you with your smaller frame or your domestic machine.
Kathryn Lawrence
First, your Carolina Lily quilt is beautiful. Looking forward to seeing it after quilting. I do most of my quilting on my 10 ft frame with the Juki Myabi machine. I have had a hard time with the smaller designs that I want to quilt. Since I have only had this machine and frame setup for a short time, I understand it takes practice, practice and even more practice. I do like to use 2 layers of batting as the extra loft is nice. I have used a wool layer along with either cotton or cotton/poly blend. As far as thread and tension goes, I have found so far that using the same type of thread in the top and bobbin gives me the best results. I enjoy the 2 books of yours that I have that I reference many times over while planning quilting on a quilt top. I would really like to see a similar style book from you in relation to using a longarm, especially since I have had trouble with the more intricate designs. So, I will keep working to get better at smaller designs so I can go beyond allover patterns.
Donna
I quilt on a sit-down machine. It is a Janome 9450qcp. I volunteer nearly full-time quilting donation quilts for a group at my favorite LQS.
The only time I used double-batting was on a whole-cloth table runner that I did for fmq practice. I definitely don’t think I would enjoy the same process on a big quilt. It would make it pretty difficult to “wrestle” under my machine.
Karen Williams
Lori, Wow! I just came across your emails again – after what seems like a lifetime! During the pandemic I began spending less & less time on my computer, to get more other things done – just don’t ask me where the last 3 years went!
I don’t have a long-arm set-up & just before the pandemic hit, I’d put my grand-daughter’s king-size quilt on my hand-quilting floor frame for my quilting group to help me quilt. We had one session.
So, long story short, after 6 months of waiting to see when my quilters would be back, I took it off the big rrame & mounted it on a small frame in the living room. That lasted another 6 months of hardly touching it & then rolled it up – where it’s been for a couple of years now. Every time I think about it, I feel guilty!
During the pandemic, one of my quilters recommended I try ruler-work to do machine quilting & it’s coming along. For the life of me, I can’t free-motion!! Last year I found a great product to help with planning quilting designs — it’s called Quilter’s Preview Paper (a clear film that comes on a roll), which is fantastic b/c you can see your quilt, in all it’s glory w/o having to mark, erase & mark again. Best of all, after auditioning, the film is re-useable by wiping off your marks! I know some quilters have used clear plastic mats to do the same thing, but the roll is much longer.
I look forward to seeing how your Carolina Lily quilt turns out.
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