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From: OnAMissionBC
Date: 05-15-2005, 07:02 PM (1 of 6)
I have just finished my first quilt top! Mind you, I started the squares about 7 years ago. LOL The top is made from denim jeans and flannel shirts that my DS wore as a kidling and the quilt is a gift for him and his fiance. I have been trying to teach myself free motion quilting because I have some little motifs that I have collected that have meaning for my son and would like to incorporate them in the quilting. I have researched and snooped and practised and am ready to tear my hair out! What am I doing wrong? I have the feed dogs lowered, a straight stitch plate, the practise fabric in a hoop, going slow and carefully to try and make even stitches and all I manage to do is make a mess and break my needles.  Help!!!!
Barb
Don't worry about the world coming to an end today. It's already tomorrow in Australia. |
User: OnAMissionBC
Member since: 03-16-2005 Total posts: 20 
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From: joannequilts
Date: 05-15-2005, 07:13 PM (2 of 6)
| Barb, are you using a darning foot? |
User: joannequilts
Member since: 12-22-2000 Total posts: 3070 
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From: plrlegal
Date: 05-15-2005, 08:12 PM (3 of 6)
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Barb, why are you using a hoop? First of all, you should make a practise sandwich out of the same fabric you will be quilting on. I've never tried to free motion quilt with a hoop. Also, are you using gloves with the rubber nubs on them or something along that line to move your fabric with? You don't need to run your machine at top speed, but you do need to run your machine at a steady even pace faster than you are moving your fabric. I took a free motion quilting class a couple of weeks ago and she had us use squares of the rubber cabinet lining in the palms of our hands instead of gloves, rubber finger tips, etc. If you are pulling on your fabric, that will bend your needle and cause it to break when it hits the sides of the straight stitch needle plate. Just try stitching in a straight line until you get your top tension set right also. After that, it is just practise, practise, practise! Patsy Patsy
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User: plrlegal
Member since: 05-19-2001 Total posts: 318 |
From: OnAMissionBC
Date: 05-15-2005, 08:31 PM (4 of 6)
|
Hi Joanne Yes, I'm using a darning foot, such as it is. My machine is an old Viking from the 60's and doesn't have all the bells and whistles. The foot I have is pretty beat up, but I don't think it's my problem. I think it's just me :( I'm using a hoop cuz it's just too hard to hold the material (arthritis in my knuckles). This is the reason I want to machine quilt, there is no way I could hand quilt :( Barb
Don't worry about the world coming to an end today. It's already tomorrow in Australia. |
User: OnAMissionBC
Member since: 03-16-2005 Total posts: 20
|
From: carman
Date: 05-15-2005, 11:20 PM (5 of 6)
| find some cheap gloves from the dollar store that have little platic bumps on them or they even have finger covers as well, this will relieve the pressure on your hands.also they have gloves called ergo gloves and other names meant for support. using a hoop in the long run i think will seve to be more frustrating and hard on you from having to always take it apart and move it. another thing to is make sure you are sitting at a good height at your machine, i sit so i am looking down at my quilt instead of up, which is how most kitchen chairs would have you at, it really takes the pressure of your shoulders as well. |
User: carman
Member since: 04-17-2000 Total posts: 692 
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From: plrlegal
Date: 05-16-2005, 01:46 AM (6 of 6)
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OnAMission BC here's a website that has some good information about free motion quilting. I've downloaded this info to a word perfect doc so I can refer to it when I'm ready to start free motion quilitng again. Hope this helps. http://www.dummies.com/WileyCDA/DummiesArticle/id-1792.html Patsy Patsy
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User: plrlegal
Member since: 05-19-2001 Total posts: 318 |
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