Derla

I used to hand quilt and loved doing it, but it was way too slow. I'm in my 70s and have a lot more stash to use up. So now, when I get a couple of quilt tops pieced, I drive to a city about 90 miles away, and rent time on a computerized long arm quilting machine - love using those. I'm able to stay overnight with my son and his family and I have a mini-vacation.

I've been reading about people's stash. How many yards of a fabric does one buy when there are no immediate plans for it's use?

GailG

I think I fit right here also. I tried hand quilting on a frame. It went very slow and sometimes not so well. I've done it following near the seam and I've tried it 1/4 inch away from the seam using quilters' marking tape (whatever it's called). It looks alright to someone who hasn't quilted.

Now I do machine quilting -- SID or cross-hatching. I also do hand lap quilting with or without a hoop. I've had a stroke on my right side and I'm right-handed. I'm fine but a bit clumbsy. So at times it goes well and at times kinda shaky. It took over 6 months for me to do my last attic windows (Can be seen before quilting on a thread MY ATTIC WINDOWS) The graduate (DGD) loves being wrapped in it. That's good enough for me.
I'm doing a machine lap D9P quilt right now by cross-hatching. My next move is to sandwich my kaleidoscope quilt top that I made a few years ago. I can have it ready to stitch during those long "football-watching" months. [Can you tell I don't like football?] So just feel free to do what you can do and enjoy the process. Skill and confidence comes with practice. I could never win a contest, but as far as my grandchildren and relatives are concerned, the quilts are winners. Just do what you like and learn as you can. Good luck.

GailG

I think I fit right here also. I tried hand quilting on a frame. It went very slow and sometimes not so well. I've stitched following near the seam and I've stitched 1/4 inch away from the seam using quilters' marking tape (whatever it's called). It looks alright to someone who hasn't quilted.

Now I do machine quilting -- SID or cross-hatching. I also do hand lap quilting with or without a hoop. I've had a stroke on my right side and I'm right-handed. I'm fine now but a bit clumbsy. So at times it goes well and at times kinda shaky. (OH, and I cant' used a thimble. {{{shame on me}}} It took over 6 months for me to do my last attic windows (Can be seen before quilting on a thread MY ATTIC WINDOWS) The graduate (DGD) loves being wrapped in it. That's good enough for me.
I'm doing a machine lap D9P quilt right now by cross-hatching. My next move is to sandwich my kaleidoscope quilt top that I made a few years ago. I can have it ready to stitch during those long "football-watching" months. [Can you tell I don't like football?] So just feel free to do what you can do and enjoy the process. Skill and confidence comes with practice. I could never win a contest, but as far as my grandchildren and relatives are concerned, the quilts are winners. Just do what you like and learn as you can. Good luck

EDIT: And as you can see, I'm a klutz with the computer. Don't have a clue what happened here. I tried to edit, but the first one is the one I needed to make corrections. I suppose you get my gist. :lol:

kclausing

I like the challenge of a free motion but only on smaller quilts. don't think I could do full or queeen size with free motion. For larger quilts, I also am a straight line quilter.

Monika

Where are you taking your class?

BellaBoo

I am not above drawing quilting stitches with a marker on my quilt, or using floss to handquilt big 4 stitches to an inch. I am whatever I like type of quilter.

Jingle

I do mostly FMQ and I love it, if you tense up it will show in your quilting. Just relax, wear gloves with rubber nubs and do it, the more you do the better you should be, when the binding is sewn on, wash and dry it, it will look great.

yellowsnow55

What is the best batting to use for FMQ, I have been trying bamboo, but I don't find it fluffy enough after washing, great for baby quilts as its not so hot and great for our Australian climate.

yellowsnow55

What is the best batting to use for FMQ, I have been trying bamboo, but I don't find it fluffy enough after washing, great for baby quilts as its not so hot and great for our Australian climate.

mshawii

Straight line quilt the blocks and then go back and quilt the inside of the blocks. Just remember to sew one way to the left and the next row( side to side), go to the right, otherwise your quilt will want to angle that way. Then turn and go the other way (Top to bottom) There is a well known quilter that started doing her own quilts that way till she got more comfortable doing freehand in each block, then she started doing real freehand quilting. I have started doing small wall handings and table runners and I am working into larger items very slowly.