Originally Posted by fabric_fancy
when i first started quilting i did so on a small singer also.
i found the best way to quilt is from the side.
you always see people machine quilting from the front but this limits ease of movement for both you and the quilt.
you will have much greater success if you turn the machine to its side like the frame quilters do.
you should either sink the machine into or table or build a base around it out of foam insulation.
here's a link to make it out of form - just set your machine on its side.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAS25v3ZTk0
then spray the area with sullivan's silicon spray to eliminate quilt drag.
use machingers gloves and you can try the quilt halo.
i used all these products for a little over a year before i got my frame and had great success quilting this way.
also you might find that a frame isn't out of your reach. they are very inexpensive on the used market.
i got my grace pinnacle with all the extras (a $3000 cost) for $600 and then i just put my sewing machine on it.
Wow... thank you! I will have to try turning my machine sideways... That's got to work better than quilting from the front. I don't think there is any easy way to quilt a big quilt on a regular machine. Very tough... But I still try because I do not want to hand quilt, and I really don't love the look of long-arm quilting. It looks too machine-made. I suppose if I ever need to make a huge quilt I will have to have it long-armed.