Daffy Daphne

than it was at the beginning. I always think that if I ever wanted to enter a quilt in competition (just If, not likely, because it isn't one of my ambitions), I would have to make it twice so as to be able to enter the one with improved quilting. Of course, making it twice isn't going to happen.

I think my quilting will never be better than just good enough to get by.

Daffy

joe'smom

You're bound to improve a bit with every quilt you quilt. Don't be discouraged, at least you are finishing quilts!

zozee

I realized this truth when doing a quilt a couple years ago. Then it occurred to me that the reason was that i start out tense when I'm doing FMQ, but after a while I relax.

So, I began warming up with practice sandwich quilts. I have some ugly fabrics and the same batting I always use (Warm and Natural) on hand made up for this purpose. About 10-20 minutes of warm up and playing with designs, and my shoulders and arms and hands have relaxed and my mind is engaged . Quilting the "real quilt" goes so much better after a warm-up.

Iceblossom

If it's been more than about 2 weeks since I last long-armed, I always have to practice up first. It's a physical activity that requires muscle memory.

Like Zozee I have some random sandwiches that I practice up on. Then maybe I'll even do a quick little easy baby quilt or other simple project. Then I load on the queen sized/more difficult project.

Just to make sure everything is still correct from the practice piece, I usually pin on a scrap of fabric to outside the edge of my project and run through a few stitches with the actual batting and backing I'll be using just in case I need to make any other adjustments.

I find I have to constantly keep on myself about consistency and really have to do everything of a stage during that one stage, especially on things like freehand meandering and stippling so that the relative sizes stay consistent from top to bottom.

When I get on a roll of quilting down though, yes -- they keep getting better and better until my body is worn out and then another couple of months past and then I start the cycle over again.

Tartan

Keep at it! I found it freeing when I studied pro. quilted quilts at a show( not computer quilted) and saw that their stitches were not perfectly spaced. Unless you are letting a computer quilt your quilt, it is okay for your stitch length to vary. You will get better with every quilt you quilt.

NZquilter

Which is better than me! I've just been finishing tops because I don't trust my FMQing skills.

juliasb

I have made identical quilts twice. The first two were smaller quilts for a woman in a nursing home. Her family wanted the second one because she did not like to let it go to be washed. The family would switch them out when she wasn't looking. One of the quilts was used a the pal on her casket when she died instead of flowers. The two daughters then kept one for each. The second one was done as one for a show. I then sold that one but decided I wanted one for myself. I have also made 6 DWR quilts. Not really identical but unless you looked closely you wouldn't know the difference. The quilting got better with each one.

lindaschipper

My quilting is just the opposite....my first line of quilting is the perfect size and stitch length. After that I go downhill.

bcsews

[QUOTE=juliasb I have also made 6 DWR quilts. Not really identical but unless you looked closely you wouldn't know the difference. The quilting got better with each one.[/QUOTE]

Juliasb, what method did you use to make your DWR quilts. I purchased a precut kit from a lady who had given up on it. After sewing all the ring sections I found they did not want to go together as the pattern showed. Very few instructions with it. After trying several different methods I found on the internet I finally came to the conclusion that a combination of poor fabric/bad cutting was the main problem and I finally, after much soul searching, discarded the whole mess. I would still like to make one successfully so if you have any advice I would really appreciate it.
Sorry if this is off topic.

Ellen 1

What I have done many times is get a piece of muslin and “practice” the motifs that I plan to use on my actual quilt. If I am in one of my truly “anal” modes, I will draw (blue water solvable pen) out the “quilt pattern”, ie. Blocks.....and then quilt it. That way I can try a variety of different motifs to see which ones I like best. Then I can wash out the blue lines and have a great quilt for: dog or show and tell......