Quiltingboard Forums - Disappointed in my quilting.

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As someone who has used a LAQ (with lots of experience) ... I had sent her (via mail) a quilt that was all in batiks ... she emailed me pics (close ups) and said that she wasn't happy with the quilting her machine was doing and did I want a different design, as well as a number of other options she provided.

Honestly, I couldn't see ANYTHING wrong with it, and chances are your customer won't either ... unless it's really horrible!!!

I have learned that we are often harder on ourselves than we need to be!H

Good luck when you speak with the person.

Oh, I guess it is not bad, it's just that I had to stop on the flange and sometimes did not stop in time and had to go back and fix it....and yes we are our worst critics. Actually the top is very busy with many colorful fabric from Jelly rolls so most of the quilting is lost in it. The back actually looks pretty good..I guess I am a perfectionist and I tend to stress the little stuff..

Thank you for your encouragement.

Quote:

Originally Posted by quiltingshorttimer (Post 7496809)

I recently was told by a master LAQ to cover the flange with blue painter's tape--it holds it out of the way and also serves as a very visible stop line too. You didn't say, but were there lots of seams in each block? If so, using them on the back probably did present problems. I like the idea to offer the customer a discount with an explanation. she will probably appreciate your honesty. I was recently rushing to finish a youth quilt for a friend when I got a length wise pleat on the back--of course I found it when I was almost finished. My friend was ok with it but I was embarrassed and ripped stitches for 8 hrs and re-did. Sometimes you just have to start over on things.

Such a great idea using painter's tape on the flange. A friend of mine had a "beautiful" quilt with a flange on it sent out to a LAQ and when it was returned, the flange was folded and quilted over. What a shame. She ruined the quilt. I don't believe she offered her a discount, only an explanation :( To me that was very disappointing because the flange made the quilt pop and folded over and quilted on it really was very noticeable.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mic-pa (Post 7497177)

I am glad to see this board is working better today. Thought it was my computor when I could not bring up the pictures yesterday.

I had the same problem and I'm relieved it's not my iPad. Very good advice given regarding the quilting, too.

You might want to try Schmetz Embroidery needles. They are really sharp and may give you less problems with the batik. The only place I have found those for the long arm machines is through Purple Daisies LLC - that is Sharon Schamber's daughter's online business. I quilt on a BabyLock Tiara which is made by HandiQuilter and is the same as their Sweet Sixteen. Since I switched to these needles, my stitches seem to be more even and tension is less of a problem. Good luck with it!!

My son, an IT specialist had to work a good while to get the pictures to appear.

When I longarm a quilt with a flange, I always baste it down, just like I baste the edges of the quilt, to ensure it stays out of the way and does not fold over. I'd be furious with a quilter who blithely let it fold and quilted over it like Corinne described.
Sounds to me like you are doing fine, and are too hard on yourself. Sometimes it's difficult to take a step back - look at the overall effect, rather than the quilting in a particular 2" section where you know you had to stop/start. Anyone else is not going to see those, unless there's a horrid wobble in the pattern.