Would straight line quilting work like this?

I made a simple quilt full of large rectangular blocks for a man I work with. The pattern is so clean and simple and I want the quilting to be the same. I know how to cross-hatch and SITD, but I would like to do some straight line quilting. By that I really mean straight line quilting. Just vertical lines down the quilt; maybe in a pattern or maybe just random lines at intervals.

I know most folks here recommend sandwiching the layers and then using painters tape (which I have), but I have another thought. Could I not just mark the lines on my quilt with something like my Frixion pen, then sandwich my layers and then quilt with my walking foot? I’m too lazy to mess with the painters tape. (I know some folks don’t care for the Frixion pen, but it has worked well for me.)

You could do this, but I'd test the Frixion pen on scraps of all the fabrics first. I started to mark quilting lines with a Frixion pen then changed my mind. When I ironed the marks to remove them, some of the fabrics still had a faint white line from the pen. It faded but didn't disappear.

Have you thought about the square meander for free motion quilting?

scroll down the page to see it: FREE QUILTING MEANDERING PATTERNS | My Free Patterns

Also, you could use your walking foot guide to keep a consistent distance from straight stitching.

Or, stitch 1/4" from each seam. If there's too much space between stitch lines, go back and add some more.

There's a website where someone discusses different patterns for using the walking/quilting foot. I will see if I can find it.

Ideas: https://www.pinterest.com/niurkaa/wa...quilt-designs/
Creative Quilting with your Walking Foot, a Craftsy Quilting Class
Petit Design Co: 31 Days of Walking Foot Quilting

I don't know why not. The only problem with the pen is that sometimes the lines reappear. If you kept right on the lines, maybe that would work. The other option is that there is a bar attachment my walking has that could be used to keep your stitching completely straight after it is sandwiched. Hope that is clear.

Know someone else here may have other solutions for you. Good luck.

I would think using a quilting bar would be the easiest, by far; no marking whatsoever.

I love my frixion pens; use them all the time - but it would take a lot of time to mark a complete quilt top! The only problem with the frixion pens I have found is if you use them on a dark color; when using the iron to remove them, there is a slight 'white-ish' line left behind. I would simply jump over any dark colors you may have, and eyeball it from the lines on the lighter colors.

(But I think I would try just using a quilting bar; no markings needed!!)

Many sewing machines come with a guide that slips through a hole in the back of the presser foot. You use this guide to make evenly spaced straight lines of quilting without marking. You might want to check through the attachments that came with your machine. See the post above, it's called a quilting bar.

You don't NEED marking devices. Just quilt straight lines, using the walking foot edge as a rough guide.
If the lines vary a little, it creates texture.
I have done similar quilting on one of my quilts. You can check it here
Sew Preeti Quilts: Coming of Age

Okay, thanks for the advice. I will have to look and see if I have a quilting bar so I will not have to mark the quilt at all. I am quilting this on my Brother 1500. I am not sure I have one. Of course, as Preeti said (and showed me) on her beautiful quilts, it is possible to sew quilting lines fairly straight without marking the quilt. I am not afraid of a little variation (my lines do not have to be perfectly even.)

My 1500 came with one but I have not tried it.

You might also consider using a speciality stitch in a straight line. I sometimes use the serpentine stitch!

Okay, I just looked. My machine came with a bar guide contraption you can put on the presser foot, however, there is not a hole or a way to attach it to my walking foot and I always use my walking foot to quilt. :( I would like to try a serpentine stitch, but this machine is a straight stitch only machine with no stitch options like that.

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Originally Posted by notsewfast

Okay, I just looked. My machine came with a bar guide contraption you can put on the presser foot, however, there is not a hole or a way to attach it to my walking foot and I always use my walking foot to quilt. :( I would like to try a serpentine stitch, but this machine is a straight stitch only machine with no stitch options like that.

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You can create your own version of a serpentine by gently moving your fabric to the left and right as you are sewing. Your curves will probably be longer than a serpentine, but you will get curves. Make yourself a practice square and try it out.

How about a zigzag type stitch.

Start stitching at a right angle for about 10 stitches, stop, pivot, and stitch about 10 stitches at a left angle, stop, pivot, repeat until you have reached the other side. It's important to come to a complete stop so you will have sharp corners, otherwise they will be rounded.

Experiment with the number of stitches and the stitch length. I like to lengthen my stitch length to a 3 when quilting.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by notsewfast

Okay, I just looked. My machine came with a bar guide contraption you can put on the presser foot, however, there is not a hole or a way to attach it to my walking foot and I always use my walking foot to quilt. :( I would like to try a serpentine stitch, but this machine is a straight stitch only machine with no stitch options like that.

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I never use my walking foot with my 1500. I either use my free motion foot or my 1/4" foot and adjust the pressure on the presser foot.

My Brother walking foot's hole for that bar contraption is way back at the end of it...

All of you are giving me great ideas!!

Sylvia, you obviously have not seen me quilt, lol. I need lots of practice to make a serpentine stitch look like more than a drunk snake crawling around.

Vonnie, the zig zag stitch is interesting. I guess I could make tiny dots so I would be sure my points match each time I zag after I zig. I have several quilt books that show the geometric blocks too, but I need lots of practice for that one. I am going to go back and look at the online ideas you sent me yesterday.

Nvhale, Mom taught me to use my walking foot when I quilt, but I wasn't using the 1500 then. I assume I need to adjust the pressure on the foot all the way to the most pressure?

Okay, kimsophia, I will go home and look for a hole in the back of the walking foot, lol. I sure need help you can tell!

Thanks everyone!