I love it whenever we get to the machine quilting part of any quilt along! In case you missed it, click here to view all previous Optical Illusion Quilt Along posts. Today, I’m showing how to quilt the continuous spiral design.
Above is a sample I made for my in-person quilting classes. Notice that I used a blending thread so that you don’t see the imperfections.
Below is the sample I quilted for you on video this week so you can see how the process works. I quilted with black thread on white fabric which shows ALLL the imperfections, LOL!!
For my Optical Illusion quilt, I used a black/white thread from my Aurifil Variegated thread collection. I love using 50 weight cotton thread for both piecing and quilting, because I’m able to use any leftover bobbins when piecing my next quilt!
Click here to get my Aurifil Variegated Thread collection
Spiral Quilting Video Tutorial
Click the image below to watch my spiral quilting video tutorial on my YouTube channel. It’s just over 9 minutes long and will demo how to quilt the basic spiral.
If you’d like to learn how to quilt additional spirals, be sure to grab a copy of my machine quilting books.
In my first book, Machine Quilting with Style, I show how to do the basic spiral, plus a wonky spiral variation. Then I expand on that with overlapping spirals in The Ultimate Guide to Machine Quilting. Finally, I teach how to quilt a continuous square spiral in my third book, Piece and Quilt with Precuts.
Get My Books on Sale – Just $19.95 Each
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All 3 of my books are currently on sale for just now on sale for just $19.95 each until they sell out!
So grab 1 (or all 3) today! And who knows – you may find a completely different design you want to quilt on your version of Optical Illusion.
Remember to share your version of Optical Illusion in my ChristaQuilts Group on facebook. I love seeing everyone’s progress and the variations with all the different fabric colors are amazing!!
Christa Quilts 
I saw something somewhere about putting a pushpin into the quilt and holding it still while allowing the quilt to turn. Does anyone remember that, and have a link to that technique? That’s all the detail I remember!
Great tutorial. Thank you!