Machine quilting - Page 3

> 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.)

>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
>> 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

> OOh, I have that book and agree, it's great! Some day I'd love to do
> some hand quilting as it describes.
> Roberta in D

> I am trying my hand at machine-quilting and am fairly clueless about it.

> 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.

your mantra will have to be "practice, practice, practice"! <G>

> 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.