Machine Quilting the Black & White

I finally started machine quilting this black and White "Paradigm Shift" quilt today.

Here is the photo of the 'sandwiching 'process. First the back fabric gets taped down well. Next the batting is placed on top of that and all the wrinkles are pulled out.  After that the quilt top is carefully laid on top of the other 2 layers as smoothly as possible. It's important that all the wrinkles are taken out of it. Then you start pinning the layers together at the centre, working your way outward, smoothing the top out even more as you go along.

Taping the back fabric to the floor, then smoothing out the batting on top.

Pinned together

In order to machine quilt you need to decide what method to use. After looking at the quilt top, I decided I would machine quilt it "in the ditch" (along the block seam lines) vertically, horizontally and then diagonally. This step holds the layers in place for good. with nothing shifting or bulging during use or the washing and drying process.  Last I will free motion machine quilt the border.

But first the quilt needs to be rolled up from the outer edges in, in order to fit it into the sewing machine to do the quilting.

Now it's time to get to work and start quilting !