miniquilts

Hi all! As the screen name suggests I have recently become... addicted seems the best phrasing for it to making miniature quilts! I suppose this may be a bit different than the "norm" -- but that's the fun part, what is normal?!? lol All in all I have worked in the 1:12 scale of dollhouses and miniatures for a good while, and have enjoyed needle arts since I was a child. Over the holiday weekend I was able to enjoy "quilting" a cheater quilt fabric that worked in this scale. Since that weekend, I decided I wanted to try another quilt BUT not a "cheater" fabric! So as I've been browsing here I'm looking at finishing up my next quilt which I basically threw out all the typical rules I've been seeing of "use muted tones for miniatures"... it looks somewhat like a crazy quilt b/c of the bright colors -- but it's a simple enough yo-yo quilt that I've really been enjoying the process of making!

I would like to ask if anyone has any suggestions for sewing machines that are good for use with thinner fabrics in regards to quilting, and won't eat them? I've currently been using a machine by White that I think is somewhat possessed or just hates my fabric choices, looking at a few options on the second-hand market like a vintage Janome 108 or Brother VX 560...

QuiltnNan

Welcome from western NY and happy quilting

leonf

Howdy from your Western neighbor. I used to make tiny kites with lacy napkins and paint brush bristles for the struts. but I've never tried miniature quilts.

osewme

Hello & welcome from Texas. Would love to see pictures of your miniatures.

miniquilts

Thank you all for the warm welcomes! I don't really count the cheater fabric as a quilt so much, but it was enough to whet my appetite in regards to actual quilting! As it was, I shared a few pics of that on FB in some of the mini groups I'm a part of and had several requests to make more. Was admittedly a bit surprised at that! lol

Have to say though the yo-yo quilt I'm working on I hope to truly have finished up here in the next day or so -- but have been getting a bit ehhh feeling with the heat and humidity here... hopefully though! Will look forward to sharing pics soon!

Lori B.

Welcome from Michigan!

Iceblossom

Welcome aboard! I have vision issues and so don't do tiny things any more but they can be fun and as you found addicting.

I know my vintage Pfaff is my best machine for fine and fancy fabrics, it could sew organza and batiste and silks like greased lightening -- but I never could get a quilting stitch I was happy with!

Check the basics first, like your sewing needle size and type. Your plate should be a single needle style, not a zig-zag. Past that, hopefully someone else has more experience and suggestions for you. I might try different feet, like a wider flat clear one instead of my standard 1/4" foot.

And yes, pictures please when you can!

JenniePenny

Hello and welcome to the board from New Hampshire.

SillySusan

Hi and welcome from North Carolina.

miniquilts

Thanks for the information you are able to share Iceblossom! That's more than I've been finding elsewhere! I tend to be one of those that tries to really make a list of what it is I want/want to do, and then research the heck out of every machine on the market. I really like the idea of a vintage machine, but in the same breath there area a LOT of neat options offered on some of the newer machines... My main concern is whether or not they have the plastic gears and are prone to breakage -- well, that and if they can handle the thinner cottons and silks that I tend to work with normally.