How many quilt on reg sewing machine?
 

How many do not have a Long arm machine and just use their reg sewing machine to quilts? Or do a lot that just have a reg machine .. Machine sew the top, but then get them quilted somewhere else? I am getting ready to get a new machine, it will not be a long arm.... I am brand new to quilting and I am just wondering how all this works. I realize larger quilts may not be able to be quilted on a reg sewing machine.. But maybe I am wrong! :)

I sew on a regular sewing machine, one I've had for 20 years that still works perfectly. I have not quilted a large quilt but have made several smaller projects - mug rugs, placements, dog quilts. I am practicing to machine quilt a lap-sized quilt. Up until now I have either tied those or done a combination of hand quilting and tying. I've read on here of some who have done a regular sized quilt (twin ?) on their regular sewing machine. I'm not that confident yet.

I quilted on my domestic machine before I got my midarm. My preference is definitely the midarm -- much faster for me, plus much easier for me to move the machine instead of the quilt.

You can quilt large quilts on a domestic machine by splitting up the batting. Basically you layer the sandwich as usual, but then remove one-third of the batting from each side so there is less bulk under the arm. Marti Mitchell has an entire book out on different methods for quilting large quilts on domestic sewing machines. (Be sure to get more details on how to do the method I described before tackling it; there are a few steps to doing it so that the batting goes back together accurately.)

A lot depends on finances. Beginning frame setups for quilting start around $2,000. This can be a good investment for someone who would otherwise be sending out a lot of quilts to a longarmer.

I have quilted several queens on my domestic machine. I only do meander though and have not tried any fancy stuff.

I quilted all my quilts on a regular little Brother sewing machine, (mostly lap or single bed size) took some squishing but definately doable. I have now got a Janome Horizon 7700 which has much more room, so it make it easier. I don't have a frame, if I need to do a large quilt, I put my sewing machine next to my dining table to help support the weight of the quilt. Well worth the time and effort to practice as I just couldn't afford to send my quilt to the longarmers.

I only quilt on my sewing machine. Right now i'm quilting a king size...not splitting the batting. Its a workout, but it can be done. Once you get past the center 18 inches, it becomes easier.

Ooops, one more thing. Just a preference, but i can't wrestle a quilt without using quilting gloves...or rubber tipped gardening gloves.

Some quilters do wonders on regular machines and even quilt King size. Now I will do King, but in sections. my machine doesn't have a large throat space and that would really help.

I quilt with a midarm on a frame now but did it for many years on my Juki and I never split the batting either...I worked from the middle out, been to some get togethers and still did it this way as you can't take the frame...LOL!!!!!

Many quilt quilts as large as king size on their domestic sewing machine. There are many books, videos and classes online or face to face to help you learn if you desire to. I do my own quilting, although twin size is the largest I've done. I prefer to make bed runners rather than a queen or king size quilt. That's the beauty of quilting the best way is the way that works for you. HAPPY QUILTING!

I have quilted up to a King on my Bernina 150. That being said, if someone gave me a stationary mid-arm or long-arm, I wouldn't turn them away!

Kudos to all that can quilt their quilts on a reg machine !!!!

I send mine out to a longarmer.. Me personally, I do not want to wrestle with a king or queen quilt... I think if i had to I would be turned off on quilting all together..

I use both.

I do free motion on my Bernina that is around 30 years old. I quilt from king size down. To quilt the larger quilts you have to "scrunch" and/or roll them to make room. A table or chair behind the machine to hold the bulk of the quilt helps a lot.

I have a Brother PQ1500, has a 9" throat space, but it only does straight stitch...I just got a Janome Horizon 7700, has 11" throat plate, and does a lot of stitches...I haven't had a chance to use it yet, tho...I also have a Grace machine quilt frame, was going to use my 1500 with it, but never have...I just do a meander stipple or and outline stitch about 1/8" away from ditch on 1500..it has a pin feed system, so I don't have to use a walking (ever feed) foot to do the outline stitch...I will say for the price, it has been a great machine...the pin feed makes piecing quilts a breeze, too...Have you checked out Leah Days website? She does all of her fmq on a domestic machines, couple of years ago got the Janome 7700...but still shows quilting on a regular size domestic machine. Here is a link to her site, she has a TON of great info...
http://daystyledesigns.com/
Regards,
Kif
PS Quilt gloves, or gloves with fingertip grips are a BIG help...also I use the bobbin genies...and a free motion slider..and I also make sure and have tables around so there is not pull and drag on the quilt...here is another link to youtube videos, have great way to make an inexpensive quilting table:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g14govA4pIM

I've quilted up through queen size with my regular ol' Singer. I love that thing. <3

So yes, it can definitely be done! But like luvTooQuilt, you might not like to do it that way. Before you invest a lot of money in any machine see if you can take it for a test drive -- for a while. Like, a 'borrow one from a friend for a couple of weeks and a few quilts' type of thing.

Find out what makes you happy, and then do that! :)

I use my Husqvarna Ruby embroidery machine to do the the sewing and quilting.

I quilted large quilts on my DSM before I got my longarm. I used the methods in Marti Michell's book, Machine Quilting in Sections, for all but one of them. That one was huge and couldn't be divided up into sections, so I basted it with water soluble thread on a John Flynn frame and then quilted the whole thing in my Bernina 440QE. (That was enough to persuade me to get a longarm, LOL)

I have done several throws (approx. 45 x 60) on my Featherweight. Am about to tackle a twin size in the next few weeks. Anything larger that I've done has been hand quilted. Now I have made an extra long adult sized hooded cape out of thermal backed drapery fabric and lined with velvet on it as well. So you can scrunch up a lot more than you would think you could into such a small space.

I quilt on a regular machine. I have done up to queen size but know I could do a king with patience, not even using any fancy methods, just a regular sandwich. Quilt as you go does make really intricate work easier though. I have played on a long arm but have no interest. Just another thing to learn.

Believe it or not.. There is a lady around here that will quilt any size quilt for $20 each... Yes I know, it's unbelievable ..and she does beautiful work! .. The only thing is about an hour and 1/2 from here. And it also takes her about 2 months to get them back to you... But the price and work is wonderful! Buying really do want to do my own work if I can!

I have been quilting on my DSM. I am able to rent a Gammill, but money has been tight--rather buy fabric. It costs about the same to send a small quilt to a local lady who does a fabulous job, so sometimes I send them out.
Sue

I quilt on my Husqvarna Viking Sapphire 835, it has the longer throat on it. So far, I have been able to fit some queen sized quilts on it without too much trouble and work! One of these days though, I am going to get a long-arm. Have had the chance to try them out and love, love it! But that is a long way down the road for me. That's amazing that lady will quilt for $20 a quilt! I can't imagine how she covers her own costs for batting and thread and not to mention her time. Leah Day has some great videos on You Tube to help you get started on quilting on your sewing machine. I've learned a lot from that.

I do quilt on regular machine I have quilted king size on 6" throats but now have a new machine Janome 7700 and I love it, Quilting is my favorite part of the process. I have tried my sisters long-arm but seems like I am to far away from my work and did not like it. I think, a good tip is what type of quilting you want to do . I like free motion, easier than moving the large quilts around to so things like stitch in the ditch. Also bunch the quilt and wear gloves. Also, my machine has a thread cutter, great for quilting. Thats the other reason I traded machines. Good luck And have fun.

I quilt on my old Singer 15! Love it. Sometimes I use my Janome 9500. works well too. I have no desire for anything else. One thing I do is cut the finger tips out of the gloves, that allows me to thread the needle and change bobbins, etc.

I do all my own quilting on my Bernina QE 153. It doesn't have the largest throat around, but I have been able to do up to a queen size. Luckily, I don't like a lot of quilting on quilts and am able to accomplish what I want. On the largest one, I even did a type of feather wreath in the center. That was difficult!

I have a Janome with an 11inch throat and have quilted king size quilts with it. I like the look of custom quilting,not too much into the panto graph format. It's like eating an elephant..one section at a time. I usually stabilize it by stitching down the middle both ways,and then do 1/4 at a time. Quilting gloves,a little music,a thimbleful of wine...I'm good to go!

I quilt on a Janome MC6500. Meandering only up to a queen size. It's a challenge, but I've got it down. I'm on my 44th quilt. I also use quilting gloves.

I have quilted several on a reg. machine. 2 king. But I love the quilt as you go method. worth checking out.

I have quilted for just over 1 1/2 yrs. and use a Brother from Wal-Mart. Am able to fmq on it on queen size quilts, but the middle sections of my quilts don't have near as much quilting as the further out parts. It's a challenge, but each one gets better. Love the sense of accomplishment when I've completed each one. Really have not perfected my piecing to the point where I feel I would want to spend the $'s for a longarm professional quilter! Best of luck on your quilting too.

There is another option. Have you ever considered quilt as you go? When you use this method, a domestic sewing machine is fine to quilt with. You quilt each block as you assemble the quilt and then you put them together. So when you are done assembling the quilt, it is already quilted. I made a baby quilt using this method and it came out lovely.There are many different quilting options, just do some research.Welcome to the quilting community!

I quilt most of my quilts on my regular machine. I am very good at stitching in the ditch and am getting better with free motion quilting. I have quilted 1 king size and several queen size quilts on my Bernina. I do send some of my quilts to the LAQ if I am not in a hurry for them. It takes about 3 months to get a quilt back. I don't really enjoy making the quilt sandwich; but I do enjoy the machine quilting.

I preferred hand quilting, but the "to do" list is long and I'm almost 50 so decided over the last couple of years to machine piece/quilt otherwise I'd never get much done. I use a domestic vintage machine (Pinnock) and the biggest quilt so far is probably double bed size. Tend to be sticking to straight line quilting, but this week have been FMQ and I think I may be getting addicted to it (despite it not looking terribly professional...yet). My dream machine would probably be a HQ sweet 16, but here they are around $6,000.00, so not in the near future. Sending out for quilting is too expensive, and besides that, I want to do it all myself......I even plan on getting my treadle renovated and using that. When it comes to quilting....you will find a determined quilter can put out a quilt using almost any fabric or machine.

I FMQ on my old Bernina 830 Record. The largest I've done is queen size. I use Machingers gloves and have a large working surface to eliminate drag.

I do straight line quilting on my Singer 401A with a walking foot, but must admit I don't do much of this.

I also hand quilt when I'm working on an heirloom piece.

I quilt with my Husqvarna - and am getting ready to do a couple of king sized quilts for our bedroom. It can be done, but its a workout. I am going to try a quilt as you go for one of the king sized quilts, to see how it goes. I like that idea, as I can do different quilting designs in each block. I used to hand quilt, but don't have much time anymore. I will still occasionally do a fair amount of hand quilting on a baby quilt, though, as its relaxing. I don't see myself buying a long arm -- I'd rather do it like my ancestors did for the most part. Yes, I enjoy the mats and cutters, and my machines (I also have a Bernina that does embroidery, etc), but I'd rather do the quilting myself by hand or on my own machine.

I quilted a double bed sized quilt on a small Brother HS-2000. My DH helped me get a Laura Ashley Innov-is, NX-2000 at Christmas & now I can quilt about anything. This has a nice large throat & is an amazing machine, but is still only a domestic sewing machine!!

Last fall I bought a Husqvarna 835 (less than $1000). It has a larger throat space. ~10 inches. Works great for any size quilt. Take a class for FMQ before you buy if you can.

I've been quilting since 2009 and quilted my first 21 quilts on a Janome 6600P...all the way up to queen size. Anything more than that was just too much for me to even think about, so kudos to all you who can and do, I admire you greatly! I bought an HQ Sweet 16 about a year ago and am just now quilting a super king size, what a dream come true. I would love a long arm on a frame, but just don't have the room for it (tried to talk the hubby into remodeling, but he says no way)...Oh well, I tried : )