Zyngawf

I am straight line quilting vertically 1 and 1/4 inches apart. Does there need to be quilting in both directions?

quiltorelse

You should quilt in both directions. If you dont, sooner or later it will end up wonky. Good luck.

nativetexan

if you stitch every other line going up and others going down, that close together should be enough. you just don't want the fabric begin to move you the least little bit. Have fun!

mike'sgirl

I quilted a wall hanging only one direction. I didn't cross thatch. Is that what you meant. It should be fine. Just make sure you back and forth so it doesn't get wonky.

Zyngawf

oops I didn't back and forth. Now what?

ManiacQuilter2

I have quilted just in one direction too. If you are careful and work from the center out, the quilt should not get wonky.

Zyngawf

I did work from the center out. I thought that if the lines were close enough together it was OK to only do one direction, but I see not everyone agrees about this.

Jeanne S

I used to think you needed to alternate directions when straight line quilting just like it is recommended to do so when piecing strips. However, I just finished the Craftsy class "Creative Quilting With Your Walking Foot" by Jacquie Gering and she says it is not necessary to alternate directions when quilting. I watched her do lots of great quilting designs with the walking foot and she always started and kept repeating the lines or curves from the side of the quilt that resulted in the least bulk in the harp of the machine. That is the issue with trying to alternate directions as you get to the outer 1/4 of the side of the quilt--one direction is easy and the othe is a bear when you turn it and 3/4 of the bulk of your quilt has to be squished through the harp space of your machine!! She says the bulk of the quilt with the batting and backing will keep your seams from going wonky like it does when piecing strips on the top. However she does point out when straight line quilting each of us have a the tendency to veer right or left, so it is important to mark your quilt to keep your lines straight.

ghostrider

...or run the walking foot bar (or foot edge) along a previously stitched line.