Today, let’s talk about how to quilt Piano Keys. I discussed Piano Keys in a previous post that you can read here. It is such a versatile design that works well for so many quilts. You’ll want to have this design in your tool belt. And as you’ll see, it’s easy to change it up to make lots of variations.

Hi! I’m National Handi Quilter Educator, Mary Beth Krapil. I’ve been teaching longarm quilting for 16 years. I love to share longarm techniques and the best of Handi Quilter products. I hope you’ll follow our blog each week for lots of fun, information, instruction, and inspiration. Follow me on Instagram @mbkrapil and on Facebook too.

How to Quilt Piano Keys

Piano Keys consist of simple straight lines of stitching, evenly spaced. Typically used in borders or sashing, the spacing of the design lines can range in width from narrow to wide, depending on the desired look. The beauty of this design is in the uniformity and rhythm. Let’s learn how to do it!

Tools

Read this previous post for lots of information about the various tools you can use to quilt straight lines. Basically, if you’re a free motion quilter, you’ll use rulers for piano keys. If you use Pro-Stitcher, you’ll likely use a digital design or the built-in channel locks. We will concentrate on rulers and some other helpers today.

1. The Path

First let’s talk about the path. That is, how the design flows and how to quilt it in one continuous line without breaking thread.

Imagine you want piano keys across the top border of your quilt. You need to connect those straight lines of stitching so that it will be continuous. Here is one way:

You can start here, stitching one straight line up from the seam line to the top edge of the border.

In the 1/4 inch that will be covered by the binding stitch across.

Then stitch down for the next key. Stop at the seam line.  And stitch across in the seam between the border and the body of the quilt.

Rinse and repeat.

Not a fave

The method described above is not my favorite way. It only stitches the ditch between the border and the body under every OTHER key. It leaves a bumpy looking seam line. If I did it this way I would have to go back and stitch-in-the-ditch the entire seam. But then I have double stitching every OTHER key. **SIGH**.  Back in the first paragraph here I said, “The beauty of this design is in the uniformity and rhythm.”  This is just not uniform.

Another way

You can connect the keys across the bottom.

Start at the seam line and stitch up to the top edge of the border. You can go all the way to the raw edge. DO NOT MOVE YOUR RULER!

Next stitch straight down to the seam line, over-stitching the line you just stitched.

I know over-stitching seems hard, but in this case, you have your ruler positioned to stitch the first line up and if you don’t move your ruler you can stitch straight down exactly over the first line of stitches. It’s easy and it will be perfect!

Stitch across to the next key.

Ideally, those little horizontal lines that join the vertical lines would be stitched in-the-ditch. Stitching in-the-ditch can be challenging. You know, they call it “stitch IN-THE-DITCH”, not “stitch SOMEWHERE-NEAR-THE-DITCH”. In order to make it look good, you really need to be as accurate as possible and get those stitches right in the seam line between the border and the body of the quilt. There has to be an easier way!

My favorite way (because it’s forgiving and easier)

Flip the design so that the connectors are at the top and will be covered by the binding. You can be as messy and inaccurate as you please because no one will ever see those connectors!

Start at the top. Stitch down to the seam line. DO NOT MOVE THE RULER! Stitch up to the edge. And stitch over to the next key.

EASY! UNIFORM! BEAUTIFUL! It also gives you the choice whether to stitch-in-the-ditch the seam between the border and the body. Choices are always a good thing. 🙂

2. The Spacing

Next we have to talk about the spacing. Remember the beauty is in the uniformity. Spacing is a very important element in making piano keys look their best.

Use the etched lines

The quickest and easiest way to get uniform spacing is to use the etched lines that are on all Handi Quilter rulers.

Those white lines you see on the rulers (above) are actually etched into the back of the ruler. They are spaced 1/4 inch apart.

Examples of how to use etched lines

Remember the needle is 1/4 inch away from the edge of the ruler when you have the ruler snugged up against the Sure foot. So, I line up my ruler and stitch my first line from the top edge down to the seam line. I DON”T MOVE THE RULER.

In these examples I’m using the HQ Ditch Ruler. It’s one of my faves for straight line stitching.

I stitch straight back up to the edge, right on top of my first line of stitching. Now I can move my ruler!

1/4 inch spacing

If I wanted 1/4 inch spacing I would stitch horizontally at the top enough that the edge of the ruler would line up with the key I just stitched.

1/2 inch spacing

If I want 1/2 inch spacing between my piano keys, I stitch horizontally in the 1/4 inch that will be covered by the binding. I move my ruler over to the foot and check my position. The first etched line on the ruler needs to be lined up directly over the lines I just stitched. That will give me the 1/2 inch spacing I’m going for.

3/4 inch spacing

If I want 3/4 inch spacing I would line up with the 2nd line on the ruler.

And so on…

Here is the top edge that will get covered by the binding. I was not careful as I stitched to the next key. Sometimes I over-shoot the distance and I have to stitch back. It does not matter, no one will see it. Notice that the stitches are above the basting stitches. It will be covered by the binding.

Give it a try

Just like any other quilting design, piano keys take a little practice. I hope you’ll give it a try. This design is so versatile it is worth learning!

Handi Quilter Watch and Learn

Be sure to catch this Watch and Learn episode where Kristina shows how to use the Line Grid ruler to stitch piano keys. It’s a quick and easy way to get 1/2 inch spaced piano keys.

Share your suggestions!

If there is a particular topic you would like to see in the blog please let me know in the comments!

by Mary Beth Krapil