meyert

Thank you so much for your ideas and internet suggestions I am going to look at those. When I use clothes pins they fall off (maybe I buy the cheap ones) I tried "puddling" last night and I struggled.. I will do some reading and other options to consider

Jingle

I tried the rolling up when I first started machine quilting. I found that made the quilt harder to control. After about a dozen, I got tired of rerolling and just cram right side under the throat and start quilting.

Tartan

I find that rolling the quilt to make it smaller just makes it harder and heavier to move. I make sure all my quilt is puddled up on the table so there is no drag. I puddle the 12 inch block area I am working on on my extension table. Don't worry about the next part over there because you are not there yet!!! Worry about what is right on your extension table. Once you have quilted that block, move and reposition the next section onto your extension table. My Machingers gloves enable me to move that quilt section on the table easily.

Lisa_wanna_b_quilter

I'm with Jingle. Cram it under and go for it!

QuiltE

I'm a puddler!

What can really make a difference is lots of tabling in all directions to support the weight of the quilt. And be careful with what comes down in front, between the machine and yourself, as that can be counter-productive to letting you quilt with some freedom.

LadyElisabeth

I have one of those new Pfaff quilt expressions machines and can control the pressure foot with my foot, so I can keep both my hands on the quilt at all times. That has made quilting MUCH easier.

Dina

You might also consider positioning your ironing board along side your sewing machine, at a right angle, to support part of the weight of the quilt. I am machine quilting right now, and I discovered this ironing board tip a while back and it really helps.

I also lower the height of my ironing board so it is the same hight that my sewing machine desk is.

The nice thing about using my ironing board is that it is right here and I can move it back "where it belongs" when I am done.

Dina

klgls

I puddle also - tried rolling, but found puddling works best for me.

meyert

Sounds like there are tons of puddlers out there!! Maybe I need to move to my dining room table like morelcabin does... then I will have more table space. I don't have much where I am working now THANK YOU

dunster

Nowadays I use the longarm to control the quilt, but before I got that I tried all sorts of things. I do have a big work space around the machine, and found that was very helpful. I tried rolling the quilt and had no luck with that, but I did like puddling much better. Then I discovered machine quilting in sections (Marti Michell's book) and that was the best solution for me.