If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Machine Quilting
Is the first quilt always difficult to keep lined up and straight? I'm
having trouble following the lines and keeping them straight. It doesn't look bad, but it's a long shot from "professional" looking. Sindir-ella |
Ads |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
If it makes you feel better, I found the first hundred or so were a
challenge. (Of course, that could have just been me! LOL) You get professional looking results the same way you get to Carnegie Hall... practice, practice, practice. The good thing is you can practice even on scrap fabric or plain muslin quilt sandwiches. Draw some lines and try to follow them. Draw some points and connect the dots. Write your name in thread. It's all good practice. (And here's a tip for you all -- animals love to have animal-sized practice quilts. You can even serge the edges instead of binding. I also did several queen sized practice pieces, and the local homeless shelter was thrilled to have them. They loved the fact that they were warm and not so pretty they would get stolen in one night.) -- Kathy A. (Woodland, CA) longarm machine quilting, Queen of Fabric Tramps http://www.kayneyquilting.com , remove the obvious to reply "Sindir" wrote in message ... Is the first quilt always difficult to keep lined up and straight? I'm having trouble following the lines and keeping them straight. It doesn't look bad, but it's a long shot from "professional" looking. Sindir-ella |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
You don't mention *what* you are trying to keep straight! If it is
trying to stitch straight along a seam (Stitch in the ditch, as it is known), then I think that is a very difficult thing to do. There are various tips, if that is what you are doing. If you are quilting a grid, perhaps you might find it easier to mark the lines with masking tape. I found that helped me enormously. And, seriously, I think it would be unreasonable to expect a first quilt to look professional, however hard you try or how careful. If it "doesn't look bad", then that in itself is worthy of commendation. Take to heart what Kathy said. If practice can produce work like hers, then it really is the answer. .. In article , Sindir writes Is the first quilt always difficult to keep lined up and straight? I'm having trouble following the lines and keeping them straight. It doesn't look bad, but it's a long shot from "professional" looking. Sindir-ella -- Best Regards pat on the hill |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
If you are machine quilting and attempting stitch-in-the-ditch, try
spreading/pulling the seam open to have it as flat as possible. (Be careful to not distort the quilt by pulling it out of position.) Also sew a hair towards the "low side"..... as in if the seam is pressed to the left, then sew slightly to the right side of the seam. When you release the tension of "spreading" the seam, it will make the stitches look better. Leslie The HairyFacedOnes 'N Me- My dogs aren't my whole life...they make my life whole. RCTQ- Houston 2004..... A good friend will come and bail you out of jail.... but, a true friend will be sitting next to you saying, "Damn... that was fun!" |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
Yes along with many others that are next..
Its all in the cutting and sewing up the blocks. Mine are getting better, but I still have a long way to go. "Sindir" wrote in message ... Is the first quilt always difficult to keep lined up and straight? I'm having trouble following the lines and keeping them straight. It doesn't look bad, but it's a long shot from "professional" looking. Sindir-ella |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
Sorry, I didn't mention what I was trying to keep straight. I am attempting
to do the stitch-in-the-ditch. Half of the blocks are the hearts, which have 16 squares that make up the block. My plan is to follow those seams and then "re-create" those blocks in the solid areas. I did manage to get one seam straight, along one side of the quilt, so at least I could pin everything in place easily. Sindir-ella "Patti" wrote in message ... You don't mention *what* you are trying to keep straight! If it is trying to stitch straight along a seam (Stitch in the ditch, as it is known), then I think that is a very difficult thing to do. There are various tips, if that is what you are doing. If you are quilting a grid, perhaps you might find it easier to mark the lines with masking tape. I found that helped me enormously. And, seriously, I think it would be unreasonable to expect a first quilt to look professional, however hard you try or how careful. If it "doesn't look bad", then that in itself is worthy of commendation. Take to heart what Kathy said. If practice can produce work like hers, then it really is the answer. . In article , Sindir writes Is the first quilt always difficult to keep lined up and straight? I'm having trouble following the lines and keeping them straight. It doesn't look bad, but it's a long shot from "professional" looking. Sindir-ella -- Best Regards pat on the hill |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
When sewing straight seams it is much easier to use a walking foot and let the
machine do the work. I do this a lot. Free motion is much harder to control but is neccesary when not doing straight lines. Debra in Idaho |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
When you are trying to SID you need to slow down to have better control.
Remember it isn't a race and stitching slowly by machine is still faster than by hand. Cheri "Sindir" wrote in message ... Is the first quilt always difficult to keep lined up and straight? I'm having trouble following the lines and keeping them straight. It doesn't look bad, but it's a long shot from "professional" looking. Sindir-ella |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
I am going very slowly. It took me over an hour to do one side (the short
side). But it still bunched and gathered and it definitely was far from straight Sindir-ella "C. Carroll" wrote in message news:LrNwb.495217$pl3.115499@pd7tw3no... When you are trying to SID you need to slow down to have better control. Remember it isn't a race and stitching slowly by machine is still faster than by hand. Cheri "Sindir" wrote in message ... Is the first quilt always difficult to keep lined up and straight? I'm having trouble following the lines and keeping them straight. It doesn't look bad, but it's a long shot from "professional" looking. Sindir-ella |
#10
|
|||
|
|||
How did you choose to baste your quilt, and how did you go about it? That
might be where the trouble lies. Diana -- Queen of FAQs Royal Peace Maker http://photos.yahoo.com/lunamom44 "Sindir" wrote in message ... I am going very slowly. It took me over an hour to do one side (the short side). But it still bunched and gathered and it definitely was far from straight Sindir-ella "C. Carroll" wrote in message news:LrNwb.495217$pl3.115499@pd7tw3no... When you are trying to SID you need to slow down to have better control. Remember it isn't a race and stitching slowly by machine is still faster than by hand. Cheri "Sindir" wrote in message ... Is the first quilt always difficult to keep lined up and straight? I'm having trouble following the lines and keeping them straight. It doesn't look bad, but it's a long shot from "professional" looking. Sindir-ella |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
HOW RUBBER STAMPS ARE MADE & how i made $$$ - I AM SELLING MY MACHINE AND METAL SHEETS | Nintendo DS 4 Sale | Rubberstamps | 3 | November 28th 04 12:28 PM |
machine quilting curves | Dr. Quilter | Quilting | 9 | October 25th 03 05:38 PM |
FAQ's on buying a new Sewing Machine | Butterfly | Quilting | 0 | October 17th 03 04:34 PM |
quilting machine | rjwhite6 | Quilting | 19 | September 13th 03 01:43 PM |
Machine Quilting HELP for a NEWBIE | Kathy in CA | Quilting | 1 | August 20th 03 09:18 PM |