Is this insanity?

[Beth A.]

I am trying to quilt a quilt that has a cotton batt, flannel on the back and is75"x75". With a domestic machine with a small harp. The further from the center the harder it is. Should I do the last border on a rented longarm? I am new to free motion and that is what I wanted to do in a loop design. The quilt will fight with me because it is heavy and thick.

I am wondering how I can do a quilt in the future even if it is only 50"x50". Is flannel back a mistake, or is there a thinner batt? Please, there must be a consensus out there about how to quilt on a domestic machine. There is no room in my house or budget for a longarm. Thanks, Jan

[Margo C.]

Jan, the center of the quilt should actually be the most difficult to quilt on a domestic machine, because you have half of the total width under the harp. The farther you get from the center, the less bulk you have to deal with in that small space, so the last border should be the easiest!

Flannel will definitely add bulk to the project, and there are several thicknesses of cotton batt to choose from, so you may be able to find one that is thinner than what you are using now. Try a Quilter's Dream Request: http://www.quiltersdreambatting.com/user-guide.htm

You also want to set up your machine (preferably set down into a sewing cabinet) so that all of the weight of the quilt is supported and doesn't pull around the needle.

[Margo C.]

If you can't sink your machine in your table, here is a video on how to make a level sewing area. She has made 3 video's concerning this table.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g14govA4pIM

[Kathryn S.]

Jan, are you quilting the borders with the bulk of the quilt to the left? If you have the quilt lying flat to the left, it will create a lot of drag and make it harder to move. If you "puddle" up the quilt so there is some slack it will be easier.
I use a teflon sheet on the bed of the machine to make everything slide easier. There are two brands, one is called supreme slider, I can't remember the other one. I got mine at my local sewing machine store. Let us know how you are doing!
Kathy

[clara j.]

Marty Michell ( Series 5..Show 504) has a great book you may want to purchase.
"Machine Quilting In Sections". She explains many different ways to quilt on a home machine.
I have had success with quilting queens and kings by putting the 3 layers together THEN
pulling back the top and cutting the batting into thirds and lifting two outsides away, quilt,
replace one of the outside third batting, quilt, and finally adding the third. Check out her
book for tips before trying this. Marty explains this early in her book. Good Luck. cari

[clara j.]

Well the video on the makeshift sewing table was great. Someone however said having all the quilt to the left would create a lot of drag, and that is where the video had it, but the vinyl underneath may compensate. I was going to get the supplies to make the table. I'll try puddling. Let you all know how it goes. But I practiced on doing loops on a scrap with the same batting, I believe quilter's dream, and I am not good at loops yet. I was thinking of renting a longarm. Thank you everyone. Jan

[clara j.]

If you can't sink your machine in your table, here is a video on how to make a level sewing area. She has made 3 video's concerning this table.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g14govA4pIM

Cheryl, My husband said I couldn't bring a new table into our congested house, So I am thinking of getting the insulation for my dining room table and raising my seat and feet with cushions and some kind of platform for the feet so I'm ergonomic. As far as having the machine on the right of the table that seems ok but why in her video does she suggest and L shape to adding another table on the right of the machine?? I guess I should email her. Thanks again for the video link. Jan

[clara j.]

If you can't sink your machine in your table, here is a video on how to make a level sewing area. She has made 3 video's concerning this table.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g14govA4pIM

Cheryl, My husband said I couldn't bring a new table into our congested house, So I am thinking of getting the insulation for my dining room table and raising my seat and feet with cushions and some kind of platform for the feet so I'm ergonomic. As far as having the machine on the right of the table that seems ok but why in her video does she suggest and L shape to adding another table on the right of the machine?? I guess I should email her. Thanks again for the video link. Jan

I don't know why the extra table to the right, I would put a small table to the left for all the extra bulk that usually ends up on the floor or my lap. If you have the table level with the machine bed, there would be less drag and help with puddling the quilt. If the machine is higher than the table, there will always be some pull on the quilt no matter how much you puddle. All in all I think it will help you with your problem.. I was just thinking about your chair hight. I have a bar chair that I use and kind of sit on the edge so i can reach the pedal. It isn't a real high one, but between a regular chair and the high stools. For me I prefer to be a little higher. or there are also those bed lifts. look around in a home improvement store. Stack phone books on a chair to see how much hight you would feel comfortable with once you finish the table setup, then decide what you would want to do. Good luck and let us know how it turns out. Others might be benefit from your solution.

[clara j.]

Thanks. It's snowing tomorrow with sleet etc so I don't know about appointments and visits to the lumber store. I wanted to finish this quilt by tomorrow so I could cut out the binding on Wednesday at my LQS class. I could just imagine going in there with the blue foam.

[Cath P.]

I also saw the video above, but as a single mum had to economise a little and couldn't find the insulation in Australia... I was partially lucky though, because my table did have the machine set in, but it was only as deep as the machine that presented the problem.. I added a cheap ironing board, and covered the whole thing (with the machine space cut out) in the vinyl. I can't believe how much difference the vinyl makes in allowing the quilt to slide more. I still use the puddling, but it is no longer overwhelming to quilt the larger sizes. I also use a bar chair to sit higher which is very effective.

[Cath P.]

Thank you prccath. When I raise my seat height I can hit the table with my legs. So I must compromise and add cushions to the chair and see how far I can raise my butt. Today it's a snow day but I might still go to get the blue foam and vinyl.

[Cath P.]

Well I got the insulation and the vinyl table cloth and I'm doing it! It is not perfect, but will do. My machine is skipping stitches so I have to dust it. Need more practice pieces. The table is so wonderful. It makes this doable not insane. Thank you, Cheryl. Jan

[Cath P.]

Glad it worked for you. My machine sinks in, but I still got the vinyl to smooth out the gaps between the machine the table top. What did you do for your feet? I was just thinking that if you had left over foam, that you could use that as a platform.

[Cath P.]

My feet are ok. I just put a chair cushion on the chair. My dining room table makes the height of the table with the cushions higher than she recommends but it still is comfortable. It looks a lot like the video of Carol Breyer Fallert's quilting set up that I think I saw on the quilt show somewhere recently. I am so excited because my quilting mistakes don't show and it looks not half bad. Of course It will never be in a show. There are too many mistakes. But my daughter will probably love it. It just took me 5 years. Jan