Go Back  Quiltingboard Forums >
  • Main
  • Quilting a large quilt on your normal-sized sewing machine... >
  • Quilting a large quilt on your normal-sized sewing machine...

  • Quilting a large quilt on your normal-sized sewing machine...

    Old 03-17-2013, 06:06 AM
      #1  
    Junior Member
    Thread Starter
     
    QuilterMomOf3's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Aug 2012
    Location: Tulare, CA
    Posts: 199
    Default Quilting a large quilt on your normal-sized sewing machine...

    Have any of you tried quilting a large quilt on your normal-sized sewing machine? I have a quilt that I'm just now working on and I don't have a machine quilting frame yet, so, I enrolled a class on Craftsy to help me by teaching me 5 ways to quilt it!
    QuilterMomOf3 is offline  
    Old 03-17-2013, 06:23 AM
      #2  
    Power Poster
     
    dunster's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Mar 2009
    Location: Lake Elsinore, CA
    Posts: 15,163
    Default

    Machine Quilting in Sections by Marti Michell - I used that book to quilt many large quilts before I got a longarm. One thing to take into consideration while you're making your quilt is that each method works best on quilts of certain designs, and you may need to know which method you will be using before you start assembling the blocks in the quilt.
    dunster is offline  
    Old 03-17-2013, 06:24 AM
      #3  
    Super Member
     
    Buckeye Rose's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Jan 2011
    Location: Monroe, IN
    Posts: 2,283
    Default

    I love the way LA quilting looks, but can't afford the price. So I learned to do quilting myself on my Janome 6600. I do the baby quilts all the way up to the huge king sized ones. Granted, my quilting isn't near as good in quality, but my family loves them anyway. I can do a decent feather, stipple, and cross hatching. I have a finished top (and another almost done) that will be getting my first attempts at an edge to edge or panto-like design. While quilting on a regular sewing machine isn't easy, it can definitely be done. It does take lots of practice before ever starting to do a quilt, and sometimes the patience of Job to get the tension right, but absolutely doable!
    Buckeye Rose is offline  
    Old 03-17-2013, 06:28 AM
      #4  
    Senior Member
     
    Join Date: Aug 2012
    Posts: 421
    Default

    Check out Leah Day's website for great ideas on how to quilt using a domestic sewing machine. You can also sign up for her newsletter which shows new quilt designs. I found her website to be very helpful.
    quilter2090 is offline  
    Old 03-17-2013, 06:38 AM
      #5  
    Senior Member
     
    Join Date: Mar 2011
    Location: Dubuque Iowa
    Posts: 343
    Default

    I quilted a king size on my viking designer11. Wearing quilting gloves and accordian pleating instead of rolling helped me. My machine has a little more throat room than some brands.
    inspectorcmm is offline  
    Old 03-17-2013, 06:44 AM
      #6  
    Super Member
     
    carslo's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Nov 2010
    Location: soCal
    Posts: 1,495
    Default

    I have a Viking Sapphire and it has quite a large harp area and do all my own quilting. I meander and I do not roll my quilts I puddle them and work from the outside in. I Elmer washable school glue or spray baste my quilts so there is not shifting of the sandwich. A LA quilters is out of my budget so I just learned to do it. I did dolly quilts to practice and then jumped in with a queen size quilt. Each quilt turns out better and better and the recipients love them!
    carslo is offline  
    Old 03-17-2013, 08:09 AM
      #7  
    Super Member
     
    Join Date: Oct 2010
    Location: northern California
    Posts: 1,098
    Default

    I've quilt all my quilts on my DSM which is a Janome 6600 with a 9" throat. I roll it up on two cardboard tubes and clip the sandwich on both ends to keep them rolled and stable. I don't do intricate patterns but often use (1) a long wavy line from top to bottom and then sideways, or (2) a cross hatch pattern (starting from the middle), or (3) a simple crossing of stitches that reminds me of the the tied quilts my mother used to make (start at the center, go 5 large-ish stitches out, backtract 10 stitches, forward 5 and end up where you started; then turn 90 degreees and make the second line of stitching to get a + shaped stitch. I don't stitch in the ditch because I find that hard, but sometimes I echo stitch. Also, sometimes I pillow case (?) my quilts and anchor them down and then quilt them. It all depends.... But it seems important to me to make my own quilts. I'm older and very aware that these quilts are what I will be leaving my family, and I want them to be quilts I made totally, warts and all. If perfection is your goal let a pro do it for you; if love for family is what it's all about for you, then quilt it yourself.
    Sierra is offline  
    Old 03-17-2013, 09:37 AM
      #8  
    Super Member
     
    Join Date: Jan 2011
    Location: Nawth o' Boston
    Posts: 1,879
    Default

    I use the bunching-puddling technique of Leah day but I don't try to emulate her clever little designs. I just stick to SITD followed by simple lengthwise patterns like loose waves with curls on them, or outlining motifs. Anything which doesn't require birthing the quilt over and over again.

    I just did a medallion quilt 86" x 86" and it worked great because you sip along each border in the medallion, moving the quilt naturally and you don't get 'lost' in the middle.

    Good luck, I know you will make something which will make you proud!
    SueSew is offline  
    Old 03-17-2013, 12:36 PM
      #9  
    Super Member
     
    Join Date: Nov 2010
    Location: Jozefow, Poland
    Posts: 4,474
    Default

    Originally Posted by QuilterMomOf3
    Have any of you tried quilting a large quilt on your normal-sized sewing machine? I have a quilt that I'm just now working on and I don't have a machine quilting frame yet, so, I enrolled a class on Craftsy to help me by teaching me 5 ways to quilt it!
    Yes. I did several on a Pfaff Hobby 401 or something like that--the throat wasn't very large. I managed, but it wasn't easy. I upgraded (serious understatement) to a Janome Horizon 7700 and it made a world of difference with a huge harp and feed dogs that lower, etc. It was so much easier.
    justflyingin is offline  
    Old 03-17-2013, 12:41 PM
      #10  
    Super Member
     
    Join Date: Feb 2013
    Location: Rapid City, SD
    Posts: 4,961
    Default

    One lady in the quilt guild does all her own quilts on a home sewing machine. She wins many awards with her quilting. I'm just beginning but am quilting a double size on my sewing machine. It can be done.
    Nammie to 7 is offline  
    Related Topics
    Thread
    Thread Starter
    Forum
    Replies
    Last Post
    CoalTownQuilter
    Main
    3
    04-29-2016 06:10 AM
    Jcarpentier
    Main
    22
    01-18-2016 04:16 PM
    MommaDorian
    Pictures
    6
    10-31-2012 01:08 PM
    Grace173
    Main
    14
    08-30-2011 01:21 PM

    Posting Rules
    You may not post new threads
    You may not post replies
    You may not post attachments
    You may not edit your posts

    BB code is On
    Smilies are On
    [IMG] code is On
    HTML code is On
    Trackbacks are Off
    Pingbacks are Off
    Refbacks are Off


    FREE Quilting Newsletter