Step 2: Pinning + Piecing by Machine

Pinning is also very important, and very simple, in machine-piecing.

To begin, I lined up my squares right sides together. Because of the way they were cut the squares matched up almost perfectly. I pinned each corner and then pulled the side taut and pinned the middle.

Making a quilt by machine is obviously a lot quicker than by hand. In order to make it even speedier I like to set up an assembly line of sorts. I pinned everything I could first and then sewed them all one after another by chain-piecing.  Here is everything pinned and ready to be pieced.

The skill involved in machine piecing is maintaining a consistent 1/4-inch seam allowance. I find that the more relaxed I am the straighter my sewing is. If I’m too concerned with being perfect it ends up all wobbly. The machine should sews straight without too much help from you, so try not to push or pull the fabric as it goes through. It takes practice, so be patient!

Note that in machine-piecing I sewed all the way to the edges of the fabric, while in hand-piecing where I sewed only to the end of the drawn seam lines.

Now it's time to press the seams.  Pressing or ironing not only makes the front of the quilt top look nice; it also organizes the seams on the back, which is important in machine piecing because you will sew over these seams as you continue piecing. Fret not, iron-phobic people! It's not nearly as hard as ironing a dress shirt and it's much more rewarding!

Place your pieced section with the dark side up and peel it back as you iron the bottom (lighter) section. Pull the darker section taut as you iron it flat. This will orient the seam on the back of the darker side of your piece so it won’t show through.

After I ironed all my seams, I pinned and pieced the center square; then the strips; and then I sewed the strips together. When pinning something that already had a seam I was very careful to line up the seams while pinning.

 

Remember when I said you can’t have too many pins? I really meant it....  

Here is the finished square:

 

Comments

[Kacita]

How long did it take you to make this quilt by machine? By hand, you said two hours. I just want to compare...

[Margaret]

I'm confused! Why, when you're machine piecing, do you sew all the way to the edge? How do you piece things together without leaving a seam at the corners? You say you sew over the seams as you continue piecing--doesn't that make a big lumpy mess? Maybe I just need to try it since I seem unable to visualize it....

[purl bee]

Hi Margaret,
You sew over the seams as you go and it shouldn't leave a big lumpy mess :) Try it!
Good luck, PB