How to Use a Quilting Frame
Quilting is an art form which requires the right equipment to produce a beautiful product. An essential piece of hand quilting equipment is a quilting frame. Quilting frames allow quilters to maintain the appropriate amount of tension on all a quilt's layers of fabric.
Supplies
- Thread
- Quilt top
- Backing fabric
- Batting
- Hand needle
- Fabric chalk
- Quilting frame
- Trace your quilting stitch pattern on either the quilt top or batting of your project. This will serve as your template for placing your stitches. They will be visible once your quilt top and backing are properly installed into the quilting frame.
- Use a quilting frame with three poles. This will eliminate the basting step in your quilt assembly. The three pole frame allows for fabric and batting to be installed on two individuals rails. The tension is maintained by the third rail as the layers are quilted together.
- Adjust the tension on your frame. Tension on quilting frames can be obtained in a couple of ways. Ratchet systems with teeth and stoppers can be used to adjust the tension. Another popular system is the friction lock system. Fingerbolts are used on the friction lock system to adjust and hold the tension of the fabric and batting.
- Put the top, batting and back fabric into the quilting frame.
- Align all layers so they are even with one another.
- Quilt your project, starting at the center and moving outward.
- Check your stitching and tension periodically to make sure all layers are aligned and the stitches are even.