machine quilting stitch length

Although I've been quilting for a long time, I'm really a novice machine quilter. I'm quilting my first full sized quilt--a sampler no less--and am learning a lot of dos and don'ts for my next quilt. Like, #1 DO NOT do a sampler for your first full-sized machine quilting project! Anyway, I'm in a bit of quandary about stitch length. I'm having trouble keeping the weight of the quilt adjusted so that it doesn't affect the stitch length--no matter how I set the length on the machine. However, I'm wondering if a really short stitch length may wind up less variable?

TIA!

Michelle in NV

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desert quilter
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I think that no matter what you have the stitch length set to, if the quilt is pulling then you will end up with different sized stitches.

The trick is to adjust your quilt top. Can you use a larger table - like the dining room table? Can you push a second table or even the ironing board set to table height against your sewing table to make it larger? Can you push your sewing table into the corner so you have wall on two sides thus blocking the quilt from falling off on two sides at least?

Paula Reid had some nice tips > Although I've been quilting for a long time, I'm really a novice

Reply to
Marcella Peek

Michelle - are you free motion quilting or using your walking foot? I'm guessing you're free motion quilting, which I am quite a novice at as well. Do you have something, such as an ironing board, placed next to your machine to hold the weight of your quilt as you are working on it? A small table or a chair would be helpful if you can't put an ironing board up. I just use a

2.5 stitch length when I'm meandering & it is "I" who causes the stitches to be uneven, especially if I'm not moving my hands at an even pace or I do not have the side of my sewing table opened up to hold the quilt. I'm sure you'll get many more helpful hints.

Pauline Northern California

Reply to
Pauline

Michelle, you'll just have to find what works for you. My quilting buddy races through machine quilting as though the Hounds of Hell were on her coat tails. Somehow, her stitches are remarkably even. I am more comfortable going slowly and only quilt an area that I hope to control. Are you doing free motion with the feed dogs dropped? If so, the stitch length setting won't matter because you are controlling how far the quilt moves between stitches. If you are letting the feeddogs decide how much the quilt moves, then, yes, you'll want to give them a chance to operate properly by not forcing them to tug and heave the heavy drag from quilt weight. This is where practice really is a good thing. Polly

Reply to
Polly Esther

Piggybacking here. Others have pointed out the necessity of supporting the entire quilt -- that will *really* help keep your stitches more even. But one thing I've discovered about stitch length is that it all depends on what sort of quilting you're doing. If you're doing mainly straight lines (whether free-motion or not) or gentle/largish curves, a "normal" length is fine. But I like to shorten my stitch length when doing small curves. It seems to help smooth those curves where a longer stitch looks pointy.

Reply to
Sandy

Hi Marcella,

Actually, my table is fairly good-sized--however, the mach> I think that no matter what you have the stitch length set to, if the

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Reply to
desert quilter

Hi Pauline,

I'm us> Michelle - are you free motion quilting or using your walking foot? I'm

Reply to
desert quilter

Hi Polly,

After read> Michelle, you'll just have to find what works for you. My quilting buddy

Reply to
desert quilter

obvious)

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Hi Sandy,

I hadn't thought of changing stitch length for the curves, but I definitely do have problems with some "pointy" curves. Thanks for this tip!

Michelle in NV

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Reply to
desert quilter

move the machine back a bit on the table. sit right up close and fluff the quilt right in front of you on the table. oh and tilt the machine slightly towards you too. you can use those rubber wedges used to keep doors open. the rubber also keeps it from sliding around. jeanne

Reply to
nzlstar*

Hi Jeanne,

Thanks for the excellent tip! I can see where this could make a big difference.

Reply to
Michelle

hey Michelle, do let us know how you progress and what worked or didnt work. sharing is what helps us all. and dont forget to label your quilt. oh and we wanna see pix too. :) cheers, jeanne

Reply to
nzlstar*

Hi Jeanne,

I haven't had the chance to try out your tip yet--but will use it on my next quilt. Of course, I waited until I'd slogged through most of the quilt before realizing I needed some pointers. Kept thinking I just needed to get the hang of it. ;-) HA! Now, I'm just down to the borders and being on the edge they aren't as much trouble. However, I did bring up a chair with a high back to sit beside me and threw the quilt over it. That was a considerable help!

So for better or worse, I should be able to post a picture of the quilt fairly soon. I've learned a lot about what I don't know and need practice with. Fortunately, my 6 year old cousin who is to receive the quilt for her birthday will not be critiqueing it too harshly. :-) Her primary concern is that the quilt be purple. Well, it is....very purple.

Thanks again! Michelle in NV

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desert quilter

heehee, we wait with baited breath. fingers crossed it all goes well for you. jeanne

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nzlstar*

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