machine quilting. blergh.
#22
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Western NY
Posts: 841
I just got back today from a "Machine Quilting" class where we did stitch in the ditch (and she explained why we get frustrated with it), using different feet to do the stitch in the ditch, echo quilting, marking a quilt top for machine quilting, water soluable thread.... I feel much better now about stitch in the ditch and like she said, it's practice, practice, practice. I needed this class as I do not like this part of quilting. I love piecing the tops but after ruining one quilt because of the machine quilting, I really needed a BASIC class. Even the most basic of class, I learn something. I will never again try a large quilt but the small projects can be done on my domestic machine. We also practiced continuous line quilting. I really enjoyed the class.
#24
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Small town in Northeast Oregon close to Washington and Idaho
Posts: 2,795
My sewing machine has a BSR and a huge throat and is made for machine quilting and I want no part of that. I've hand quilted two very small pieces only. I tried meandering on a sandwich I made and didn't enjoy it at all, so I decided not to force myself to learn to machine quilt. I knew if I tried to force myself to do something I didn't want to do, I would end up staying out of my sewing room. There might come a day where I MIGHT want to give it another try, but I'm not going to try to machine quilt again or feel bad that my machine is made for it. I'm just going to piece my quilts...my favorite thing to do. I love to cut and piece so much, so I am going to stay in that field and enjoy myself. This is my hobby and I want to love my hobby!
#25
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Saratoga, Arkansas
Posts: 1,909
I'm still learning too, but I have found two things that have really helped me improve: A plexiglass extension table and a polish for it that allows the quilt or quilt sandwich to glide across it and the bed of the sewing machine. The polish is only 10.00. Here is a link if you're interested. http://www.sewverysmooth.com/Shop.html
They also sell extension tables which was cheaper and thicker than the one Pfaff makes. I have no affilliation with the company, just a satisfied customer.
They also sell extension tables which was cheaper and thicker than the one Pfaff makes. I have no affilliation with the company, just a satisfied customer.
Last edited by jeanharville; 11-10-2012 at 04:41 PM.
#27
I have been doing FMQ for a little more than a year now and love it. I have to admit that I was terrified of it at first. Now another friend and I started a small group of ladies that want to take it a little further by sharing patterns and knowledge. We meet once a month and each month we change off and a different one brings a pattern to practice on. One of the things I was taught early on was to sit and doodle with pencil and paper every night while watching TV and then try it with my machine. It has helped me get my rythem down when I try it on the machine.
Like others have said, if you don't like it then don't do it and don't beat yourself up. It is not for everyone. Maybe at another time in your quilting career you will be ready to try it again.
Like others have said, if you don't like it then don't do it and don't beat yourself up. It is not for everyone. Maybe at another time in your quilting career you will be ready to try it again.
#28
Super Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Dallas area, Texas, USA
Posts: 3,050
If you don't like it, then you don't like it. Don't torture yourself just because you think you're "supposed" to do or feel something. Maybe you could tie your quilts instead, or send them out to be quilted. I have a good friend who does not like to piece. She LOVES to quilt, however. So she trades services with some of her close friends - they piece a top for her, and she'll quilt a quilt for them.
#29
I will be attending an all day machine quilting class given by Sue Nickels this coming Saturday. She provided the program for our quilt guild this past Monday and I can't wait until Saturday. She and her sister have done beautiful work and have won many awards. Until now I have had a lot of problems trying machine quilting, but I have never attended an in-depth class like this. If I can't learn how in this class then I must be a real dunce.
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