Hand vs machine quilting
#21
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Originally Posted by e4
Choose what you like! I use a lot of variegated thread, but some people prefer a solid color. A quilt I saw recently by a nationally known quilter had 6 different colors of thread, one color for each section of her quilt (not necessarily matching the fabric colors either) + a metallic thread. It was perfect for this quilt that she plans to enter into Paducah (I think that was the show) next year.
#23
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Originally Posted by vivientan
I've hand quilted a few quilts and never tried machine quilting, which is why I hope to get my hand in machine quilting by starting it small. I actually intend to outline some quilt block patterns using SID. When machine quilting using the backstitch method when locking stitches, is it advisable to start right at the top? If my block patterns are smack in the middle of my quilt, can I still use the backstitch method? The backstitches might be quite visible, which could look unsightly.
#24
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Originally Posted by vivientan
Originally Posted by vivientan
I've hand quilted a few quilts and never tried machine quilting, which is why I hope to get my hand in machine quilting by starting it small. I actually intend to outline some quilt block patterns using SID. When machine quilting using the backstitch method when locking stitches, is it advisable to start right at the top? If my block patterns are smack in the middle of my quilt, can I still use the backstitch method? The backstitches might be quite visible, which could look unsightly.
#25
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Originally Posted by vivientan
Originally Posted by vivientan
I've hand quilted a few quilts and never tried machine quilting, which is why I hope to get my hand in machine quilting by starting it small. I actually intend to outline some quilt block patterns using SID. When machine quilting using the backstitch method when locking stitches, is it advisable to start right at the top? If my block patterns are smack in the middle of my quilt, can I still use the backstitch method? The backstitches might be quite visible, which could look unsightly.
#26
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Originally Posted by feline fanatic
I would avoid backstitching. It really does show and often leads to some birds nests on the back. Starting with really tiny stitiches and slowly increasing your stiltch length is good. Another option is to leave fairly long thread tails then get yourself some self threading needles like spiral eye and bury those ends with a knot.
#27
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Originally Posted by vivientan
When sewing tiny stitches, how do I lock the beginning and ending stitches?
#28
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Originally Posted by feline fanatic
No need to lock really tiny stitches. Several in a row of teeny tiny are pretty much self locking, they just don't come out, which is a real pain should you decide you need to take them out (ask me how I know). I am talking tiny enough to not even be able to get your seam ripper into and darn near impossible to get a pin or needle under. They don't come out on their own when they are that small. Even yanking on either the top thread or the bobbin thread with tweezers they tend to not pull out. You only need about 4 or 5 stitches. Often what I do when machine quilting on my DSM is take a few stitches, increase the stitch length, take a few more stitches then increase the stitch length again. If I am FMQ with the feed dogs down I just barely move the fabric sandwich for the first few stitches then FMQ normally.
#29
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I have a bernina so the stitch length setting doesn't equate to SPI. Give it a shot on a practice sandwich. I would test by doing a few stitches on that setting then take the sandwich out and try to pull the stitches out.
Yes I often will just clip the threads right down to the quilts surface. But many people bury them.
Yes I often will just clip the threads right down to the quilts surface. But many people bury them.
#30
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I have done both in my quilts for years. I have a couple of sew and flip quilts I did many years ago, after I got the top pieced (it is quilted at the same time) every thing trimed and even binding on,ell I decided it needed more so sat down and did lots of hand quilting, really liked how it turned out.
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