Quilting with Double Gauze

Have you tried working with double gauze yet? I know it can look intimidating but it really is fun to work with. Double gauze is lightweight and soft and just gets softer and softer every time you wash it. And the perfect fabric for baby quilts as well as large sized quilts too.

Today I’ve put together some of my favorite tips and tricks about working with double gauze so that when you work with it you will be so happy with the results.

Tips for Quilting with Double Gauze

1. When cutting double gauze, use scissors and cut along the weave and weft of the gauze. If you look closely at the double gauze below it has a square grid to help keep it straight for cutting. One thing I can tell you is NOT to use a rotary cutter….the weave of the fabric is too loose and it will not cut straight.
2. Use spray starch when pressing double gauze to keep it in place and avoid the fabric from stretching too much.
3. Make sure to baste your quilt layers well when working with double gauze. I used basting spray and pins to keep the layers together before quilting.

4. If you like the look of super crinkly quilts (which I do!) do not pre-wash your double gauze. The extra shrinkage with make the double gauze look super crinkly and soft after washing. The above quilt was photographed before washing but washing just makes double gauze softer and softer.

5. Use a sharp needle when quilting with double gauze. Because the fabric has a loose weave it is important that the needle be sharp. I change my needle to a fresh one before quilting with double gauze.

6. Use a longer stitch length when quilting with double gauze. I used straight lines (I followed the grid lines) and used a stitch length of 4.0 for this baby quilt.

7. Make sure to use your walking foot when quilting with double gauze.

8. I used cotton quilting fabric to bind the quilt but you can also you double gauze to bind the quilt as well. If you are going to use double gauze as the binding use spray starch to help keep the binding in shape.

9. Double gauze quilts are also the perfect canvas for hand quilting or big stitching quilting. Because the double gauze has lines in it–it’s perfect for hand quilting following those lines.

Hopefully you will be able to make some double gauze blankets this summer because they are amazing! I already have a bigger one cut for the perfect weight summer quilt.