I am trying to tackle my ever growing "to do" list lately. There are so many things on that list in different categories. Home & family, sewing & craft projects, personal growth, etc... one of the things I have been trying to be better at is machine quilting. Don't ask me for how many years I have been saying that.
I feel like this year's it! I am going to get better at it, well I have to. There are so many quilt tops waiting to be completed on my shelf.
I have machine quilted some of my quilts in the past, but I can see all the mistakes and unevenness of the stitches. I am not really happy with the results.
My friend told me to use felt, the kind you can buy by the yard. I didn't have felt, but I had scraps of fleece and such and I have been practicing with those. Also, the people at the quilt shop that I go to, and where I bought my sewing machine, gave me some helpful tips for machine quilting (Thank you!). It has been really fun practicing and I think I am doing OK.
The true test will come when I am working with a real quilt. It is much harder to move around a big heavy quilt and to be consistent with the size of the pattern. If you are a quilter and have some tips to share I would really appreciate them!
Just a reminder that the giveaway for the $100 gift certificate to Olive Garden is still on! Go here to see what you need to do enter for the chance to win. :)
Hi there! I can only say that it will get easier the more you do it. I have a Bernina with a Stitch Regulator so that really helps. And looking at the things that you have already made, I think you will master quilting very fast. Have a good weekend ahead. Warm wishes from Dubai.
ReplyDeleteGood luck! ;) I know you will make some beautiful things. I am wondering if you have an old post I didn't see about hand quilting? I recently moved to Japan and I don't have any type of sewing machine but I would like to start some small hand stitching projects with the fabric I picked up at a small fair a few weeks ago. Suggestions? My Japanese isn't so good yet so the books at my little store are too difficult.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you will master the art before long,judging by the beautiful sewing you do. Practice does make perfect.
ReplyDeletex jeanetteann
Divide your quilt into fourths. Start in the middle and work diagonally out. That way you'll only be actually working on a fourth at a time and won't have too much bulk under your machine. I, too am learning how to machine quilt and am having a great time :). If you haven't visited Leah Day's blog, look her up she has some great things to say. She also has you tube videos with links to her blog. Also look up the "Pajama Quilter" instruction DVD's, she's amazing :) Have fun, can't wait to see your projects!
ReplyDeleteTo be completely honest... I love those little "mistakes". It makes those quilts more personal to me. It's not a perfect quilt... doesn't look store bought, it's flawed, just as every human on this earth is flawed in some way. It brings it closer to reality in realizing that it was real person who created this when I notice little oopsies on quilts made long long ago. Those are my favorites.
ReplyDeleteGood for you! I have a very basic machine and machine quilting is in my to do list too. Could you please continue sharing your learning experience and some tips please? Grettings from BC,Canada.
ReplyDeleteGloria x
Hello I have just discovered your blog (love your refashioned cardigan). I am a quilter and have posted several machine quilting tutorials on my blog. Here is a link that might be helpful to you http://www.squiltz.blogspot.com/2011/07/preparing-quilt-top-for-machine.html There are other tutorials as well.
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