Originally Posted by newbyquilter
I am a newbie too, I am very intimidated by my sewing machine...I know how to thread it but have trouble using it. The whole piece of fabric thunks down and gets sucked into the machine. So I completely hand quilted my first quilt because I was just too intimidated.
Here's another tip for you newbyquilter: Use a piece of scrap fabric as a "leader". Fold a little scrap, about 2x3 or whatever you have handy. Lay it under the edge of your "real" work, overlapping the "real" stuff just a smidge. Start stitching in the leader a little from the edge, then just seamlessly proceed onto your "real" fabric. Snip away the leader when you finish the seam. This is much easier to do than to explain. Hope it makes sense.