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

I too have a long arm (coming home on Sunday - yippeee!!) but I have quilted large quilts on my domestic. It can be a headache and some designs are just easier on a long arm because of the freedom of movement...but truthfully if you mark and sew carefully you can do just about anything on a domestic that you can a long arm. I also quilt in sections and it helps to quilt in a table or somewhere you can lay the section of the quilt that is NOT being quilted. Turning and pivoting for intricate designs can be a real headache...but before I could convince the Husband that I just NEEDED a long arm I had the motivation to do it on my domestic and I did. (But don't tell him that...) ;)

I have always quilted on my DSM..the largest being 122x122..I just quilted FM in quarter sections..had a ball.it's when I have to SID that I don't like..too constricting....just practice,practice,practice..and relax and enjoy the process!!!

I quilted an oversized king quilt on my small Bernina. I cut the batting in 3rds. The middle section, I quilted first, then added one side of batting and quilted that side. Finally, I added the remaining batting and quilted that section. I used SID for the main part of the quilt and FMQ for the borders. The quilt turned out well; but I do usually try to send king and queen size quilts to the LAQ. Anything smaller, I try to quilt myself. I'm really working on my FMQ.

I quilted my last oversized queen in sections. I finished the whole top and the whole back then I cut the batting in 3 different sections. I'd quilt a section then whip stitch the next piece of batting in place, baste, then quilt. It took a little longer but I was really happy how it came out. Even with a 9" throat on my machine, I just didn't see how I could wrestle the quilt through there and not lose my mind!

Me, too. Same deal. It's a wrestling match at times, but can be done. And as mentioned, Marti Michell has some great tips in her book. Well worth looking at.

This is the way I do large quilts. Works great for me.

It is possible to quilt on a domestic machine, but it takes time. When I am doing a queen DH helps me sometimes. That saves me from having to walk around the table to reposition/refold the sandwich and really speeds up things. My largest was 8'x 7.8' and it had a lot of appliques on it which was individually batted (is that a legal way to use that phrase) up to an inch thick in places and was a real challenge. But, with help from DH I did get it sewn. I do have a 6600 Janome and it has the "larger" space between needle and motor. I have an attitude that if I'm making a quilt, then I will make all my quilt. Having said that, I have seen incredibly beautiful quilting done by long arm professionals. Each person has to make up their own approach, keeping within what is really important to them (and it won't necessally make sense to the rest of us).

I've done a queen size on my vintage Bernina 830 Record, all in one piece, too. Didn't have any trouble with it, but it did take several days.

I have done about a zillion quilts (I do a lot for LINUS) and I have done 2 KING size ones and lots of full size ones .. and I have never had someone else do the quilting......it has all been done on our "normal" machines....I use either my Bernina 630 or my little IRON LADY the 301 Singer to do them... there are spots that are a little more diffcult to do, but it is very doable.........just pin it really well to start with and then just take your time.. no rushing......it works.....

I think those that do quilt in sections and add the batting as they go so they don't have much bulk under the arm. I am sure there is a book on the subject. I haven't done it, just know it can be done

If you use the method of joining blocks as in quilt as you go no need to put whole quilt order until the borders.
Methods is showing quilts done this way on angie quilts ,one lady manages and has very poor shoulders.
The big quilts are usually done in 4 sections, I did a wedding ring in 9 sections. You can put sashing to join or just join straight edges . Imusuallydo a quilt over seam just to keep in pattern.

I do large quilts on my small machine all the time. Right now i am doing Baptist Fans on a quilt. First I make a sandwich on the left hand side of the quilt, leaving just the top and backing on the rest of the quilt which is easier to push through the harp. I quilt the sandwhiched side then sandwich the next third of the quilt(the middle) sewing the batting edges together and then pinning the sandwich smooth and proceed to quilt that. Finally I do the same to the righthand side of the quilt and voila! all done! A lot of work, but worth it. AND I do all this handling of cloth and batting sitting down as i'm unable to stand. Try that sometime!

Quilting queen size
 

I quilt in three sections on queen size quilts. Then I sew the sections together and it works nicely. Also, I have l quilted squares as you go and then sewn the completed blocks together using my 1952 Featherweight - just love her.

When I first started quilting, I did what is sometimes called lapquilting, doing the piecing/appliqueing of the block (20 inches or so with sashing) and then sandwiching and backing it and quilting it before sewing the blocks together (by machine on top and by hand on back) -- this method worked well and was easy to do on the machine -- as an alternative, strips of blocks could be done the same way -- I have seen other methods of quilting shown here on QB -- good luck as it seems that nothing is really easy and each method has drawbacks --

I suspend my larger quilts from the ceiling. If you are interested in more information, please private message me, I will send directions.
JulieM

I was considering doing the king size D9P this way and this thread may have given me the courage to give it a try. I have already sewn my blocks together in rows so I could quilt each row as I go. But I plan on putting a small maybe 3 or 4 inches border on. When do you think that should be added? Thanks for the help.

I have done a few queen quilts on my home machine and it was a bit of a challenge, but very doable. I wouldn't hesitate to do it again. But here are two sites to check out. The first is Diane Gaudynski's site. She is a master quilter who does all her award winning (and stunningly beautiful) work on her domestic machine. She gives lots of tips, hints and suggestions for getting great results. The second site is Leah Day's site. She mostly does smaller quilts, but she also has great ideas for quilting on a domestic machine. :)

http://dianegaudynski.blogspot.com/

http://www.freemotionquilting.blogspot.com/

I have done a great many, (at least 100) but can't anymore due to shoulder and back arthritis. I expect to get friends to LA for me or use QAG in the future. The trick with doing these on a home machine is to pin baste well, then just do one little piece at a time before going to the next.

I quilt on my Singer 500 [ATTACH=CONFIG]389152[/ATTACH] husband made the leaf for my dinning room table.

Dunster,
If you don't mind me asking, what brand is your longarm, and what price range can one usually expect to pay for one?
How much space does your take up? Thank you so much for your answers.

Hey Grace MooreLinker -- how clever is that! But wait a minute . . . where do you stand? Where is the foot pedal? Please give some specifics.

I have no interest in a longarm (it just looks way too confusing) but I would love the sweet 16. I have done large quilts on my janome machine. I don't pin it either. My best friend is spray basting and I either roll the quilt up to fit or just squish it. I also have a janome 350e embroidery machine that I've used to quilt with and that works out fine also. Good luck

suziequilter
 

One thing that I find is very helpfull is to place tables all around my quilting table so the quilt stays up on them all at one level. When the quilt fall over the edge is when it pulls and the tension gets off. I have been quilting my quilts this way on a home machine for many years. I'm getting pretty good at it if I don't say so myself.

I've done 2 king size and several queen size on a dsm with 6.5" harp. The hardest part is managing the bulk between me and the needle. It's best to start in the middle and work out. SID works the best for me, and I often use one of the decorative stitches rather than a straight stitch. When doing SID I like to roll both ends toward the middle and hold with rings, then start stitching in the center, unroll as I go. A tight roll will help get the bulk through the harp.

I've been using an old door for a base! Now I DO want a dining room table. NEVER did I think of creating a "sewing" leaf. Keeper Husband, for sure! I have a 48" Flynn frame, but that means my "giant" quilt making is done in sections. This idea means it could be done in one go, just have to PLAN where I'm going. Thank you all for the ideas.

Oh, I have a "normal" size computerized Kenmore (Janome in all but name) AND an 11" throat HV Sapphire 835. More throat space is nice, but it took me a year of working with it, before it's all coming together. I used the normal for Twin, Baby and Lap quilts, mainly, because that was my only option besides the floor and tying the quilt!

I've done many queen sized quilts and I've also done 6 or more king sized quilts on my Janome 4000. It can be a struggle, but working from the center out helped me. The very, very first quilt that I machine quilted, I did a king size basket quilt where the basket blocks were set on point with sashing in between. I was a very, very new quilter then, and since no one had told me I couldn't do it, I did it. On the first quilt, I did SID on the sashing, then SID on the basket blocks. I might never do another king size basket quilt again, I learned so much, plus it went on our bed, so no one saw it, and I had made it larger 110 x 110 so that I got some of the quilt at night - you know - one good turn deserves all the covers. It can be done, but be patient and take your time, you can do it.The class on Big quilts on small machines from Craftsy might be a good idea for me to sign up for, even an old quilter can learn new tricks.

Sounds like that Craftsy class would really benefit you AND me, LOL ... I stay away from large quilts like that cuz I also don't want to have to pay to have it quilted and I don't like doing them myself either. The few larger quilts I've quilted on my Janome6500 make me so hot and maneuvering them is no fun

side note ... I have a very large sewing table 4ft x 8ft, and yes that helps, no drag etc but I still don't like quilting on my machine, LOL

I tried and it was a mess. I worked and worked and is was NO FUN AT ALL. It turned quilting from a fun hobby into real work. I' d quilted for a quite awhile, not hand quilting (I don't do hand work) and then wanted to save money so gave it a try. To me it's not worth it for a large quilt, You might have more patience then I do and best of luck. But to me the LAQ is worth it. And I give all my quilts away.

Yes, I have quilted several q quilts on my Singer 401A slant needle. The prep work takes time, but it certainly can be done. I use an ironing board with a piece of plywood in front of my machine cabinet and an ironing board with a piece of plywood to my left to catch the bulk of the quilt moving that way. Make sure the ironing boards are level with the top of your cabinet. Take your time and smooth out the area in front of where you are going to quilt. Start in the middle and work out. Keep trying and you will get it right. I trace coloring book pictures on the quilts for kids and quilt them into the body of the quilt.