Need advice quilting leaves
05-03-2011, 03:16 AM
#21
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Australia
Posts: 4,116
I would free motion around the leaves and veins and then do close stipple or meander in the background spaces. There would be no need to stop and start - it could be continuous. If you have not sandwiched it yet, extra padding in the leaves (ala trapunto) could add oomph as well. Happy quilting!
05-03-2011, 05:01 AM
#24
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Maryland
Posts: 1,773
I think I remember reading somewhere, sometime, that you could tape an index card over the feed dogs if you couldn't lower yours and that would keep them from grabbing your fabric. I would think that you would still need to eliminate the pressure from the presser foot so you could move the fabric. I know I have a different throat plate for one of my machines that covers the feed dogs but they don't lower.
I still like the trellis idea.
I still like the trellis idea.
05-03-2011, 07:32 AM
#26
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 347
Originally Posted by jillaine
I attach below a photo of a border that I'm trying to quilt. As you see, the border fabric is of leaves.
I want to quilt around each leaf. I started hand-quilting, which allows me the greatest control, but I cannot come close to neither an acceptable stitch gauge nor an acceptable rhythm; in addition, it will take more time than I have (quilt to be auctioned 22 May; it's lap size and there are about five yards of this border), and I'm not sure that either my eyes or my hands are "young" enough to get through this process. (P.S. I've never hand-quilted anything before.)
On the machine, I have only ever done stitch-in-the-ditch with a standard foot. Last night I attempted to attach a generic walking foot (purchased at Hancocks recently) to my 1970s Monkey Wards machine; doesn't fit. I have other feet for this machine, but not a walking foot. There is a "foot" with only a "circle" through which the needle would go.
I'm thinking of trying free-motion but know nothing about it. And as I look at the pattern, I fear that I'd have to do a lot of stop-start as I jump from one group of leaves to another.
Basically I think I'm in over my head (not that that's stopped me in the past) and need advice from quilters here.
Sending to a free-arm quilter is not an option. a) I have no way to compensate her; b) my piecing on this leaves (ahem) much to be desired in places (i.e., I'm embarrassed to have anyone else look THAT closely at it); c) I doubt there's time.
Suggestions? I really do want to quilt around these leaves.
I want to quilt around each leaf. I started hand-quilting, which allows me the greatest control, but I cannot come close to neither an acceptable stitch gauge nor an acceptable rhythm; in addition, it will take more time than I have (quilt to be auctioned 22 May; it's lap size and there are about five yards of this border), and I'm not sure that either my eyes or my hands are "young" enough to get through this process. (P.S. I've never hand-quilted anything before.)
On the machine, I have only ever done stitch-in-the-ditch with a standard foot. Last night I attempted to attach a generic walking foot (purchased at Hancocks recently) to my 1970s Monkey Wards machine; doesn't fit. I have other feet for this machine, but not a walking foot. There is a "foot" with only a "circle" through which the needle would go.
I'm thinking of trying free-motion but know nothing about it. And as I look at the pattern, I fear that I'd have to do a lot of stop-start as I jump from one group of leaves to another.
Basically I think I'm in over my head (not that that's stopped me in the past) and need advice from quilters here.
Sending to a free-arm quilter is not an option. a) I have no way to compensate her; b) my piecing on this leaves (ahem) much to be desired in places (i.e., I'm embarrassed to have anyone else look THAT closely at it); c) I doubt there's time.
Suggestions? I really do want to quilt around these leaves.
05-03-2011, 03:56 PM
#30
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: North Central, NC
Posts: 2,741
As some others said, you can just tape an index card over the feed dogs. As another person mention also, you can just fmq with the feed dogs up. I have done this on several occasions and found that it kept me from making some of those big darn long stitches when the quilt moved too much while quilting. My stitches we more consistent. Might want to try both ways and see what works for you. Good luck.
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