With cold weather finally here, many people are in search of ways to stay warm this winter. Instead of cranking up the heat, consider quilting. If you have a sewing machine handy, you can fashion a quilt in the comfort of your own home, either for yourself or a loved one. The following are a few ways you can create a custom quilt to help you stay warm when temperatures drop.

3 Unique Ways to Quilt with a Sewing Machine

1. Consider Free Motion Quilting

If you consider yourself a quilting master, why not give the free motion technique a try? This entails disengaging the feed dogs (which are components that help feed the fabric through the sewing machine) and stitching a pattern freehand instead. This allows you to create more intricate designs, such as swirling patterns. Along with disengaging the feed dogs, you’ll also need to attach a free-motion quilting foot, which provides greater visibility when creating detailed designs.

2. Create a Comfy T-Shirt Quilt

Nothing beats the feel of knit T-shirt fabric, which is why this material makes the best quilts. When making a T-shirt quilt, be sure to use a stabilizer. This device works well with stretchy fabrics, which are harder to work with using traditional setups. Your best bet is a non-woven fusible interface, which you can find at your local sewing machine parts shop.

3. Try Stitching in the Ditch

If you want your seams to be less visible, try the stitching in the ditch technique. This entails quilting within the seam line, which obscures the stitch on the top of the quilt. You’ll need a walking or even feed foot on your sewing machine; as a result, all three layers of your quilt (known as your quilt sandwich) will be pulled through the machine at once. You may want to attend a quilting class or two to get accustomed to this technique.

If you’re excited to try the above techniques to create a warm winter quilt, Kramer's Sew & Vac of Cincinnati, OH,  has what you need. They carry an expansive selection of sewing machines and can service your existing model if you run into an issue. If you’d like to learn more about quilting, they also offer classes that range from beginner lessons to advanced projects. Visit their website to review the class schedule or call (513) 891-5005 to speak with a friendly and knowledgeable service representative.