thanks for the info I certainly will be checking out that site. I have never done machine quilting and want to learn & need all the help I can get. :D

Anyone know of a site for med arm FM quilting? I've been looking.Illsa

Wow, thank you! Her quilting is AMAZING! Maybe I can figure out how to space out some of those designs.... I don't like quite that much concentration of thread. I want the quilt to retain some of it's loft, and also can you imagine how much $$ in thread you will go through doing an entire quilt that way? Hers are beautiful, tho. Works of art with thread...

I am with you sewbizgirl, it happened to me that I quilted a twin quilt for my son and because I mimic water I quilted it really close, well, it is not soft at all. On top of that, I there was a lecture at my guild and the teacher who does long arm quilting explained that in order for a quilt to "look" nice, the quilt has to be even throut the quilt so if you quilt it a lot in one section you might need to continue. But I guess we can always space out as you said.
Just theory because "I know nothing about FMQ"

We learn as we go, huh? Too much quilting too close creates cardboard... that's what I've found. I still want them soft and cozy. I find I like the stitching about an inch apart, for polyester batting.

For close quilting, it helps a lot to use a finer thread than normal -- doesn't come out so stiff.