Two weekends ago I drove down to Orlando for a Free Motion Quilting Class. I'm determined to learn to do this so I can quilt my own quilts.
As you can see, I have a long way to go.
I have the tension down and the stitches themselves. I rot at the pattern part of it. Really rot.
Everyone says it takes a lot of practice and I sure hope they're telling me the truth. I can practice. I just want to make sure I'll get better if I practice. In other words, I want to know I'm not hopeless with this!
This is my new machine as of a few months ago. I bought it at a fabric store that was running out of room and was just going to carry Bernina's. This was a demo machine but they had another one set up on a frame and this one wasn't used very much. I got a VERY good deal. It's a Pfaff Grand Quilter. It just does a straight stitch and at this point that is truly all I need. One thing I noticed though was the darning foot seemed to be a little tight against my practice muslin quilt sandwich so I need to figure that out some. It might help me if there was a little more give. If anyone out there in blog land has any tips, suggestions, etc. about FMQ or this machine I'd totally love to hear them!
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15 comments:
You are WAY ahead of me!!! I won't even try!! LOL But, from what I hear, it's like everything else in life, the more you do it the better you get. Hang in there and I'm proud of you for trying! Whoo hoo!!!
If you put us together we'd be a great FMQuilter! I have tension issues but can do the patterns...
Petty darn wonderful for the first few times. In a few weeks you'll look back a this practice piece and be amazed at how far you've come.
I think your first practice is better than my first longarm practice....really. I practiced making loops.... e's and l's and o's....since so many patterns use those rounded things and swooshes in the shape of s's and c's..... you can do little swirls then. Before my longarm was purchased...I did quite a bit of machine quilting.... on an old
Bernina....and sadly it does take lots of practice...but I found stitching in the ditch easier on the regular machine than the longarm...so there you go.
You will definitely make it! I want to do this too, but somehow I'm afraid to start it.
Have a wonderful week (O:
It looks like you are well on your way to me. I think your practice will pay off.
See that dial on the top of the machine? If I am right, it adjusts the pressure foot tension. You need to lower that to 0. Also, did you lower the feed dogs? SOme quilt with the feed dogs up but it would add tension to the movement of the sandwich. Your quilting doesn't look as bad as you think. Just go for it and quilt a quilt. If you have your tension down, the rest will come with practice. I have more words on this if you;d like! I love FM quilting.
I think your first attempt is pretty darn impressive! Way better than my first...and second...and third. I love the leaves you did. Hang in there; you're going to be a pro!
P.S. Thanks for your comment on my blog last week. It was exciting to see that someone else enjoyed the Boxcar Children series like I did! We're now reading another childhood favorite, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle, and totally enjoying it.
Hi, i am Corinne from France!
I love your "Down ce road".
I must learn free motion quilting too!
You will get better with practice! Good luck!
Well, I wouldn't even show mine, and I've done quite a bit of it. You will get better though, and if you can make the stitches look good the patterns don't show as much on some things.
You've got to start somewhere, and it looks like you've got a good start!
Thanks for stopping by my blog,
~A
I have a pfaff too and I love it!
Cheers,
Dionne
Now...wait a minute. Let me get this straight. I see on your blog that you only started with your first quilting lesson in October of 2008 and you are already THAT good by December???? Gosh.....I can't imagine how terrific you will be in a year or two if you are that good NOW!
Jackie all I do is stipple...I don't do designs, I have not gotten brave enought to do that so I admire you trying. Good luck. My sister uses tissue paper, she puts the design on the tissue paper and then just sews over that and tares it off when she is done. I did buy some tissue paper when it was on sale. Maybe I will try some designs???
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