Hey there, welcome back. Today I’m going to talk about the third quilting technique to be used on the squiggly fabric pieces. The other day I talked about quilting technique number 2 – it was all about stitch in the ditch.
Today is going to be about echo quilting. I like the effect that echo quilting has – it can be simple or complex, straight lines or curved lines, can use a walking foot or free motion foot – all kinds of options.
All the pieces are already sandwiched together so the next step is to pick thread. Last post I talked about finer weight threads and today I am going to talk about heavier weight threads. The lower the number the heavier or thicker a thread is. The photo at the top of the page shows a couple of types of thread. Sulky Blendables which is a 30 weight variegated thread and King Tut from Superior which is a 40 weight variegated thread. Both are 100% cotton. I love using either. In reference, the standard piecing thread I use is a 50 weight thread.
I decided to use two of the King Tut threads for the echo quilting. One for the blue sashing and the other for squiggle fabric border.
![spool of blue variegated thread on blue and white fabric](https://quiltsbyjen.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/IMG_6923D-508x508.jpg)
![multi coloured thread spool on a quilt border](https://quiltsbyjen.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/IMG_6924D-508x508.jpg)
It is always best to work from the middle of your piece to the outside borders. I am using a walking foot to echo around the seam lines that attach the blue sashing. I like to put the quilting line about a ¼″ from the seam. Using a walking foot I put the needle in a ¼″ above the corner of the inner sashing seam.
Then sew all the way around. My stitch length is set at 2.5. And I have a 90/14 needle in to accommodate the thicker thread. The bobbin thread is a 50 weight cotton in a colour that blends in with the top thread. Don’t forget to test the tension on a test piece before starting out on the real piece.
![Quilt block under sewing machine with walking foot and needle in position](https://quiltsbyjen.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/IMG_6931-508x508.jpg)
The second echo line is done on the other side of the sashing with about a half inch between the two quilting lines. I like how it adds colour to the sashing and frames the centre block.
![Blue sashing has two lines of quilting](https://quiltsbyjen.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/IMG_6932D-508x508.jpg)
Now for the outside border. I can use the same bobbin thread with the new spool of thread. This time I am going to do a curved line using the free motion foot. I have changed the foot, got out my gloves and added the Supreme Slider to make everything move smoothly under the needle.
![free motion quilting supreme slider, gloves and quilt block](https://quiltsbyjen.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/IMG_6933-508x508.jpg)
I started at the top of one side just off the fabric on the batting and then made a meandering soft gentle curved line down to the bottom of the fabric.
![Border has one curved quilting line](https://quiltsbyjen.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/IMG_6934-2-381x508.jpg)
Starting from the top again I echoed the first line and eye balled a ¼″ distance from the first line and repeated the echo for a third line.
Continuing on all 4 sides this is what I ended up with. It is subtle and the thread blends in nicely but you can see that some quilting has been done.
![Curved quilting lines one each border](https://quiltsbyjen.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/IMG_6935D-508x508.jpg)
What’s next? I still need to do something with the raw edges of the appliqué on the coloured centre block and greyscale centres block.
I’ll give a think about how to finish those off.
Until next time…
Happy Quilting
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