I'm between tops on the frame so I put some scraps from a large backing and scrap batting on to practice. It is fun to do but it takes more control than what it looks like when watching someone who knows what they're doing it.

I think that I need to map out what I'm going to do, even if it's just some quick lines and general guides of where to go.

Someday I'll get up the nerve to do it on an actual quilt! :P

Looks GOOD to me!

Gorgeous...you're ready to do the real thing!

Your work is just beautiful!!!

That looks good enough for the real thing to me!!!

Only to do work as good as you.....

Geez..I have a whole stack of tops that I would be proud to have your practicing on!!

I have a stack of them too!! lol

My feathers are a little fat sometimes and my backtracking in the same stiched line is really bad. I never remember to put my glasses on! I go upstairs to do it and leave my glasses downstairs.

Wow, I think your practice is certainly paying off, looks great

Your doing a great job!!! You will be there in no time at all!!!!

pittsburgpam, your quilting looks wonderful and I'd gladly have you quilt my tops for me!

Well it certainly looks impressive - I could send you a few things to "practise" on, please! You'll be okay on a top though as you can use the pattern to follow your design.

I think you have a good start there...
And I think if you talk to Judi, she would tell you to go for it.
Perhaps you could do some of our quilt tops that we don't want to quilt, that you could "practice" on for a resonable amount.
Kinda like apprentice, journey man, master????
Just my 2 stitches...
K

It's absolutely beautiful!! :thumbup: Don't waste it, when you are done practicing. Do make something with it & share it again!! I will be looking forward to seeing more.
:D :D :D :D

My thoughts exactly SulaBug ! I agree, use it for something beautiful!

Gal

Pam - that is not practice girl, that is QUILTING!!! You should square that up and call it a wholecloth, it's beautiful!

That looks great to me.
Put on a quilt and go....

Looks good to me!!

Beautiful!!!! Go for it!!!!

Oh my gosh, get that practise piece out of there and put a quilt on, you are ready to go, that is absolutely breathtakingly beautiful.

You've come a long way baby!!!

absolutely amazing. I wish I was that good with a long arm. I think you're ready!

I think you did a great job. And remember, it always looks worse on practice fabric than on a quilt top. On a top, you have patterns and fabrics, and if you use a thinner, blendable thread, you will get texture and not see so much of the backtracking misses. (Even pro's aren't perfect!) Also, I just took an online class and got a great hint on backtracking....slow way down. It's easier to hit, and by using the thinner thread, if you're off just a tad you really can't see it. It sorta just disappears.

One thing that was also suggested in the class is to keep these for a few weeks. Once a month or every couple of weeks, compare the old with the new practice so you can actually see your progress. Amazing how little we realize our improvements! And feel free to mark any lines necessary. Even pro's quilting for years still do this!

Great job! I think you're doing wonderfully. It really does look like you're well on your way :)

Thanks you guys, I guess I should just go for it. I know the quilt that I will try first. It's for myself and it is big pieces that took very little time to make so it's not something I spent a month doing.

I'll map it out and think about the design for a little bit, maybe print an outline (or 2, or 10) of the pattern from EQ6 and doodle on it first.

looks very beautiful

woo hoo! girlfriend you are a perfectionist and trust me, you are getting there :thumbup:

Nice. You're much farther along than I am with the free motion stuff. Keep practicing and you'll be where you want to be with it in no time. :mrgreen:

wow, nice job

Ditto!

You should go for it, Pam!! It looks great!! A few roadmarkers should be all you'd need, and off you go!!!

That is just beautiful. If you don't want to do it on a "real" quilt, practice on a bunch of strips and then put them together; that would qualify as a quilt won't it? Gorgeous work; wish I had that talent!

Beautiful and impressive! Keep up the great work!

I am GREEN with ENVY!!!!!!!!!!! It is BEAUTIFUL!

Are you kidding me???? I'd be THRILLED if my quilting looked like that!!!!

Wow, looks great. Wish you were practicing on my quilt!

and why do you have someone else do it for you????? This is great!

Lovely!

I'll try it on a quilt, maybe this weekend. Just Do It. Fish or cut bait. Get off the pot. Take the bull by the horns. :P

Well if you get tired of looking at those scrap practice pieces , send them my way.......LOL

Your work looks great. :)

Gosh, you should start on a quilt now! That is beautiful!