Just curious (yes, it's an on-topic question...)

My sampler quilt was quilt as you go - each block was quilted separately and joined together with the sashing. Personally I would never go larger than a lap quilt for quilting on a home machine. I find even that can be awkward - if the quilt isn't properly supported the stitch length can do its own thing.

I liked being able to quilt bits before the whole top was pieced too - made for variety and stopped the quilting being a nightmare to look forward to.

I used the Lynne Edwards books for mine

Tried the clips once. They clank. Drove me crazy. I just moosh the quilt into the throat, and it works. Roberta in D

"John" schrieb im Newsbeitrag news: snipped-for-privacy@s34g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...

So this is what turned you into a longarmer? Roberta in D

"Kathy Applebaum" schrieb im Newsbeitrag news:JP5rh.23652$ snipped-for-privacy@newssvr29.news.prodigy.net...

Hey! Thanks for all the tips/advice.

so the should-I-or-shouldn't-I jury seems divided.

I would LOVE to learn to work on a long-arm and will start sniffing around the guild for lessons, or someone who will let me try it out on a smaller piece of work. Realisitically, with all the spare time I have, I should probably be looking at quilting this oh, 2-3 years from now, at least. (heh. I'm NOT speedy. The 24/7 computer job that funds my artsy habits takes too much time)

Also sounds like doing it myself is not a complete lost cause, with some planning and a bit more learning. I don't know if I could quilt-as-you-go if that involved assembling the top as I went, but whipping in additional batting in sections shouldn't be too insane.

Oh, and the bicycle clips had occurred to me, but I was considering a variation on that. 'Round here you can get these decorator-coloured plastic "sleeves" for shower curtain rods. I was thinking of getting one of them, sliding it over one edge of the sandwich (think plastic tube with a lengthwise slit) and rolling it. It could then be secured with something like the bicycle clips, or even hose clamps with the bolt taken out.

All things to ponder.

Thanks aga> Has anyone ever quilted a king-size quilt on a home machine?

Not at all. I was quite happy doing my large quilts on my home machine. Longarming is all hubby's fault.

He saw a longarmer (Linda Taylor, to be exact) on TV, stopped to watch, and announced to me that "you could do that. Our decorators at the paint store always need custom work done, and you could do that."

Naturally, I immediately replied "no, I can't."

"Why not?" he asked. Eight years later, I still haven't come up with a reason why not. *grin* The irony now is that I'm so busy doing work for quilters that I don't have time to work for the decorators, so custom work is still a problem for them.

Go ahead and do it. I have done several king sized quilts on my home machine and it does not have a huge throat by any means. It is a bit if a pain when quilting near the centre though but it can be done with a bit of patience. I have tried the clips, hated them I have tried just rolling it, hated it, found the roll was too stiff and awkward to move around. I have tried inserting the batting in thirds, middle, then each side. I personally didn;t like it, but it did make it slightly easier to quilt.

In the end I have come to the conclusion that the best way is to just baste, baste, baste and then baste some more and when it comes to the quilting just shove the thing any way you have to under that throat and quilt, being 'gentle' of course!

You don't need a big space, I quilted two (or three) kings sized quilts on our 2'x3' kitchen table, actually, I'm not sure if it is even that big LOL! The secret here is to borrow a couple of ironing boards and set them up at the height of the table, one behind and one on your left side, it gives you a little more room and it is easy to flod them out of your way when you aren't quilting.

Remember, if basting with saftey pins.... in a king sized quilt you should have at least 400 of the suckers in there. And be sure to stretch out those shoulder muscles ;) they will get a workout!

Tammy, In Ontario.

I have done many up to 120 square. I used either hobbs wool batting or thin cotton dream batting. I just baste very very carefully and then roll and wad what I have to to get it to work. I have done them on an old full size singer 66 treadle, a singer 15-91, a new Bernina 180. I did use my ironing board to support the work to the left of me in front and my sewing machine has a good size table to the back, but you could set something up back there so it does not pull on the quilt. You want to be in control of what goes under the needle. I think basting and support are the keys for any size quilt. Have fun! Mine are holding up well.

Christina

Sure have and still do.

Baste the dickens out of it, roll 'er up tight, and do the first two longest stretches to bisect the quilt in both directions. Then quilt the quarters. I will usually try to get through those first two long runs with clips, clamps, and sheer willpower to keep the rolled sides rolled. Then more often than not I will actually baste the roll in place on the side I am not working on. Whether you do it side to side or catty cornered will depend on your pattern but it works both ways.

NightMist

That is almost exactly the same thing my mom told me when I asked her how she machine quilted he two biggest quilts. Especially the bit about shoving it under the needle any way you can. Debra in VA See my quilts at

Not that big, but 104" x 104". It was lots of work, and I took lots of breaks as it is difficult to manipulate that large a quilt through the machine. I kept the quilting designs simple towards the centre, and more complex towards the outside edges. I had a centre medallion, so I machine quilted cables in the border around the centre. It took 8 times around to complete the whole border. The final wide border was stitched with a cable/ feather pattern I found in a book. I quilted this on my Pfaff! Now I own a Juki, with a bit more room, and will be quilting another one just as large on it!

I am planning to do the same exact thing with a king-sized on which I'm working. Just need to wash the backing fabric and get my guts together. ;-)

WV, May I ask where you are from in West Virginia? I'm currently in Clarksburg and am hoping to move to Charleston over the summer. Sara

A couple of hints, John. The bicycle clips are available at quilt shops and, I believe, at JoAnn's. in the quilt notions area. There are also some that are plastic and have "teeth" on the inside that will grip a bit better. That said, I hate the "roll up the quilt" method. I find it is easier to deal using the "stuff and fluff" method. Especially if I am doing diagonal lines. Often I can just turn the quilt, (pivot with needle down) and keep going on the next diagonal. I have done a whole quilt in "one" pass this way. It is easier for me to maneuver a bit of the quilt at a time than that long "hard" roll of fabric. All you need is for the area around the needle to be flat and "free". I can bunch up a lot of fabric when it isn't rolled.

Pati, > One of the things I picked up from reading the various books available

I appears that the quilting community has, singlehandedly, sustained the availability of metal bicycle clips. Good for us. I benefit on both of my obsessions. I guess it will involve my showing up at Joanne's, in full Lycra Drag, and rummaging through the notions department. Not a pretty picture, I assure you.

John Pati Cook wrote:

Always thought there was something a little kinky about those lycra suits :-) But don't they obviate the need for clips on your legs? Roberta in D

"John" schrieb im Newsbeitrag news: snipped-for-privacy@s34g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...