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Karen, I had a Gammill dropped in my basement last August. (Will be paying for years
) I didn't get much time to practice the first few months. I retired in January and thought good, I can practice more now. I ended up babysitting two of my DGC. That is over for the summer, so now I am really pushing myself to get with the quilting. I have some good quilt tops waiting, but I am using old cheater cloth quilt tops to practice on. The grandkids always like to curl up with a quilt to watch tv so they can use them. Anyway, my point is we just need to keep at it and practice!!! I get fustrated too, so, a longarm isn't necessarily the answer, practice is. Good luck and happy quilting. 
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As my old teacher at the RSN used to quote
'It's not the machine, it's the operator'
and by heck we really got fed up with that quote, especially as on one of the machines the timing was off :evil:
But there is a grain of truth in it.
When I took a quilting class with Phillipa Naylor, I asked her about how she machined her quilts - they are all done on a domestic machine, but the major difference is that she has a custom made table (large slab of wood - ply or mdf - husband cut for her) that she sets her machine into with space to support the quilt on all sides, and the depth from the needle to the front edge (where her body is) is the length of her forearms, so that the quilt and her arms are fully supported. Therefore it is not so-much the machine you are using but the table space around you that makes the difference (as well as P.P.P :mrgreen: )Comment
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Rosemary
Thanks for that hint from Phillipa. While I have lots of space side and back to support the quilt, I never thought of having more in front. Now to find a fix for that.... maybe my laptop table to give it a try.
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Absolutely Rosemary!! Your set-up (a good running machine set down in a cabinet, at the right height, with lots of surface all around to support the weight of your project and a good chair with back support) is a HUGE factor in how well you can quilt, but the main thing that makes a good result is practice, Practice, PRACTICE!!!
I started machine quilting on 30 year old Singer sewing machine in 1992 and quilted on it for a couple of years before I burned up the motor on it! :roll:
I bought my first Bernina and quilted on it until I got my long-arm in 2008.
You have to realize that if you wait to "find" time to practice quilting, it probably won't happen. If you want to get good at it, you need to MAKE time to practice. Treat it like any important appointment, and write it on your calendar. If someone asks you to do something during the time you have scheduled for quilting, politely tell them that you already have a commitment. It's just a matter of commitment. Learn at every opportunity (have you watched all of the TQS shows and classroom videos?) and practice new techniques that interest you.
It's Not What You Gather, But What You Scatter
That Tells What Kind Of Life You Have Lived !Comment
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I have watched all the lessons and read a lot more. I do need to practice, practice, practice. I can get some pretty decent quilt sandwiches but when I put the larger quilt in the stitches were super tight. I need more movement and a better surface. I have some ideas (supreme slider?) but they have to wait until my husband gets back to work. He did try to make me an extended table but it is from wood and a little rough and high. I would love a flush surface. Thanks for the encouragement.
It's Not What You Gather, But What You Scatter
That Tells What Kind Of Life You Have Lived !Comment
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Originally posted by sugarmuffin57I have watched all the lessons and read a lot more. I do need to practice, practice, practice. I can get some pretty decent quilt sandwiches but when I put the larger quilt in the stitches were super tight. I need more movement and a better surface. I have some ideas (supreme slider?) but they have to wait until my husband gets back to work. He did try to make me an extended table but it is from wood and a little rough and high. I would love a flush surface. Thanks for the encouragement.
Karen, look at this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g14govA4pIM
There may be some ideas here that you can use, and they really aren't very expensive! If nothing else, get a piece of vinyl to cover your wood table so that your quilt will move easily as you work. Check at Hancock's or JoAnn's for it. Let me know if you try any of this and if it helps! Good luck!!
It's Not What You Gather, But What You Scatter
That Tells What Kind Of Life You Have Lived !Comment
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The discussion has been excellent but without continuously working at it I back slide badly and very quickly. Part of that happens because the actual quilting is the means to the end whereas the designing and piecing to see how it looks is the part of the process that really excites me.
It's Not What You Gather, But What You Scatter
That Tells What Kind Of Life You Have Lived !Comment
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I agree completely that practice, practice, practice is the main factor in getting better at machine quilting. My Mom, who is now 90 years old, learned to make quilts when she came to live with me 7 years ago. She quilts all her own quilts on a Pfaff. She has progressed to the point where she has passed some of the people in my mini-group! It's perseverance, and accepting being short of perfection. I see small improvements over time, and keep going. It helps that I love doing it. It sometimes feels like I'm flying, when I'm quilting freehand feathers!
KathyComment
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Nancy your tip about using the darning foot for SID is incredibly good timing for me. I was thinking last night that I need to do SID to stabilize my quilt for the middle quilting and was considering whether I should do freemotion or use a walking foot. Thanks so much for confirming that free motion can work. And Margo, I'm so glad I don't need to pay for all the good ideas and instructions I get from you. I couldn't afford all the help I've gotten from you. How did we get so lucky to get YOU?!! Thank you for that video reference on building up the area around the machine. I do without so many things because I can't do them myself in the wheelchair but I think this is very doable for me! Thank you for being so doggone resourceful and generous in sharing them. Sorry to sound so needy. It's just that this has been an area of frustration but I am rejuvenated to make machine quilting work for me and I am SO appreciative of good tips.Comment
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I have seen this table setup before and I think with the wooden extension my husband made me I could add the plastic like she does here. I bet that will help a lot. I should have thought of this before. I know just where I can buy it too.
Also I was watching some of Leah Days tutorials and they are good. She has a lot of free videos. Here is her link. http://www.daystyledesigns.com/
Hope it works. I need to spend a lot of time there in addition to practicing. Maybe I can do both at once. :P
I have a new Mantra.....I can do this, I can do this, I can do this. I will let you know if I get better.Comment
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Originally posted by sugarmuffin57
You GO Karen! You are right! You CAN do it!
A phrase that I added to the quilt for my grandchildren is: "Whether you think you can, or think you can't....you are right!"
It's Not What You Gather, But What You Scatter
That Tells What Kind Of Life You Have Lived !Comment
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Patti, I hope you can get a set-up that works for you. This should be a fun pass-time, and if you get a good set-up it will go a long way to making it more enjoyable!Originally posted by PattiSure
Hugs......
It's Not What You Gather, But What You Scatter
That Tells What Kind Of Life You Have Lived !Comment
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Margo after seeing your SoTTTs "Its A Small World" I had to start working on my triangles. I got them out this weekend and have been ironing, carefully removing the paper, and sewing them together. I am going to make an ocean waves quilt. It will be called "Waves of Friendship". I just had to share 4 of the blocks that I finished last night. I am just amazed with all the triangles and how wonderful and special this quilt is going to be. It is so nice to have a little piece of each one of you in this quilt. I will hold it dear to my heart!!!! Here is a little picture of the 4 blocks I have completed. I have 800 from the SoTTT exchange and 200 for the Batiks-R-Us exchange and I have made another 272 HST that I needed for the extra to complete all the triangles needed to make "Waves of Friendship". This is one quilt that I am enjoying so much making. I hope to get a few more blocks made today. Have a wonderful Memorial Day everyone!!!Comment
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