Working with Geometry Quilting Courthouse Steps
Hello Dear Friends and Readers and a warm welcome to today’s post.
Wecome to my new subscribers. Welcome to susies-scraps.com
I think it’s fair to say that each quilt that we make, commands its own particular style of quilting. This can be based on so many objectives. The amount of quilting required, the time spent, the style of the quilt, the end user, and potential use, will all help to decide the extent and cost of the quilting. For example, a large quilt, which has been hand pieced, would benefit from being hand quilted. Not just because of the aesthetics, but also because a handpieced quilt often deals with bias seams, which can be a little bit more challenging to machine quilt. All In Hand – Lessons In Hand Quilting However, some more simple quilts or quilts for charity may benefit from an all over meandering design which can be done efficiently. Quilting Dahlias
Deciding How to Quilt
Many patch workers prefer to just do the patchwork, and leave the quilting to a professional. Each person can decide for themselves whether or not they like to quilt their own quilts.. I prefer to quilt my own quilts, I think that’s because I like the challenge of trying different things. I started with doing a lot of free motion quilting, which is quite enjoyable, but does take a bit of practice. I think it’s important to know that when quilting our own quilts on domestic machines, it doesn’t have to be perfect and often isn’t. But once the whole quilt is quilted, any imperfections no longer seem visible. Getting those layers together and quilted makes the quilt a quilt. Free Motion Quilting – Part 3 – The Sandwich
Courthouse Steps
Today I am quilting a child’s quilt, which is scrappy and made in the style of Courthouse Steps. Quickstep Two Four Six Eight Block. I could go on forever about log cabin quilts, and their variations, there are just so many to choose from and one of the most eternally popular quilt styles.
I really enjoyed making this little scrappy quilt, which is going to be for one of my grandsons. I just love the play of colour in it. In order to work with the design and bearing in mind the style of quilt that it is, I decided to work with the geometry of the quilt, to do the quilting.
Straight Line Quilting Improvised
As it is a Courthouse Steps pattern, I decided to just quilt it all with straight line quilting, using a walking foot.. I am doing the quilting on a Singer treadle machine. Singer 201K Treadle C1947. I’m am using an improvised method of straight line quilting. The lines are not perfectly straight nor is the spacing perfect. Here is how it looks after the first set of cross hatched lines are completed.
The Process and Progression
With the machine working well it is a very nice stress-free way to do the quilting. I think it’s important to say. I have not marked the quilt. I used plenty of pins to base it and then, using the design of the quilt to quilt it in a cross hatch pattern. Therefore, I can use the seam intersections as my guide. I’m using the longest stitch length and I use gardening gloves as I would for free motion quilting with the tips cut off..Cockle Quilting by Treadle Tutorial
Once the initial “crosshatched” lines are completed, I then used a ruler as a guide to make the next set of lines approximately halfway between the first set.
The third and final set of quilting lines are in between the last set, creating a grid of approximately 1 1/4”.
Not only does it suit the style of the quilt, but it will make it nice and robust for its intended use. Because it is a child’s quilt it is not an overwhelming project to be putting through the throat of the machine. Focusing on keeping as little tension as possible on the quilt top itself and just enjoying the process.
Looking at the quilt, it’s obvious to see now how the intersections of the seam lines can be the guide for steering the quilt.
I hope you enjoyed today’s post and maybe will feel inspired if you haven’t already, to give some simple quilting a try. Here is how it looks from the back. It took me one solid afternoon to do this quilting.
Happy stitching as always.
Susie
If you enjoyed this post, you may also like
Walking it Through Plaid Lozenges Quilt
Free Motion Quilting Feather Continuum
© Susan Stuklis 2025
So much goodness here and a great tutorial, thanks for sharing. I just finished a machine quilting project using an improv cross-hatch with lines spaced at approx 3/4″. I like the texture that cross-hatch quilting gives.
What a beautiful scrappy quilt. I like to straight line quilt using seam intersections as guides, too. It worked perfectly for this quilt!
I did enjoy this posting, Susie;))) I just finished doing a walking foot quilting on my Easter small “quiltlet”. I much prefer to hand quilt…machining seems to get my shoulders up around my ears no matter how hard I try to relax and then–ouchie for the next few days!! Your little log cabin came out beautifully and I agree that more quilting is better for what will be, I am sure, a well-loved and used quilt…Nice work hugs, Julierose