Title: I gave it a try
Post by: finisher on July 03, 2008, 07:07:16 AM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OK..so..I thought I'd try some machine quilting. I had pieces left over from the Flowering Snowball and thought I should do something with them and get them off my work table. I sewed them into a throw size. I had some fusable cotton batting here..and thought that would work well. I got the layers pressed and ready to go. I started by sewing in the ditch along the sashings, then went to each block and stitched 1/4: away from each seam, then added hearts in the largest area of the blades in the design, then stitched a little twisted design on the sashings, followed by a cable border. My machine has the computer control panel at the front of the right hand side..and as I was wrestling the bulk of fabric through that little area I kept bumping the touch pad with my knuckles! Then I had to reset the darn thing. :1087: When I stitched the sashing area it pulled the fabric out of square a bit..but quilted out.
The biggest thing I learned..DO NOT DO SO MANY STOPS AND STARTS! I quilted this throw like I would hand quilt it..but with machine quilting you need to plan quilting that is pretty much a continuous line. once I had the quilt bound I sat and pulled the threads through from the back so I could tie them off and bury them in the batting. I think I spent about 8 hours doing that? :1087: It took almost as long as all of the quilting. My final result..not too bad. Not of the quality I would use as a gift..but good enough for a use it up quilt!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Title: Re: I gave it a try
Post by: Texasmusicmom on July 03, 2008, 07:32:39 AM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Good for you! Sounds like you were much more successful than I at my first machine quilting job! (A 25th anniversery banner for my preschool.) Wrestling the bulk still is my biggest concern......I was quilting around pictures on the banner and it kept sliding around. I finally got it right...so everyone liked the banner. The banner is only throw sized, so I'm in awe of those of you out there who manage queen and king sized quilts in regular machines. Wow. I am really interested in the quilt as you go techniques....just to avoid the bulk thing until I get more experienced.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Title: Re: I gave it a try
Post by: QBee - Mary Ann on July 03, 2008, 07:47:06 AM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Finisher - Once again I feel like I don't even belong on the same planet as some of you! Your first-time machine quilting is probably better than any of mine will ever be! :sad: Since my brain knows more than my hands seem to be good at, I do know this...many (maybe most) machine quilters don't manually tie off their threads. Instead they start and stop with a few teeny-tiny stitches. If you haven't tried that, perhaps you want to see how that works for you. By the way, I'd gladly take that quilt were you to gift it to me!
QBee
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Title: Re: I gave it a try
Post by: quilton on July 03, 2008, 08:57:20 AM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
That looks great finisher.
I'm just going to start putting a quilt through today. Haven't done one in awhile but its not big so hoping I won't have any trouble. They tell me practice makes perfect. Hopefully my brain is working in rhythm with my hands. If I do well today, I may do more.
I was told the same thing QB. Take teeny-tiny stitiches to start and it fastens the end of the thread. I'm trying that today.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Title: Re: I gave it a try
Post by: golo on July 03, 2008, 09:01:56 AM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I think you did amazingly well for a first time.... When I start on the machine I pull the thread to the front... do a couple stitches in place and go.. I cut off the threads and done... I couldn't see any flaws... I don't think perfection is meant to be in quilts... Keep it up... :yahoo:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Title: Re: I gave it a try
Post by: BearFoot on July 03, 2008, 09:04:21 AM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I thought your quilt looked terrific...I took a look at the backside picture and you did an amazing job of machine quilting for the first time machine quilting! :afro:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Title: Re: I gave it a try
Post by: hummerlou on July 03, 2008, 09:50:04 AM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wow, you put me to shame, Finisher!!!! What a wonderful job!!!!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Title: Re: I gave it a try
Post by: nuffsaid on July 03, 2008, 10:17:03 AM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What a nice job! Did you use a walking foot! Did you end up with any little tiny pleats or tucks where the stitching crossed other stitching lines? I love the colors, and the quilt is so pretty. Carolyn
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Title: Re: I gave it a try
Post by: FiberBabble on July 03, 2008, 10:18:07 AM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Finisher, it looks great! I sure wouldn't turn it down if you gave it as a gift (coughcoughmybirthdaycoughcoughthiscoughmonthcough).
When I first read that you used fusible batting, I cringed. I'm pretty anti-fusible unless it's for placemats. It might be that there won't be so much wrestling with a 'normal' batting. The inxpensive poly batts (the thinner the better) are okay, and the natural fibers/blends battings do quite well.
One thing, if you do 'utility quilting' - some in the ditch or next to the ditch quilting - in places that will anchor the top to the backing, you can do your fancy quilting top to bottom or left to right; you don't need to start in the center and work out.
There's probably lots more, but that's all I have (for now) in the unsolicited advice column.
Great job! Be proud of yourself. Just think how much faster you're going to be able to finish that stack of UFO's!!! :2funny:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Title: Re: I gave it a try
Post by: finisher on July 03, 2008, 10:57:59 AM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I didn't have the little puckers where you cross a line of stitching..which I was afraid of..but maybe that's because I used the fusable batting? It really holds everything in place pretty good..except I had to re-iron the borders. By the time I got to them they had been pulled and tugged enough that the layers weren't sticking together any more. I think pin basting might be more likely to cause puckers? I didn't use a walking foot..or lower the feed dogs. I just sort of steered the quilt where I wanted it. My hearts aren't very smooth..but those might have been better if I had lowered the feed dogs and free motioned it? When I stitched the longest line of sashing I pulled the fabric out of square. I dunno if dropping the feed dogs or a walking foot might have been the best way to avoid that? I sent away for a darning foot so I'll work up my courage to play with that. Maybe I'll just take some scrap batting and and ugly fabric and sew just to get the feel of it? I didn't know I could stitch in place or do little stitches to avoid dealing with those threads. Pulling them through, tieing them, then pulling through in to the batting was a major p.i.t.a.!!! I threaded the needle more times than if I had hand quilted I'm sure. :1087: I had the fusable cotton batting on hand here. It softens when you wash the quilt.
I stopped into Joann's today (sale
) and looked and they only carry fusable poly batting. My experience with poly over the years has been that the batting fibers migrate out over time and you end up with a quilt that has little or no batting. I try to avoid poly. Maybe it's gotten better over the years..because that's mostly what Joann's carries..and I would think they would stock whatever is selling best?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Title: Re: I gave it a try
Post by: Pawstoquilt on July 03, 2008, 01:16:25 PM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Finisher you did a fantastic job on your quilt :afro:. I really like it. Actually, I think I am the one who should get it--don't you :2funny:. Don't know if I will ever have nerve to try it or not. It wears my shoulders out to wrestle it around.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Title: Re: I gave it a try
Post by: finisher on July 03, 2008, 01:28:12 PM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Well..it was kind of hard on my back..but that might be because I was using different muscles than I usually do? OR because I was tensing up. Every once in a while I would remember to drop my shoulders..which were up around my ears! :1087: I don't think I'd want to machine quilt anything bigger than the throw. It was too hard to wrestle.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Title: Re: I gave it a try
Post by: betweens on July 03, 2008, 03:12:10 PM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Finisher.. you have done it again.. you have taught yourself to machine quilt and done an excellent job.. but don't get used to it.. your hand quilting is exquisite and if you were making my quilt I would wait 10years to receive one of your hand quilts..
your machine quilting though was excellent.. love the cable on the boarders.. it is not an easy task.
Deb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Title: Re: I gave it a try
Post by: TxMaryQuilts on July 03, 2008, 03:19:44 PM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wow, where to start.
The quilt top is gorgeous.
I love the yellow sashing with the colors in the blocks.
Your machine quilting is really really good.
IT IS TOO gift quality.
Yes I think you will like dropping the feed dogs to do things like hearts.
Isn't it funny when you remember to drop your shoulders, that if you had a shell you would be a turtle!
Really great job.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Title: Re: I gave it a try
Post by: FiberBabble on July 03, 2008, 04:44:54 PM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Finisher,
When I machine quilt I lower my chair a bit (but that might have more to do with my eyes rather than my shoulders!).
I've always got some noise in the background to keep me from thinking too much when I'm quilting (usually it's an audio book). When doing free motion quilting, especially if the motif/pattern is marked, it helps to go on auto-pilot.
I normally use Warm 'N Natural batting (from JoAnn's, with a coupon!); it's thin and fairly lightweight.
I spray-baste with the stuff in the pink & white can (!). For me, using pins is just asking for puckers and it's a pita to stop and remove them when I'm on a roll.
What do you have for table to the left of your needle? Do you have enough support? What do you do with the part of the quilt in front of the machine - is it in your lap? Sometimes tossing it (or part of it) over your shoulder helps.
Not dropping your feed dogs is part of why it was such a trial to wrestle with the quilt. Once you get your darning/quilting foot, it will become easier, though you'll be learning a whole new way of manipulating your quilt.
Home 
), the head of the machine does look like an industrial machine. But she's moving the quilt and not the machine - that's where I was led astray. Maybe it's because I'm working on learning my friend's mid-arm (Nolting Fun Quilter) and it's SUCH a learning curve to move the machine rather than the quilt!