Ping! Jan aka CoffeeDiva

Taria is a very wise woman!! Before I bought my longarm, I handquilted mostly with a little machine quilting on my DSM. And I did all my own quilting. So, what I can say is some things translate over. Even density, marking, choosing your designs, top and back fabric tension, thread knowledge, batting and knowing what it does to the quilting design and knowing what you want your final look to be apply across the board no matter what your process is. If you are going for over the top really dense quilting, there's some tricks to make that go easier that I think would apply across the board. Being able to draw out your design freehand (if that is what you want to do) is absolutely across the board. If you can't draw it, you can't freehand quilt it no matter which machine you are doing it on. And yes, if you are tense, you can not move freely no matter what machine you are on. And have you seen Taria's quilting??!! She's amazing!! Listen to her!! She's very wise!! :-)

Jan RCTQ Coffee Diva

Oh no, just for a few minutes is all. But Leslie, it was so cool. I made little circles and wrote my name and even made feathers! There is just something about moving the machine head that was easier for me.

I will say one thing and long arm people, please don't take this the wrong way because what you do is absolutely amazing, but I don't think machine quilting on a little home sewing machine should be judged along side long arm quilting. I'm talking about at regular quilt shows, not what I saw on Friday.

Do you?

Cindy

What a great idea! I'm going to check it out.

And please don't think that I believe in any way shape or form that I'm going to buy a machine and believe I'm going to be able to do anything other than maybe do a few big squiggles! And badly at that!

You know what I really like about it? The quilt is rolled up neatly, I can go in rows. I'm not trying to manage a wad of quilt in my lap and on my table. And no basting (is there?).

I thought those big heavy plastic templates for scrolls and such were cool.

Cindy

Yeah, you guys are probably right. And I knew I was never going to be able to do the artistic type of quilting. Just some scallops, or even some simple feathers. That micro-stippling that I love would always be beyond me.

I just want to finish a quilt. I don't make quilts that are worth paying someone to machine quilt for me.

You all are very wise women.

Cindy

Cindy,

I think you can learn to do any and all of it. There are a lot of fantastic resources out there. And you might think about portable options as well like a handiquilter or some equivalent there of. You can put it up and do a few tops and then take it down later when you need the room back. Or renting is an option ... I think you have some options and just think about them and what works for you. But whatever you pick will be right for you :-))

Jan RCTQ Coffee Diva

I've tried out a few of the big machines at shows too. Love it. Got the video from Gammill and have serious lust. But am also practical. Way too much to do and far, far too little money for something like that when I do not want to be a pro long arm quilter. I want to be able to more easily quilt the tops I make/have made. A couple of years ago I saw and tried a Tin Lizzie 18 at a show here in Phx. Fell in love. Reasonable price, has a stitch regulator, (the part the keeps the stitches the same size as you free motion sew, and a major part of what I want) and can be set up at whatever size you want, up to the available length of the EMT pipe. Designed with lots of input by quilters and tested well before being put on the market. I even dragged a friend of mine over to see it and she was able to add the machine to her on-line only store. Even though the price has gone up a bit, I still want one. And that is the main "splurge" I want from the inheritance (whenever that manages to get settled. ) I think of it as a much better tool to do what needs to be done to get my business where I want it to go. (or something like that). No way I can afford to send out all the tops I have or will have. And I want to quilt them myself besides. In the meantime I do what I can and set the others aside.

Pati, > I've tried out a few at shows -it would be soooo great to own one! I have

When I first started MQing I kept it VERY SIMPLE. Just straight lines with a walking foot. A lot of batting does not need to be densely quilted so, for example, if you have blocks that are less than 8 inches across you could get away with just outlining the blocks. Do a series of vertical lines and then horizontal lines and you are done. Start from the middle and work out. I found that stitching 1/4 inch away from the seam was easier than stitch in the ditch but you have to see what works for you. Once I could do straight lines I tried very gentle curves, again using the walking foot, and premarked on the quilt. It took me quite a while to try fancier MQing but at least I got some tops finished in the meantime! Good luck Allison

I actually like my quilts that are sparsely quilted. They aren't compacted and so much fluffier and I think warmer too. They have a nicer feel to them-- not so "cardboardy". Mary in VT

" > > Yeah, you guys are probably right. And I knew I was never going to be able