Originally Posted by erstan947
Yep, I could see myself in your post. SID and straight line works for me. I will never enter my quilts in a show but they will pass the loved and warmth test every night for my friends and family.
I think I fit right here also. I tried hand quilting on a frame. It went very slow and sometimes not so well. I've done it following near the seam and I've tried it 1/4 inch away from the seam using quilters' marking tape (whatever it's called). It looks alright to someone who hasn't quilted.
Now I do machine quilting -- SID or cross-hatching. I also do hand lap quilting with or without a hoop. I've had a stroke on my right side and I'm right-handed. I'm fine but a bit clumbsy. So at times it goes well and at times kinda shaky. It took over 6 months for me to do my last attic windows (Can be seen before quilting on a thread MY ATTIC WINDOWS) The graduate (DGD) loves being wrapped in it. That's good enough for me.
I'm doing a machine lap D9P quilt right now by cross-hatching. My next move is to sandwich my kaleidoscope quilt top that I made a few years ago. I can have it ready to stitch during those long "football-watching" months. [Can you tell I don't like football?] So just feel free to do what you can do and enjoy the process. Skill and confidence comes with practice. I could never win a contest, but as far as my grandchildren and relatives are concerned, the quilts are winners. Just do what you like and learn as you can. Good luck.