Straight line stitching
 

I do hope someone can help me. I have a lovely piece of fabric it has no real straight lines to follow but I want to just stitch straight across, and then straight down in a few places in keeping with the instructions for the batting every 8"or 10", how do I mark the fabric to ensure the lines are straight.

Idle Di

Any fabric marker will do the job for you .......
....... the bigger trick is to keep straight once you start stitching.

Blue painter’s tape can work well. Add a few pins through the tape to make sure it stays in place. A walking foot is very helpful for this type of quilting.

I also second the walking foot & painters tape. Something to keep in mind when using an actual marking tool: always test with the fabrics you are using in your current project. Just because it washed out/ironed out/aired out in the past does not guarantee that it will perform the same way with your current fabrics.

Thank you ever so much, now back to my quilt.

Idle Di

Do something to mark that first line perfectly straight - critically important! Whether you use tape or a marker THAT YOU HAVE TESTED, just make sure it is straight. Reminder, some markers become permanent when ironed, so what you thought you could damp wipe off, nope. Personally, I just like to use chalk that I brush off easily. A walking foot can make things so much easier, but it is not critical (if you don't have one). I also have a gauge that lines up with the previous seamline to make the keep the new seam an even distance (saves me from having to mark more lines). You can use a ruler or even a piece of cardboard cut to size. Point being, some of the tools make things easier, but you don't have to run out and spend more money.

If you choose to use painters tape, I might suggest that you not try to sew right on the edge of the tape, as if/when you stitch on top of the tape, it would be harder to remove. Instead, lay the tape down so that you can line up the edge of your walking foot along the edge of the tape.

Yesterday I sat down, and marked with chalk a perfectly straight line, and marked up the rest of the quilt. I am happy with the marking, I also tacked it down firmly, now today will set about sewing the quilt, heres hoping that I can keep it straight.

Idle Di

Since I always wash my quilts when finished I would use white chalk or soap. Both work well on colored or printed fabric. For white I use a pencil very lightly. Also don't worry about a stitch or 2 off your lines. They aren't as noticable when you are farther than 2 feet away.:)

This advice is late coming, but it’s a good idea to use only white chalk. Colored chalks can contain dye pigments that may not come out of some fabrics.