Thank you al so much for taking time to encourage me with your thoughts, advice, empathy, and laughs. I did start the year with the word Embrace" as my theme, so I am going to embrace all your suggestions this year.
1. I have played around with FMQ and really like it but am needing a lot more practice. i will make some placemats for home use that will be my practice projects.
2. I will use my current charity doll quilt, which will have appliqué butterflies on it, to experiment with hand quilting in the negative space. I have a hoop which might be 12"? There's a lot of blue sky in the background .
3. Like a few of you, I want to feel connected and in control of the whole quilt as much as possible. So I won't. Be sending anything to a LA until I am out of my comfort zone completely with the size.
4. I have no desire at all to buy a machine larger than a 11" throat. I'd rather feel a tad disconnected in the quilting phase than to buy a mid arm or larger.
5. Never tried QAYG but the thought of feeling farther along sooner rather is appealing. I'll try it.
6. I'm not sure I'd want a machine that only does straight Line stitching. I do like how
sorry if I forgot any other recommendations.
My mechanical Brother runs when piecing, though....
YOU ALL HAVE BEEN A BIG HELP. THANK YOU!