Do you have this accessory for your sewing machine? Do you use it? It allows you to stitch at the desired distance from a previous seam. It’s great for echo quilting or for grid quilting. I have a Pfaff machine and this is called edge/quilting guide.
I have a new sewing machine – an industrial machine! This is my second industrial machine, the first one I use only for free motion quilting.
Today was the second time of using this machine, so I am a beginner!
You might want to try
I want to sew a pouch and I needed a faux leather panel quilted on fusible fleece. I wanted to sew a grid and because at this machine I don’t have an edge guide accessory, here is what I did.
I marked the first line for stitching with a Hera marker (it makes a crease) then I stitched on this line.
Then I used a strip of masking tape (or painter’s tape) as a guide for the next stitching lines.
You align the left edge of the tape with the previous seam and stitch along the right edge of the tape. Then you remove it and re-position it for the next stitching line.
This tape comes in different widths; if what you have is too wide, you can trim it to the desired width. If it is too narrow, overlap two strips as desired.
My panel looking great on both sides…
Below there is a short video so you see how easy it is to use this trick!
There is a difference between painter’s tape and masking tape – the masking tape is lighter weight and easier to work with. Usually this type of stitching requires longer stitches, so even if you stitch over the tape, it should not be too difficult to remove the tape. But anyway, you will learn very soon that it is better to stitch a little away from the edge than on the edge!
I am so accustomed to stitch through paper (from my shadow trapunto technique), that stitching over paper does not scare me – but anyway, better to avoid it!
Love your work and emails. I started out by using tape both painter’s tape and masking tape.
Always works fine … but one day I was looking through my machine accessories and found the edge quilting guide. Can’t say I like one better than the other; both techniques work just fine. Thanks for sharing your tip!
When measuring the twidth of the tape, consider measuring so that you will stitch with the outside edge of the presser foot against the edge of the tape. Then there will be no risk of stitching through the tape. Because the presser foot will not be on the tape, it should be easier to remove and use again.
That’s a FABULOUS idea, Ruth! Thank you for sharing, I can’t wait to try it!