romanojg

I can so totally relate to what you are saying. About 3yrs ago I had the opportunity to buy a Gracie Frame, it's looks just like the big metal ones but it only goes up to a crib size. I was supposed to get lessons from the LQS on using it and that was a joke. I went to the store with an appointment and she just said a few things and suggested me buying a certain book and that was it; no hands on. I put my reqular sewing machine on it the first day but as you can imagine it would only quilt a few inches and so I decided I'd wait until I could get a bigger machine, plus it was the only machine I had and if it was on the frame I couldn't sew anything else. Since then I've gotten the Viking Mega quilter 9in and a Ruby which I traded in for the Diamond Deluxe and have yet to use the frame. I was going to sell it this past yr but around here things like that don't sell as well on Craigslist even if it is a good price. Right now I've set my goal to finishing up old projects. This past weekend I finished quilting and binding two crib size quilts that have been ready for binding for 2yrs and I quilted a table runner that was for this past fall season. I make my holiday tablecloths, runners reversible with different holidays on each side instead of a different one for each holiday; like a 2 for one. Now I'm hoping this weekend to sandwich a couple of quilts that I have in progress and start quilting them. I'm doing the ones that my kids want first and then I have a wall hanging and a quilt top that I bought and those I'm going to set up on that frame and quilt; for better or for worse. If nothing else, no matter how they will turn out I have a 6yr old grandson who loves the whole idea of quilting and he'll love it and think its the greatest. No one I know quilts so they never see the mistakes that I see so that is great. The only new projects that are getting started until I catch up is my monthly embroidery club and since that's is educational and I still need to learn so much it's important to do that. I'm not even going into a fabric store (except for emb club) unless I need something to finish a project, which is doubtful. I just am being very firm with myself so that I do it. That is what I did when I bought my emb machine and then read from so many how it intimidated them so they hadn't touched it in yrs. I promised myself I would use it and I do more embroidery on that machine that sewing, also another thing I'm trying to change this yr since I have such a great machine. Just jump in there and practice on things that if they aren't the greatest they can keep you or your loved ones warm in the winter and who cares if there are mistakes. Good luck with getting your courage up. If nothing else I know there is a LQS that is about an hour away and I can take classes there to build up confidence. I'll try on my own first though. I did FMQ at a class this yr and was surprised that I did pretty well with it. You just never know.

IBQUILTIN

I am also learning on a long arm, and I am so excited by it. I have done two quilts in a very basic pattern and I have 2 sheets sandwiched so I can just practice all I want. Don't let it scare you. You got that machine for a reason, so have at it

nightquilter

I have been there and I have not moved far from total fear of FMQ.So to at least be able to enjoy my quilting machine I use pantographs and do alot of SID and ruler work,I may never move to FMQ but I am learning every day about my machine and quilting in general.All I read says practice, practice, practice! One lady I talked to wasn't very nice,But maybe she was having a bad day.Another lady said to work on paper and remember to flow (be free). But please don't let fear keep you from trying.