have tried and tried and never mastered the fancy, fancy quilting? I am beginning to think that I'm going to have to stick to my loops (going different directions) and stippling, and meandering!!! I practiced again a couple of hours this afternoon "trying" to do feathers.....just can't do it. And forget the straight lines...ruler work....I even bought the extra tool to put on my machine head and the acrylic ruler....AWFUl!!! I guess I hate the thought of hours and hours of practicing....trying....when I could be making another quilt. Anyone else just do the easy stuff?

I mainly do meandering, stippling, loops - the easy stuff. I have tried feathers and gave up cause they looked horrible. I can do lines with a straight edge. But I usually keep it simple

I just got mine ready to go and was amazed at how horrible I am. I do hope that practice makes things easier or, at a minimum, better looking.

I am going to spend hours and hours just with the little laser and see if it gets just a tad smoother.

Joy

I was feeling that way for awhile until I went to a couple of the classes that the company I bought mine from offered and it was amazing the little secrets she taught us on how to do some of the neat fancy things like feathers. Plus there are all kinds of dvd/cds that show how to do some of that. For example the pajama girl and also Pam Clarke. Plus one thing that helped me was using stencils and pouncing them just kinda got me feeling more of a free flowing movement with my machine and just helped get more comfortable as it built up my confidence.

Hopefully, some of this will help you. Just like anything else it does take practice and patience (which is hard for me at times).

Good luck,
Sherryl
Candlequilter

Remember to breathe and try to relax as you are doing it. I know that is easier said than done. :D

I haven't even attempted to do a pantograph yet. Gotta get smoother at abrupt turns than I am now!! But, I can really do nice round loops, etc. and the stippling.

Candlequilter...please send me the websites for pajama girl and Pam Clark...thanks.

I'd love any ideas. I especially want to be able to learn stuff here at home. I live in the middle of no where, just getting to LQS takes an hour and a half, so web-based or DVD info is my kind of info. I'm getting better but I'm far from perfect and I'm rather scared to try the detailed work that I've seen on some quilts. Imagine picking out that those close stitches--no way!

I have been long arming for 5 years. I have yet to really get the hang of feathers and fancy quilting. There is another LQS across the river from me and there are several other ladies that have long arms. 1 lady has been quilting for about 10 years, people in this area know if they want feathers then to go to her. If they want anything else to go to either of the shops. With me running a shop, having a husband and children that are still in school I have never made the time to push myself to really learn them. Trust me, YOU will find your own niche'. Just give it time and practice, practice and practice even more.

I do pantographs and some of them are pretty intricate but haven't ventured into the freehand yet. Have been too busy quilting others quilts and will only "practice" on my own. That is a part of what I hope to do in 2011.

I just got my long arm less than a month ago so I haven't practiced much with Christmas and all to keep me busy. But the first time I tried it I told my daughter that I just spent alot of money just to feel that clumsy! But now that Christmas is over I need to get back at it and see how it goes. I have three quilts to finish in the next couple of months.