Cathe

Yes, of course you can quilt a big quilt on most regular sewing machines. It can get bulky and cumbersome, but it CAN be done. I do it all the time.

You can even break them down and do them in units - in panels or in blocks (like Georgia Bonesteel's Lap Quilting). There are probably books at your public library that can help you get started with that.

If time really isn't an object, you could even hand quilt them! :D

DianeN

Thank you Cathe for telling me you do this all the time
Hand quilting well ya I guess but honestly I'm not going to do that , not in this lifetime. Way too busy on too many need to get done things

If it's just cumbersome and time consuming then I can deal with that. A little at a time gets done eventually.
Thank you so much

lin

Hi Diane :) I've machine quilted many quilts on my domestic machines. I started out doing a small project so I could get my bearings, so to speak, but worked up to much larger projects. It is cumbersome as Cathe said, but definitely doable! Just take your time, and may I suggest you play around with different needles, threads, tension settings, etc on some scrap fabric and batting before diving into the real thing? It'll save your sanity! Don't ask me how I know this. LOL

Some of the needles I've worked with are:
Universal 90/14--not generally a good choice in my experience, but I've had some success when using a 40wt cotton covered poly thread.

Schmetz Microtex Sharp 70/10--good with 50wt embroidery thread, 50/60wt silk, Bottom Line (which is a bobbin thread, but I use it as a top thread sometimes too.

Quilting needles 9/11/14 for regular cotton thread 30-40 wt

Schmetz Metallic 80/12-good for threads like Sulky metallic or Sulky Ultra twist.

Klasse` Sharps 70/10 for 40wt or finer threads, cotton or rayon
Klasse` Quilting Titanium 80/12 for 30/40wt cotton or rayon

Standard Point Top Stitch for heavier threads or when working on a heavier fabric like flannel.

DISCLAIMER! LOL...this list is just a general list of what I have and what I've had some success with. Your machine might handle things a bit differently, and different fabrics/batting wts can make a difference in what needle will work best, so it's best to get a couple of types and play around with them and the thread you want to use until you find what works for you and your project. Don't let it all overwhelm you though. I started out just using the top stitch and Quilting needles listed above, along with the Universal now and then. I'm now almost as addicted to different needles and thread types as I am fabric! ALMOST, but not quite. ;)

pinecone

Well this proves it. I have quilted but my fave is meandering, for me the in the ditch is a challenge. Welcome to our world of quilting. (I used to do Tole and decorative painting years ago.)

piney

DianeN

Hi Piney nice to hear from you
I learned a trick or two in that first class I took. We had a really good teacher. It was fun. The ditch part I finally got that down pretty good.

As for painting. It running in my blood I think. Oils, acrylics, watercolor you name it I love it. I've challenged myself many times only because I fgured if I'm going to teach which I do love, I have to know about different mediums. That's the reason for many different ones.
Besides we get so complacent if we never change. I think change is growth. But of course thats a person issue I guess.

I'm not gonna be discouraged about this quilting part now so many of your have offered so much advise and help.
I sure do appreciate it.
Diane

DianeN

LOL Are you sure Lin that you don't want me to ask you how you know this?

Thank you so much for this information. I will definately test different things here to be sure.

I'm not really a dive in person but proceed cautiously.
I don't like doing things twice.
Thanks so much for sharing this information with me

Diane

lin

This is me to a "T" I have to go really slow when I sitd or else I wind up going up over the other side. Hate when I do that! :x

lin

LOL Diane. I ripped more stitches (and discovered I knew quite a few more...ahem...ripe words LOL) than I care to admit to. :lol:

And, you're very welcome. I hope some of that can be of practical use for you as you give this a try!

DianeN

This teacher had us buy a special pair of gloves that are rubbery or sticking or something can't remember now to pull apart the seams when stitching in the ditch. They really work too. Much better than putting grease from had cream on your quilt I'm sure. You know that darned old dry skin well my darned old dry skin anyway
Diane

DianeN

Oh absolutely I just needed to know if others were doing this machine stitching. I've done the numbers on this king size quilt I want to make. I figured 8 or 900 dollars to have it quilted pretty much defeats my whole purpose. I also thought that maybe I'm in wrong business LOL
Diane