I own a Janome Magnolia 7330 and I am about to kill everyone in the house at the thought of sitting down to finish quilting a twin XL quilt.

I'm guessing most of you send your bed quilts to a long arm quilter? But I can't afford that.

Maybe it wouldn't be as bad if I was just quilting straight lines, but I decided to SITD around some of the shapes.

I am about half way done. Maybe I will get another quarter done tonight if I can stand to sit down and start. If I could finish the quilting this weekend I would be so happy.

And I will probably never stray from lap-size and baby quilts again!

Maybe quilting it in steps will help. Am sorry this is such a burden...but I also understand!!

My projects always take ages, so to me it sounds like you are making quick progress! Try to set small goals and don't beat yourself up. It will be done and it will be great!

Kryssa, do you have anyone who can help you? What I mean is help you with the weight/bulk of the quilt? I FMQ'd a queen sized quilt on my little Viking 425. But I had to get my (now ex-husband) to hold it up for me. It took a little bit of time but eventually we worked out a rhythm

I know exactly how you feel!
I've been trying to make myself finish a king size quilt for over a year.
From now on, since I can't afford to buy fabric AND pay a longarmer to do the quilting for me, I'll just do QAYG quilts.
I don't want to give up my favorite pasttime, but the quilting part is a real burden for me.

On the larger ones (I SID too), I usually roll them and hold the back part of the roll on my shoulder. Oh what a pain - It is really important to do sections at a time. Your poor muscles won't be stressed, and it is easier to keep the needle IN the ditch. Hang in there.

When you are finish you will forget all the pain that went with it. I it like have a baby you are almost there. Take a deep breath and relax before you know you are done.

Feel your pain - my DH wanted a scrappy Queen size quilt - liked he helped (he cut the squares for her) his Mom make 30++ years ago.

I finally have it pieced and it is really pretty but the quilting part is making me procrastinate - procrastinate etc.!

Must bite the bullet and get started before cold weather sets in!

Cindy

I bought an old dining room table DH cut a hole and made a shelf so my machine is flush with the top and I wear garden gloves l also use a slider This evolved after I had struggled with 4 queen quilts for X-mas gifts.That was 4 years ago now I don't dread quilting my own quilts!

just like with everything it takes practice, if you stick with it each quilt will be easier and better until you look back at this one and laugh...remember when, and look at me now...it can be frustrating but it is a learning experience to and remember breaks are important...when i'm working on one that is difficult i set a timer for 45 minutes and when it goes off i have to stop, take a walk, leave the room, get a drink, what ever...stay away for a minimum of 10 minutes then reset the timer and go back. it makes a huge difference when you take breaks, remember to breath, know that the first one is never the best (or easy) and when you go back to it it will go better :)