I finally took a free motion quilting class from Dori Hawks. It's really a matter of 'practice, practice, practice.'
Mailyn Belford, a teriffic art quilter (Her Rundy took first at Lancaster several yrs ago.) said she does a practice piece every time she sits down to quilt. Gets the hands and foot in sync.

Don't beat yourself up!! I am spoiled because when my Mom passed away a few years ago I was able to purchase a longarm machine...I am hoping to really get my business going soon..but I bet you can find a longarmer in your area....I let folks pay in 3 parts and I am thinking of just charging what we agree on....not the per square inch...plus a 5$ thread charge and setting up, etc....it all does add up so that is why we want to be fair in our charge and respect your work at the same time with a great design...maybe someone in your area also will let you rent their longarm per hour or day..I am seriously thinking of doing that for people. In this day, quilting is becoming even more appealing due to our return to true values .... but is is good for me to know that others struggle with getting the top finished before moving to another....I had to make it a determined spirit in me to complete each one at a time, then move on...too overwhelming if there are tops not finished...it is like an attic!!..just up there, filling up! Have a quilting blessing today! Kari

You are my quilting twin. I just finished 4 quilts this week. Binding only.

Cheating? OMG - is there a test later!? I had no idea. I did not study. Oh No - am I going to flunk quilting? :shock:

I love the planning, designing, cutting, quilting and binding. I do not like the piecing. Strange, huh? The piecing is just a means to the end for me. I have a tendency to finish what I start - it is some kind of vice, I think. I feel like a failure if I do not finish it - even if I do not like it. I do the same thing with books - I force myself to finish - I think somewhere in my childhood, someone must have told me not to be a quitter. I would like to know who that was so I could smack him/her. There are times when something is just not worth the time involved to finish it. I do have some UFOs but I have not given up on them - they are for me and were moved down in priority to finish some quilts for family members who gush over my quilts. (None of them sew so they do not realize my stuff is not museum quality. LOL) They are all very impressed which is great for my ego. Ha Ha

You might tie some of the more utilitarian ones and send out the really terrific ones - recently, I went to a quilt as you go class and that is an interesting process. There are tutorial's available online for this. Good luck

That's NOT cheating! That is sharing the beauty of doing a quilt! As long as you give credit to the designer, the sewer and the quilter, you have shared a great experience making a beautiful gift for the person who receives it. Enjoy any stage of it you want. Put your love into it and then give another person the chance to put their love in as well! I'd rather get a quilt made by several people who love what they do than a quilt made with suffering!!!! Enjoy!

well at least I know I'm not alone! I love the chooseing colors, putting them together,but when it gets to the sandwiching and quilting, I get bogged down.

So I'm thinking of trying quilt as you go to see if that will help me get things done in a more timely manner.

Is there a quilt as you go that you can do as hand quilted?

Well I have a frame with a Juki on it. I tend to shy away from the quilting part, but I cont. to have many projects in the works. UFO's, WIP, and PIGS all over the studio. I'm lucky to have a place to leave everything out and walk away to come back another time and work again. I get sucked into on-line mystery weekend sew alongs, etc. It is my bad. I would send my quilt out to be quilted if I didn't have a frame. I am trying to start to quilt for others. Maybe you could send me a couple of tops and I would quilt them for practice and free. No garuantees though. I am a quilter and I would take good care of your tops. Maybe this would work for both of us. LOL

I send my tops to someone that has a longarm quilting machine. I feel if I put my money, time and effort in the top, I want it finished. My quilter is very reasonably priced, I think.