I figured there would be a few things I missed talking about, so here we go with some answers to your questions!There were a lot of questions about which presser foot to use for free-motion quilting.
This is the one I use. I sew on a Bernina, and this is presser foot #9 -- known as "Darning Foot 9." If you would like more information on different presser foot options for free-motion quilting, I found this link to be extremely helpful.What do you do with the safety pins as you are quilting?
For the most part, I am able to quilt around the safety pins without too much trouble. I've gotten pretty good at gauging how close I can get without sewing the pins. HOWEVER! That being said...
As I was quilting yesterday, in between shooting the little videos for my post, I got too close to a pin. I actually sewed straight through it and broke my needle!
Oops!
Obviously it is best to avoid sewing close to the pins. When you come up on a pin, remove it and continue quilting!
Is there a pattern you follow when you quilt? Rows? Columns? Sections?
I don't follow a particular pattern -- for me it is mostly random, working from one side to the other! If you do end up getting stuck (sewing yourself into a corner!) simply take a few stitches in one place where you want to stop (this is the "backstitch" for quilting), then start again where you need to.
If the idea of just jumping in and going random all over your quilt makes your brain scream "NO!", Brianne left a comment with a link to this excellent post about free-motion quilting using a more ordered, predictable method.
How do you deal with stopping and starting?
When you run out of bobbin thread, remove your quilt from the machine and reload your bobbin. Get your quilt back into your machine and locate the spot where you left off. Start on your same thread, a few stitches back from the end of the thread that stopped. Take a few stitches in place, then continue quilting on your way!
Why don't you cross over your own stitching line?
This is only for this particular quilting stitch -- meandering. Certainly there are other methods, but I recommend meandering as a GREAT place to start! :o)
GOOD LUCK, everyone! I can't wait to see how everyone's quilts turn out!
I'll be hosting a
1st Quilt Ever
Quilt Show
with photos of everyone's quilts sometime later this month!
16 comments:
later this month oh no a dead line!!!!!! maybe you can add mines later thanx so much for the link on free motion... i have bookmarked this very talented lady!!! x
later this month?????!!!
No, no, no!!!
I have this wip since January, and i didn't pass behind cuting the fabric!!!
and your lessons are great, and I know now more that i did but...I'M SCARE!!!!!!
:)
I thought the same thing---
LATER THIS MONTH?!?!?
Of course maybe having a deadline will make me jump in and get this thing quilted.
I will check out the link from Brianne--
I need all the help I can find.
I need help! My machine doesn't have a darning/free motion foot accessory available!! :( I've searched and searched and everything says not for my model. What can I do??
Catherine, I'm going through the same stuff you are. I ordered something for my machine and it ended up wrong, so I need to order something else. I'm waiting on a 1/4 inch foot, and may just straight stitch quilt this time. (Although I really want to try the free motion stuff!!!)
well you opened my eyes up to a new way of quilting! :) I have always put the quilt on a frame and hand quilted it. This will make things a lot easier!! Thanks!!
Great! I just found out a friend and her husband found a baby to adopt! I'll be making this quilt for her. Thanks for the great instructions Care!
Thank you so much for the answer to my question;0) Looking forward to seeing everyones quilts!
If you have no foot available for your machine, you have the option of doing free-motion by using no foot at all, just drop the feed dogs. It makes it a little trickier-watch fingers and be careful to hold your quilt flat down with your hands-but it is possible! It's what the lady at my sewing machine shop recommended.
Would you be interested in doing another quilt along with one of the other disappearing 9 patch quilts you featured at the beginning??? I love this and you as such a great teacher!! :D
How do you stitch in place a few times? Is there some trick to this or does your machine have a special feature that does this? I can only go forward or backward, so I can't avoid backstitching, which sometimes isn't so pretty.
Ok, that was a bad question. I think of course you quilt over the border, too. Sorry, just needed more thought.
If i straight quilt, what lines do i follow? do i just trace all the squares and rectangles? I love the way you quilt, but i don't think i can do it with my machine.
Hi Kris,
You can follow any of the lines... or make up your own lines!
A few things about straight-line quilting:
On my batting package, it says the recommended quilting distance is 2" - 4" apart. If you quilt too far apart you won't get as much "snuggliness," and there's more risk of your batting bunching up in the larger unquilted areas.
For straight-line quilting I lengthen my stitch length to about 3 1/2. It is recommended to always quilt the same direction -- meaning you would quilt ALL horizontal lines, say, left-to-right -- and ALL your vertical lines top-to-bottom. This will make it a little harder to shove your quilt under your machine, but it will mean you can avoid any "drag" lines going in opposite directions.
Hope that's helpful!
Care.
Thanks Care!!! that was so helpful!!!! now if i can just settle on a layout and border fabric, i will be there in no time!!!!
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