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-   -   Quilting on the Diagonal? (https://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1/quilting-diagonal-t147961.html)

alices 08-26-2011 03:56 AM

Has anyone ever tried to quilt a quilt on the diagonal? I'm thinking of trying it, but not sure if it would work.

donnajean 08-26-2011 04:00 AM

I have. I think it is called cross hatch - not sure. I do start in the middle & work out & don't go in the same direction each row.

yetta 08-26-2011 04:07 AM

I have too, I marked diagonal lines on my quilt with a pencil that brushed off after the quilting was complete, and started from the middle and worked out, and sewed in different directions for each row....I kept holding my breath ... so my tip is to remember to breath...please
post your finished quilt.....

AlwaysQuilting 08-26-2011 04:24 AM

I do it alot. I use different widths of blue painters tape to lay out the grid and sew along the edges of the tape.

PaperPrincess 08-26-2011 05:20 AM

Are you asking about loading the quilt on the diagonal? I've seen folks do chenille blankets loaded that way. The backing is still loaded straight.

mpspeedy 08-26-2011 05:40 AM

I am assuming that you are speaking of machine quilting. I often use the diagonal method using tape for marking when handquilting. It makes a nice finished product. I have never tried it on a machine.

suezquilts 08-26-2011 06:13 AM

I enjoy this look, have done this hand quilting, DSM, and on my long arm free hand, and now computerized!
way easier with the computer.

I really love this look, and enjoy the process of quilting by hand!
Enjoy!

Jingle 08-26-2011 06:24 AM

I haven't tried it, I sew on the Juki TL98QE or Baby Loc Jane.

quiltmouse 08-26-2011 06:38 AM

I have machine straightline quilted diagonal. (Not FMQ).

It was a half log cabin laid in rows (so was diagonal) I quilted the opposite diagonal. A throw size.

At the time, I had no walking foot. It worked fine. No puckering.

I think since the fabric was all on bias, there was enough give to let the machine do what it needed to do.

sammygirlqt 08-26-2011 07:01 AM

I have done FMQ on the diagonal. I used chalk to mark lines about 10" apart and then quilted on each side. Turned out very nice.

Holice 08-26-2011 07:04 AM

need more info - hand or machine quilting
domestic machine or long arm

Jim's Gem 08-26-2011 10:41 AM

I quilt on the diagonal all the time. It is wonderful with a Yellow Brick Road or any "scrappy" block that is consistent in size. I like to use a wavy or a "loop de loop" stitch on the diagonal.

alices 08-26-2011 11:25 AM

I'm thinking of using it with my long arm. Do I load it by a corner first and isn't it alot of wasted backing if I don't load the backing on the diag also? Just trying to think this thru first...

PaperPrincess 08-26-2011 03:48 PM

If you are just going to quilt diagonal lines on a quilt, then normally you would just load it straight and stitch the lines using a ruler. The higher end machines have special rulers to do this task, if your machine does not have one, then use one of the marking methods suggested above. The only time I've heard of loading the quilt on the diagonal was for a WOF chenille throw, and yes, you do waste the backing fabric.

brushandthimble 08-26-2011 03:52 PM

Yes, I did a log cabin on the diagonial on DM; also my Yellow Brick Rd.

Rose Marie 08-27-2011 07:33 AM

I made a charm quilt and used a walking foot to do diagonal lines across the quilt. It turned out great and was easy to do. Didnt need to mark the quilt just eye balled from corner to corner.

Scissor Queen 08-27-2011 07:40 AM

I've quilted several quilts on the diagonal. I start at one corner and go all the way across. I quilt all the lines going the same direction. When you alternate directions when you're quilting you can get some twisting.

elizajo 08-27-2011 08:12 AM

I machine quilted a square log cabin quilt on my vintage Bernina 830 using the Bernina walking foot. This foot has a sliding guide, which was immensely helpful. I chose channel quilting with diagonal lines going in one direction,1 inch apart.

After basting, I carefully marked the first diagonal through the center of the quilt with chalk, using my 6" X 24" ruler with 45 degree markings lined up to the straight seams of the blocks. After stitching that line, I used the walking foot guide to stitch lines one inches apart. I alternated stitching lines so I would stitch on one side of the center diagonal and then move to the other. At the same time I alternated directions, so that I was stitching from left to right on one line and right to left on the adjacent line. This helps minimize distortion on the bias.

After stitching several lines, I would remove the quilt and check the straightness of my lines and used painter's tape to mark the next line. I did this because a couple of times I wandered off the straight line somehow and had to rip out a couple of rows of stitching. I think this is because I was using a domestic machine with a standard harp where it is easier to get lost.

After I had stitched the longer lines in the middle of the quilt, I began to stitch 4 or 5 lines on one side then switch over to the other side. I still turned the quilt after each row of stitching and stitched in the opposite direction.

I think this is my favorite way to quilt on a regular sewing machine. I have taught myself to FMQ, but I still get shoulder and back strain from tension and movement. The walking foot does more work for me and I don't have to fight with the quilt to SID.

Harriet Hargrave's "Heirloom Machine Quilting" has a chapter describing how to mark the central diagonal lines for channel or grid quilting on rectanglar quilts. I also liked the diagrams she showed for variations of diagonal lines.

tjradj 08-27-2011 08:23 AM

I recently made a 'diamond' quilt that I quilted on the diagonal using a ruler. I wanted to use my quilting foot because I had to go around some applique but soon found that I can't sew a straight line to save my soul with the quilting foot. So, I took my "Add a quarter" ruler and placed painter's tape on the under side to show the width of the rows I wanted. By using the thicker side as a guide, I just placed it so the previous stitching line and stitched with the foot right against the edge of the ruler. It worked great! I put some photos up, here's the link.
http://tjzoriginalz.blogspot.com/201...-now-what.html
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dJklyfYY5b...uilt%2B001.jpg

ManiacQuilter2 08-27-2011 10:35 AM

I have always thought that cross hatching really can pop especially an applique quilt. My avatar was stitched diagonally. So was the lap quilt that I took 2nd in the recent quilt contest. I always start stitching from the center and work my way out. I always marked my top with a "Hera" marker (made by Clover). I quilted on a Bernina 1530. You always want to check with your originally base line so that you don't wander off with your marking. You want your lines to be straight and accurate. GOOD LUCK !! :)


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