Does anyone here quilt Queens and Kings on their little machines?
 

Getting my quilts long arm quilted is getting too dang expensive. I'm debating whether to try to quilt my queen sized quilt on my small janome machine. The largest I've done so far is a twin. It turned out pretty good...not error free, but for the most part it turned out acceptable.

So do any of you quilt your large quilts at home on your small machines? I need to hear that it can be done. I'm really nervous to start a large quilt.

Gayle

Yes. Take the Craftsy class on Big quilts on small machines.
 

Gayle, I took the Craftsy class called "Big Quilts on Small Machines" Ann is a great teacher with great ideas on how to handle the batting, top and bottom. It worked for me. My Elna "1973" has 6.5". I did get a new Horizon in2012. Not the first year that they came out. The 11" is even better. Also took Ann's class on Machine Quilting. Getting better all the time.

I have done some on my home machine. It works best if you can do some stableizing stitches first. I will stitch in the ditch along the block edges. Then go back and do any quilting within the blocks. It does get a little hard to navigate sometimes but it is doable.

I have done several about queen size. I follow Leah Day's instructions for setting up the machine and sewing area. It is a lot of work but in the end, I've been happy with the results. Each time I see some improvement. Just plan on taking your time. I have a Pfaff 2134, by the way.

I did a king size. I did stitch in the ditch and the blocks were set on point, so I started in the middle and worked out. Some of it was a wrestle, but, only the long rows to begin with. This was on a dinky mechanical Brother, Walmart type, which I still use and love (over 10 years old)

I have a longarm now, but before I got it I quilted big quilts in sections. Check out Marti Michell's book, Machine Quilting in Sections for lots of different ways to do it.

I quilt Kings and Queens all the time on my Janome 6500 or my Singer 201 which I think has as much space. The centre is the hardest part but it definitely is doable. Most of my quilts are scrap quilts that will see a lot of use and many washings. I just can't justify having these long arm quilted. I can do a stitch in the ditch, grid or simple meander and it works for me.

I have already taken the machine quilting class at Craftsey...I watched it last year, I think I'll go back and watch it again.

I'm encouraged that some of you have done larger quilts on your machines. I might have to give this a go.

Thanks!

Gayle

Look into 'quilt as you go' (QAYG) techniques. There are many. Here's a good tutorial on one method:

http://www.quiltingboard.com/tutoria...s-t151139.html