Thanks! I should show that quilt again since it has both fmq and walking foot quilting. That was baby #4's baby quilt.

I also like Leah Day's 365 days of Free Motion Quilting
http://freemotionquilting.blogspot.com/

Somewhere on her blog it shows blocks of black fabric with white stitching, each block a different FMQ design. I think that would be a great way to practice AND then use it for a QAYG, either wall hanging or quilt.

oh here it is
http://freemotionquilting.blogspot.c...wednesday.html

I plan on doing squares like that, maybe not all black fabric, I'll think on it.

yes, quilting by check book can be quite pricey especially if we don't have unlimited cash flow.

warm quilt hugs, sue in CA

Funny, I was going to suggest checking out Leah Day's site and theoldgraymare already suggested that.

I just signed up for a series of classes on quilting (not piecing) and it builds from the straight stitch to FMQ and working with fancy threads and bobbin work. Hope it takes. lol

Until now, I have limited my quilting to Stitch in the Ditch (on my regular machine) but I like that looks. Sometimes, I combined it with a tie in the center.

I too, have sent my quilts out to get quilted and they did a great job. Now I only send out quilts that are "special" the others I do. I break my quilts down into quarters and do section at a time. The area you're working on isn't much bigger than a child's size quilt. I'm almost ready to hit the "checkout" button on a frame.

Make sure you get a walking foot. I just recently started machine quilting, too, and the walking foot is a necesscity!

When I finally got brave enough to try FMQ I made a few doll quilts for my DGD. She doesn't know/care that my quilting wasn't great...and her dolly sure didn't either!!! LOL But the practice gave me enough self confidence to try something a bit bigger.

Play some....practice some...and most of all, relax and have fun with it!!!

Patti

You may want to try a Flyn quilt frame. There are people who do really well with them and they don't cost an arm and a leg...bet you could find one for under $75.00. They do work best with a machine that has at least a 9" throat.

I've been quilting 2 1/2 years, and I just recently started machine quilting. I wouldn't want to try it on a big bed quilt, but some people do. Maybe I will some day. For now, I wrote everything I had to say on this topic a while back in this post (if you're interested).

http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-57341-1.htm

It's really so much easier than you might think. I just sat at my sewing machine with my laptop computer and went through the beginner designs on Leah Day's 365 Days of Free Motion Quilting. I was amazed at how much easier it was than I thought it would be.

Since I wrote that post, I've switched to Machinger's Gloves and I love those. Also, I purchased a Supreme Slider and I really like that too. I got mine for less money at

http://www.jhittlesewing.com/sewing/catalog.php

I got my Gloves there too. Everything is half what you pay anywhere else, and I've had good results using them.

Oh yes, and I've used my embroidery module for quilting too.

I too am beginning to try to quilt my own, I have always knotted my quilts, well I guess you would call them comforters lol. Anyway I have been watching lots of tutorials on you tube and I did subscribe to the above mentioned Leah Day site, So far I have practiced on a baby scrap string quilt ,I need LOTS of practice but think I can do the simple designs. I really liked this Leah Day's tutorials,she really helps you think outside the box as they say.I mostly make scrappy quilts and don't spend much for fabric so I am excited about this new venture.You can do it too!

Wow thanks for that link for the gloves, awesome prices,How do you know what size to order?
Rae