Suggestions for machine quilting
#11
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Thornton, Colorado
Posts: 1,023
I’ve quilted many pieces over the years, by both hand and machine. I’m quilting a whole cloth simple baby quilt..now I’ve usually used more straight line quilting, which I’m not terrible at...this time I’m using a simple loop design, with a template and disappearing ink..I’m having the hardest time keeping my loops round...I keep getting points or corners in my loops...rip it out and start again...any ideas or advice? Thanks
#13
Yes, it’s all about practice. The more you do, the better you will get. Make some big practice sandwiches and fill them up with loops and curves. Later they can be donated to an animal shelter for pet beds.
#14
Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Catskills, New York
Posts: 262
I’ve had only limited experience with free-motion quilting, but I have learned that it requires specific adjustments in your machine’s settings. That can include stitch length, foot adjustments so that you are able to glide the fabric, and, sometimes, dropping the feed dogs. It also requires the “muscle memory” that comes with practice of going over a pattern quite a few times. You could practice loops with or without thread in the needle, I’d guess.
#16
Remember when you do loops you have to plan ahead because you can't stop anywhere. So, get ready at your starting point, take a breath and I think "out, around, back" to my start which is where I can stop again.
I really didn't get comfortable with loops until I discovered Paisleys. 3 loops inside each other with a pointy end. I used it for a filler and by the time I was done, boy, could I do loops!
Also, when doing free motion, my most important tip is to set your speed control if you have one to a comfortable speed so that you can put your foot right down on the pedal as you go. That way you don't have to try to control two things...the speed of the machine and the speed of your hands.
Watson
I really didn't get comfortable with loops until I discovered Paisleys. 3 loops inside each other with a pointy end. I used it for a filler and by the time I was done, boy, could I do loops!
Also, when doing free motion, my most important tip is to set your speed control if you have one to a comfortable speed so that you can put your foot right down on the pedal as you go. That way you don't have to try to control two things...the speed of the machine and the speed of your hands.
Watson
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