Need Machine Quilting Suggestions Please
 

Hi -

I am fairly new to quilting (1 around the world - tied, 1 pinwheel - tied, 2 denim- tied). I am currently working on a double hourglass on point quilt (I am attaching a picture of the block). I am planning to use Kona Purple as the sash between blocks. Due to health issues I need to learn to machine quilt as hand quilting is not possible. Since i have never attempted machine quilting before, i need to do something fairly straightforward and EASY, lol. I am not able to drop the feed dogs on my machine and the manual states I should use the normal foot and plate (Singer 5830C).

Given the limitations (my own and the machine's), where and what would you suggest I quilt.

Thank you!
Lin

It is beautiful. You could just sew straight lines, if you have a walking foot. It will keep the layers going through the feed dogs evenly. You could cover the feed dogs with a card, if you don't have a special plate to cover them. Hope this helps.

Thank you, Jingle! I have really moved out of my comfort zone on this one, lol. I am usually someone who gravitates to the 1930's sherbet colors...bright colors are really not my thing. BUT, I just fell in love with the center materials (bought them on vacation) and then searched locally to find the block border material, sash material and backing material.

I don't have a walking foot...I'm not even sure they sell one for my machine. I will have to go online to see if I can purchase one. I am thinking maybe echo inside the white/blue area...but have no clue what to do on the inside colored section. I would like to maybe do something that would seem almost like the motion of turning over the hourglass, but i have no idea how to do it...or even if it would be within my "novice" capabilities, lol. I think i will make up a block or two to practice machine quilting everyone's suggestions before I move onto my actual quilt!
Lin

Love your block. I am going to attempt a machine quilting on a ybr, so I am learning too. I have a Singer 543, and it does have a little plastic cover for the feed dogs, look in your attachments, it may be you have one too.

Starshine -

THANK YOU! As soon as I got your reply I ran right over to my machine and opened the accessory section. I DO have a cover for the feed dogs!!! Gosh, there is just so much i don't know about sewing/quilting!!! Also, what is a ybr???
Lin

Do you have decorative stitches in your machine? It is quite amazing what you can do with them. I just recently tried this and was very surprised how sell it turned out.

I love your block. Beautiful colors.

I think stitch in the ditch would be pretty on that one.

I love the colors.
Here is a wall hanging that I'm in the process of finishing the quilting. The basket and top still need something. But, I did straight line quilting and cross hatch and perhaps you could do something like that.

Because you are sashing the blocks you may want to consider a quilt as you go (QAYG) method. There are several and I am sure it will be the easiest way to learn machine quilting because you only quilt a block at a time. Some have hand sewing involved and some don't. Here are some links to get you started.

http://www.quiltingboard.com/tutoria...ng-t36303.html
http://lifeisbeautifulbom.wordpress....u-go-tutorial/
http://www.ludlowquiltandsew.co.uk/Q..._Machined.html

No, i only have very basic stitches on my machine. My next machine will definitely have numerous stitches and will be one that is made for quilting! Who knew i was going to love to make quilts???

Thank you! I really fell in love with the three center materials. The quilt is turning out so bright and happy...makes me even happier working on it!

Just a suggestion , use blue painters tape and mark a geometic pattern or grid that pleases you. You can buy different width tape and it leaves no residue. Use the tape as a guide and stitch along next to the tape. As for not having a walking foot .. I have a vintage machine with no walking foot. I find it helpful to reduce the pressure on the foot when quilting. This helps to eliminates some puckering. Spray basting as well will reduce the puckering.

The straight line quilting is exactly what i am thinking for in the blue and white section. Hmmm...I will have to give some thought to the cross hatch. May be an idea...
Thank you!
Lin

Thank You!!! I will read up on QAYG as I have no clue how it is done, lol.

Lin

Maybe stitch in the ditch around the smaller triangles?
Lin

Thank you for the suggestion! I have to go to the hardware store tomorrow so i will pick up some tape!
Lin

You might want to do a circle in the block if you want it to look like it is turning. As in a spiraling circle starting small in the center and echoing out from there.

Very pretty block!

Thank you, I didn't know it made a difference in the amount of quilting. I will definitely look!
Lin

That is exactly what i want! Is there some technique to get the circle evenly spaced? A template or something similar i should look for at my sewing shop?
Thank you!!!

Thank you EVERYONE for your suggestions and support! If i didn't reply to you individually (still learning how to use the forum and lost track of a few responses I typed), please know that i sincerely appreciate your help and suggestions. I think i have found my new favorite pass-time and my new favorite forum!
Lin

i just finishing outline quilting a queen size sunflower quilt on my sewing machine, I lengthened my stitches to 4 and tension to 5.6 and it stitched well. Sewed all my straight lines first and then the blocks. It helps that I have a good size sewing table and set it against the wall so it doesn't hang over and pull . Wearing quilting gloves also helps with control
Of course it was all basted first when i started

The walking foot for your machine is quite reasonable (about $20-25) and easily available. You can do gentle curves and straight lines with a talking foot. If you do some gentle curves from one point to another to make it look like it's turning over? Just use the edge of a big plate or pot cover or pot or whatever is the right size and some type if marker to mark the line. For straight lines, painters tape. Be sure the marker will wash out. Test it ahead of time.

Love the colors you used!

I don't have a walking foot either, and I sew straight(ish) lines with my regular foot. I just draw them on with a ruler. I have to admit, they don't look as neat as Karen's, tho.. Wow!

I love your square, and when I look at it, it already looks like it's "puffy" so I would stitch in the ditch in all the seams and then stitch an additional triangle in the white triangles, but going in a different direction. Like if the base of the fabric triangle is on the bottom, make the point of the quilted triangle face the bottom. Make sense? I hate trying to use words to describe something that takes 5 seconds to sketch out!!

I love the fabric!!!!! What is it???

Go to leah days website; she had lots of videos on quilting by machine. There are lots of designs and quilt alongs.

You can get a walking foot and darning foot for your machine, as your machine takes short shank attachments. I've quilted for years on old Singers that don't have dropping feed dogs. You don't need to cover them either. Just set your stitch length to 0 and with your darning foot on give it a try on a small quilt sandwich.(top fabric,batting and backing). FMQ takes practice, so don't think that you will be successful on the first tries.
Sharon W.

I am not totally sure who made the materials. I know the orangey color with the teardrops is Russian Rhapsody. I forget who made it. I can't remember if the blue and blue/white were from the same line. I think they may have been. I found those materials in a sale bin...$5.99/yd...while on vacation. The border is "Rowdy Kids" and i got it for $7.12/yd in Lancaster County, PA.

Love your block. I looked up a ybr because I didn't know either. It is a yellow brick road. Now I will have to look that up to see what it looks like. Keep quilting. You do good work.

What do you call the pattern for your block? Very pretty.

It is called a double hourglass. It is done with "tube quilting". I am attaching the tutorial. It is the second video down.

http://blog.missouriquiltco.com/like-totally-tubular/