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From: Iwannasew
Date: 10-18-2004, 09:14 AM (1 of 8)
HI All,,Im a newbe,,I have a question. hopefully someone can help. I want to make a couple quilts, for now I guess only one. I am looking into everything before I start and have even purchased quite a few learn to quilt books, the problem is. I really tried hard to do it by hand, but I guess Im not to good at sewing so I would like to go the machine route. Which machine would be suited for my needs without costing a ton incase Im not to good at it? Any replies would be greatly appreciated cause I dont understand what Im seeing when the machine says 20 stitch and 36 stitch,,,I get so confused  Thank you all,,,and btw,,this site is awesome. I cant wait to get started and quilt away. Nanette
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User: Iwannasew
Member since: 10-18-2004 Total posts: 4 
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From: mommaquilts
Date: 10-18-2004, 02:08 PM (2 of 8)
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Rather than a kind of machine, I think you should look for a shop which will give you guide classes with whatever machine you purchase! Either that or figure that your first project is a "practice quilt" and that you'll learn by making mistakes. As far as quilting machines go, every quilter loves her machine or she gets a different one! Some swear by Bernina, others love Janomi and there are lots of other brands out there. I have a Viking, the Lily 550. I love my machine--it does everything I want and more! The Lily was replaced with the Platinum line a little over a year ago and it's a good machine, too. Huesqvarna has come out with a new line, the Husky Star, which would fit most budgets and keeps the quality Viking is known for. (Can you tell I teach at a shop that sells Vikings?) You need a machine that will sew a good stitch--no tension problems. Most beginning quilters will start with straight line stitching. It can be "in the ditch" or simply on the diagonal. This requires a walking foot. With a walking foot (also called a dual-feed foot or even feed foot) you can also do gentle curves like in some cable stencils. Once you've mastered that, play with some small quilt "sandwiches" and try some free motion quilting with a foot designed for that. Personally I like the open-toed stippling foot. To free motion quilt you need to have a machine where you can drop your feed dogs (or teeth). With older machines there may be a throat plate which covers the feed dogs and it will work the same way. And if you don't know what any of these things are--that's why you need to purchase your machine from a shop that offers guide classes. However, if you are the kind of person who is willing to try things on your own, you *could* work your way through the owner's manual, trying everything it says your machine can do, making a sample of each function as you go. I'd suggest this even if you are getting guide classes. It's a good way to reinforce what you learned in your class. The other thing I'd suggest is to find a book that covers every aspect of machine quilting. My personal favorite is "Heirloom Machine Quilting" by Harriet Hargraves. That's the book I used to learn how to machine quilt. If you follow her directions, you can do it. And it's been recently revised! By the way, Harriet loves her Bernina. She takes it with her when she gives seminars--which I was able to attend last year. Another author worth looking into is Diane Gaudinsky. Her machine quilted quilts have won awards at the American Quilt Society contests several years running. Her book is good and her quilting is FABULOUS! You would be amazed! Good luck! Mary Mary H.
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User: mommaquilts
Member since: 03-04-2004 Total posts: 2 |
From: plrlegal
Date: 10-18-2004, 09:44 PM (3 of 8)
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Have you ever sewn on a sewing machine? Since you stated that you tried to sew by hand and you're not very good at sewing it made if wonder what you know about sewing with a machine. If not, my suggestion would be to find a place and take some beginner sewing lessons to get the feel of using a sewing machine then try your hand at machine piecing and quilting. Patsy Patsy
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User: plrlegal
Member since: 05-19-2001 Total posts: 318 |
From: Iwannasew
Date: 10-19-2004, 11:50 AM (4 of 8)
OK thank you so much so far for the help. Yes I have sewn before on a machine and by hand as well, long time for hand sewing though, but I was started out as a little girl and only pretty basic stuff and no fancy terms were involved. I have made a few things by machine though,,stuffed animals mostly and a few pillows, nothing to hard though. Im recently a homemaker and have the time and willingness to quilt. I really just want to make 2 for now one for each child, out of their clothes, like a momento I guess. If I do well at it though I would love to make it a hobby. As far as sewing classes, cant do that, my husband is stationed in Germany,,,,, so all the local places are great, but I dont speak much german. I have however started looking into the books & machines that mommaquilts recommended,,,NICE machines, now Im just in awe at all the possibilities,,its great, cant wait to get started, well I guess if I can find someone to ship to an APO,,not having any luck with that one. Hey and Thankx again u two.  Nanette Nanette
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User: Iwannasew
Member since: 10-18-2004 Total posts: 4
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From: LeapFrog Libby
Date: 10-20-2004, 07:22 PM (5 of 8)
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I wanna sew, look on these threads somewhere for the signature "Gina".. She is back in Texas now, but she was in Germany and I think I remember her ordering things while they were stationed there.. Send her a pm and ask her...Look for Pudge 99 (a bunny rabbit) and the large signature of Gina in color.. Sew With Love
Libby |
User: LeapFrog Libby
Member since: 05-01-2002 Total posts: 2022 
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From: Iwannasew
Date: 10-21-2004, 05:17 AM (6 of 8)
I went ahead and sent her a pm,,,thank you so much very kind of you.  Nanette Nanette
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User: Iwannasew
Member since: 10-18-2004 Total posts: 4
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From: lilac
Date: 10-21-2004, 09:03 AM (7 of 8)
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I have a viking machine and they have a great reputation. I understand they will be manufactured in Germany or so I have been told. Whatever machine you buy make sure you get a walking foot and a darning or embroidery foot some are open toe and some are a closed circle - I hear the open toes allow you to see better but mine isn't one... avoid a machine that requires you to buy an after market walking foot as they have a reputation of falling apart so find your brand. My machine has automatic tentioning and I would not know how to sew if it didn't - never learned how to mess with all that. I have read that a single needle throat plate will help keep your stitching even but I do not use one of those either. I love my decorative stitches for crazy quilts but really you only have to have a straight stitch. I like Diane Gaudynski's book, Guide to machine quilting, it has the most info by far. It is better because it covers more info than any other book on the subject and I have Harriet Hargrave's, the woman who really brought machine quilting into the mainstream, book as well. The book, Easy Machine Quilting edited by Townswick is absolutely inspiring with it's beautiful projects and I love to look at it. I also have Sue Nickels book and I like her practice sheets. Machine Quilting Made Easy by Maurine Noble was okay but I just did not teach me as much as Diane Gaudynski or have the appeal of Sue Nickel. I was truly disgusted with Kathy Sandbach as it did nothing to teach me about using the machine but I did learn to measure my borders and cut them the exact size instead of slapping them on and triming to size after (not worth $18.00). If you already knew what you were doing it would be a good book but not something a newbie would find helpful. For the actual quilt designs I cannot think of anyone better than Ursula Reikes for a first time quilter. Any of the Quilts for baby books are fanatastic and a baby quilt is the size I would stick with for a first quilt project but truthfully, it is all in the fabric and they can be made any size you want. I also recommend Lynda Milligan and Nancy Smith's baby quilt book collection, Debbie Mumm is absolutely wonderful (Quick Country Quilts for Every Room is great), Eleanor Burns is a must have (I like still stripping afer 25 years but almost everyone has a copy of her log cabin book), Mary Hickey's Sweet and Simple Baby Quilts are beautiful and again can be made bigger - they only look hard. And do not miss out on Barbara Eikmeier, yes I know she writes books to teach kids but I am self taught and if you can't get to a class buy her books. Both are wonderful and very different from each other, one very traditional blocks the other very creative seasonal blocks with kid appeal (Kids can quilt)- the one book that I cannot recommend you buy if you just want to make adult quilts but I love it. Do not bother buy Alex Anderson's books, I love her show but her books are too expensive and lack a lot of info that other books offer for a better price. I also like Creative Publishing's book, Quilting 101 and All About Quilting From A to Z and The Quilters Ultimate Visual Guide. Yep, you guessed it I have a book case full of quilt books because I have never been able to get to a class and I love to read. Amazon.com keeps me reading and they have just about everything you can imagine and more. Good luck and keep at it. |
User: lilac
Member since: 07-07-2002 Total posts: 102 |
From: Iwannasew
Date: 10-22-2004, 04:46 PM (8 of 8)
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I looked into the books you mentioned,,and also found myself a german friend to help me in my quest for the machine. I may be able to have one sent to a store here in the proper voltage which is awesome, so I hope we have good luck with that one. As far as books Amazon is great, I also recently joined one site called crafterschoice good books there as well, prices are not to bad either,,its kinda like BMG though must buy a certain amout,,,its not a crazy expectation though. So thank you all again. Ilove this site,,Im sure Ive said that already though its great ALOT of inspiration.
Nanette
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User: Iwannasew
Member since: 10-18-2004 Total posts: 4
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