Quilt Bulk
Tips

Domestic Sewing Machine Walking Foot Quilting – Turning and Dealing with Quilt Bulk Tip

As I was quilting Pulsar, a 72″ square lap quilt, with my walking foot on my domestic sewing machine (I have a Juki TL-2200 QVP mini), I employed one of my standard tricks to cope with the quilt bulk when I reached the corner of the quilt. I decided to record a quick video to share this tip, and you can find it here and on my YouTube channel.

By choosing a strategic starting point and then rotating my quilt clockwise (instead of counterclockwise) for the final turn/pivot, I was able to avoid having to pass all the bulk of the quilt through the throat space of my machine. This choice minimized wear and tear on me (pushing a larger quilt through the throat space can be a workout) and reduced the amount the quilt needed to be handled and smashed.

What is the largest quilt you’ve quilted on a domestic machine?

11 thoughts on “Domestic Sewing Machine Walking Foot Quilting – Turning and Dealing with Quilt Bulk Tip

  1. Danice G says:

    Thank you for the video, It can be really difficult to quilt a larger quilt on a domestic machine. But always so worth it though.

  2. Julie says:

    Great demo! The largest I’ve quilted on my DSM was a king size using a walking foot with an 8.5″ throat space. I subsequently took a longarm class so I could rent time for larger quilts, but I still quilt mostly at home, either walking foot or FMQ. When my ‘big’ machine was in the shop for maintenance I quilted twin-size quilts on my little Baby Lock Joy; not a lot of room & no needle-down feature, but the stitches are beautiful. The more you quilt, the more you learn about maneuvering the quilt, and I also use the technique you illustrated here to keep most of the bulk on the surrounding table.

  3. Sue says:

    Great tip! I also learned another new thing, to pull the bobbin thread up thru the top before quilting. Just working on my first walking foot quilted mini quilt.

  4. ROCHELLE SUMMERS says:

    This was a nice video. I find it reassuring that I’m not the only one trying to find ways to cope with the bulk as I quilt around the outside of a quilt. Thank you. I have done larger quilts in the past but not limit myself to a medium lap size because it is really hard on my neck and shoulders. It is more cost-effective for me to pay a LAQ than to spend weeks (and money) visiting the chiropractor.

  5. patty says:

    Great video. Figuring out how to maneuver the quilt and not deal with the weight is one of the biggest challenges when quilting.

  6. Great video! Managing the bulk of a quilt is sometimes the most challenging part of quilting and your tips definitely help manage it.

  7. Barbara says:

    Thanks for sharing your tip. I thought you were going to stitch the last line backwards. So smart to just change the direction of rotation–light bulb moment!

  8. That is a great way to do it. I think the largest I did was a twin, probably not very much larger than 60 x 72.

  9. Cindy Pieters says:

    All that bulk of a large quilt can be frustrating, thanks for the video!

  10. Flo says:

    Just wondering, in the video you showed us how to quilt on the corners of the quilt??? what I would like to know is if and how you did the Yellow Star in the middle of the quilt…

  11. Beverly Newsom says:

    I’ve done three or four king size quilts on my Janome Travel mate 4612. Not easy, but it can be done, with forethought and planning. Sometimes I have done the quilt in sections, joining the batting and backing after the center section was quilted.

I really appreciate the time and thought you take to comment, and I look forward to conversing with you. :)