Echo Quilting

Echo quilting stitches parallel lines at regular intervals (often 1/4 or 1/2 inch) that follow the outline of a design, spreading outward like concentric ripples. It is commonly seen around appliqué shapes, Hawaiian quilts, and whole-cloth quilt designs. Echo quilting emphasizes and frames the central design while filling the background without a busy texture. It can be sewn with a walking foot using a guide, or free-motion. Hawaiian quilts traditionally use closely spaced 1/4-inch echo lines covering the entire quilt.