Popular Quilting Stitches I Use & Why
In the late 1990s, I was a beginner quilter. My trusty Pfaff 6122 (a mechanical sewing machine first manufactured in 1968) and I primarily made clothing and crafts. When my fabric collection became outrageous (see note #1*), I wanted to repurpose that great fabric somehow. I knew little about quilting, but it was a good way to sew scraps together.
As I caught the quilting bug, my experimentation with fabric, thread, and stitches expanded. I took classes within local quilt guilds and acquired fabrics and tools through these groups. The straight stitch and ¼ inch seam was (and still is) the standard for quilting. Repair work was on the far, far horizon. Any repair work at that time was reserved for clothing…not as fun.
Eventually, life’s twists and turns turned my joy of quilting into a business (Creating Quilts, formerly Eden’s Heirlooms). Whenever I make quilts for customers, the reliable straight stitch (the running stitch) and ¼ inch seam are still standard, popular quilting stitches.
If a customer wants a hand-finished binding, I use the blind stitch. With this method, I machine-stitch the binding onto the top of the quilt, then turn the binding to the back and stitch in place. I like this stitch because making tiny, evenly spaced, practically invisible stitches is fun. Use a similar colored thread as the binding fabric, and you will barely notice the stitches!
When repairing quilts, all work is done by hand** and requires a knowledge of additional stitches. These are some of the most popular quilting stitches:
Backstitch Stitch: used to re-stitch broken quilt stitches and repair broken stitches where pieces are sewn together.
Couching Stitch: This technique secures shredded fabric, holds underlying stitches in place, and supports heavily worn fabrics.
Darning Stich: A technique which weaves thread to cover areas of slits, holes, or worn fabrics.
Herringbone Stich: This stitch is similar to a cross-stitch, yet tends to be longer and broader, depending on the slit or tear needing repair.
Ladder Stitch: This stitch is used to apply a patch. It is helpful when fabric frays easily or the area needing repair intersects with other blocks and fabrics.
Appliqué stitch: This stitch is also used for applying a patch and is more common than the ladder stitch.
Laid stitch: This diagonal stitch is similar to the herringbone stitch but does not complete the X pattern. It is used to secure unraveling fabrics.
Running stitch: This stitch is used to attach tulle, organza, chiffon, or other very soft, sheer fabric to a damaged area and to re-stitch broken quilt stitches.
Embroidery stitches: While many of the above stitches are considered “embroidery” stitches, they all have their place in utility and decorative stitching. In crazy quilts, a wide variety of embroidery stitches enhance a quilt. This has made sewing, stitching, and quilting fun over the centuries!
If you are wondering which of the popular quilting stitches is my favorite, my honest answer is all. Each stitch has its time, place, and application. I taught myself many of these stitches when I was young, primarily out of curiosity and necessity. Being left-handed, few had the patience to teach me. Thankfully, my Aunt Helen did!
Whether making or repairing a quilt, I enjoy every step of the process. The types of stitches, threads, and needles I use make each one unique.
*Note 1: My fabric collection has grown even more outrageous today!
**Note 2: Machines are not used—even if the original maker used one—because the fabric, batting, thread, and the quilt itself are more fragile. A machine uses the quilt foot and feed dogs to move a quilt along, which can harm aging fabric.