quilterella

Mitzie is all setup and I've done a couple practise pieces on her, but, my DH is anxious to see a "real" quilt on her and I'm nervous, no, I'm actually scared. The practise pieces were okay, great stitching on both front and back, nothing near fancy with the patterns, just doddling. I put a quilt on her yesterday and need to rip out the three blocks I did...they are horrible...the stitching is fine, the patterns look like a 2 year-olds scribbling. Is there an easy way to work myself into this or am I being paranoid? I know I need to relax but, what if I mess up the quilt? It is an oversize lap quilt I did a few years ago, so, it is only for me, but, I'm still scared!

athenagwis

Just take a deep breath and relax. I haven't done many quilts on my HQ machine yet, but my first few quilts I have put on I choose a stitch pattern I knew I could do. I didn't try to go fancy right out of the gate. I think one of my quilts is just lines of loops another is a simple meander. Just choose something you feel comfortable with and remember once it's washed you won't see all the wonky stitches as much!!

Cheers!
Rachel

TexasSunshine

I am starting on my first project besides practice pieces. I made a couple of table runners for Easter and am going to do simple meandering today. One thing that has helped me is putting a piece of muslin on the machine with black thread in the top. I can see it so much better for practice.

scrapykate

Good luck, sounds like a new adventure for you, ENJOY

justlooking

You need to work through your fear! If you don't start, you will never finish and your LAM will just sit there.

grann of 6

That's right. I just got my "Sunny" long arm set up last week and have been practicing too. I am going to make a bunch of pot holders out of my practice pieces. I did 2 Quilts for Kids that look pretty good and am now doing one for myself, but ran out of thread and am waiting for more to come. I am just doing meandering; learning to do it consistently throughout the area, which is not easy. I will gradually try getting it smaller, and maybe put a heart in or some stars. But I know it just takes practice, practice, practice. You didn't learn to sew all in one try.

PaperPrincess

Sounds like we should start a club! I just got my Viking (tin Lizzie) about 10 days ago. I did some practice on muslin, then put together the 'worlds ugliest quilt' so I could practice on something with blocks. I was doing sort of OK with FMQ, but the movement is different with the long arm. I just ordered an open toe foot and I'm waiting for that to arrive. I can't see where the needle is with the closed toe that came with the machine. The key word is practice! We should check back every month to see our progress.

grann of 6

Yes, and we should post pics of our progress. I guess my biggest problem is that I can't find fabric that I am willing to use for practice backing. Here are 2 pics of my "ugly potholder" fabric and the backing showing my stitching. I am getting better bit by bit.

feline fanatic

It is pretty scarey loading that first quilt on. What worked for me was loading a quilt I literally did not care if I ruined it. Here is a link to pictures:
http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-77776-1.htm

I only did one practice piece before doing this. I have since done 4 more quilts and a pillow sham. Here is a link to my work now, which is the pillow sham I just finished up Sunday!
http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-116841-1.htm

I have purposely avoided meander and I have yet to try a panto. I just love working from the front of the machine. For feathers, I draw them a lot. I have a pad of drawing paper and pencils in my living room and if I am not doing some sort of handwork I am doodling. I got to the point where I could whip out a feather with pencil and paper as easy as signing my name and this DOES translate to longarming. I also like doing stencils. I just recently took a class with Karen McTavish and she says do the hardest thing you can, it will pay off in the end. I have to agree.

So doodle, doodle, doodle. Get a couple of large size pads of inexpensive drawing paper and pencils and go at it. Additionally do not go all ODD on your quilting. Really, in the grand scheme of things when you look at a whole quilt quilted it is next to impossible to find the spot where you feel you screwed up so badly.

grann of 6

I am very impressed with your projects. Great work. I tried the doodling thing but that just doesn't work for me. I have arthritis in my wrist and have trouble even signing a check so every time I try doodling, I get worse rather than better. But I do agree that you just have to practice on something other than scraps. I am making some charity quilts so when my thread comes Thursday for the quilt currently on the machine I can practice on them. The next thing I do I will get brave and try something other than meandering.