Two Ways to Quilt Rail Fence Blocks
Option #1: Straight-Line Quilting Design
Quilting 1⁄4" away from the seam lines echoes the lines created by the fabric pieces and seams. Continuing to stitch into adjacent rectangles without cutting threads allows you to sew more quickly.
Mark Quilt Top
Using a water-soluble marker or chalk and an acrylic ruler, mark lines 1⁄4" from the seam lines in both the dark and light aqua rectangles, continuing the lines in a stair-step fashion across the quilt top. (Marked lines give you confidence as you begin to stitch.)
Assemble Quilt Layers
Prepare the quilt sandwich (marked quilt top, batting, and backing).
Set up Machine
Remove presser foot and install a walking foot. Add a new machine needle, and thread the machine and bobbin with 50-weight, 100% cotton thread. Use a quilt-sandwich swatch to test thread/needle/tension combination and stitch length.
Begin Quilting
1. Begin stitching the longest continuous line on the quilt top, beginning at the upper left-hand side and stitching to the lower right-hand side. Follow the red arrow and line in each step.
2. Stitch along the marked line, pivoting 90º as shown at the seam lines, until reaching the bottom edge of the lower right-hand dark aqua rectangle (Diagram 1).
3. Pivot 180º. Stitch and pivot 90º as before in the light aqua rectangles, until reaching the upper left-hand corner of the quilt top (Diagram 2).
4. Pivot 90º. Stitch as before in rectangles until reaching the dark aqua rectangles in the upper right-hand corner of the quilt top (Diagram 3).
5. Referring to Diagram 4, stitch the lower left-hand side. Baste all remaining unstitched edges.
Option #2: Curved-Line Quilting Design
What appears to be an interlocking circle pattern is created by stitching continuous wavy lines. This design is sometimes referred to as an orange peel motif.
Mark Quilt Top
Using a water-soluble marker or chalk, mark quilting lines across quilt top. When marking curved lines, use a jar lid, cup, saucer, or large coin that gives the desired depth of the curve or scallop between seam intersections.
Assemble Quilt Layers
Prepare the quilt sandwich (marked quilt top, batting, and backing).
Set up Machine
Remove presser foot and install a walking foot. Add a new machine needle, and thread the machine and bobbin with 50-weight, 100% cotton thread. Use a quilt-sandwich swatch to test thread/needle/tension combination and stitch length.
Begin Quilting
1. Begin stitching at the upper left-hand edge. Follow the red arrows and line in each step.
2. Stitch marked scallops, curving as shown, to the right-hand edge of the quilt top (Diagram 1).
3. Pivot 180º. Stitch as before, returning to the left-hand edge. Pivot 90º and stitch to the bottom edge of the dark aqua rectangle to make a horizontal row (Diagram 2).
4. Pivot 90º. Stitch as done in steps 2 and 3 to make a second horizontal row (Diagram 3). Repeat to stitch remaining marked horizontal rows.
5. Referring to Diagram 4, pivot 90º and stitch a vertical row, sewing from the bottom edge, pivoting 180º , and returning to the bottom edge.
6. Repeat Step 5 to stitch remaining marked vertical rows (Diagram 5).
7. Referring to Diagram 6 and starting at the lower right-hand edge, stitch half the design along all remaining unstitched edges of the quilt top, pivoting 90º at each corner, to complete the orange peel motif.
