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-   -   Machine Quilting Phobia! (https://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1/machine-quilting-phobia-t159997.html)

audsgirl 10-13-2011 08:38 PM

Quilting is my least favorite part of the process, so I end up having lots of tops but not many quilts. You are definitely not the only one!

luv2so 10-14-2011 01:52 AM

I'm new to quilting. I've made two tops in the past few months but just can't get up the nerve to quilt them on my machine. I can't figure out where to start! How do I pick a pattern I want to quilt? I see all these beautiful designs and just can't seem to figure out how to pick a pattern so the tops are just sitting here.

Not usually this stumped on things.

desertrose 10-14-2011 05:56 PM


Originally Posted by oreoflurrie
I have made about 30 quilts now, and have only done machine quilting on about 3. I started out tying them, then sent one out to a LAQ. That was quite expensive, so I wasn't going to do that anymore. Then my quilting class went to a LQS for a demonstration on their LAQ rentals. I've done about 5 or 6 that way. But I'm so scared to put my beautiful quilts on my machine to do the quilting at home. So many hours of hard work, I'm so afraid I'll ruin them. Anyone else have the same phobia?


Even though many of my quilts are for charity quilts I feel bad that I can't give them the same quality of quilting in my machine and the charities only accept machine quilting. My hand quilting is beautiful but my machine quilting not so much.

ccrow99 10-15-2011 05:21 AM


Originally Posted by hopetoquilt
I bought some stencils I plan to use. I am not good enough to do "freehand" FMQ but I think stencils might work. I have been using a walking foot to do a grid and have done some stippling.

Quilting is my hobby. If it comes out terribly, I had fun doing it and can toss it or use it on a soccer field.

I've been looking at stencils...looks like the way to go for me, but wondering where the best place would be to order them. Any ideas???

DO-IT-ALL 10-15-2011 06:42 AM

So it looks like most of us have the "phobia". What I finally did was make a quilt for my granddaughter and just did stitch in ditch and criss-cross on the in between sections. It was not perfect but it was done by "Grammy". Anyone who receives a quilt from me will look at them and see my mistakes and know that I am not perfect. And I think the imperfections are OK as non of us are perfect. I have had 2 quilts done by the Long Arm Pro's and when I got them back I felt that they are not my quilts anymore. So I will still take a long time piecing to make perfect and still machine quilt mine myself and I will love them just the same. LOL Koreen

nlpakk 10-15-2011 03:45 PM

If you've done fmq before I'm sure you won't ruin them! Just be sure you have the room to move the quilt around, some machines more space than others. My older Pfaff 1209 has 8" but my newer 2034 only has 6.5", what a difference although it doesn't look like much. I just returned from a quilt retreat and tried doing fmq on my 2034 and had a terrible time but was much better with my 1209, so even though there was only a 1.5" difference it was much easier. I was a little envious of the others who had machines with 10" space, but I don't think that is common. Good luck, you'll do fine!


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