I really want a long arm quilting machine but I just can't afford it. So - in the meantime I have to learn to finish my quilts some other way than by hand (it just takes too long) and I'm choosing not to send them out to have someone else do it. So - my options as I see them are 1) learn to Free Motion Quilt or 2) use my 4x4 embroidery machine. Can anyone give my pros/cons and or suggestions on them? I'm afraid that if I use my machine the quilting will look "boxy" especially stippling, but the thought of Free Motion Quilting and trying to makes hearts and things terrifies me. I can watch the videos and think its easy, but I'm really TERRIBLE at it. What I've been doing lately is just embroidering small patches throughout my quilt that fit into my hoop, but I want to embroider an entire quilt - like you would on a long arm. I want, I want, I want. Maybe it just isn't possible, but I've learned that not much is impossible - just extremely difficult and sometimes not worth the effort!!

I did a small 60"x60" whole cloth one to practice machine quilting, straight lines and cutves with a walking foot, then stippling of the rest.

After that I combined machine embroidery - in one case animal oulines - with echoing and stippling. I don't like struggling with big quilts. I use an extra table next to me to support the lower end of the roll, but I find it hard to move my hands evenly with large pieces.

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by katrinasheffield 03 Apr 2011

I'm too chicken to try whole cloth! I can't even do 12x12 let alone one as big as me!! You are REALLY brave. I typically sew on the floor - I am quite short and I just don't seem to be comfortable sitting in a chair. I do need to get one of those extensions though to make my sewing area bigger. I need to see if my hubby will make me one (although I'm the fixer in the house!!)

I've done a little free motion stippling. I really like. Having to move the "tootsie roll" is about the only real hassel. No one will notice if it's not perfect. It's not supposed to be. (I'm not one for keeping all my quilting in neat little squares!) Good luck no matter which you decide.

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by katrinasheffield 03 Apr 2011

Thanks! I did a quilt in my embroidery machine that was probably 45x60 and I found that it took both my mom and I to shove it in there but I think its because we weren't using clips to hold it and it would come unrolled on us... My sewing machine actually has a bigger area than my embroidery machine anyway. As long as I don't do a king I think I'll be ok. I can't imagine how to do a king size anyway!! The only king I've done I did quilt as you go... I still haven't finished it!

I have a long arm (and just love it) but I used to do my quilts - big ones - on my designer 1. I like to do a free motion stipple. Make sure your quilt is all pinned together, backing batting and top, roll it up til you reach the center, slide it under the foot and you're ready to start. Now drop the feed dogs on your machine, then start sewing. Your fabric won't move unless you move it so you need to match your speed with your movement. Kinda like learning to drive a stick shift (or motorcycle) then just move in whatever direction your mind takes you. Make swirls loops, wandering stitches. Just remember there is no wrong direction. I still use this method when I make my little books, they dont' really fit on the long arm, to small. Good luck and remember just have fun. Also you might want to throw together some scrap fabric to practice on, have fun.................

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by katrinasheffield 03 Apr 2011

I'm going to try with mini-quilt sandwiches and see what happens. I have all the confidence in the world after talking to you lades - but as soon as I touch that machine - whew - I'm terrible again!! If it was as easy as driving a stick shift - I'd have it down pat. Of course I nearly killed our car learning to drive the stick - I actually stole the car one day to teach myself how to drive. My dad made me so nervous trying to teach me that I always "killed" it at stop signs. I would put it into 3rd instead of 1st. So... I came home from school, took the keys and the car and didn't come home until I could drive it. I learned really quick without him in the car!! Thanks for the encouragement :)

just start on old pot holders till you get the hang of it .I find it real fun . I wish you were my neibour .I quilted her quilt she did my housework ,that i hate to do like dusting:(:(please try it it is fun!!carolyn

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by katrinasheffield 03 Apr 2011

Gosh - I hate housework too and I've been doing it all day. We moved into our house last July and you still can't get a car into our 3 car garage!! My husband is having a fit and wants the garage cleaned - so I've been cleaning all day. You can fit 2 cars in it now and that's all that is gonna get done on it today!! I haven't even started on the laundry or dishes or the floors yet... ugh and the bathrooms (we have 6 - I don't know why - we think the guy that built the house lived with a housefull of women growing up. We only have 3 bedrooms and 5 full baths and a 1/2 bath). With my luck I wouldn't get your housework or mine done!! Sewing is just so much more fun and rewarding than housework!!

I with you I am terrible at free motion, everyone who has managed to do it successfully says its easy. Well no no no I have tried on a number of occasions but no. I now trace onto the quilt and followed the lines. I trace with quilting stencils and go from there it is easier. I did have one quilt, stippled professionally and find the quilt is quite hard to touch. I like a softer feel to my quilts. Have fun. Hugs Sally

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by katrinasheffield 03 Apr 2011

I def want a soft feel to it... Thanks for the tip! I guess I'll stick to the loopy desgins instead so it doesn't get stiff.

I too would love to have a long arm quilter but not in the budget and too old to start a business of it. I just finished the star quilt posted a while back using the embroidery machine. I would suggest using designs that are not square but irregular in shape. The placement would depend upon the design you have used in piecing. There are alot of simple single/double stitching designs for quilting. Use designs that are similar to RW. Check on Embroidery Library. I also have a Do-All-Quilter's" hoop. It is easier to hoop with the thickness of a quilt. I was afraid of breaking the other hoops. My next real project is to try Free Motion. The Viking doesn't have a stitch regulator built in like some machines. I just couldn't get the stitches even so I purchased a Fab-U-Motion w/ stitch regulator. But I discovered it still takes much practice! I haven't got up the nerve to actually do it on a quilt. BUT someday!!!

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by katrinasheffield 03 Apr 2011

I'll have to check into that hoop. I have been smashing mine into an older hoop but I hurts my fingers and I am afraid that I'll eventually break it. The night my mom and I embroidered the Breast Cancer quilt we had to smash probably close to 100 times. I'm glad there is a quilting hoop out there. That would make it a ton easier for me!! Thanks :)

To bad you don't live closer, I purchased a long arm quilting machine for my kids to use and most of the time it just sits here. I've made a few quilts but it is not one of my favorite things. Hve a good day. Shirley

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by katrinasheffield 03 Apr 2011

Wow - that would be amazing!! Its just a tad bit too far to drive!! I hope that my daughter likes to quilt as much as I do when she grows up. She does like to sew - so we will see what happens.

by sboo 03 Apr 2011

Both daughters have families of their own. They both work full time so they don't have alot of spare time. but maybe someday they will

I've done a little bit of free motion quilting on my sewing machine. If I want to do a heart or an exact shape I draw it with something that will wash out or disappears. My machine has a quilting stitch but I usually just use a plain running stitch. I think it works best to run your machine fast - while turning your piece slowly. Others might disagree with that.
I have also done straight stitching from one corner to the other then from the opposite corner to the other -- all about 4 inches apart. It makes a neat square quilted pattern.
I want I want -- also... but have to do with what I have!
Good luck!
MJDG

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by katrinasheffield 03 Apr 2011

So you free motion quilt on lines you've drawn? Thats a good idea. I might be able to do that a little better. I'm too chicken to be a free thinker when it comes to quilts. I'd rather know what its going to look like before I start. I'm afraid I'll ruin the whole thing!