Walking foot quilting is one of the most approachable and versatile ways to add texture and movement to your quilts—and this wavy grid design is a perfect example of that. Unlike more rigid quilting patterns, this technique embraces imperfection, allowing your lines to gently flow across the surface and create a sense of rhythm and softness.
One of the reasons I love this design is how simple it is to set up. You can mark small reference points along the edges of your quilt to keep consistent spacing between lines, or you can rely on the guide bar attached to your walking foot. Either approach works beautifully, making this technique adaptable to your personal workflow and comfort level.
The wavy grid becomes a subtle yet powerful layer in your quilt. It doesn’t compete with your piecing—instead, it enhances it by adding depth, texture, and movement. It’s a perfect choice when you want the quilting to support your design while still bringing the surface to life.
SUPPLY LIST
- Sewing machine
- Walking foot or dual feed foot (depending on your sewing machine Model). I use a Janome M7 Continental.
- Janome purple tip needle (my favorite walking foot needle)
- Quilting ruler
- Erasable pencil
- To practice a mini sandwich (14” square)
- Thread (to practice is good to use a contrasting color thread with your fabric)
Step 1: Mark Your Quilt
Begin by marking reference points on two opposite edges of your quilt sandwich. These marks will indicate where each wavy line will start and end. You can use small dots or short lines—whatever is most comfortable for you. For this example, the lines are spaced 1 inch apart, but you can adjust this distance depending on the scale you want for your quilting.
Step 2: Set Up Your Machine
Prepare your sewing machine with a walking foot. This foot will help move all layers evenly and prevent shifting. Set your stitch length between 2.8 and 3.0, which works well for walking foot quilting—long enough to create a smooth line, but still secure.
Step 3: Start Quilting from the Center
Always begin quilting from the center of your quilt, working from top to bottom. This helps distribute the bulk of the quilt evenly and reduces distortion.
Start your first line at one of the marked points in the center. As you quilt, gently move your quilt sandwich side to side to create a soft, wavy line. The movement should be subtle—think of a gentle flow rather than dramatic curves. Quilt from one marked edge to the opposite marked edge, starting and finishing at your reference points.
Continue quilting additional wavy lines, always top to bottom, moving gradually toward one side of your quilt toward the right.
This approach keeps only half (or less) of the quilt under the machine’s throat, making it easier to handle and control.
Repeat the process line by line until you complete one half of the quilt. Maintain the same spacing and gentle movement to keep a consistent rhythm across your design.
Once one half is complete, rotate your quilt 180 degrees (upside down).
Now repeat the same process: start again from the center and quilt from top to bottom, moving toward the opposite side.
Step 4: Create the Wavy Grid
Now that you have finished quilting all your vertical wavy lines, it’s time to create the grid.
Rotate your quilt 90 degrees. Then, just as you did at the beginning, mark reference points along the two opposite edges—again spacing them 1 inch apart (or the distance you’ve chosen).
These new lines will intersect the ones you’ve already quilted, forming your wavy grid
Using the same approach, begin quilting from the center of your quilt, working top to bottom. Gently guide your quilt to create soft, flowing curves, just as before.
Continue quilting toward one side (for example, toward the right), keeping your movement consistent and your spacing aligned with your markings.
Once you’ve completed half of the quilt, rotate it 180 degrees, and repeat the process to finish the other half—always quilting in the same direction, from top to bottom. And that’s it—you now have your wavy grid!
Final Thoughts
When deciding how to quilt a piece, always ask yourself:
What role do I want the quilting to play?
Do you want it to stand out, or to quietly support your design?
Also consider the texture you want to create. The spacing between your lines will determine how dense your quilting is, and therefore how your quilt feels and behaves.
This wavy grid is a wonderful design to practice. I recommend starting with small quilt sandwiches to get comfortable with the movement, and then gradually moving to larger pieces.
Good luck, and I hope you enjoy this new tutorial!