Hi! My name is Heather and I have secretly been longing to joining the ranks of quilters for years. I have been reading an easy quilting book my mom loaned me an easy quilting book. I have been wanting to do a baby quilt and a queen size quilt. After watching videos and such.... I am fairly sure I might not get it perfect but Imma try anyway! I am however terrified on one important step... Stippling/texture sewing. I have a pfaff creative 1473 CD. It has free motion sewing but..... how would I get to the center witout having too much build up of fabric to bog down or even make it impossible to sew the texture. I really want to try the texturing but I am wondering if it will be impossible with my machine. An ideas would be appreciated :)

Welcome to the group. Don't be scared. We all started out with low expectations and learned as we go. All you need is practice and we are all here to help. You will find so many experienced quilters here. As far as doing the center of your quilt, you need to roll up the sides so the area you want to work on is able to fit under your presser foot. Just go for it...it's lots of fun and very rewarding when you're done and don't forget to post pics of your work!!!! Happy Quilting

Can't help with the stippling, I use on a $300 machine and use my free motion thingy, just drop the feed dogs and away I go! I am still kinda new at this too! anyway, welcome and glad you joined us, Happy quilting!!!

Hello and Welcome to the board :D:D:D

Sandwich up some scraps and practice, cut them up into potholders and then move on to the baby quilt first. You will do just fine :D:D:D

Hi Heather, welcome from Arkansas! It's great to have you join us. Please don't be scared, we all have to start somewhere. Stippling is so much fun. I start quilting from the center and work my way out. I roll up the side in a nice tight roll. You'll do fine and the great feeling of accomplishment you'll have will outweigh the feelings of apprehension. Have fun!

Hello and welcome from Ontario. You can do full size quilts on your standard machine, it is just a little awkward, but I have done several this way.

Welcome to the board. You have a way to go before you get there, but when quilting, you start in the center and work you way out. Lots of help available here!

Start with the baby quilt. Start small and build up your experience and confidence.

You'll get there sooner or later. No one ever started out expert.
Everyone has to start somewhere, so gather up your self confidence, your fabric, your threads, your sewing machine and sew sew sew.

Let us see the finished product, I'll bet it will be lovely.

Welcome!! I'm sorry I can't be of any help on stippling, I am just feeling more confident stitching in the ditch. I think sandwiching some trial pieces is a great idea.

You can do the stippling on your standard machine. Just don't be in a hurry and kind of "know" where your pressure foot is headed and you can do it just fine. I found it much easier if my quilt had plenty of surface to rest on. I placed a folding table in front of my machine and the left side against the wall so the quilt doesn't get a chance to fall to the floor and pull against the foot. This really helps keep the stippling steady. The "machingers" gloves are a life saver and will help you move the quilt along as you go. Hope this helps. That's not to say that my work is top of the line but I'm happy with it and it can only get better, right? :-) Welcome!

Thanks so much for the warm welcomes! I think I am going to definitely cut out my main pieces for a baby quilt for my friend and with the scraps play around and make a pot holder. That was a fantastic suggestion and I totally did not think of it! <3 Thank you so much!

Waving from Sacramento CA. I have been quilting for a while but freemotion scared me too, so I am currently enrolled in a quilting class. We use the book "Quilting made easy" by Maureen Noble. She has lots of exercises to try.

ANother great teacher is Leah Day - she has a blog online and features little video clips for her 365 quilt patterns. Have fun practicing and don't do anything too big for your first project.

Wecome!

Hello and welcome from SW Iowa. Glad to have you here. Some people roll the quilt up but I just drape it and head out from the middle. I get butterflies when I start but once I get going it's fine. Just go for it. Make sure you spray baste or hand baste your quilt sandwich. The more stable it is the better.

Welcome to the board from Southern California!!!!

You'll do great, you've gotten a lot of great tips!

I have been watching a bunch of http://www.youtube.com/missouriquiltco - FANTASTIC! They all make it just look so easy! I will definitely take pics along the way! I have a couple gifts to make and hope to jump in to it soon!

Hello, and welcome from southeastern Michigan!! 8-) Don't be scared!! Take it one step at a time. We all had to start at the beginning! You will always find help on this board when you need it!! Don't be afraid to ask absolutely ANY question you might have! Someone on here will know the answer, and we won't make fun of you either. :lol: So be brave!!! Jump in the pool with the rest of us!! The water's great!!!!! :lol: :lol: :thumbup:

Hello from Elizabethtown, KY-welcome!

Hello and welcome from central Alabama. I would definitely start with a small item (table topper or placemats) and practice before plunging into a large quilt. You can do it, just stay relaxed and take your time.

Hello from WV and Welcome to the group
jazs2

Welcome from "on the road" currently outside of Detroit Mi. There is absolutely nothing to be scared of. Every one of us has made a quilt with many mistakes and times where we've had to rip out the same seam numerous times. I agree to start small (baby quilt is perfect) and don't make your piecing to intriquit. Measure everything twice before you cut, and baste before you quilt. Then just pick up that pattern and jump in. The worst that will happen is you'll have a great lesson and good laugh. I've had a few. Have fun, and welcome

Don't be scared! Look at how much fun you can have....and this is just ONE site to drool over. Check this out too..

http://www.filminthefridge.com/

remember..you can't hurt anything. There are just a few simple guidelines to follow ~ such as seam allowances..keep them all the same..etc..the rest is pretty much up to you. Follow the rules that your reading or make up your own. May you enjoy the journey finding your inner artist! =)

Welcome to the board. T am from Texas!

Hello and Welcome from Germany!

happy quilting --check out the quilt as you go method--simply you quilt small sandwiches 12x12 say then sew them together with sashing-- seen as QAYG

Hello Heather, welcome from Minnesota!

Welcome from Ireland

Welcome from Ohio! Good luck with the stippling. I sent out my quilt top to a LAQ and really enjoyed just making the top. Start small....I made a table runner and some Christmas ornaments...very small. You'll do fine; just relax and enjoy!

Hi and welcome from the sunny state of Florida!!
I haven't done this before, but please post pics of your finished project!!!!

Never never be afraid of any of us.Quilter are great people :D

Welcome from Michigan.

Welcome from Arizona!

Hi and welcome from So CA. Just start following a pattern to make your quilt, then comes the quilting. All quilts don't have stippling. Just start out stitching in the ditch (sid) or seam line. Work you way up to stippling. A friend suggested a DVD by Patsy Thompson to me. I might have spelled her name wrong, but I have taken several classes on free motion quilting and I have some books on it. I found it all helpful. Most of all, it is better when you relax. Easier said than done though. Just take a step at a time and you will be fine. The quilters in this group can help you with anything.
Verna in So CA

HI I'm from Co, and want to welcome you to the newest addiction. These kind people (quilters) have all given you so many tips so I will just say enjoy the new experiences,. Oh yes, I think you should practice on smaller projects at first too but remember that fmq is only a lot of potholders all hooked together so with a little practice you will be fine.

You will learn all kinds of quilting ideas from this board. Glad you decided to try quilting. Don't be scared but be gentle with yourself as you get going. You'll get better and better over time. Hello from Central PA

You will learn all kinds of quilting ideas from this board. Glad you decided to try quilting. Don't be scared but be gentle with yourself as you get going. You'll get better and better over time. Hello from Central PA

Welcome from Virginia

Heather I was just teaching a gal to free motion and we started with her name because she was used to that motion, it was esier for her to practice with and get the rhythm. Also, I hope that you have some sort of table and are not just working with your machine base, it give you a little more room for your hands. Good luck to you