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Posted by Roberta on September 16, 2009, 7:51 am
You've had excellent advice already. I'd add: Don't look so much at
the needle, and more at the point where you want your next few inches
of stitching to end up. It's just like driving a car, you turn the
wheel toward whatever direction you're looking.
Also: You have a feel for how fast the fabric moves through the
machine, depending on how much you push the pedal, right? Try to
transfer that feeling to the speed of your hands moving the fabric,
and you'll achieve more even stitches.
I have machines older than yours that can quilt just fine, but yes, we
do love our needle-down button! If you support the weight of your
quilt, and no part of it has to hang over the edge of anything, you
might safely stop, needle up, and change your hands without losing
control.
30 hours of practice! You're nearly there already!
Roberta in D
On Tue, 15 Sep 2009 22:20:49 -0500, "Edna Pearl"
show/hide quoted text
>I am trying my hand at machine-quilting and am fairly clueless about it.
>I have an old SM with snap-on presser feet, and I have been unable to find a
>snap-on darning foot so far. I'm using an "all-purpose," rectangular,
>open-toed foot with a big gap for the needle (intended to accommodate
>zig-zag stitches) for my machine-quilting efforts. I don't see any problem
>with using this foot for quilting curves and circles and such, except that
>it's darned hard to push and pull the quilt sandwich. (Yes, my feed dogs
>are retracted and I'm using "quilting gloves," which, incidentally, I love.)
>My questions are, does a darning foot press as hard on the fabric as any
>other foot, or does it back off some on the pressure? Do you expect that I
>will I find it prohibitively difficult to use this presser foot? Would it
>be worthwhile to order the $30 "Supreme Slider" from Leah Day, or am I
>attempting the impossible with this machine and should I forget about
>machine-quilting?
>Another issue is that when I watch tutorial videos on machine-quilting, it
>looks like these newfangled SMs have a computer that can tell the needle to
>stop in the down position, so you can pick up and re-position your hands
>while the needle holds the quilt sandwich in place. My venerable old SM
>does not have such a feature, and I'm getting tired of reaching up to
>manually turn the wheel, forgetting, etc. (and I'm jealous of these snazzy
>new machines).
>So far, machine-quilting seems do-able with this SM and this presser foot if
>I can just develop some more control and skill. I can see my line of
>stitches just fine (which I have heard is a complaint about using
>conventional darning feet). It's just hard to move the fabric back and
>forth and across. I do seem to be getting better with practice, but I guess
>machine-quilting is probably frustrating for any beginner.
>I do hope a bunch of you will tell me you're doing elaborate
>machine-quilting with machines even more antique than mine :-) which was
>made in the 1970's.
>Edna Pearl
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Posted by Dragonfly on September 16, 2009, 9:32 pm
Good point below!!!!
show/hide quoted text
> Also: You have a feel for how fast the fabric moves through the
> machine, depending on how much you push the pedal, right? Try to
> transfer that feeling to the speed of your hands moving the fabric,
> and you'll achieve more even stitches.
I had horrible luck trying to get sort-of-even free motion stitches until I
went like-a-bat-out-of-hell around the outside edge of the small quilt I was
making, about four times around as quick as I could go without the sulky
thread breaking. I got a "feel" for how fast the fabric moves at that
"pitch" of the motor on the machine I was using. When I went back to
free-motion, that "feel" transferred over and I just moved it as fast as the
feed dogs had at that same pitch.
so...try it!
Dragonfly (Pam)
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Posted by Rita on September 16, 2009, 9:30 am
Along with all the other advice given here, look up my website on
"stippling:" http://ritasquilts.com/projects.htm
--
Rita
http://ritasquilts.com
show/hide quoted text
>I am trying my hand at machine-quilting and am fairly clueless about it.
> I have an old SM with snap-on presser feet, and I have been unable to find
> a snap-on darning foot so far. I'm using an "all-purpose," rectangular,
> open-toed foot with a big gap for the needle (intended to accommodate
> zig-zag stitches) for my machine-quilting efforts. I don't see any
> problem with using this foot for quilting curves and circles and such,
> except that it's darned hard to push and pull the quilt sandwich. (Yes,
> my feed dogs are retracted and I'm using "quilting gloves," which,
> incidentally, I love.) My questions are, does a darning foot press as hard
> on the fabric as any other foot, or does it back off some on the pressure?
> Do you expect that I will I find it prohibitively difficult to use this
> presser foot? Would it be worthwhile to order the $30 "Supreme Slider"
> from Leah Day, or am I attempting the impossible with this machine and
> should I forget about machine-quilting?
> Another issue is that when I watch tutorial videos on machine-quilting, it
> looks like these newfangled SMs have a computer that can tell the needle
> to stop in the down position, so you can pick up and re-position your
> hands while the needle holds the quilt sandwich in place. My venerable
> old SM does not have such a feature, and I'm getting tired of reaching up
> to manually turn the wheel, forgetting, etc. (and I'm jealous of these
> snazzy new machines).
> So far, machine-quilting seems do-able with this SM and this presser foot
> if I can just develop some more control and skill. I can see my line of
> stitches just fine (which I have heard is a complaint about using
> conventional darning feet). It's just hard to move the fabric back and
> forth and across. I do seem to be getting better with practice, but I
> guess machine-quilting is probably frustrating for any beginner.
> I do hope a bunch of you will tell me you're doing elaborate
> machine-quilting with machines even more antique than mine :-) which was
> made in the 1970's.
> Edna Pearl
>
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Posted by Tia Mary on September 16, 2009, 9:52 am
Edna Pearl wrote:
show/hide quoted text
> I am trying my hand at machine-quilting and am fairly clueless about it.
>
> I have an old SM with snap-on presser feet, and I have been unable to find a
> snap-on darning foot so far. I'm using an "all-purpose," rectangular,
> open-toed foot with a big gap for the needle (intended to accommodate
> zig-zag stitches) for my machine-quilting efforts. ...<snip>...
> I do hope a bunch of you will tell me you're doing elaborate
> machine-quilting with machines even more antique than mine :-) which was
> made in the 1970's.
>
> Edna Pearl
I just spent 6 1/2 weeks in Lizard Land and made several quilts wile
there on my "Old Lady" sewing machine which I got in the late 1970's.
NO needle down and not even a snap on foot option! All the quilts were
free motion quilted, too so it CAN be done and wit little difficulty,
too :-).
When I first started doing free motion on this machine (about 20
years ago), I did like you and used my zig-zag foot, dropped the feed
dogs AND loosened the pressure on the presser foot. Then I started
watching quilting shows on the telly and started getting the Clotilde
catalogue and discovered the clear darning & spring embroidery foot for
low shank machines. I bought one immediately (currently on sale for
$7.98 in my catalog) and found this made it even easier to manipulate
the quilt. I'm not sure if this would fit your machine and it's NOT
snap on but it works wonderfully.
I don't see the necessity for a $30 foot unless you particularly like
that foot. Look in the Clotilde cataloguer ( http://www.clotilde.com
) and check out what is available. There is also an open toe appliqué &
embroidery foot that is more like a zig zag foot but is made of clear
plastic and available in a snap on type for $9.98. I've often toyed
with the idea of getting the Big Foot because it is clear AND about 1"
wide but it's also about $27.00. I can't justify spending the money when
I am doing fine with the darning & embroidery foot. I usually just
spend the $$ on something else.
Lastly I will remind you to "sew fast but move slow". I think
that's what one of the TV sewing craft show ladies used to always say.
Meaning make sure the needle is going faster and you're moving the
fabric slowly. Take frequent breaks and RELAX :-). I'm certainly no
expert but I've been doing free motion quilting for a long time and I
STILL forget this! Good luck and keep us posted on your progress, OK?
show/hide quoted text
CiaoMeow >^;;^<
show/hide quoted text
PAX, Tia Mary >^;;^< (RCTQ Queen of Kitties)
Angels can't show their wings on earth but nothing was ever said about
their whiskers!
Visit my Photo albums at http://community.webshots.com/user/tiamary
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Posted by Edna Pearl on September 16, 2009, 10:45 am
Amazing answers. You all are the BEST. I do try to "look at the road
instead of the steering wheel," by looking at the markings for the stitches
I'm about to make instead of the needle and foot. I also forgot to mention
that I did loosen the "darner" button to lessen the pressure on the foot,
and I didn't describe the problem very well in general -- it's like the
quilt package bunches up around the corners of the foot as I move. I think
your tips about hand position and thinking slowly, as well as my learning
how to control my foot on the treadle (and not to lose patience and stomp on
the pedal), are going to help a lot.
I found one book last night that described the darning foot as having a
"lighter touch" than other presser feet, in that it has no corners and less
metal touching the fabric. That makes sense to me. Nobody mentioned that
the darner foot bobbles a little -- thanks for that, Pam. I think I can
learn to accommodate this mentally and with practice.
I still can't find a snap-on darning foot (the low-shank feet won't fit my
SM), but I've located a local SM and SM repair shop that carries a lot of
feet and gizmos and some notions, so I'll go see them soon. (The shop is
even in biking distance! It's just such a tiny place I didn't notice it
until my SM pointed it out while it was closed and I got out of the car and
peered in the shop window.)
I've been using a package of scrap batting and fabric for my initial
experiments in machine-quilting (as well as testing Krylon spray glue, seems
to work fine for spray-basting -- so far). My next machine-quilting will be
to do some straight stitching on a Amish-style 24" by 24" block that I
started and finished yesterday. (I am so proud of myself about the improved
ease and speed I am developing with making triangles and borders!)
If anybody likes Amish patchwork and quilting, you might love this book as
much as I do: "Making Welsh Quilts: The Tradition that Inspired the
Amish?" by M. Jenkins and C. Claridge -- $6.95 at HamiltonBook.com
http://www.hamiltonbook.com/hamiltonbook.filereader?4ab0e30800080cfe271dd8b1903b0658+EN/products/7373414
or http://tiny.cc/fTcQT . It is FULL of beautiful designs for small
projects like the one I made yesterday. I am also inspired to learn
machine-quilting by "Amish Patterns for Machine Quilting" by Pat Holley and
Sue Nichols -- another $6.95 sale at HamiltonBook.com. Thanks for whoever
posted about Hamilton a few weeks ago -- I got some really fun books!
There was else somebody I wanted to thank for something specifically but I
don't remember who it is now, so just assume it's you :-)
Edna Pearl
show/hide quoted text
> Edna Pearl wrote:
>> I am trying my hand at machine-quilting and am fairly clueless about it.
>> I have an old SM with snap-on presser feet, and I have been unable to
>> find a snap-on darning foot so far. I'm using an "all-purpose,"
>> rectangular, open-toed foot with a big gap for the needle (intended to
>> accommodate zig-zag stitches) for my machine-quilting efforts.
>> ...<snip>...
>> I do hope a bunch of you will tell me you're doing elaborate
>> machine-quilting with machines even more antique than mine :-) which was
>> made in the 1970's.
>> Edna Pearl
> I just spent 6 1/2 weeks in Lizard Land and made several quilts wile
> there on my "Old Lady" sewing machine which I got in the late 1970's. NO
> needle down and not even a snap on foot option! All the quilts were free
> motion quilted, too so it CAN be done and wit little difficulty, too :-).
> When I first started doing free motion on this machine (about 20 years
> ago), I did like you and used my zig-zag foot, dropped the feed dogs AND
> loosened the pressure on the presser foot. Then I started watching
> quilting shows on the telly and started getting the Clotilde catalogue and
> discovered the clear darning & spring embroidery foot for low shank
> machines. I bought one immediately (currently on sale for $7.98 in my
> catalog) and found this made it even easier to manipulate the quilt. I'm
> not sure if this would fit your machine and it's NOT snap on but it works
> wonderfully.
> I don't see the necessity for a $30 foot unless you particularly like
> that foot. Look in the Clotilde cataloguer ( http://www.clotilde.com )
> and check out what is available. There is also an open toe appliqué &
> embroidery foot that is more like a zig zag foot but is made of clear
> plastic and available in a snap on type for $9.98. I've often toyed with
> the idea of getting the Big Foot because it is clear AND about 1" wide but
> it's also about $27.00. I can't justify spending the money when I am doing
> fine with the darning & embroidery foot. I usually just spend the $$ on
> something else.
> Lastly I will remind you to "sew fast but move slow". I think that's
> what one of the TV sewing craft show ladies used to always say. Meaning
> make sure the needle is going faster and you're moving the fabric slowly.
> Take frequent breaks and RELAX :-). I'm certainly no expert but I've been
> doing free motion quilting for a long time and I STILL forget this! Good
> luck and keep us posted on your progress, OK? CiaoMeow >^;;^<
> PAX, Tia Mary >^;;^< (RCTQ Queen of Kitties)
> Angels can't show their wings on earth but nothing was ever said about
> their whiskers!
> Visit my Photo albums at http://community.webshots.com/user/tiamary
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>I have an old SM with snap-on presser feet, and I have been unable to find a
>snap-on darning foot so far. I'm using an "all-purpose," rectangular,
>open-toed foot with a big gap for the needle (intended to accommodate
>zig-zag stitches) for my machine-quilting efforts. I don't see any problem
>with using this foot for quilting curves and circles and such, except that
>it's darned hard to push and pull the quilt sandwich. (Yes, my feed dogs
>are retracted and I'm using "quilting gloves," which, incidentally, I love.)
>My questions are, does a darning foot press as hard on the fabric as any
>other foot, or does it back off some on the pressure? Do you expect that I
>will I find it prohibitively difficult to use this presser foot? Would it
>be worthwhile to order the $30 "Supreme Slider" from Leah Day, or am I
>attempting the impossible with this machine and should I forget about
>machine-quilting?
>Another issue is that when I watch tutorial videos on machine-quilting, it
>looks like these newfangled SMs have a computer that can tell the needle to
>stop in the down position, so you can pick up and re-position your hands
>while the needle holds the quilt sandwich in place. My venerable old SM
>does not have such a feature, and I'm getting tired of reaching up to
>manually turn the wheel, forgetting, etc. (and I'm jealous of these snazzy
>new machines).
>So far, machine-quilting seems do-able with this SM and this presser foot if
>I can just develop some more control and skill. I can see my line of
>stitches just fine (which I have heard is a complaint about using
>conventional darning feet). It's just hard to move the fabric back and
>forth and across. I do seem to be getting better with practice, but I guess
>machine-quilting is probably frustrating for any beginner.
>I do hope a bunch of you will tell me you're doing elaborate
>machine-quilting with machines even more antique than mine :-) which was
>made in the 1970's.
>Edna Pearl