A friend told me today that she has old machine that does't drop the feed dogs and she can still use the darning foot. I have heard of women using the old treadle machines to quilt free hand. You can also put scotch tape over the feed dogs.

Roll from the edge to the middle very tightly and pin or clip the roll in place. Put the roll on the right side of the needle leaving the other half draped to the left. Quilt from the mddle out.

I don't have a long arm yet but once we get moved and settled that is going to be my new baby. Up til now I have used a regular domestic. I've tried rolling and and scrunching. Rolling is tough with larger quilts but works pretty well for lap/crib sizes. I found the key for the bigger ones that you have to scrunch and flatten is to make sure you have enough support for the quilt that is not on the machine. I always start in the middle and work my way out that way I do the toughest part first.

Sometimes, however it will get in there!

I have a Juki mid-arm and a regular machine.

i have a longarm, a prodigy

I only hand quilt my quilts - probably because I couldn't afford/ fit something else in here. But also because I love it. I've sent one consignment quilt out - as the customer was willing to pay for it - and I wasn't willing to quilt it. Large display quilt for a veterinarian's office. And I machine quilt on a regular machine for table runners, potholders - the little stuff. On my 74 year old machine!

I have a Gammill Premier Plus. Love it. Tried to quilt by domestic but my back hurt so bad and I had cramps in my arms. Said it wasn't worth it for me. I sent some out to longarmers but that is so expensive, so bit the bullet and bought a used machine from Gammill in West Plains, MO. Love it.

I was so luckey I bought a older Gammil & it works like its new. The lady i got it from quilted on it for years she bought it in 1989 .Now if i can just use it ( grins ) She lives a few miles from me but was nice enough to offer to help me with it. here is a picture of it

I just got a HQ 16 in May....before that I've done smaller quilts on my domestic sewing machine.....learned how to hand-quilt, too.

Same here-just bought the Singer Simple yesterday as it has the drop feeds otherwise mine before was Singer regular machine.

Just sold my LA. No room for it in the house we're moving to so guess I'll try to quilt on my Brother.

I use my two short arms and a thimble with needle and thread. I prefer the look of hand quilting and it's such good therapy!

I have hand quilted
up to a king on my DM (once, was more than enough)
Brother Novelle 1500
I would use blue painters tape and tape sections, up to 6 sections; starting in the center, rolled up quilt thrown over my shoulder would quilt in the section up to the border. After all sections were done, I would add my binding and then go back and do the border. Worked for me, kept my quilt more square.

2 - 3 years ago purchased Handiquilter 16 mid arm.

I just use my brother or singer. No long arm. I don't have the room for one. And too much $ for retired.

ditto here. Sure would love to have a long arm, but thats a dream machine for now

Domestic machine for me too

I recently bought the Sapphire 875. Up until that purchase I have used my Lily 545 for quilting. I have only sent out 4 quilts to a professional quilter. I really enjoy doing my own although I am limited in my designs, but learning more all the time!

I have a older machine and the feed dogs don't go down so i cover them with free credit cards or any plastic card and tape down

I WISH I had a long arm. Maybe someday ;)

I will probably be dead before I can afford one of those. I have been searching the internet for some manuals of some machines I traded people out of. Can you tell me where too find manuals for the Singers and New Home? Any help is appreciated.

I do some of mine on my home machine but I'm blessed with a cousin who has a longarm and she does beautiful work.

When I retired I bought a Grace frame and a Husqvarna/Viking
Mega Quilter. I used to do a lot of hand quilting, but no any more.

I use a either a Pfaff 1222E or my Viking Sapphire 875 to quilt my quilts. Anything larger than a twin size, I rent a long arm machine so I can quilt the larger quilts.
I accordian pleat my quilts and use the "Jaws" quilt clips and it works pretty well.
Sharon W.

I have quilted some baby quilts with my Singer treadles.
Sharon W.

I have a Bernina 1230. What machine do you have Rexie?
some of the older models have a knob in under the throat plate behind the bobbin case to turn and lower the feed dogs.
Pat

Singer co.(google it) has manuals for sale & some free. lots of other sites on the internet for manuals. Sandman Collectibles is another one.

about half are done on my 1947 Singer 201, or 12 yr old Bernina. I love to machine quilt, butthe big ones go to the quilter.we have so many really talented long-arm quilters in our Guildl. figured I could send a lot of quilts out for the price of a machine--and they would do a much better job than I. besides, I would worry myself to death if I had to do someone else's quilt to pay for my machine. I'm about to try
a new method of feathers from a book soon to be published by
one of our Guild members. I'll pass on how it works for me.

I use my Juki but I do have a Little Gracie Frame to work it with, makes it a lot easier. Have done all sizes.

i haven't read the whole thread, but you can do a big quilt in sections or start in the center, as maride does. i used to do both.

I use my domestic...and fluff and stuff it through the hole.

I don't have a long arm, I just use my Janome. I use the quilt as you go method. It's a lot easier and I enjoy the process more.

If your feed dogs won't drop, tape a 3x5 index card over them.

Thanks smitty for the info but I have checked online for the manuals from singer but could not locate any. But I will try again.

I just saw a name Mary Bird. My name growing up was Mary Byrd. Shocked me there for a minute.

I am finally reading my Quilting Board messages. I have owned a Tin Lizzie 18LS longarm for 2 years. I enjoy quilting on it. There's a long learning curve. But, I'm improving. I piece on my Bernina Art. 180. I now have a Bernina 640 that I'm learning to embroider on. I love all things fabric. I'm so blessed to have these "toys". But, I'm still working to pay for them. :cry:

Cynthia

Quilt Queen, please advise name of the quilt on your avatar. It is stunning!

Edie Clay,
Does your Pfaff have the IDT(full time walking foot)? My old Pfaff 1222E does and its a big help for both piecing and straight line quilting.
Sharon W.

Just got a Little Gracie II Frame with a Janome 1600 with cruise control love it so far have done 2 baby quilts and a lap quilt for my sister going to try a full size quilt soon as I get my quilt top finished

ooopsy :roll: :lol:

I do all mine on my domestic machine. Tried to do a queen size on it and it was just too much for my timeframe. I had it finished professionally by a lady in Arkansas. Diane Evans I believe her name was. She did a fantastic job in a short time for a great price. Otherwise, like I said I do them all on my domestic machine. I use the same technique as those that said "scrunch, scrunch, flatten" or "puddle" is the term I'm more familiar with. After several quilts and trial and error I find this technique works the best for me.