How do I turn corners when machine quilting?

By: Penny Halgren

Now you can learn how to choose an excellent professional longarm machine quilter - or set up your own longarm quilter to complete your quilting projects - Easy! Expert longarm machine quilter, Paula Rostkowski talked to us during a recent Eavesdrop on a Telephone Conversation and let us in on the secrets of professional machine quilters. You'll discover how to choose a professional quilter who will finish your quilt beautifully within a budget. And, if you have your own longarm quilting machine, you'll learn secrets for making your quilting easier and more beautiful Tell me more - - -

Q: I am just getting into machine quilting. Is there an easy way to turn corners. Hope I am making this clear enough to get an answer and a solution. Bonita

A: The easiest way I have found is to stop stitching, leave your needle in the fabric, and then raise your presser foot so the fabric can move freely with the needle holding its place.

Then turn the fabric around so it is pointing the direction you want to sew. Line it up, and then lower the presser foot again, and continue to stitch.

Hope that answers the question.

These instructions work for machine quilting straight lines, especially if you are using awalking foot.

Often quilters use a darning foot for machine quilting on their home sewing machine. This allows you to move the quilt freely under the needle as you are sewing - which is also called "free motion quilting."

Free motion quilting allows you to create an interesting quilting design around a corner - something different from straight lines or a grid.

Machine quilting on a home sewing machine

Happy Quilting!

Penny Halgren
Master Quilter