Machine Quilting Phobia!
10-12-2011, 05:18 PM
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Greenville, OH
Posts: 359
I am right there with ya. I want so badly to FMQ a baby quilt--BUT-- I am so afraid of ruining it, it is just sitting there on my table waiting.
I have been practicing on my domestic sewing machine but the stitches just don't make me happy. So I am kind of disappointed with the whole thing.
I am sure we are not alone in this.
Chris
I have been practicing on my domestic sewing machine but the stitches just don't make me happy. So I am kind of disappointed with the whole thing.
I am sure we are not alone in this.
Chris
10-12-2011, 05:20 PM
#12
Super Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 2,943
You can start with some charity quilts. The recipients are just plain old fashioned overwhelmed to be getting them they don't know the difference. If you really mess up you can still make like a frog .... rip it, rip it, rip it.
ali
ali
10-12-2011, 05:21 PM
#13
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Northern California
Posts: 2,644
Of course, I have a long-arm at home and I am petrified everytime I load one on the machine - I struggle with the quilting part - I know that I need to practice more - I have never had any instruction or classes and self taught sewer, quilter and piecer. I just wish I could whip out the wonderful quilting designs that I see on here. I know, practice, practice, practice....
10-12-2011, 05:40 PM
#15
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Huntsville, AL
Posts: 2,609
Originally Posted by oreoflurrie
I have made about 30 quilts now, and have only done machine quilting on about 3. I started out tying them, then sent one out to a LAQ. That was quite expensive, so I wasn't going to do that anymore. Then my quilting class went to a LQS for a demonstration on their LAQ rentals. I've done about 5 or 6 that way. But I'm so scared to put my beautiful quilts on my machine to do the quilting at home. So many hours of hard work, I'm so afraid I'll ruin them. Anyone else have the same phobia?
10-12-2011, 05:49 PM
#16
Super Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Western MA
Posts: 2,720
Originally Posted by katier825
Start with some practice sandwiches, then progress to smaller things, like placemats, table runners, charity quilts, and when you gain more confidence, quilt the ones you like best.
You'll never know how good you might be at quilting if you don't try! Who knows, you could be really awesome at it and never know otherwise! :)
You'll never know how good you might be at quilting if you don't try! Who knows, you could be really awesome at it and never know otherwise! :)
10-12-2011, 06:06 PM
#17
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Idaho
Posts: 6,442
Originally Posted by Glenn
Originally Posted by oreoflurrie
I have made about 30 quilts now, and have only done machine quilting on about 3. I started out tying them, then sent one out to a LAQ. That was quite expensive, so I wasn't going to do that anymore. Then my quilting class went to a LQS for a demonstration on their LAQ rentals. I've done about 5 or 6 that way. But I'm so scared to put my beautiful quilts on my machine to do the quilting at home. So many hours of hard work, I'm so afraid I'll ruin them. Anyone else have the same phobia?
10-12-2011, 06:13 PM
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Central Ohio
Posts: 523
I am also afraid to do it. I have been practicing on small sandwiches. Wow they look bad. The stitches never seem to turn out right. I am in the process of making a king size for my bed and really want to machine instead of hand quilt it.. but I am really afraid to ruin it.. I am going to have to do alot more practice before I stick the big one under the needle.
10-12-2011, 06:19 PM
#19
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Rochester, NY
Posts: 41
Thank you everyone! I don't feel so alone. It seems I am part of a large group! I made a 4Patch Posie last year, I was so proud of it and wanted it to be quilted very special, so I just took it to the LAQ last week. I was talked out of a custom job because of the cost, they are just doing a pantogram of some ivy leaves on it. I'm picking it up tomorrow, I hope it will do it justice. I was hoping to put it in a show, but it may not be "special" enough to get noticed. We'll see.
10-12-2011, 07:46 PM
#20
Super Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Mars
Posts: 2,549
No, don't be afraid - use materials that you don't care much about and just play! :)
What's the worst that can happen? You'll have a quilt with wonky quilting. I have a bunch of them.
Most wonky quilting just about disappears when you wash it the first time - try it with a crib size of whole cloth with a lot of practicing on it. Put it in the washer and dryer just once and see if it's not pretty when it comes out. Launder it a couple more times and it softens up and turns snuggly.
If it's something you want to do, take it as an inner prompting. Don't give up just because you try it a time or two and get thread nests or messy lines. Who cares? You're just playing with scraps! :)
Draw your designs on your practice pieces with markers or stencils or whatever you want. Tape color book pictures to the quilt and sew over the lines of the drawings. Echo around them, doodle in between them.
Don't give up, if it's something you really want! :)
What's the worst that can happen? You'll have a quilt with wonky quilting. I have a bunch of them.
Most wonky quilting just about disappears when you wash it the first time - try it with a crib size of whole cloth with a lot of practicing on it. Put it in the washer and dryer just once and see if it's not pretty when it comes out. Launder it a couple more times and it softens up and turns snuggly.
If it's something you want to do, take it as an inner prompting. Don't give up just because you try it a time or two and get thread nests or messy lines. Who cares? You're just playing with scraps! :)
Draw your designs on your practice pieces with markers or stencils or whatever you want. Tape color book pictures to the quilt and sew over the lines of the drawings. Echo around them, doodle in between them.
Don't give up, if it's something you really want! :)
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