Stippling: Machine Quilting Basics

Folded Flying Geese from Quick Column Quilts by Nancy Zieman/Sewing With Nancy

Stippling: Machine Quilting Basics

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Nancy Zieman, TV's Sewing With Nancy, shows how to stipple quilts
The creative process of quilting is quite rewarding, but how should you finish your work? On Sewing With Nancy the online video features part two of Fearless Quilting Finishes, and I’ll show you three different ways to tackle the quilting steps: stitching in the ditch, decorative “tie” stitching, and stippling.
The stippling-style quilting I’ll show you is easy to photograph, but it is much more effective if you watch the quilting process in motion. What better way to illustrate the technique than to have you click here and watch online. You can find all the details written in the book that accompanies the three-part series, Fearless Quilting Finishes.

Stippling Review

Setting up your sewing machine is the first step in learning how to stipple.

  • Lower the feed dogs.
  • Attach a quilting foot.
  • Set the machine for a straight stitch.
  • Choose a thread that matches the background, or use a variegated thread as featured in the quilted project.
  • Use a needle compatible with the thread. With the thicker variegated thread, I suggest a topstitching needle—the large eye accommodates the thread.

Helpful notions

  • With the feed dogs lowered, you’ll be guiding and moving the quilt layers underneath the needle area. This is the motion or process that makes many people leery! Consider using a Supreme Slider on the bed of the machine. I use it since it helps the fabric move effortlessly under the needle. The Supreme Slider has a Teflon top, and it has a tacky underside that sticks to the machine.

Nancy Zieman, Sewing With Nancy, shows how to stipple quilts.

  • Use a Quilt Halo to help control the fabricit’s comparable to the steering wheel on a car. Position the halo on top of the basted quilt and slide it under the foot of the machine. Then, hold the sides of the notion using gentle pressure. The tacky underside of the Quilt Halo grips the fabric while giving you a sense of control.

Nancy Zieman, Sewing With Nancy, shows how to stipple quilts.Begin by stippling a small project

Choose a small quilting project for your first stippling adventure, such as a placemat or small wall hanging. Then, move the fabric under the needle to create medium to large “puzzle-end” shapes. Big shapes are okay, in fact that’s the best way to learn. Just be consistent in size.
Nancy Zieman, Sewing With Nancy, shows how to stipple quilts.
Or, stipple following the shape of the design as featured in the petals and leaves of the coneflower. It’s best to watch the process online!
Nancy Zieman, Sewing With Nancy, shows how to stipple quilts.

Here’s a reference to have close at hand

All the information shown in the 3-part series is written and illustrated in my book, Fearless Quilting Finishes. Plus, the DVD features all three parts of the series. The Sewing With Nancy staff makes certain that all of the steps are carefully written and illustrated. Presenting sewing and quilting techniques is a team effort!
Nancy Zieman's Giveaway

For a chance to win a copy of Fearless Quilting Finishes, please let me know your favorite quilt border technique. The random winner will be announced on March 5.


Nancy Zieman's Giveaway Winner
From Mary Mulari’s guest blog, the random winner of her book, Applique—Large & Small, is Ilana. She said, I love fusible applique. The pattern sheet in Mary’s book includes 25+ appliqué designs and two alphabets.
Mary Mulari Applique Large and Small as seen on sewing With Nancy

Watch Sewing With Nancy online.

To watch Sewing With Nancy on your iPad, iPod Touch, or iPhone, download the app.

Bye for now,
Nancy Zieman The Blog

Nancy Zieman—author, pattern designer, businesswoman, producer, and national sewing authority—is the host of the popular show Sewing With Nancy®, which appears exclusively on public television stations across the United States and Canada. Follow Nancy’s blog at NancyZieman.com/blog and sign up to receive Nancy’s E-News for the latest news in sewing, quilting, and creating.
Content in this feed is © copyright 2015 by Nancy Zieman and may not be republished without written permission. You’re welcome to forward the email to a friend or colleague but it’s not okay to add the RSS feed automatically as content on a blog or other website.
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76 Comments

  • Lana Workman
    February 19, 2015

    I prefer making 1″, 2″, then 3″ borders of contrasting colors. Sometimes I will do 1,3, and, 5″ borders if I want quilt to be a bit larger.

  • Darlene Miley
    February 19, 2015

    Right now I am working on a flying geese border. It is a longer process than I thought it would be. But I want to see if I can do it.

  • grapenutquilter
    February 19, 2015

    I usually make graduating boarders if designing my own quilt. I also like piano key boarders on scrappy quilts.

  • Betty Harden
    February 19, 2015

    I am new to quilting and just about have my first quilt pieced and I think I will use a flying geese border. I really want your book and Dvd. I think it would help me do it right from the beginning. Please, please pick me. Thanks for the opportunity to win. I watched this series on PBS and loved it. Have wanted this book since then. Happy quilting.

  • Marji
    February 19, 2015

    I am making my second quilt ever and ready to try the cornerstone method as it is a wall hanging.
    Can’t wait to learn stippling too.
    What a life!

  • Kathleen
    February 19, 2015

    I love adding a contrasting piping. kathleendotlutzatcomcastdotnet

  • Leslie
    February 19, 2015

    I like the look of piano key borders. I’m planning to use them for the first time in my next quilt.

  • Kathy
    February 19, 2015

    I like a contrasting piping. kathleendotlutzatcomcastdotnet

    • Carolyn Hack
      February 19, 2015

      I love to find a fabric with ready made border. It is easy and saves so much time. I try to use fabrics that coordinate with a found birder.

  • Linda K
    February 19, 2015

    I really enjoy stippling, it’s like drawing with thread. I have made lots of different types of quilts, art quilts, bed quilts and portrait quilts. When someone asks if I’m a quilter, my answer is that I like to sew and I sew what I like.

  • Diana G
    February 19, 2015

    On most of my quilts I just do a border of 3. Each one bigger than the next. Then I try to embroider some pretty items into each border if needed otherwise its only one with the embroidery.
    I would love to learn this technique. Thanks for the chance to win.

  • Judy Hodges
    February 19, 2015

    Stippling is intimidating! Thanks for posting this. I’ll give it another try.

  • Kris Janssen
    February 19, 2015

    Have generally used a graduated strip border making colors darker and strips wider the further out I go. Recently used a narrow strip in black, then three color related bricks, another narrow black strip, a three color 4 1/2 block border and a final strip. Nice effect but could be busy if the top isn’t strong enough to support the activity of the borders.
    Support ghe activity.

  • Diana G
    February 19, 2015

    Thanks for the chance to win. I usually do a graduated border then I use my own bias tape to finish it off.

  • Caroline S
    February 19, 2015

    I love stippling,, it looks so cool,,, never thought of using a hoop…..

  • Donna Schweitzer
    February 19, 2015

    I love stippling also, most of the time. I don’t have a longarm to I have to think it through, stitch in the ditch, or patterns. I don’t makr stippling.

  • Mary Brock
    February 19, 2015

    I like the piano key border with a smaller (2-3″) high contrast inner border and binding. Its a great way to use bits of fabric, ties together all fabrics from blocks and adds texture. Its easier to “fit” than checkerboards, etc. Thanks for chance to win.

  • Mary Brock
    February 19, 2015

    I like the piano key border with a smaller (2-3″) high contrast inner border and binding. Its a great way to use bits of fabric, ties together all fabrics from blocks and adds texture. Its easier to “fit” than checkerboards, etc. Easy to do with stripping. Thanks for chance to win.

  • Beth Pyle
    February 19, 2015

    I like the look of prairie points.

  • Susan Guarneri
    February 19, 2015

    Lately I have been doing piano key borders with the left-over fabric from the main body of the quilt. I insert a 1-inch narrow border first and then the piano keys (each 2-inches wide).

  • Esther Hobson
    February 19, 2015

    I like using my serger for putting borders on.
    Just double the strip of fabric and serge on then fold over to the front and stitch down with a decorative stitch.

  • Vicky Smith
    February 19, 2015

    I would love to win this dvd as i have many littke projects I need to get done. This would certainly help me to learn how to do this.

  • Martha
    February 19, 2015

    Just finishing a quilt with cornerstones. I put a thin flange strip all around then a 3″ border. Really like how that’s turning out.

  • Pat
    February 19, 2015

    I use fusible thread in the bobbin when sewing the binding to the front of the quilt. I then turn and press binding to the back. The fusible thread holds the binding in place while I hand stitch it down. No more pin pricked fingers! Thanks for the chance to win your book. I’m sure there will be great ideas to make my quilts finish up better than ever.

  • idonna Tollefson
    February 19, 2015

    I would love to win this book to assist me in “quilting” my quilts. I usually sew straight lines in borders of my quilts but sometimes if the fabric has a figure in it I will free motion quilt around the objects.

  • Joyce
    February 19, 2015

    I love the look of just straight lines on my inside border. The lines are about 1/2″ apart, so on a 3″ border there would be 5 lines. Makes a neat, finished looking border.

  • Brenda Price
    February 19, 2015

    I would dearly love to win this fabulous book. The finishing always makes me nervous! Thanks for the chance.

  • Pat Dyke
    February 19, 2015

    I like the checkerboard border if it is called for. Otherwise, just a plain border with free motion stitching on it.

  • Kathy Combs
    February 19, 2015

    I like to do a thin 1 or 2 inch stripe of a contrasting fabric and them a wide 4 inch fabric matching one used in the quilt top for the border. I like the way it frames out the quilt and pulls all the colors together. The binding is usually a dark color.
    Watched your show on machine quilting on TV. I am looking forward to doing my own quiltiing on the one I am working on now.

  • Dawn Walton
    February 19, 2015

    would love to free motion quilting. I have tried not much luck. Would love tohave your book/dvd and maybe it would help me to learn how.
    Dawn

  • Delaine
    February 19, 2015

    I like to make a 2″ or so border, then a larger one – 5″ at least on the outside. Thanks!

  • Emmy
    February 19, 2015

    I tend to like darker fabrics and wide borders to frame the quilt, with a narrow strip of contrasting fabric between the body of the quilt and the border. Black really sets off the colours in a quilt, if there are jeweltones in the quilt, black is a great border colour. For quilting the border, I like vines or swirls. I haven’t done any quilts yet, just small quilted projects, but I know what I like! 🙂

  • Karen B
    February 19, 2015

    I usually put a thin flange strip or piping before my border strips. It seems to set it off. I tend to quilt curvy lines in the border. Thanks for the opportunity to win a book.

  • Emmy B
    February 19, 2015

    I’ve only done a few small quilted projects, but I’m hoping to get into more quilting soon. I like black borders on colourful quilts, with a contrasting narrow piping between the quilt and the border.

  • Nancy
    February 19, 2015

    I like borderless quilts… just the binding.
    Thanks for the giveaway….

  • Starla
    February 19, 2015

    I’m getting close to completing my first big quilt. I need some fearless finishes!

  • Connie
    February 19, 2015

    I am working on borders for mug rugs and sort of strip piecing them. The border is troubling me because they are hexagons. Your current offer would be a tremendous help right now. I think I need to be as the cover states — fearless! I have about 40 more to finish the project for a dog rescue charity. Help!

  • Kathy Harvey
    February 19, 2015

    I like a border to reinforce the pattern or colors in the body of the quilt

  • Charlene
    February 19, 2015

    I have tried stippling but can’t seem to keep the stitches even. I do have the red hoop, given to me by a friend but have not tried it as yet. I would love to learn to finish my own quilts.

  • Maureen Peloquin
    February 19, 2015

    I usually like to make my own template depending on the size of the border and theme of the quilt and then either trace around template with marker or use contac paper to stitch around pattern, either by hand or machine, as I do not do well freehand.

  • Jennifer Padden
    February 19, 2015

    For the border, I really like to make an outline stitching of one of the blocks or a portion of a block from the body of the quilt, even if it smaller. That ties the two areas together and keeps a theme alive all the way to the edge.

  • Joan
    February 19, 2015

    I always quilt my borders and if the border fabric is solid then I quilt it more heavily than if it is a print, as printed fabric does not show the quilting as much.
    I try to incorporate something from the quilt to put in the borders such as a leaf or flower petal or flower, etc. Otherwise, I usually stipple the borders.

  • Katie
    February 19, 2015

    Nancy, I would really welcome your “Fearless Quilting Finishes” book. Most of my borders have been done in either free motion quilting (I have a BSR aide that came with my Bernina QE sewing machine) or “stitch in the ditch”. One time I even traced an easy applique diagram and hand stitched the borders. I bet the bounce block applique designs would work beautifully! Anyway, I know I need help with my borders! Thanks!

  • Katie
    February 19, 2015

    I have done free motion quilting on the borders before as well as using a straight stitch parallel with the edges. Needless to say, I would welcome winning this book. Thanks for the opportunity!

  • Berenice
    February 19, 2015

    The quilt from last year is still waiting to be quilted… Maybe this will help!

  • Ell
    February 19, 2015

    Stippling is so cool. I mostly do a fold-over bias edge on a wide single fabric border.

  • Anne Z.
    February 19, 2015

    I like to incorporate piping between the main part of the quilt and the border or between the border and the binding to add interest.Within the border I like to choose a design detail from within the main quilt, make a stencil and use that for my quilting design.

  • Anne Z.
    February 19, 2015

    I like to choose a design element from the main quilt, make a stencil and then use that for the quilting design within the border.

  • Judy G
    February 19, 2015

    I like the looks of thin flange or piping before a wide border. For me the quilt top design dictates the choice of border. A busy quilt top would probably get a more plain border with a little flange or piping to give it a little, but not too much, oomph. Whereas, a plain quilt top might warrant a more jazzy border, piano keys or pinwheels or whatever I came up with.

  • Laurie
    February 19, 2015

    I love piano key borders with swirly quilting. I also love a striped binding on a solid color border, with large stippling. Still trying to get stippling down pat! Thanks for your advice!

  • Mary
    February 19, 2015

    I’m in a scrappy quilt stage so I generally piece 4.5 inch strips of varying lengths for the borders. I quilt large loop-dee-loops and hearts, by machine, in my recent baby quilts.
    Would love to see the suggestions in your book.

  • Corinne
    February 19, 2015

    I like narrow piping and then a 2″ to 4″ border depending on quilt size.

  • Karin C
    February 19, 2015

    Ah,….borders. I generally let the quilt determine the borders…if I need the flimsy larger, I pick up a color from the interior of the quilt and make 2 or 3 inch borders until it’s large enough. But, I would LOVE to be able to put a scalloped border on sometime. For quilting, I generally purchase rectangular embroidery designs, then print templates and pin them on, embroidering when I have them all placed about right. Nothin’ easy about it and hopefully, watching the video will help me move on to the next logical step – one I’ve avoided so far!

  • Lori Morton
    February 19, 2015

    I am just learning to do more than Stitch in the Ditch! lol Doing alot of trying/practice pieces..to FMQ Yeah…I now have lots of Potholders! giggle…
    Would Love a book to help me do borders too! Want to learn everything about 🙂

  • Linda k.
    February 19, 2015

    So far I have only tried plain strip borders of varying widths, but I recently saw your checkerboard border and loved it so I will be attempting that one soon!

  • Nancy Karas
    February 19, 2015

    Borders I like compliment the colors in the quilt – I am working on one that shows floral motif up and down the sides.

  • Suzi smith
    February 19, 2015

    I like 2 inch binding with the edging bound with strips of the fabric used. Mine are scrappy quilts right now so I like the eclectic look.

  • Janine
    February 20, 2015

    I would love to win this as I have tried many times to stipple and never been very successful at it. I usually do best quilting from 1/4″ away, with a walking foot.

  • Rebe G
    February 20, 2015

    I am making donation quilts out of my stash and scraps to down size the pile!!! Right now I have six small size tops that need to be quilted, with three finished. I will continue to use a basic binding for these, however, my favorite is Prarie Points.

  • Linda Thompson
    February 20, 2015

    Hello, thanks for this giveaway. border? I like a triple border around my quilts of varying widths. I hate doing miters in the border or bindings. I usually do a ranch house type border and a rounded corner. I would love to get the nerve to try a scallopped border….someday

  • Sharon
    February 20, 2015

    I love to quilt my borders with a new design if I can think of one. I feel it stretches my ability. Would love to win to help me. Thanks.

  • Faye Johnson-Lynch
    February 20, 2015

    I have only used the double fold binding. I would love to learn other techniques, too. I like the double-fold, but would like to increase my skills.

  • Diane C
    February 20, 2015

    I usually wait until the quilt top is done and then decide on the borders based on what the quilt tells me, if the size is what I want or the amount of fabric I have left.

  • kathy
    February 20, 2015

    I love a double border. I have seen prairie points on a border and would like to try this sometime.

  • Pat Fagan
    February 20, 2015

    I let the quilt design dictate the borders. I am a hand quilter through and through but would love to learn machine quilting and stippling. Tried it once but had no success because I like perfection in my stitches. Maybe with the right instructor, I could master this method. I love it on quilts. I also make my own stencils. Thanks for this offer!

  • Sharon Uthoff
    February 20, 2015

    I am new to quilting . I have only done some baby quilts that come in kits. I would love to learn the machine quilting. I watch all of your shows on TV. Thanks for doing the shows .

  • Karen
    February 20, 2015

    I have used a piano key border but didn’t know how to make the corners meet! I have also used triangles and strips. I used left over strips from a bargello quilt too. I would love to win the book on quilting finishes. Every quilt is a new learning experience in creativity for me!

  • Katie Flanigan
    February 21, 2015

    Piano keys!

  • Natalie
    February 21, 2015

    Haven’t made a quilt myself, but own 3 handmade by a dear departed aunt. I like looking at quilts & quilt books, (and your blog, of course!) and the borders that echo something from the interior are the ones that appeal to me most.
    My very favorite one to date, though, has to be from a guest of yours: she had made a wall hanging in the ‘Grandmother’s flower garden’ design, piecing all the flowers to look like pansies, and adding a ‘picket fence’ border. The border combined elements of the piano key border, Seminole piecing, and prairie points to make the tops of the ‘fence’ slats around the garden.

  • Sheialh
    February 21, 2015

    I like to add a flange next to the border to add a tiny pop of color.

  • Carol K.
    February 22, 2015

    I have not been very creative with my quilt finishes. I usually do a border with a small binding. I have put a ruffle on a doll’s quilt.

  • Lynn
    February 22, 2015

    I like wrap around borders using the backing material.

  • Linda Jones
    February 23, 2015

    I let the quilt speak to me as to which kind of border that it needs. Every quilt is a new journey, so I really don’t like taking the same path every time.

  • Jane Soule
    February 25, 2015

    I size my borders to be no wider than the blocks.

  • Carol-Lynn VanNorman
    February 26, 2015

    I love the braided border on my quilts.

  • Barbara Johnston
    March 5, 2015

    I don’t have a lot of experience completing borders, other than using a normal border. I like the look of prarie points and curves. I would like to improve my skills enough to complete a quilt using these techniques.

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