Grandma Libby

Same problem. I had so many tucks on the back of the first quilt I tried to fmq on my little Singer, that I just ripped it out and hand quilted it ALL! Only took me about TWO YEARS! lol (I am getting ready to start PRACTICING again and have decided the thing to do is use the gloves with the grippies and do mini quilts until I get used to it) Let's give it a try! hummmmmm

Judie

I was very scared to begin machine quilting too.. I don't have enough money to buy 20 yards of muslin and batting to make "practice" samples from.. I think that would be a great way to get up to speed, and those smaller baby size sandwiches could be used for other things.. I have one that I use as a changing pad..

What I did was take home some of the kits we have at our guild and practice on these donation quilts. You will be surprised how quickly you get better at running your machine at a constant speed. It just takes practice like everything else. The best thing to remember is stop when you aren't sure where to go next or just get cluched up.

As far as the back side.. I spray baste my quilts and don't have that problem. The other thing that help that some is to have a slippery surface under your quilt.. I use one of those cheapy oven liners that I've cut a rectangle out of so my needle area is visible.

And, remember, this is a quilt, not a live changing project that will be displayed forever and judged.. Relax. It will look better than you thought when you finish.

dphelps

Oh my gosh,I wish I could say that. Take a class and learn how to use your LA once you get the feel of it, I think you will no longer be afraid of it and wish you had done it sooner.

As for the topic, I have not spray basted so far and had realitively good luck FMQ but I do baste and pin and do small sections at a time, always straightening both top and bottom.Seems to work for me. Tskes practice and unfortunately lots of ripping but it does get easier. I always suggest making a practice quilt. Take a 10 x 10 size top, bottom,and batting,sandwiched and practice first.

patdesign

The last one I did, was in 3 long strips about 33 inches wide and the length of the quilt which was 110 inches. I was able to smooth out the back, pin and then stich from centers out to begin to stabilize it then each block row in the ditch to the ends, from there I quilted to within 1/4 inch of the top edges, the back and batting was cut 2 inches more all around, then I joined strips as for a quilt as you go. It is a variation on Marti Michells methods that I find works for me. I did not baste, just pinned. pm me if I can help further. :-D

sewNso

okay, ladies. i see you keep talking about using spray basting. when you use it, don't you just have to spray it and use it right now? or the hold lets loose? and get it quilted right away? 6 yrs or so ago, that is what i found. or was i doing it wrong. i was still working, and would try to lay it out, and then quilt some the next day, then want to do some the 3rd day. and MY spray basting didn't seem to hold. am i mis remembering? or was i just doing it wrong?

lauriequilts

If you know a LAQ in your area, you can have them baste the quilt for you using big stitches that can be removed easily after machine quilting. It is very inexpensive and may save you from getting tucks in the back and ripping out stitches.

Rettie V. Grama

I quilt on the machine by sections. If it is larger than a Crib quilt, say 72x 84 inches. I divide it into 4 sections before frinishing the block, quilt each section separately, then join them together with the lining larger than the section. For joining another way, I make sashing for the top and the lining and stitch on both sides of sashing to complete.

sewNso

OMG. you have a long arm and you are scared?
i will be right down.
what kind do you have? i do know that my cousins take classes to learn how to do/use their long arms. your LAQ company probably has classes they hold. and you should have been entitled to some hands on instructions when you bought it. otherwise, internet, internet. there should be dimistrations somewhere .
AND i must admit. i don't like my short arm phaff grand quilter and sit up i have. i would rather put it thru my janome.

kerrytaylor

I have never machine quilted but am preparing to do so this weekend. After tutorials, etc. I think Im close to being ready. I bought spray baste but it was the "dritz" brand - couldn't find 505. My question,one person mentioned steam iron after spray basting, I assume to get better adhesion(?). Do you have any comments on that? I have a bunch of basting pins too.

manley

Me too. :roll: