lots2do

Thank you, Prism, for your advice.

SuziC

I never thought to start in the corner....all the books say start in the center. I will try that on my next one.

roselady

You are all so encouraging, always, thank you so much. I really need to decide "I can do this", because I know I won't be happy until my quilts are 100% done by me.

Tweety2911

I only have my sewing machine and do all my quilting on it. Twin size quilt is all I have attempted so far. Ditto to Katier825. My first attempts were horrible. I saved them and do pull them out once in awhile to see how bad I was. Practicing on muslin sandwiches shows your progress very clearly. Draw a design and practice FMQ. Tracing paper on a roll is my best friend. Good Luck, keep at it. Make it fun.

bigsister63

The Amish say that nothing is perfect but God so you quilt does not have to be perfect. Try to do the best job that you can since who ever you make the quilt for will appreciate your effort and not look for perfect. "practice makes progress" (not perfection). If you are using free motion practice using pencil and paper to practice so that you brain will remember the motions. Also in my area you can rent the use of a long arm for $10-18 per hour after taking a learning class that is about $40. Sounds like a deal to me and I will try it this winter when I have to stay in (Brrrrrr),

Midwestmary

At a recent FMQ class at my LQS, we machine quilted the middle section of our quilt minus the borders. The borders were then attached and quilted. I thought this was a great method to reduce bulk when quilting a large quilt.

dgmoby

The truth is that if you have prepared your sandwich well, by heavily stabilizing it with thread, pins or whatever you choose - you can quilt it beginning anywhere because it won't move/shift. However - if you don't, then you are at risk for everything from pleats to running out of backing if you've pushed your top too far over.

I did quilt with my Singer, until I got a longarm. All quilting, regardless of the machine used, needs to be stabilized in some manner. There are just so many things this process helps to avoid (waving borders, pleats, D-Cups, tucks, shifting blocks, wonkiness, etc.). So, stabilize it well, and you can begin and end anywhere since you only take out the area you are immediately quilting in.

(With the longarm, your frame stabilizes for the majority of your quilt, but you still may need pins, etc. depending upon how flat the quilt is and what your quilting plan is.)

Just my thoughts - hope it helps :)

quilt crazee

go out and buy a CHEATER'S PANEL batt& back it. PRACTICE on this. usually, they're a baby/ snuggle size. You will not have wasted a quilt top you spent many hrs on! The end pc could be donated to cancer patients, homeless shelter, womens shelter, ect.. Just a win, win idea. good luck!

Janette

Look into quilting as you go where you just do a block, quilt it, then join in to another block. I've done a queen-size that way and it was way easier than trying to quilt an entire quilt at one time. Quilt as you go means that you generally don't have anything to the right, all your quilt stays to the left.

catrancher

I'm just learning to do that. It works best if your quilt is not too large . . . around lap sized is a good size (or smaller). I like using the Supreme Slider which just sticks down to your sewing machine bed (with friction, not adhesive). It's a teflon produce and it reduces the drag. And find some gloves you like. People like Machingers. I've ordered a pair, but they haven't come yet. I HATED my Fons & Porter gloves. My clipped threads clung to them like scotch tape.