I didn't think I was going to get my first quilting project done with a regular sewing machine. I use 505 Basting Spray and also pins around the outside. You just have to roll or squish the quilt up to get it into the throat of your machine and there are times it certainly isn't easy. You may only be able to quilt a small section and then have to reposition everything which does become aggravating. Someone else suggested to realize you do have to walk away sometimes and that's so true. Hang in there and keep trying. You'll get it figured out.

Yeah that is to much like work, no fun at all, so I got a LA.

I pin mine no less than hand-width apart. I also take a lot of effort to tape the backing down very taut and smooth out the other layers so I can keep puckering to a minimum. Are you planning to SID? If so, you can roll the quilt in half and work at one half at a time. Don't let it pull off the table or the stitches will be wonky. Don't forget to take breaks and just have fun with it. Rome wasn't built in a day.....

Just sent you a PM, Crystal. :O)

I've quilted about 5 queen size quilts on a sewing machine.
I can give some tips, but the most helpful one is that experience will improve each quilt you do. It might be easier to machine quilt a baby or lap quilt for your first experience.

My tips are to pin baste, which looks like you've already done. I pin baste by putting the three layers, quilt top, batting, and backing on a queen bed and sticking safety pins
all the way through to the mattress. After the quilt is literally stab pinned to the bed I take each safety pin and close it. This method meant less shifting of layers for me and the pins make it secure when I quilt on my sewing machine. Yes,
I can imagine this sounds so unorthodox to other quilters..but it works for me.

You can fold or roll the sides of the quilt so that it handles somewhat easier I prefer to fold both sids, leaving the middle of the quilt open to begin quilting.

Also, I quilt from the center of the quilt out, kind of like quilting pie slices from the center, start from a new section always from the center out.

I have quilted with stitch in the ditch, but prefer free motion quilting. If you want to free motion quilt, practice sketching on paper to get the feel, then on to some scraps of fabric with batting and backing. (You need some quilting gloves for quilting>it will also make it much easier.
Sorry for the long post, but hope it helps.

Years ago I made the decision for myself to never again quilt a bed-sized quilt on my home machine. I had spent a a weekend pushing hard to complete one for an upcoming show. I then spent the next 6 weeks under chiropractic care and it cost me all the $$ I could have used to have the thing long-armed. :evil:

For me, never again. Period.
Jan in VA

I love the long reply - thank you! It sounds like I just need to reset my expectations for how slow this is, and that readjusting the bulk is a huge part of it. You guys are a great help. I will reply to the private messages shortly...going to try some of the advice for a little bit.

Jan - I'm sorry you had to go to chiropractic care but your story made me lol! Thank you for sharing! It seems like I may be going that route but I'm going to try to finish this one myself. I will take lots of breaks to avoid the chiro visit =)

Your quilt top looks beautiful! Do not give up. It can be very frustrating to quilt on a domestic machine. But with each quilt it brings a new experience. We expect perfection so often, but that takes a lot of practice and patience. If you continue to get really frustrated and upset, stop quilting for awhile; even try a different technique...like tying it. Have a friend come over and sit and talk with you. A friend of mine, could not stress enough...quilting is about having fun.

I have wanted to give up a few times but finishing a quilt feels so amazing. One thing that helps me too is having another project going and when I get too frustrated I put the one aside for awhile.