If you love to quilt, the decision to machine quilt or hand quilt is a personal choice. Hand qulting is the process of sewing together the elements of the quilt (the blocks, seams, and binding) by hand using a quilting needle or a betweens. Hand quilters often use quilting frames or hoops to stabilize their work. The finish of a hand quilt is softer and looks more traditional. Our vintage-looking Old-Fashioned Scrappy Quilt Pattern is a perfect way to showcase your handiwork. This simple pattern is reminiscent of days gone by, and you will love to sit and quilt each piece by hand.

Click image to download the free quilt pattern

Machine quilting involves using a sewing machine to seam the pieces of the quilt blocks and to stitch together the quilt top, batting, and backing. A machine may also be used to do free-motion quilting if the feed dogs are lowered and the darning foot is attached. Machine quilting gives a more uniform and, some may say, a more professional look. Show off your style when you download the free Black Magic pattern. Its intricacies are breathtaking.

Click image to download the free quilt pattern

There is a great debate going on arguing which method is superior when it comes to machine quilting versus hand quilting. Staunch supporters of machine quilting make a strong case for the use of modern technology to speed the process along, all while achieving beautiful handiwork. Die-hard hand quilters yearn to preserve the natural art of hand quilting, finding it unnecessary, and compromising the craft, to use a machine to do the work that is meant to be completed by hand. Either method is perfectly acceptable, depending on the project at hand as well as the quilter. Some quilters hold a hybrid view of the craft, using hand quilting when wanting a slower paced, relaxing project and a machine to quilt when creating more utilitarian quilts or while experience a bit of a time crunch. Whichever stance you take on the great machine quilting versus hand quilting debate, www.free-quilting.com is sure to contain a pattern that is perfect.