Question for quilters

[sorraia]

I'm a beginner quilter and working on my first queen size quilt (after completing two lap quilts - I know... the queen size is a big project for a beginner...). I'm to the point of quilting now... and trying to figure out what I'm doing.

Do you quilt by hand or by machine? If you quilt by machine, do you keep the quilting pattern simple? If you machine quilt more complicated patterns, how do you keep the bigger quilts from getting in the way as you turn it this way and that?

[kensington]

I've only done a few myself... I have a person who does them for me... She furnishes the back, the batting, and the binding and quilts it (and ships it back to me) for 60.00 for a queen size. She has lots of patterns she uses and does specialty for no more.

I did a "french not" Amish star quilt and she did a beautiful job of doing each star.

But, the few I have done myself I did on a machine and you roll the quilts when you do it. It's hard to do unless you have a free-arm machine. You can adjust your foot feed and raise it to sew free arm, but it can be inconsistent if you are not experienced.

You can buy a lap frame to use if you do it by hand. I had one... I never used it and gave it away. My aunt has a free standing on in her basement that she hand quilts on.

Also, you can layer your quilt on a table... roll it and sit so that you can have just enough to quilt by hand at the edge and weight it on the table so that you can take your time and do it that way... I make large crib sized tops and I tie them that way... it would work for quilting also.

Layering and basting it is a big help if you are doing your own machine quilting. You can do more with it when you baste. There are also clips you can get to hold it when it's rolled. Or you might want to get a quilting magazine for more tips and or pictures to help you.

Also, you can visit your local quilt shop and see if they have classes, or a quilting guild, they are usually ready to help anyone!

[USMC wife/CG Vet]

I always quilt my own on a regular sized machine. I stay with simple patterns like squares and lines. I would like to get better, but the fabric always gets in the way. You could try a simple pattern on most of the quilt, but a hand-sewn pattern in only a couple places. I got a book out of the library called Continuous Line Quilting, that helped with pictures to quilt. My bigger quilts always seem to get in the way, but I usually pull the desk away from the wall, and try to roll up the quilt to keep it out of the way.

[sorraia]

Thank you for the tips! I've decided I'll machine sew the straight lines and hand sew the more complicated patterns. I just have too much trouble rolling up the quilt and then trying to turn it, I don't think my machine is meant for that either. I bought an 18" hoop for the hand quilting, but am planning to save up money ot budget for one of those nicer frames.

So far one quilt is finished, except for the binding. I misplaced the binding when I was in a hurry to get out of the house I was living in and away from the crazy landlord. I have a feeling I know where it is: in my fabric box in the storage unit underneath all the other boxes... I was SURE I put it in one of the bags I set aside so I would have access, but can't find it so I guess not. I'll just finish working on the other quilts before I take the time to move all those boxes and find the binding. I'm just afraid I'll get to that fabric box and find out the binding isn't in there!

Have to layer and quilt the other finished quilt top. I started working on my husband's quilt, so far so good! It's a simple log cabin quilt, but it'll be nice. I also have one more quilt to make and my goal before Christmas will be complete!