Stippling Techniques

by Serena Smith

Note: Click on the photos for a larger image

I usually don't have any trouble stippling smaller projects that are 45" square or less. It is when I get into larger quilts that the stippling gets tougher to do! I have to keep the quilt free and not binding on anything so I can get the curvy stitches I want.



I usually start in a corner or on an edge and throw the rest of the quilt over my shoulder. This allows me to create a little slack around my needle so I can freely move the fabric around. I continue stippling from left to right and down. Sometimes I will move in different directions so I am not creating stitches that look like rows.



I try to allow plenty of slack in the fabric around my machine. It is so easy for some of the quilt to get hung up on a table corner or part of the machine. I will bunch up the quilt all around, so I can easily move the fabric as I am stitching.