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Quote:

Originally Posted by LMB

I spent the entire day wrestling with a twin bed quilt. I have never been so tired or miserable. Come on quilters... is it always this bad? It's not like I was doing some fancy FMQ... it was simple quilt in the ditch. I read every tut I could find, I have been sewing all my life, I got sewing gloves (which I love) I covered my sewing machine and area with plexiglass (which I love)Yes my sewing area is large, yes I went out and got a walking foot. Yes I used good quality thread, and yes it was cotton, and yes I spray basted it.
I had quilt in my lap, quilt on the floor, over my shoulder, I felt like I had a big bear in my lap that had a mind of it's own and wanted to go anywhere other than under my machine needle. Tell the truth. Will I ever be comfortable doing quilts, or is it ALWAYS like this? If this is what I have to look forward too... I think I will go back to doll clothes. I hope and pray this is just due to my lack of experience. The only quilts I have made in the past were rag quilts and little pieces are SOOOOO much easyier to sew. I am sending a pic from my phone... I need to put on the sashing, and it is done and boy am I glad! Here I was going to FMQ a few little mice around the cats in the white areas... well forget that... Unless someone can honestly tell me it will get better, this is my first and last real quilt~

I'm sorry you are so tired. You say you've spent all day wrestling with the quilt. Quilting the whole quilt in a day is fine for small quilts but anything bigger than a crib quilt - take your time. Work on it for short periods at a time. Take lots of breaks. Unless a quilt has to be finished by a certain time, and planning can help avoid this, only work on it while you're enjoying it.
Do a few smaller quilts to start with and enjoy the experience. Don't give up as quilting can be very rewarding in lots of ways. But remember it is a hobby for most of us even though we get carried away with fabric.

Stitch in the ditch with a walking foot tries my patience unless it is along the edge. I use the stitch in ditch foot with the guide on the bottom which makes it easier when sewing a straight line as you can just guide the rudder along the line.
Usually I like the option of being able to sew in any direction so I use my horseshoe shaped quilting foot and sew a bit slow (it still sews faster than I can with the walking foot) with either the feed teeth up or down -- experiment with both options.
It's been awhile but I think that's what works for me.
I also second the idea of using vinyl on the machine bed and tables and turning the machine sideways.

I'm sorry you are having so much trouble. I don't machine quilt my large quilts, I send them out for the very reason you are having trouble. if it's not fun I don't do it. I love making the tops but I don't have the skill of using a regular machine to quilt so I rely on the experts for that. I wish I had room for a longarm.

I have an oversized queen on my domestic machine right now --- doing SID. I sew for about 1/2 an hour, get up and do something else, return to the machine and sew for another 1/2 an hour, etc. It works ---- that quilt gets awfully heavy and you NEED those breaks!!! My SID's certainly aren't perfect and you know what? I make "using" quilts so I really don't care! Have ridden many a galloping horse and you sure don't see much when your in that particular mode.

I sympathize with you--I am blessed with a good LAQ who is very reasonable in price and she gets my twin size and larger most of the time. I do wrestle some of the twins, but it is certainly my LEAST favorite part of quilting. Probably putting on bindings comes next--I have 7 quilts here on the bed in my sewing room waiting for bindings. I am going to have to make myself do them before I start something else.

I've done all my own quilting from coasters to King size quilts in my sewing machine.You know, when it's washed who's going to know if you stayed on the seam line or not.
Connie in CO

STITCH IN THE DITCH ! , Oh man i dont even go there. I tryed a few times and i said" oh not again". But working with the quilts will get better as you get more use to handling the bigger material.Our quilt is very pretty. Please dont give up on quiling it is alot of fun.

Quote:

Originally Posted by barnbum

I now exactly what you are talking about. And that is exactly why I hand all larger than a 45 by 45 projects to a quilter.... ahhhhhh. Yes, it costs more, but for my sanity and to keep the joy of quilting--priceless.

That is my sentiments exactly!

This is the reason I use my kitchen table opened up to it's largest size. It supports the quilt nicely while I work on it. Don't give up, it will get easier.

first, SID is NOT The easiest fish to fry..second if you are going to SID and I do it alot, then you really need the clips so you can roll it up and leave on the section you are quilting on!

Really is the best way, next to using a Flynn frame!