Follow Up
Thanks for all the help and support on my machine quilting adventure. I'm wondering if the sandwiching part isn't my biggest problem. Any suggestions there?
Recently I got my first comment from outside the quilting world. And it was necessary for me to delete it. I was puzzled but got to thinking about it and realized it was in response to the posting where I mentioned by name the place I live 53 years ago. Maybe not but makes me wonder. Anyway I'm not going to type the name of that city again.
I spent most of today helping my friend with her life stories. And I have many hours more typing to do for her yet.
I've been reading your blogs. So many and so interesting. I see where some people have been asking the advantages and disadvantages to quilt blogging. Last winter I was alone in FL and unable to walk much at all due to a bum knee. I found the maverick site and began reading. Quickly I started a blog of my own. Dear Finn responded and encouraged me, over and over. Then my DBin L became critically ill, Kipper had a growth that appeared cancerous and I had to have knee surgery. I came back to Michigan twice, DBin L improved, had Kipper's surgery (not cancerous) and mine (partial knee replacement). Finally long rehab on the knee (now wearing a brace). Advantage is quilt blogland helped get me though all this. Disadvantage - none. Some say it takes time from their quilting work but it just inspired me to do more. Thanks!!
7 comments:
Wow that was a long, rough winter. Glad that everyone came through okay.
On basting - I use 505 spray. By the time I started quilting this product was really coming into popularity. My first teacher was very much a fan, so it's the only method I know. I have learned to be sparing -- it doesn't take much. *knock on wood* my backs have always come out smooth, no tucks or pleats.
I love quilt blogs would give up breakfast before blogs lol. xoxo melzie
I've never had a real problem with sandwiching... I tend ot lay it all out on the indoor/outdoor carpeting in my basement and just pin the heck out of it...
I've noticed some weird comments on other people's blogs, but I've been lucky so far. Too bad someone has to try to ruin a good thing.
About the machine quilting-did you lower your feed dogs? It sounds like you did everything else right.
Hi Katie, sorry to hear about an unwanted comment. Other than the spammers(which get stuck, I hope) in the word verification, the only requirement to comment is a blog identity. I've had a couple I deleted, not sure if they were quilters or not. Could be someone googled the name you mentioned and your blog came up. That seems to be what happens.
On a happier note, I'm so glad you hung in there with your blog, through the loss of your computer, family emergencies and the knee surgery...*VBS*
It's good to be connected to other who quilt, and a great place to share your quilts and your antique treasures, Hugs, Finn
i agree that quilt blogland helps you get over the rough spots. it's nice to know that others are pulling for you. and you get peek into the lives of other quilters all over the world.
I'll share how I do mine and see what you can use from it, okay?
I have a big table from JoAnn's but I used to use my sewing table. It's okay if the quilt is bigger than the table, just start with the center and once that gets done I move it to do the other sections. I iron the backing and then lay it out on the table. I use large binder clips from the office supply store to clip the back to the table and make it nice and smooth. Not stretched, but smooth and taut. Then I lay out my batting. I will steam iron this if it has an big wrinkles and make sure it's cool and dry before I put it on the backing. You can also fluff it in the dryer to remove wrinkles. I put this down and start smoothing from the center out to the edges making usre I haven't stretched it, but it's nice a smooth and when you run your hand over it, it's all worked out flat. Then I undo one clip at a time and put them over the batt so that they hold down the back and batting together.
Then I iron my tops nice and flat and move it over to the table. Do the same smoothing...start from the center and smooth and smooth making sure to spread it out and make the lines as straight as possible. Watch your borders and stuff so that you don't have bulging lines.
Then I start to pin. I leave mine open so they are ready to go. I start in the center of the quilt in the center of the table and be careful about scraping the table underneath when you put them in. I close them as I go using a searated grapfruit spoon to pull up the pin and close it. I go about every 4 inches going left in a line and then back right towards the other way. Then I'll do a line from the center to me, and then make a line on an angle kinda like making an asterick pattern, then filling in. Whatever way you want to make the pins go in is fine. Just make sure they are small about 1 inch pins and make sure they are about every 4 inches.
Once that's done and the part showing has all it's pins I un-clip the binder clips and move the quilt to one side or another and start again, smoothing from the quilted part out and securing the binder clips again.
Hope it helps!
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