Finally! I'm a real QUILTER!

Whhooo Hooo!! Go Leslie!!!!!!!! :-))))))

Jan RCTQ Coffee Diva

Awesome!!!! Glad you're having fun with it.

marcella

Taria-

I bought mine at a not real good time for us financial-wise, but I am so pleased with it and don't regret it one bit. It has everything I could hope or ask for. The knee presser foot lifter is great for pivoting, the needle up/down is a must, the Accu-feed works really well for thick quilting and bindings, the thread cutter is so convenient especially for PFP cuz you don't have to flip back and forth cutting threads, the extra high lift on the presser foot is so nice when you sew too close to a safety pin- you can reach right under it to remove the pin, the separate bobbin winder motor means you don't have to unthread the machine to wind bobbins, the motor feels and sounds powerful and it can go really fast on those long straight seams, the thread holders are made for huge spools and accommodates those skinny spools very well without the thread falling off the spool, the Accu-feed is much easier to install than the walking foot and you can drive it fast, too, without the needle screw loosening, and the extra room under the arm for the quilt is absolutely spectacular!!! Gee, I sound like a commercial, but this machine is

*really* made for quilters with all the goodies we need. It's not a clothing-making type machine with a 1/4 in. foot thrown in and then they try to call it a quilter's sm- like previous "quilter's machines". And I haven't even tried everything yet- I'm still learning and discovering! Do insist your dealer throw in the Accu- feed 1/4 in. foot (they are quite price-y) and that foot comes with the small needle hole/opening plate. The open toe Accu-feed foot is also nice for watching exactly where the needle is going like for SITD.

Go for it! You won't regret it, I'm certain! ;-)

Leslie & The Furbabies > WooHoo Leslie. Good for you. I really never had any doubt you are

It's a good feeling with everything 'comes together.' Congratulations and don't forget....pictures!!

-Irene

Don't ya just love the thread cutter?! I love it! I also like running it with the buttons rather then a foot feed.

I'm just so tickled that you're enjoying your new toy. That's wonderful. Happy, happy for you. Polly

WTG Leslie! I shall cross all fingrs and toes and sacrifice a FQ or 2 on your behalf! Roberta in D

"Leslie & The Furbabies in MO." schrieb im Newsbeitrag news: snipped-for-privacy@y80g2000hsf.googlegroups.com...

Congratulations Leslie! A great achievement - if you think you needed it. I thought your quilting was already lovely; but, if you didn't think it was quite right, then I suppose it wasn't. I'm so glad you have got the wonderful feeling of accomplishment. You had a couple of great 'book-teachers' there, too. Here's to future intense quilting >g< . In message , Leslie & The Furbabies in MO. writes

congratulations!! The first completed quilt is always a hallmark. Musicmaker

Good for you Leslie. I am very very proud! Takign the quilting leap is a big step!

Melissa in NJ

On Tue, 20 Mar 2007 18:35:20 -0500, Leslie & The Furbabies in MO. wrote (in article ):

Happy dancing!! I knew you could do it Leslie. Can't wait to see your mythical horses when they are done.

Maureen

Cool - do we get to see pics? even of the wobbles, might be seriously influential for someone who hasn't done much machine quilting (like me!)

Suzie B

Congratulations, Leslie! It's so exciting when it all finally "comes together", isn't it? The two books you used are my favorites, though Harriet Hargraves' book is chock full of valuable information, too. I can't wait to see your Mythical Horses quilt -- but why don't you show us your practice piece, too? We'd love to oooh and ahhh over it. :D

Could you say some encouraging words of wisdom for me? I keep thinking I should be getting better at it....but I don't seem to progress much.

Did you mean me? or Leslie, Kathyl?

My 'wisdom' = what works for me, is to have established what I can do and what I can't. I have a fair range of things I can do now and I tend to stick to those. For instance, I cannot do a nice curvy stipple to save my life; but I can do a nice wavy filler, provided I can come to a point and swing back again. So, I have a sort of scimitar shapes all over. I can also do pebbles, and looooong, skinny zig-zags (like tree bark). I can also draw accurately enough to do cables etc onto a fine sheet and quilt through. Also, I often use quilting patterns themselves as quilting patterns. I often use flying geese and square in a square for that, interlocking diamonds etc; also using a twin needle helps to beef a pattern up. Now, I would never in a million years say that I was a good quilter, but, now I have my little 'portfolio' I am at least adequate. It also makes it easier to decide what to quilt on a top, as my choice is limited!!! . In message , KJ writes

Either, both....doesn't matter! I could use all the encouragement I can get. I think there must be a corrolation between drawing and freehand machine quilting. I can certainly trace patterns with my machine, but doing anything freehanded is certainly discouraging. Round things aren't round, square things aren't square, leaves don't really look like leaves, etc., etc., etc. So Maybe I should stick with my "weak strengths" and imitate your methods, pick the patterns that I'm not unhappy with and work with those. Thanks, Pat. That WAS encouraging!

Here's a link to my *first* practice piece- don't know why you'd want to see it, tho..... yuck. ;-) I didn't bother to baste it, so it wasn't too easy from that aspect. I started with the feathers in the upper right hand corner. That wasn't a good idea- that will be the most dificult for me. And I'll NEVER use black thread on muslin, so my oopsies won't show so much! The second attempt was better/smoother with less jerks and starts, but it got Hooverized! LOL (Hoover is our 1 y.o. Golden Retriever puppy.... and he is still very much a puppy!)

Leslie & The Furbabies in MO.--- now, off to Springfield for hubby's cataract surgery in the morning- wish us luck, please.

obvious)

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Another little 'help', then: leaves. For me, it makes a tremendous difference as to whether I am going left-handed or right handed on the 'stem'. So, I might have a randomly winding stem with leaves coming out at fairly regular intervals, one to the left and one to the right etc. I am free-motioning towards myself, say. Those that come from the stem to my left are lovely - fat bases, pointed tops with a nice one-sided waisted shape. Those that come out to the right are not nearly as pretty. However, the latest one I did, someone asked me if I had a special gadget on the machine to do them!!! They didn't realise they were free-motion until I told them, and pointed out the irregular ones. So, by concentrating on that single pattern, some definite improvement has been made. I am now planning to move forward to flowers!!! eventually they might even have rounded petals - rather than pointy ones! Do try a few of these things and find what *you* like. I was at a class with Philippa Naylor - who does most exquisite free-motion quilting. She said that free-motion quilting should be like your own signature. You do not have to make it just like 'everyone else's'. It was she who said that my curve then a pointy bit filling was fine. That was me, curved stipple is someone else. . In message , KJ writes