How DO you free-motion quilt on a home sewing machine?

[Gloria H.]

Patsy, I just saw your system on your web site. I think I'll look into your DVD. I may look into the HQ machine too. Thanks so much.

[Gloria H.]

Hi Gloria,
I have instructional DVD's for free motion quilting that show how to do all that stitch work and it is FUN!!!! Keep with it and you will really fall in love with it! On the home page of the website, if you click on the side section called "Instructional DVD's," it will take you to a page where you can click on each DVD and watch a preview that will give you a sense of what is covered. There is a 3rd dvd that is coming out in 3 weeks and there will be a preview clip available for it once it's out. If you don't need help figuring out how to stitch things but just want designs, there is a section called "free downloads" and you can print out those designs that are on the "Fast and Free" series of DVD's. The free downloads for the 3rd DVD should be posted in the next 2-3 weeks.
I just posted the picture of a midarm machine with a plexiglas extension table-I think it gives you a good sense of just how much extra space a system like this would give you. Good luck with your free motion work!
Patsy
http://www.patsythompsondesigns.com

[Judy R.]

I just got your second DVD, "Free Motion Fun With Feathers" in the mail. Can't wait to watch it and try it out. I also purchased "Fast and Free" and learned a lot from watching it. I am really interested in machine quilting because it so much fun and creative.

I will check your site for the free downloads. Great job!

Judy

[Judy R.]

I hadn' t thought about using a topstitch needle. I'm still afraid to machine quilt anything bigger than a lap size. I've got small stipling down but larger freer patterns are harder for me. What kind of threads do you all use? What do you think about the invisible threads? I have problems with those breaking.

[Judy R.]

Sharps, Topstitch, Jeans/denim, and Quilting are all good for machine quilting. They have a sharper tip than universal needles and have less trouble penetrating all the layers cleanly than a Universal does. The size depends on the weight of the thread you are using, but if you are just beginning stick with larger sizes (80 or 90) as they are less likely to break.

I prefer YLI Wonder invisible nylon. It is the thinest of the nylons with the least sheen in my opinion. If you are having trouble with these threads breaking you might want to check two things: Is the top thread spooling off cleanly? Nylon tends to get little kinks in it, especially toward the end of the spool. You may have to place it in a jar behind your machine or use a freestanding thread spool rather than the thread pin on your machine. If this is not the problem, the thread may be getting caught somewhere in the bobbin area. Check your bobbin case to make sure there are no burrs on the outside of the case. If you feel any rough spots with your fingernail you can have your local "techie" fix it or you can sometimes polish it yourself with the FINE side of an emory board if it's only a minor nick.

Don't give up on the nylon - it's too valuable for things like ditch quilting. It's also great in the bobbin when you have a multicolored thread on top.

Hope this helps and keep trying...it's too much fun to give up on!

Jo Ann

[Judy R.]

I do free motion quilting on my treadle sewing machines, and think that any well-maintained and adjusted machine can do free motion. Some of my treadles like one free motion foot, and some prefer another. I have no idea why, but don't mind accommodating their preferences. You don't necessarily have to have an expensive machine to do nice free motion quilting or embroidery.

[Judy R.]

A treadle! Not that's just too cool! I've always wondered if that would be possible. I learned to sew on my grandmother's treadle. I used to love working that thing. I really would have liked to have had that machine, but it disappeard somewhere over the years. I have no idea who got it.
*sigh*

How many treadles do you have? Do you belong to one of those groups that I read about from time to time, the ones who meet and sew on their treadles outdoors? That would be heaven!

Jo Ann

[Judy R.]

PK-
I went to your profile and saw that one of your quilts won a 1st at Houston! WOW!! Were you walking on air, or what?? I went to Houston for the first time last year. AWESOME show.

Jo Ann

[Judy R.]

Patsy,

I was reading what your said on your website about the pros and cons of frames and push-through. I agree. I learned push-through first, and then debated on a long arm frame system. After hours of playing with them I decided against for several reasons: Space, time required standing at the machine, and the lack of intimacy with my quilt. Also, with push through I can work anywhere I want on the quilt surface whenever I choose without having to move rails. I just finished a 108" X 108" on my Bernina. For those of you just starting: Yes! It can be done!

Jo Ann

Hi Gloria,
I have instructional DVD's for free motion quilting that show how to do all that stitch work and it is FUN!!!! Keep with it and you will really fall in love with it! On the home page of the website, if you click on the side section called "Instructional DVD's," it will take you to a page where you can click on each DVD and watch a preview that will give you a sense of what is covered. There is a 3rd dvd that is coming out in 3 weeks and there will be a preview clip available for it once it's out. If you don't need help figuring out how to stitch things but just want designs, there is a section called "free downloads" and you can print out those designs that are on the "Fast and Free" series of DVD's. The free downloads for the 3rd DVD should be posted in the next 2-3 weeks.
I just posted the picture of a midarm machine with a plexiglas extension table-I think it gives you a good sense of just how much extra space a system like this would give you. Good luck with your free motion work!
Patsy
http://www.patsythompsondesigns.com

[Judy R.]

In 1994, I was at the Preview showing the night before the opening, taking pics of lots of beautiful quilts. I heard the announcement that they were going to give out the ribbons, but ignored it, wanting to continue taking pics while the aisles were uncrowded. All at once, I heard my name called! I don't think my feet touched the ground again until I got back home. I'm going to put the story of the second time I got a ribbon there on the Stories board one of these days--it was pretty funny. You can see some of my other quilts at http://community.webshots.com/user/pknord if you like.

Pat in Rockport, TX

[Judy R.]

At the moment, I have 23 treadles and around a dozen hand crank sewing machines. One of the treadles is a Singer 319 from 1956, that will do some fancy stitches with the little levers on top and with 31 cams. I often use the curvy-line cam to quilt over seam lines instead of stitch-in-the-ditch, using pretty thread. My oldest treadle was made in 1871. All of them sew nicely. I've made at least one quilt block on each of them. You can see most of my machines on the webshots site, link is in my message above. They are such fun to sew on. The hand crank machines are just wonderful for paper foundation piecing, since I have perfect control of each stitch. The treadles are almost as easy, and I have no trouble stopping with needle up or needle down, just have to stop moving my feet. I used to have a Pfaff 1475 CD that I bought when they were new, but sold it after realizing it hadn't been out of its case in two years. So far I haven't felt any need to get a new machine, but you never know.

[Judy R.]

Thanks for the link, Pat. I really enjoyed looking at your quilts and the machines. I think my Grandmother's was a 128. I couldn't remember until I saw the little compartment to the right of the hand wheel. I remember I was fascinated with that compartment when I was little, and she was always fussing for me to stay out of it because I'd lose her stuff. And I probably would have...

Do post your other story - maybe in the funny stories forum. I'm getting off topic here and don't want to upset anyone.

Jo Ann

[Judy R.]

I hadn' t thought about using a topstitch needle. I'm still afraid to machine quilt anything bigger than a lap size. I've got small stipling down but larger freer patterns are harder for me. What kind of threads do you all use? What do you think about the invisible threads? I have problems with those breaking.

Hi Devora,
I think you'll be surprised how well you'll do on a larger quilt, particularly if you're feeling comfortable quilting lap-sized quilts. One thing that held me back was spending lots of time trying to roll my quilts up so they'd "neatly" fit in that small space of the machine. When you do free motion work, you're constantly changing direction, so the rolling is a time-consuming task that just gets in your way. I just smoosh that quilt in the space and then go! Remember, the only bad part to quilt is the center and once you're out of there, you're home free! I think much of it has to do with your attitude and just sticking with it, one small area at a time. If you use an extension table, you don't need to get the entire quilt on that level surface, just enough slack area that you can move it some and not have gravity pulling against you. It also helps to have a good basting job. I spray baste my quilts and that makes it much easier for me. Good luck!
Patsy

[Judy R.]

I completely agree with Patsy. I rolled one quilt. NEVER again. It was like trying to quilt a telephone pole. I sometimes let it make an "informal roll" under the arm of the machine - sort of let it roll up the machine and back over top of your right hand, but I never use clamps and all that stuff.

Sometimes when I'm in the center of a really big and heavy quilt I will also put my right hand under the quilt and gently grab hold of it from the back to guide it. This takes a little practice so that you aren't pulling little pleats into the back, but supporting the weight of the quilt on your right arm can really make it easier to move through the machine.

[Judy R.]

I don't use clamps or do any "formal" rolling, but I do sometimes use a few small safety pins to contain the confusion.