you have no idea how you will quilt it? I have done only one large quilt....queen size and I'm still struggling to quilt it. It was a gift for my hubby that I started 5 or 6 years ago and it still isn't finished :-(

I have always wanted to make a quilt for my bed, but I have avoided even thinking of starting it because I don't know how I would ever quilt it. I know there are some extremely talented long-arm quilters, but finances keep that from being an option.

Do any of you only create smaller pieces for that reason?

Nope, as hard as they are to finish I do big ones because I think most smaller things are useless. I like to do QAYG or strip quilting, sometimes (especially for couch throws) I like to tie them.

I apologize to all the wall hanging, table runner, quilted artworks, etc., creators out there. They're beautiful and if that's what you enjoy that's fine with me, I just prefer making bed quilts.

I like to make large quilts, and wall hangings. The large quilts do take alot of time, I hand quilt, so I understand the frustration. But if you quilt it out for even 30 min a day, you will notice how good it looks, and be inspired to keep at it till its done!

I don't have the space for anything larger than a twin size, (besides, I get bored), so mine are used as covers when watching TV.

I was stuck in small projects for years . I had done large quilts but HATED the machine quilting. My world changed when I found longarm quilters. I am a dedicated piecer , and make tops that my long arm person turns into quilts.
I found that once relieved of the thought of" how will I ever get this quilted" .. I took on more challenging piecing projects.
It can get to be pricey ... but have found that working with the same long arm person I can get some discounts ...and not every quilt is the high end custom work.
You may want to see if you can rent time on a longarm machine to do some of your own work, it is a cheaper way to go.

I made 1 king size quilt and it will be the last. I felt like I was drowning in fabric by the time I got the borders on. I'm short and have athritis in my shoulders its just too hard to manage something that big. I make twin to small queen sizes.

I learned make the top, send to long arm lady.....

Good topic. I am finishing up a King size quilt for our bed and that thing is huge!! I decided to have it machine quilted b/c it's just too big for me to tackle. I hand quilt up to full size but that's it. I never thought I would get anything machine quilted but I've changed. There are so many beauties and I also have more time for more projects! :D
A little tip though for finishing one that you started: try to set aside a bit of time every day if possible to quilt- even if it's 15 minutes.. I've done this and little bits add up to a lot of quilting. Then you realize you're almost done!!
I also make smaller sizes but mostly bed quilts.
Since I joined this board I'm gaining confidence to tackle some machine quilting on my own but that big one is going out!!! lol
Good luck!

I have only started one queen size quilt for exactly that reason. Generally I make throw size quilts to give as gifts, or baby quilts, or wallhangings. I like the self-sufficiency of doing my own quilts from start to finish, and usually I don't have enough money to pay someone to quilt mine on a longarm anyway.

My queen size quilt will be done using quilt-as-you go techniques, and so will any future large quilts I have planned. There are a variety of QAYG techniques. There's a book by Sharon Pederson, "Reversible Quilts" that I've used, and a book by Marti Mitchell called "Quilting in Sections" that details several different techniques. I consider any money spent on these types of quilting books an investment since it means I won't have to pay much much more to have someone else quilt my quilts.

I made wall-hangings and baby quilts to test out some of the different QAYG techniques and figure out which one would be best for my intended project. Each one has its limitations.

There are also several websites that have QAYG instructions for free.

Edited to add: I don't hand-quilt, I quilt on my home machine. I do admire some of the work that Longarm quilters do, and maybe someday I'd have a really special quilt done that way.

After ignoring a block of the month quilt I bought several years ago at JoAnne Fabric I am finally completing it. I forgot how much fabric is in a queen size quilt. I have been doing mostly baby quilts. OMG-hope to get the top done this weekend and then have no idea if I will try to do the quilting myself or not.

My first quilt was a king, because noone told me I should start small (picture attached). :) I did quilt it by hand. I have done several bed sized quilts since then, all machine quilted, and the quilting is basically the same as with small quilts. Most of the time I do some SID to "anchor" it then I proceed to FMQ some kind of design. Almost all my early quilts were strictly SID, have only recently learned to FMQ. I do not pin baste, all are spray basted.

I understand your hesitancy because I still haven't worked up the courage to try feathers on an actual quilt. Still drawing them on white board. We both need to get over our fear of the next step. :roll:

I machine quilt large quilts in sections. No one can tell it's sewn after quilting. There are many books written how to do this. Georgia Bonesteel, Anita Murphy, Marti Michell to name a few.

Raptureready, do u care to tell me how you tie your quilts or show me a picture of how to Thanks In Advance(:)

I think there is a place and use for quilts of all sizes, and I make all sizes. I hand quilt and sometimes do it on the go, so I always have more than one quilt going. I love to make children's quilts and throws so I keep one of these in progress so I'll always have an on the go project. I keep a large quilt in progress at home and have found that even just 30 minutes a day will get it done quicker than you think. As far as "how" to quilt it, I look at it in sections and quilt each section accordingly instead of trying to picture the whole thing quilted. It always manages to come together and look better than I thought it would as it was in progress.

I have done several queen and king size quilts on my domestic machine (a Juki TL98E) and like Delilah I stitch in the ditch to anchor the top and then I use stencils to add depth to the quilt. Don't be afraid of a quilt b/c of it's size. As you work on it, some ideas will come to you on how to stitch it. There are times I don't know what designs I'll use and then i look at http://quiltingstencils.com and http://quiltingcreations.com and I get ideas. Good Luck!

I am currently machine quilting a king size on my machine (Janome 6600). I have free motioned a queen on it already. This one will take a bit longer than planned as I find a couple of hours at a time is enough! I have changed the quilting ideas I had for it to a simpler pattern and infills than I originally planned to do, but it is going okay. I have a left hand corner with tables in front and to the left of me so there is plenty of support for the quilt.
I did get a Sewslip mat recently and that has made a huge difference to doing free motion.

I do that as well. I have a Baby Lock Quilters Pro with a 9" bed but used to machine quilt on my Bernina. Quilting in sections is pretty easy and works really well. Get the books - they are a good investment.

i have a friend who due to health problems can't cope with a single quilt even to quilt. So what she does it split it into half and quilt each half then join as you would with quilt as you go. If you use the same fabric it is very difficult to see the join. I suppose a larger quilt could go into quarters.

I have done it in halves and in quarters, depending on the size, the complexity of the pattern and the complexity of the quilting.

I recently finished a quilt my daughter started in high school '04. They were 12-15" squares and the teacher had her quilt each square separately.(my first intro to quilt as you go)they were joined together with a welt seam. This was much easier then having to quilt the entire queen size. You may want to try that method first. On the Princess quilt I posted, each square is quilted separately.

I still make them. I have several of them hanging around already sandwiched cause I don't know how I want to quilt them.

Good thread...I just finished quilting a queen size on my little Viking and good heavens...I'm glad I'm done! It took me a while because it was so much. I actually think I enjoy hand quilting the larger one's more because it sits nicely on my frame. When I machine quilt it's all over me and the table and everywhere.

No. I don't make large quilts because I don't really like the look of quilts on a bed, so I make throw quilts and large baby quilts. I also get bored and like to finish and move on to the next project, so bigger quilts are not for me.

I have made a few wall hangings and a few baby quilts but most of mine have been bed quilts. And most of them are queen size. I love the quilting but it was a huge project. I finally got a frame and it is so much easier. I have a Juki on mine so it isn't a long arm.

I only made small projects too for that exact reason. I have my first ever quilt (queen size) in my closet half done where it will no doubt stay forever. I started quilting it on my machine and while it was fun at first it quickly became way too much work. I now use a very very good friends amazing longarm machine and I am now too spoiled to do it any other way. So, I still do mostly small things which I also enjoy as they get done so much quicker.

I to, only make bed sized quilts! Yep, I put them together and either they go to the long arm lady or they get tied! I once made a quilt for a friend that was so large I thought it could cover the city I live in! That one also went to the long arm lady, yep costed a lot to be quilted but, the satisfaction I see when I give it away is priceless!

I have made placemats, and table runners.....I like to do that in between quilts.

I do big quilts and the occasional little cute art thingy..but mostly king size as I love to put them on my beds. I also make single size...I even have Christmas Quilts lol.

I've only done 4 quilts that I can think of that aren't at least twin sized, 3 were baby quilts and one is a lap quilt. I usually do them queen size. I just have this mindset that I am making them for beds so, they need to be large.

I recently got a long arm so I don't have to have them quilted by someone else and someday I'll be good enough to do my "better" quilts.

That is a beautifu quilt! Make me feel like Christmas is here!

At one time I had packed all the Christmas fabric up to donate.

That same week a lady came and brought me three quilts to quilt on the LA and they were all made out of CF and they were stunning.

I was like, oohhhhhhh and I promptly pulled all those boxes right back in and started C. Quilts lol.

Yep!! Me!!

If you are using fabric from your LQS and they can use it as a sample to sell their fabrics, they may be willing to have it quilted in exchange. One of my LQS wanted a top I had made and I told them if they quilted it they could hang it. They do rent out a midarm machine in the shop.

One of the ladies in my quilt group quilts her large quilts in sections, then puts the sections together. If you can locate instructions for quilting by the block, that is the method she uses. I've not done this, but her quilts sure are nice.

Mostly I tie my quilts. Don't get me wrong the quilted ones that all of you ladies sew are beautiful. I just love the feel of a tied quilt.....soft and fluffy just as my Grandma made for years.

I end up quilting with my check book. I take it to a long arm quilter. I know it is spendy but so is quilting.

Interesting thread. I also made a King size as a 1st quilt, not knowing any better! But then started sending Q&K size to a long arm quilter. Have made every size from miniature to too many K size.

I simply ran out of room. Our retirement house is small & there's no room for more quilts.The DDs & Grkids all have a couple each.I usually make sofa throws & miniatures.

If I'm asked about making a bed size quilt, I 'm happy to do so, if they want to buy fabric & send to a long arm quilter.No one has took me up on it.
Quilts are not cheap,but ppl are really amazed when they figure actual cost.

Love your wording "spendy"! Really great (and so true!).

I have done queen sized flannel quilts for all my adult married children. They were fleece on the other side and hand tied. I also made one for myself that the dogs have ruined from jumping on the bed ( great dane & a rottie mix, you try telling them to stay off the bed). I don't make big ones any more because I have no one else to make them for. I find table runners are greatly enjoyed by my kids; my DIL has them for all seasons, and she uses them all the time. Also make small ones for any little ones who come along.

I only make small quilts--the biggest I have made is a lap quilt. I get tired of working on the quilts quickly and like to move onto new things. I find that I can do my own machine quilting on smaller pieces much easier and I actually finish the quilts.

look up HCarpinini on this board. She does beautiful quilting at reasonable prices.