Quilting BIG Quilts on a Small Machine

http://www.daystyledesigns.com/freemotionquiltingbasics.htm Watch how Leah loads her quilts into her domestic sewing machine using her "Squish, Squish, Flatten!" method.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• quilting big quilt
• domestic machine quilting

[KarenQuiltsTexas]

I think it would be important for you to note that the TL 98 is not a "normal" sized sewing model... those extra 3 inches or so of bed give you room for the roll - nor matter how you choose to deal with it.. I've been quilting for 40 years with regular sized domestic machines, and I roll - it gives me a lot more control, and provides less oportunity for mishaps! It also allows me to put the "roll" over the shoulder whenever necessary.

[lcvday]

@KarenQuiltsTexas - Everyone has a different experience and for me, even with a 9 or 11 inch harp space, I've never found rolling helpful. It ends up creating areas of the quilt I can't reach and the continual process of rolling and unrolling can get tedious. Always keep in mind that a single technique simply cannot work for everyone, otherwise we'd only have 1 method for applique!

[sweetestwon]

I do this as well but one thing you need to be carefull of is the back material, It will bunch up and you will end up sewing the back while it is bunched up. Pin the quilt as much as you can, try not to sew the pins or you will break your needle. Try to run your hand around the back to ensure your back material is sewing straight,

[lcvday]

@sweetestwon - If you baste your quilt properly by getting the backing very tight, then spreading the batting and top over and pinning it all securely, you shouldn't have any problems with the back shifting and creating pleats.

[northernshow]

What machine are you using? The throat space seems large.

[lcvday]

@northernshow - This particular machine is the Juki TL-98QE. It has an 8.5 inch harp space, but it's also a lockstitch machine, meaning it only goes up and down (no zigzag). I now quilt on a Janome Horizon 7700 and much prefer it over the Juki.

Cheers,

Leah Day

[1955annemarie]

@sweetestwon Hey, thanks for that added tip, Sweetestwon!! I've been trying to figure out how I am going to "wing it" and try to make my daughter a large quilt.

Thanks again!! I will remember your great and sensible advice!!!

[sweetestwon]

@krystallamp no it doesnt, i thinking though that im gunna get a new machine, Something that i can make quilts with :)

[krystallamp]

@sweetestwon  Does your machine have a 'basting' stitch? It's very helpful preparing the back, batt and top for quilting.

[sweetestwon]

@lcvday Well, i only make baby quilts and i heard that basting spray is toxic so i dont use it so i pin pin and pin everywhere if im useing the machine to embroider which is not often.. Ive been watvching videos looking for tips on a easier way. . Its a pain cause i still get pleats if im not careful

[bluemoon1063]

I"m a beginner at machine quiltingand your video was very helpful. Thank you so much. By the way, I recognized the quilt in the background from American quilter mag.. It"s really beautiful.

[Derock5759]

Oh my! I so wish I had seen your video a few weeks ago. I just finished an uneven nine patch with a flying geese border. And, of course I rolled the quilt! Big mistake. You are so right about it being like moving a log around.

So, thank you so much for your tute! Love it and I'm sure it will make my next quilting project much easier :)))

Btw...do you have a video on how to join machine quilted blocks? I've seen a few but they are very confusing. Thanks in advance!