About 6 months or so ago, I posted a tutorial on how to make the Wonky 9-Patch quilt using the Accuquilt GO! cutting system to off-set those 9-patch blocks.  I’ve been stewing on how to quilt the top.  Meandering just didn’t seem like it would cut it and straight lines would look great, if I could make MY lines actually straight.  Thanks to the fabulous gals at the Wichita Modern Quilt Guild, the quilt now has a quilting direction.  The ladies suggested a squared off type of quilting.  I don’t know if this is exactly what they meant, but I love love how it looks on the quilt.  I knocked it out this weekend.

(I’m lovin the picture on the fence, too.  I’ve got all the colors to match my quilt.  A bit of tree green, an tiny bit of seriously old grey fence, blue sky and even some clouds.  Thank you, mother nature.)

So how’d I quilt it?  On my home sewing machine, of course.  {Elna 3007}

I started in the center with a walking foot, thinking I’d be turning the quilt every time I wanted to change directions.  That was dreadful.  It did help me get into a groove though, to see how big and how far apart my stitching lines would be.

I decided to change to my free-motion hopper foot and try some ruler work.  Um, before you go crazy on me, I know you aren’t supposed to use rotary cutting rulers with the hopper foot.  I didn’t break anything, but it was WAY less than ideal.  I think I might try it again, though, if I had the right, thick ruler for the job.

With using the ruler for about 2 blocks worth of quilting, I did learn to trust myself to just make “straight-ish” lines.  Totally bailed out on that ruler idea, but I did use elements of the block to base my stitching lines- so they aren’t all over crooked.   I basically did meander, but instead of curving into the next direction, I make a 90-ish degree turn.  Think: Etch-a-Sketch.

By the way- I highly recommend those Machingers Gloves!

The lines aren’t super straight, but I don’t think it is as noticeable, as if I were trying to make a whole pile of parallel lines.  I think the slight angles kind of add to the wonk of the Wonky 9 Patch.  It might be hard to see in the actual picture above, but the quilting lines look somewhat like the picture below.  It was a strangely organic process.

This little quilt is bound in green.  (I think I must have used the grey up on something else… dangit.  But turns out,  green is the new grey. Um, isn’t it???)

Hooray, I have a quilt finished and it feels wonderful to have that off my PhD list!  {{projects half done}}  High fives, people!

Updated to add- I totally forgot to tell you I quilted this using variegated Gütermann rayon thread, for machine embroidery.  It was shiny and in the graded colors I wanted… so yeh, I bought it to give it a try.  I doubt it is the best for machine quilting.

2 Responses to “Wonky 9-Patch Quilted”

1. Wonky 9-Patch Quilt AccuQuilt GO! Compatible FREE Modern Quilt Pattern | ReannaLily Designs says:

   June 12, 2011 at 5:59 pm

   [...] ___________________________________________ And there you go. That’s the quilt. It’s not too tricky and really quick to make. I hope you try it. Updated to add: Find out more about the finished quilt and quilting on this post. [...]
2. What Comes Next? says:

   July 1, 2011 at 12:15 am

   I think your quilting is perfect for this quilt – I like that squared off meandering, and if it wanders a little bit, who cares? it works beautifully with the wonky 9 patches

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