Now I know
#11
However you quilt, it takes practice, practice, & practice. Though some people are more intuitively artistic, that's not me.
Whatever I do, if I don't like the outcome I consider it a learning experience or practice. Quilting is cheaper than therapy.
Whatever I do, if I don't like the outcome I consider it a learning experience or practice. Quilting is cheaper than therapy.
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 335
I am machine everything...I don't like hand sewing...lol....my FMQ is not very good so I use it sparingly but I have come to love straight line quilting...especially since I like doing QAYG big blocks. You can actually be very creative with your lines and it is not nearly as frustrating as FMQ...I also like a minimum of quilting since I sometimes feel it can destroy the original design...but that is just my personal preference...Jackie Gehring and Angela Walters are great teachers of modern straight line...
#15
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 6,430
Dottymo, you are correct in that one needs to review his/her muscle memory for awhile to "get in gear" for machine quilting, just as hand quilters need to review their tension, needle, thread options for the current project.
#16
Power Poster
Join Date: May 2009
Location: NY
Posts: 10,590
I too was a hand quilter (in a lap hoop) and was never any good, nor enjoyed, FMQ on my domestic which is flush in a cabinet (can't imagine attempting FMQ without a machine set flush in a table or cabinet. I did do a few things but I found I was always tensed up, could never relax and had a hard time keeping my scale of design uniform throughout the quilt. I was fine with straight line quilting using the walking foot but that was also not much fun with anything bigger than a twin size quilt. I did mix hand quilting and machine quilting on a few pieces but always ended up much happier with the quilts that were all hand quilted. I hated making the quilt sandwich with a white hot passion. Then I discovered longarm quilting on a frame.
I LOVE frame quilting. The first time I laid hands on a longarm at a quilt show I knew that was my destiny.
I LOVE frame quilting. The first time I laid hands on a longarm at a quilt show I knew that was my destiny.
#18
Power Poster
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Lowell, MA
Posts: 14,083
I started out hand quilting, however, my career as a secretary resulted in severe carpal tunnel, so I had to quit. I did take a machine quilting class and have been on a roll ever since, although I admit I haven't really mastered FMQ yet, but hope springs eternal. Since I do mostly baby quilts, utilitarian items like placemats, table runners, wall hangings, etc., my straight line machine quilting works. I understand you reluctance to do machine quilting, but it's a skill like any other, you have to practice, practice, practice, just like learning to play the piano, although I don't play. LOL.
#19
it could be anything, not just quilting. We learn by doing. A small table runner taught you something you don't enjoy. Now you can work on what you like and never again worry about trying machine quilting. You are a winner! Your little table runner is a fine piece of work.
peace
peace
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