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Re: Why am I always nervous about the quilting part?

Carey — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 03:59:22 GMT

Check out the free motion quilt group here. There I posted the author and title of a book called Follow along the lines. Or something similar. Also you could draw your designs on tracing paper, pin, and quilt that way then tear slowly away. Or you could draw your design using a washable or removable tracing pen or someting and then quilt along that. :) Good luck.

Re: Why am I always nervous about the quilting part?

Georgia — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 03:58:21 GMT

The main thing is to relax! I know. easier said than done. When I start on a new quilt I find myself tensing up and the more tense I get, the more jilted and unsteady my quilting becomes. I make myself concentrate on breathing and relaxing my shoulders and the quilting seems to come along well enough. I see improvement with every quilt.

I also tend to get wired about my designs not being consistent. You might want to check out Pam Clarke's website. She has some pretty cool templates that I use with pouncing chalk that are basically lines that give me a reference for my designs.

Re: Why am I always nervous about the quilting part?

Spudgrandma — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 03:23:10 GMT

Marge P:
Practice, Practice, Practice is what we have to do and just relax and try and go with the flow. Meandering is very pretty on most quilts so don't beat yourself up if you do a lot of it.

I totally agree, nothing beats practice and the more you do it the easier it gets.

Re: Why am I always nervous about the quilting part?

Kris — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 01:48:49 GMT

Nana:

Gini

I am with you. I rarely take out quilting stitches. The only time I have removed them is if the tension is really messed up. That is just more trouble than it is worth.

You're so right Nana. I'm working on MQ 3 today and I don't like it. I tried taking out some of the stitches then decided to just continue. I've got two rows of blocks done and I still don't feel better about it. I've stopped for the night.

Re: Why am I always nervous about the quilting part?

Lori — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 20:16:15 GMT

Thanks to everyone for their advice. I am glad to hear that I am not the only one who gets nervous when they go to quilt their top. Finally there is a place that I can get great advice.

Re: Why am I always nervous about the quilting part?

Nana — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 04:17:11 GMT

Gini

I am with you. I rarely take out quilting stitches. The only time I have removed them is if the tension is really messed up. That is just more trouble than it is worth.

Re: Why am I always nervous about the quilting part?

gini — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 04:13:49 GMT

Lori:
I guess the worse that could happen is that I have to take it out.

i would use it as a learning experience, but i wouldn't take it out.

Re: Why am I always nervous about the quilting part?

Lori — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 04:08:27 GMT

Judy, it looks great. I am going to give something new a try. I guess the worse that could happen is that I have to take it out. It would not be the first time. I will post a picture once I get going. Thanks!

Re: Why am I always nervous about the quilting part?

Lori — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 04:06:14 GMT

Thanks for the link. Very help[ful!

Re: Why am I always nervous about the quilting part?

Marge P — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 20:39:22 GMT

Lori -

You certainly are not alone on this topic. I have been working on two of the 1600 Jelly Roll quilts and I made them mostly to use the fabric quickly and to practice the quilting. I have a great set up so no problem there but I am the problem. Used a Pantograph (the designer would probably not recognize it as her work LOL) and got two runs done - it only took me two days to get the first one done but I had every excuse in the world to not work on it. It is a simple pattern but my circles are not exactly round should we say?

Yesterday I decided to work on the second one and was a bit surprised that it was going a bit easier. So perhaps my brain had finally gotten that pattern established in its little memory bank - circles are still not perfect every time but it felt a bit easier. When I turned the sewing room lights off last night, the quilt was quilted. So now if I will just get back in there and put something else on the frame and keep the practicing going, perhaps I will be happier.

Practice, Practice, Practice is what we have to do and just relax and try and go with the flow. Meandering is very pretty on most quilts so don't beat yourself up if you do a lot of it. I agree with Gini - Done is Good!

Judy - your quilting looks great.

MargeP

Re: Why am I always nervous about the quilting part?

Dee — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 20:32:20 GMT

Gini,

I totally agree, I noticed that with some of my fabric choices as well as the quilting. After the top is done and I stand back and look at it with some distance, it really does look good. Sometimes it takes time away from a project to appreciate it.

Re: Why am I always nervous about the quilting part?

Patti — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 20:12:46 GMT

I think the best advice is just to have fun with it. It finally became fun as I was quilting my signature quilt. Meanders and loops turned into occasional hearts, then little objects if they went with the psalms that were printed on some of the fabric, like moon, sun, stars, candle, trees. But it is DONE! And I have much more confidence now and looking forward to some more quilting. I never thought I would say that.

One of the reasons I was nervous before was that my machine was giving me lots of problems. The dealer, decided I had a lemon, and gave me a brand now one to replace it. I am so happy with how it works. I can count on it to do what it is supposed to, and I don't have to stop until I need to switch a bobbin. So much better than having the thread break every 5-10 minutes, or the tension going bad.

Re: Why am I always nervous about the quilting part?

Kris — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 15:01:55 GMT

Lori,

I think we all feel some trepidation about quilting a quilt no mater how experienced. Just go for it. Finished is definitely better than perfect. Practice on smaller pieces when you want to try new designs.

Re: Why am I always nervous about the quilting part?

Kris — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 15:00:22 GMT

Judy,

your quilting looks great.

Re: Why am I always nervous about the quilting part?

gini — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 20:44:38 GMT

judy, it looks good to me. when i go back and look at quilts i wasn't happy with, they look better. sometimes they look a lot better than i remembered. i think when we get too close to them and have spent too much time with them, we are too judgemental