Machine quilting novice

You can do that type of work on any machine. What is needed most is a machine in good working order, the right needle, thread and foot, and lots and lots of practice :)

-Irene

All of that, Irene, and the right attitude. Right now I'm quilting a size much too big for comfort (to me). I selected the hardest block (dead center) and said to me, "I will only do this hard one for now, everything else will be easy". It was mighty slow-going and there was lots of lifting, rolling and stitch-by-stitching involved. Turning a full size quilt is not impossible but do keep in mind that quilting is not a race. Breathe, relax and stick your tongue out. Polly

Mostly (I'd like to say always, but I'm sure that is not quite true) all that "fancy" machine quilting is done using _free-motion_ quilting. You can look it up online. Basically, you lower (or cover) the feed dogs on the the sewing machine, so that the machine does not move the fabric for you anymore. Then you move the fabric yourself instead. That way you can move sideways and backwards also, and you don't need to turn the quilt in the sewing machine.

My three first tips would be: (1) Get Harriet Hargrave's book on Heirloom Machine Quilting (it may seem overkill at this point, but it is good and you can learn in stages). (2) Set your machine to needle-down, if you have it (3) Practice on small pieces that you don't mind messing up - you can probably make them into placemats or coaster anyway, but don't practice first on a gift that you need for tomorrow!

HTH, Hanne

I agree with all Hanne said. Plus it helps to watch someone do it -the McTavish book comes with a DVD and good feather instructions. Although of course there are many other ways to do successful feathers. One thing all good feathers have in common, IMO, is the angle at which they come off the spine. Get that angle right, and the curve will flow by itself. Then all you need is lots of practice (lots!) so you can move any direction without turning the quilt, i.e. visualize your feathers from every angle. It wouldn't hurt to trace a nice feather plume onto a practice piece, then stitch on the lines following the McTavish method, for example. (My adaptation of McTavish is not to stitch the spine with the teardrop at the end, just draw a chalk line about where the spine needs to be. Then start at the bottom, feathers up one side, stitch the spine back to the beginning and feathers up the other side.) Roberta in D

The trick is you don't turn the quilt until you finish an area. Roll up the area that needs to go under the arm as tight as possible (bicycle clamps will help keep it rolled). Having the machine bed flat with another surface (ie set into a table, or use an acrylic extension table). Also, practice, practice, practice.

I've quilted a lot both ways, and anything I can do on the longarm I can do on my home machine. Does it take longer on the home machine? Sure. Do I have to take more frequent breaks to avoid back and shoulder issues? Sure. But it can be done.

You might check out some of the work by Kathy Sandbach. She quilts everything on a regular home machine.

Michelle, straight lines are *hard* to do! It's much easier to do curves. But everyone else who's already replied to you has given very good advice. I'd add Diane Gaudynski's books to the list of resources you might check out; she does everything on a home sewing machine, too.

I was afraid you were going to say that! ;-)

Okay, Polly, I know what I've been doing wrong--not sticking my tongue out! ;-p

Hi Hanne,

How do you cover the feed dogs? I can't lower those on the machine I have.

Then you move the fabric yourself instead. That way you can

I'm writing it down. :-)

Hmmm. Not sure what "needle down" is....?

Thanks!

If you can move in any direction without turning the quilt, I'm guessing this would be with the feed dogs down or covered too? I think my problem has been trying to quilt with the feed dogs up!

Okay, I'm writing down McTavish too. Thanks!

If you can move in any direction without turning the quilt, I'm guessing this would be with the feed dogs down or covered too? I think my problem has been trying to quilt with the feed dogs up!

Okay, I'm writing down McTavish too. Thanks!

Some machines (such as my old Elna Supermatic) come with a plate to cover the feed dogs. You could also tape something like an index card over the feed dogs. Poke a hole through it for the needle. Or set your stitch length to zero and the feed dogs won't move. That should have the same effect.

Push a button and the needle always stops in the down position. Probably not an option unless you have a computerized machine. All of the mechanical machines I have used stop wherever they happen to stop -- sometimes up, sometimes down, sometimes in between.

Julia in MN

Thanks for the hints and the link, Kathy! I"m keeping all of this good information. :-)

LOL Sandy! But I do get what you're saying.

But everyone else who's already replied to you has given

Thanks for the reference. I'll check it out. :-)

Thanks Julia! Those are great ideas. I'm getting a little excited about experimenting now.

I have a feeling mine doesn't have it--wish it did. But I'll read the book just in case.

When I began machine quilting, I was told that anyone can learn to do it in about 20 minutes. Teaching your machine what to do, though, takes about 300 *hours*! LOL!

The longer I've been making quilts, the less I enjoy the quilting part, and it shows in the final product. I just know I'm a piecing kind of gal, and I'll probably always be that way, no matter how much I practice.

Trixie

I'm with you, Trixie. I love a finished quilt but once the top is done, the rest is work. I wish I could afford to have all my tops quilted for me.

You may change your minds. My shoulders can't manage anything as large as a double bed size quilt anymore but I get one heck of a kick out of quilting anything smaller. You can take any quilt from ho-hum to wonderful with the quilting. Perhaps it is the '300 hours' you need to teach your SM to do what you're wanting or the great books like McTavish. Don't neglect to try the Crayola washable markers for little kids. If you need a line to follow, they are good and they do wash out. Polly