Welcome btiffany,
I'm so sorry to read of the losses you experienced last year. The thought that you are "picking up the baton" and ready to do your own quilting is such an inspiration. By all means ask any questions you may have along the way and look forward to seeing your quilt.
Please check out Patsy Thompson on youtube.com-----she shows how to set up your machine and space around it and has great tips. I found that spray basting large quilts does not work for me, but that's just me!
Pat
I have to echo what others have said. Gloves are a GREAT help and I get out the big 8 foot conference table and put my machine on that. It makes a big difference. I will have to check out the video's suggested.
btiffany,
btiffany:I have read everything I could possible find and am anxious to have "real people" to ask questions as I progress.
Welcome to QCA. You may want to check out the Fear No More FMQers group, there is lots of information there about free motion quilting.
Toledo, OH
Thank you for the response. I finished the last few pins and have the quilt rolled with round clips on. Today after the flower show in town I will actually begin the quilting. Since this is a reproduction 30's fabric quilt I wanted something as quilted in that period. I decided to do diagonal lines. This will also be the easiest, I think. I have chosen a couple of the plain squares to do a flower design I drew out. I will be using the walking foot and will try the bar attached after my first stitching line. Thank you I do have gloves and I agree they are great. I am winding a few bobbins before I start so that will not slow me down. My binding is all pieced together and ready to go when the quilting is finished.
I am now going to look for the FMQ group. Thank you and I will take a picture to show my results.
You are ready to hit that pedal! Have fun!
Most of the quilt teachers recommend a glass of wine to relax you before you start. Of course with straight lines you may not need the help. You mentioned a flower block, are you quilting around the design? because if you are, the walking foot will not work for that.
Vivian :Most of the quilt teachers recommend a glass of wine to relax you before you start.
what a great idea
gini in north idaho
Vivian :Most of the quilt teachers recommend a glass of wine to relax you before you start
Granny M
I'd probably fall asleep with the wine! Boring just doing straight lines. I am over 3/4 finished. I will do the freehand after I finish the "lines" with the darning foot. When I came to those squares I just changed the stitch length and did a few stitches, (raised the presser foot and moved to the new spot) just as the beginning and end. Worked well.
I am using various sizes of clips to hold the fabric. I also am folding instead of rolling. I purchased some of the red clips to hold the quilt rolled BUT they only work with a lot of fabric, in the middle, as I am doing diagonal lines. I didn't see various sizes when I purchased them. As for the lines---they are not all straight!! I finally figured just where and when I would run into trouble with things getting caught or the clips getting stuck and pulling. Lines looking much better now but what a learning experience. Straight lines for me will probably be confined to smaller areas.
Thanks for support. I find myself reaching for the phone to call my aunt, quilting buddy and she's not there. However I am so fortunate, blessed and grateful for what she did teach me which is the reason I am able to do this at all. I stopped at a shop up in Ramona which is about 30 miles from here and what a great bunch of people. They were helpful, fun and informative. What a great hobby where people enjoy talking to each other and sharing instead of coveting their knowledge. Amazing.
My sewing room is not finished so I have to do this in the dining room. Sunday needed the table! Today and tomorrow have meetings so three days wasted! Believe me I would rather be quilting!
I have too a Sapphire 870 and have quilted in free motion some quilts . But I had bought a table with adaptable insert (Sew Ezy table) , it's more confortable and easier . I'll be happy to see your finished quilt...
btiffany: Mother-in-law likes it very much
btiffany:Quilt is finished
Tiffany, I totally missed this thread so my congratulations on your finishing that large sized quilt on your DSM is a little late but sincere. Glad your MIL liked it, a labor of love, for sure. I look forward to seeing it.
Millbury, MA
btiffany
Glad you got your quilt finished. It is rewarding to finish one and have the recipient really like it.
Vinton, Virginia
I quilt all my own on my sewing machine. You have a better machine even than I do, and I know where you're coming from with wanting everything to be done by yourself. Also you save a lot of money by doing it yourself as well. You are not tackling impossible I have done queen on mine but with basic designs only. Make sure you have moved everything off your table and set your machine up to leave enough space for the quilt to go through. I would also suggest rolling up the quilt and unrolling it as you go along with the quilting it helps with keeping everything. It can be done.