I just finished 3 quilts, for 3 of my grandchildren. I finished them with a combination of tying and machine embroidery redwork designs, mainly because I can't afford to send them out for professional quilting.
I also just completed a denim/chambray quilt, and machine quilted it using my trusty straight stitch machine. I used a combination of stitch in the ditch (SID) and straight lines. Have never tried hand quilting. Am planning to try using a knock-off of the John Flynn quilting frame, on some scraps. |
I hear ya, Freezeframe!!! My sentiments exactly!! I've tried FMQ but I'm like you...I can only relax for a very short time and then I start to tense up and it looks like crap...LOL
So, I've decided that I'm strictly a SID (which I don't really care to do), or diagonal (which I like a lot!) or any other kind of straight line quilting. I just finished a table runner using a Dessert Roll and needed some type of quilting other than straight lines on the blocks because they were very muted pattern shades (very pretty!) so I decided to look for a machine embroidery quilt design and just use my embroidery machine to do the work for me. I found several that I liked on a particular web site and did stitch-outs to see what I liked best. I decided on one and did each of the 7 blocks and it came out beautiful! There's no way I would have been able to do the design even if I lived 3 lifetimes...LOL. Easy peasy and I didn't have to hold my breath or tense up once :) So that's how I "cheat" sometimes on smaller projects :) |
I love FMQ. It's my favorite part of the process. Meandering is relaxing to me.
|
I cannot FMQ for the life of me. When I want a design or something other than straight lines, I draw or trace a stencil and then just stitch on the lines. I don't drop the feed dogs (that terrifies me!!) and I can do circles, leaves, etc. I use the stencils that I also use for hand quilting.
I'm also a "breath holder" when it comes to FMQ. The worst is the pain I get in my shoulders--couldn't raise my arms for 2 days!! I don't know if what I do qualifies as a technique or what but it works for me! |
free motion quilter all the way
|
Originally Posted by janRN
When I want a design or something other than straight lines, I draw or trace a stencil and then just stitch on the lines. I don't drop the feed dogs (that terrifies me!!) and I can do circles, leaves, etc.I don't know if what I do qualifies as a technique or what but it works for me!
|
I've done a little FMQ, however my main suite is Pantographs currently. The stippling I have done was around frames or appliqued objects. That was fairly easy! I've decided to work on mastering a variety of techniques! I'm very comfortable and adapted to outlining and using a ruler also! I'll try (almost) anything at least once!
|
I have tried machine quilting in the ditch on my Janome but I always seem to get it puckery and I can't figure out why. I tried making the stitch longer but it was too loose. I ended p ripping it all out and doing my hand quilting thing on a standing hoop frame. What am I doing wrong????
|
I'm like you. Have just started machine quilting and the free motion makes me so tense it's not enjoyable. But people keep saying practice, practice, practice. So, I do most of my design quilting by hand. Like you, I refuse to send out a quilt for someone else to do because I like to know that the quilt was made entirely by me. And I really prefer hand quilting. It takes longer, but it is somehow much more satisfying when it's done. But, I do understand the advantages of the machine. More quilts get finished that way.
|
Originally Posted by egagnon291
I'm like you. Have just started machine quilting and the free motion makes me so tense it's not enjoyable. But people keep saying practice, practice, practice. So, I do most of my design quilting by hand. Like you, I refuse to send out a quilt for someone else to do because I like to know that the quilt was made entirely by me. And I really prefer hand quilting. It takes longer, but it is somehow much more satisfying when it's done. But, I do understand the advantages of the machine. More quilts get finished that way.
|
All times are GMT -8. The time now is 10:40 AM. |