I'm preparing to quilt my 2nd quilt. It's a queen size. My machine is the Pfaff Classic Quilt, 1527, throat size is 6 3/4 long x 4 1/2 tall. Is it possible with this size throat? I skimmed a article about quilting in section but I cant find it now. The batting will be low loft cotton/poly 80/20. I'm going to do a meander all over.
Should I quilt in sections, go for the whole quilt or buy a machine with a bigger throat? kidding about the machine for this quilt. But I'm going to start researching machines.

I usually start from the center and branch out from there. This way I start with the hardest part of the quilt and from there on it will only get easier. Don't roll the quilt, just bunch it in the threat. It will be easier. Remember to breath and stop to rest if it gets too heavy.

Good luck.

I would recommend that you do it in sections.
Put a little more than 1/3 of your batting in the middle of the top and bottom and sandwich as you usually do. Quilt that section to within a couple inches of the end of the batting. Add your next 1/3 section to one side and sandwich that. Don't overlap the batting, butt them together. I spray baste the edges as well as I can and then quilt that section and do the final 1/3.
It's much easier to work with in that small a throat.

I've also found that bunching it up works better for me. You get so caught up in keeping it rolled "just right" that you waste more time doing that than actually quilting. And like Maride, I like to get the hardest parts out of the way first.

susiequilt-I had always thought quilting in sections meant doing 3 separate sections - top,batting,bottom and then joining all the seams (hope this can be understood) to end up with a whole quilt.
I certainly like your plan of having the whole top & bottom, but just partial batting and adding as you go along. I have a queen top that I did a few years ago and really didn't know how I was going to quilt it without a huge headache! Thank you thank you! This way never occurred to me!

I have quilted a queen size quilt on my regular machine. It is harder than if you have a larger throat machine but it can be done. I started in the middle and worked out. I just draped my quilt. Didn't roll it. Something that helped my a lot was quilting gloves. I bought my first pair from Fons and Porters buy found that gardening gloves with the bumps on them work just a well. Good luck and have fun.

I agree with Susiequilt. I did a queensized one that same way...in thirds. It worked out great, much easier to fit into the throat, and lighter to deal with. I had forgotten about that method when I did a full sized one last week! Wasn't there an article in the Quilted Paradise Magazine on this last week or so? Good luck! You can do it!!

let us know how you get along

I quilted allot of it this weekend. I was able to handle it all in one piece. The batting must be thin because it was easier to handle than the lap quilt I did. I really had a fun time quilting this one. I was left at a campground by myself for one day. I plug my machine into the trailer. Covered the picnic table with table cloths and quilted in the sun surrounded by trees. I might call this quilt, "Summer Vacation 2010" Since I'm trying to finish it for our 17 day summer vacation, camping in Idaho.

Here is a picture of the work in progress. I really enjoyed my self. The lighting was perfect!

WOWOW that's some SEWING ROOM!!! Good for you!

Wow, nice quilting room!

I quilted a king size in a small mechanical Brother. Granted, it was just stitch in the ditch, and at times I had to wrestle it. I did start in the middle and worked out, in quarters. I also agree that rolling is more trouble than it is worth. I now "puddle" it or "scrunch" up whatever I am working on.

Gads, I wish I could remember who had this technique. But will try to explain.

Layer your quilt. Then only keep the batting at the center section of the quilt and cut off the side sections of batting only with curved cutting lines. Baste or spray baste or pin ... your choice. Quilt the center section from the center out but not to the edge of the batting. Once that is quilted then sew the side section of batting back on the center section ... baste, spray baste, or pin your layers ... and then quilt that portion of the quilt. Then do the other side of the quilt.

This way you have less stuff to squish up while doing your quilting and you can do the quilting faster and easier.

ali

I do a lot of California Kings with my Singer, and yes, the hardest part is the middle, but once you get past that it is easy.

I too have done Kingsize ..I have done 3, and every time I did it I said NEVER AGAIN WILL I DO A KING SIZE QUILT...but all 3 times, I did it like the others said, start in the middle, dont worry about rolling, just bunch it. I used a LOT of pins to baste it down, and I kept a constant check on the back side, to be sure it wasnt getting bunched up anywhere.....just take your time, and have a table or something to the left and behind your machine, to support as much of the quilt weight as possible.

Love your quilt, Bertadel, and that is a fantastic quilting room! :)

Good advice from everyone. When I first quilted about 30 years ago, polyester was the only batting available that could be machine quilted. The cotton battings had to be quilted so closely, sometimes 1/2 inches, that it was impractical for machine quilting. However, now we have several good brands in all cotton or 80/20 that are great for machine quilting. It's helpful to have a large flat area to the left and the back of the machine to distribute the weight of the parts not under the needle. Using a quilting, embroidery, or top stitch 75 or 90 needle is also helpful.