And the air turned blue….
Can you hear me? All you ladies over there in Canada, the USA, Australia and Singapore. I’m sure everyone here in Switzerland can…
How shall I put this…..politely….
I am EXASPERATED….
FRUSTRATED….
…and TEARING MY HAIR OUT (and I don’t have that much to start with and can’t afford to lose more!).
You’ve guessed it…
I’m machine quilting Martinique.
And I’m not enjoying it one teeny tiny bit.
I’m battling with my machine, breaking and jumping threads and a quilt that is JUST TOO BIG to make this a happy experience.
Come to think of it, I think this is the first time I’ve ever tried to machine quilt a double bed sized quilt. I think it is in all probability the only and the last time. It is a real struggle and I have to say that I’m not enjoying myself at all. If I was a swearing women – which I’m not, you will be pleased to know – the air would be deep dark navy in my little workroom.
I will finish this if it kills me, but I am certainly going to send out the other quilt that’s waiting to be quilted. My nerves just can’t take this and it’s a shame to spoil some nice piecing with rubbish quilting. (Although I am unpicking the worst bits as I go along. There is quite a lot to unpick I can tell you!)
So..to the nice ladies at the Quilt Room in Dorking – watch out, there’s some business coming your way. And it will make my day!!
Helen
January 11th, 2011 at 3:37 pm
Breath…. breath… breath….. !!!
I know how frustrating quilting a big quilt can be. To be honest, I think to do a double bed quilt on a domestic machine is probably too difficult (at least for me). Just do a little at the time, so you won’t get too tense. What about using a different thread? Changing needles? You probably have already tried everything! Take care!
January 11th, 2011 at 3:47 pm
I am a swearing woman and the air would have been positively indigo if I were attempting to machine quilt anything.
What a nuisance if your spine is fractured. Keeping my finger crossed it isn’t.
Sue x
January 11th, 2011 at 5:50 pm
Are you using a walking foot? That is essential for machine quilting. And try rolling the part you are not quilting into a roll to help get it through the machine without having bundles everywhere. I hope that helps! It is not easy.
PS That is why I still hand quilt for now. Until the fingers expire completely and then I will get a Bernina machine with the stitch regulator and designed for quilting. Perfect excuse. One day…….
January 11th, 2011 at 8:42 pm
Helen is there anyway that you could set up your machine so that you have a larger base to work with? I have a sewing cabinet that my machine sinks into. If you can’t do that try putting your machine on a big table like a kitchen/dining room table, so that the weight of the quilt doesn’t drag. I will often set my ironing board to a lower height and set it up beside where I’m working to hold the weight when I’m using my domestic machine.
Also remember to breath and only work on small portions at a time and breath! take breaks.
January 12th, 2011 at 5:49 am
I admire all the helpful hints the previous ladies have given you – but I have to admit I just love your sense of humor. Even with the frustration I can see you are experiencing; you still put a smile on my face with your words. Good luck with your quilt and keep that sense of humor.
January 12th, 2011 at 11:38 am
Not having machine quilted anything except a crib quilt I really don’t have much to offer except sympathy and my best wishes that it all turns out well in the end.
January 16th, 2011 at 12:40 am
I was catching up on my reading and see that you are quilting “Martinque” I notice that batting..what type is it, as I use Warm & Natural or Bamboo, and I would like to know what type that is and how does that batting lay within the quilt? Please share.
Thanks
Jocey
January 24th, 2011 at 8:30 am
Hi, I am kelly from Sydeny I am quilting quilt from last 5 years on my domestic sewing machine I can understand your problem how frustrating it .But Don’t worry I have some tips for you. when I first time quilting a double bed quilt I also frustrated its natural. But after some practice I did better. You should quilting quilt in a pieces in step by steps. Use paddle for long sewing. Good luck.