Just take your time and as everyone else said practice.. That being said. I cannot machine quilt a full size top on my machine. Not because of the machine but because I cannot physcially handle moving the quilt around. I have decided that from now on either I will save up and let a long armer do it for me or I will do a quilt as you go. May not be show quality but it will be done.

I can tell you, unless you are giving your quilts away to other quilters, the mistakes won't be noticed. I just recently started machine quilting. This was a big step for me, as i was in the same funk you are in. But I needed to finish a quilt for a family member diagnosed with cancer. His excitement over the gift was so overwhelming that I was encouraged to finish another one, and so on. I still have reservations but I trudge through as I know the recipient will love it anyway. Keep practicing, I still make mistakes, but I practice with each new quilt.

I took a free motion class from a gal who did fabulous quilting. I got over my fear once she started pointing out all her mistakes. If I thought her work was outstanding, and it wasn't perfect, then what the heck was I afraid of. There is definately a learning curve, but nothing ventured, nothing gained!

Everything puckers after you wash it and any mistakes are much less noticeable (if at all). Say it again - All mistakes come out in the wash, all mistakes come out in the wash... :)

that is me!

I had the same fear when I started quilting. Finally decided that I was in LOVE with quilt making and since I couldn't afford to send my tops out for quilting would either have to bite the bullet and get started or stop altogether. Yep you guessed it I just bit the bullet and using invisible thread just started stippling and this was before UTube and everything else. I thought it was the most horrible looking thing but to this day I still get compliments on it.

We are our own worst critics! Believe me those that don't sew will think you are an award winning quilter!!!

Thank you, wish I'd thought of individual blocks instead of trying to do the whole quilt to learn on.

If you can make the top and you're satisfied with that, go ahead and quilt it! If someone complains, repossess it! There has only been one perfect person who has ever lived and we are NOT him. I believe absolute perfection is impossible. Quilting is something to be enjoyed and shared. You should do your best, but accept that it may not be perfect. PS: nonquilters won't know the difference. They will be thrilled with the many hours of love you have showered on them! Get busy, Girl!

There's a great book about Quilting in Sections that may help you. I don't ever quilt a bed-sized quilt intact myself. I do it in three sections. I sew borders on the last two sides and then quilt the borders as one piece. It really makes life easier and the result is very nice.

This is a good idea. Also you could make a few quilts that wouldn't matter as much if there were mistakes, say a quilt for your fur baby or something like that.