Question - machine quilting on a frame

16 years ago

Ok, so I got my HQ Sixteen and Handiquilter frame and table. Used four practice pieces (2 yards each) and just doodled and played and tried to be consistent. I'm pretty good at the loop-di-loops with stars and hearts. I tried some feathers and I think with more practice they will soon look acceptable (and noticeable as a feather!).

So I put my quilt on the frame and figured I would just do a meandering loop-di-loop over the whole thing except the inner border. In the border I tried to do some continuous line circle thing. Needless to say, it was far from consistent and I'm just sick about this quilt that I had made to hang in my living room and now am not that happy with how it turned out.

I know I need to practice more on my freehand stuff. Does anyone have any sample continuous line patterns to practice with? How long did any of you practice until you felt comfortable actually putting a quilt on the frame?

Melissa

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Comments (9)

jennifer_in_va
16 years ago
Take a deep breath, Melissa! It'll be okay.

First, remember the galloping horse rule. Once that lovely quilt is washed & hung on the wall then the quilting will not stand out to you as much as it does on the frame under your nose. I'm sure it looks fine.

As for practice...it does make us closer to perfect. LOL I've been frame quilting maybe a year now. It would take me some time to count the number of quilts I've done at this point, but I'm still most comfortable with meandering and loopy loops. I haven't even tackled feathers!

Check the websites for quilting patterns. Sometimes you can 'get an idea' to try on your own (read that to mean: you are not stealing their pattern!) Sometimes an idea is all that's needed to get the creative juices flowing. And if you're still not sure about doing another quilt, then do more practicing....nothing wrong with that!~

Keep up the good work!!!
msmeow
16 years ago
I've seen advice from many frame quilters to practice dooling on a dry erase board. Some also suggest practicing with the machine running but unthreaded. And of course they all say - practice, practice, practice. You may want to join the Home Quilting Systems Yahoo group. They have tons of good information!

Donna
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melissa968
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks for the advice and encouragement. I know it's going to take some practice. I'm just worried about messing up quilts that I've spent alot of time piecing, thus wary about putting it on the frame to quilt. I can just see my DH's mind thinking, "all that money, and she doesn't want to use it!"

Melissa
bonnie-w
16 years ago
I bought a book called "Machine Quilting Primer" from the Quilt In A Day web site. It has templates in the back for a few different stencils to practice with. The book is for regular machine quilting but has the basic how to on how to do it. It may work for you. It's also at Joanne's.

Bonnie
mary_c_gw
16 years ago
The white board idea is a good one. Try to use your whole arm, not just your hand. Other than that, practice, practice, practice.

Mary
glassquilt
16 years ago
Don't forget the glass of wine. Great for relaxing.

Take the presser foot off and tape a pencil in it's place. Get a largish piece of paper or cardboard and practice doodling on it. You'll have to fiddle around a bit to get it to stay in place. You can see your doodles as you move the machine around.
msmeow
16 years ago
A lot of frame quilters make baby quilts for charity to practice on, and some buy already made tops off EBay for practice, then donate to charity.

Donna
susiequilt
16 years ago
You can only practice so much then you need to make a full size quilt for practice. It really makes a world of difference between small practice pieces and the full size. Make something for a kid or charity but don't try to do your first full size meander quilt using your future heirloom.
I did read to use the small practice piece for a few minutes before using the big quilt just to kind of get your speed.
lucyh_quilts
16 years ago
I agree with susiequilt. I read somewhere that when you practice, you should practice on a real quilt rather then a scrap sandwich because it makes you try much harder to get it right.

When I put a quilt on a frame, even though I have made quite a few of them, I usually try a little bit of practice on a piece of paper to get my brain to work the way I want it to and then work right on the quilt as soon as possible. It sure helps me.

Question - machine quilting on a frame

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jennifer_in_va

msmeow

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Question - machine quilting on a frame

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