Sunday, August 13, 2006

Quiltin' along and longarm questions


Baby quilt #2 is finished -- binding and label included. Quilting was easy -- although it took about 5 hours to do it -- all in the ditch, including the centers of the pinwheels. I took this picture this afternoon on the front porch and the quilt is now waiting to be washed. I finished it yesterday afternoon.

Today, I quilted Baby quilt #3. The stitching in the ditch was easy, but the rest was a PITA! My freehand quilting, even following a pattern drawn on the quilt, leaves a lot to be desired. I cannot for the life of me control the consistency of the stitches. I am so frustrated by the time I'm finished I actually hate the quilt. I still need to put the binding on, but decided to give it a rest today.

I got a call from a sales person for a longarm dealer yesterday afternoon (because I signed up for the newsletter on their site). She was calling from Park Ridge, near O'Hare airport -- the dealer is in Wisconsin and thought that anyone with an Illinois address should go through this lady I assume -- problem is we probably live closer to the dealer than the sales lady! vbg Anyway -- she was very nice and we talked for a few minutes. She wanted to know what stage I was in (how close to buying a longarm). I told her "dreaming and drooling"! I'm saving my pennies and realistically, I may be able to buy one next year.
But now I have a question or two for all you longarmers out there: Were you quilting a lot and well on your regular sewing machines before you bought your longarm? Did you learn how to quilt on the longarm -- I mean, I keep dreaming about being able to quilt really well on the longarm, but what if I can't quilt on it any better than I do on the sewing machine, or with the Handiquilter -- I will have wasted a whole ton of money. I plan on taking all the classes the dealer offers (and the first two are free, but they also offer some advanced classes I'd be interested in). One of the reasons I think I can do better on the longarm is the stitch regulator -- for me that would be a godsend, I think. Thanks to anyone that answers me!

Gratitudes:
1. We had tomato/bacon/cheese English muffins for dinner tonight -- fresh garden tomatoes!
2. Even as frustrated as I was today, I still count my blessings that I have a very nice sewing machine to work with.
3. Listening to a whole range of music on cd while quilting today -- Fleetwood Mac, Shania Twain, Eric Clapton, Roy Clark and Neil Diamond!
4. Another beautiful day in the heartland -- but please send a little rain.

15 comments :

Debby Brown said...

I've had my Gammill for 6 years and before that I drooled for 5 years or more. I finished some quilts in that time, but I was terrible at machine quilting. The longarm opened up a whole new world for me. Quilting on a HandiQuilter is similar to a quilting on a longarm. As for the stitch regulator, they didn't make them when I bought my machine but I play with it on the HandiQuilter at the LQS. It makes templates and intricate work more accurate.

Good Luck!

Patti said...

They are not the same thing at all. I did a little free motion quilting - and I mean a little. I didn't consider myself in any way proficient at it. Longarming is a whole different world, and the stitch regulator does make a world of difference. As with all things - practice, practice, practice! brings improvement and ultimately close to perfection. (Which I've not even remotely reached yet.)

just jenn said...

I would gladly let you practice on some of my quilts because I sure don't mind how some of them are quilted. LOL! :) I will more than likely never own a long-arm quilter so I can just dream to see one someday.

Susan said...

I took a machine quilting class with Harriet Hargrave. It looked so easy when she did it, but I could *not* get the hang of pushing and pulling stuff around, and that was on a little piece! When I tried a baby quilt, that settled it.

I bought the longarm and was much happier. It didn't make me perfect, and that was disappointing. =) But in about 6 months, I figured out what it *could* do that I *wanted* to do and had a happy 8 year relationship with it until we came on the road and I sold it.

Now I just send them out. I will not *ever* put myself through the torture of the shortarm quilting.

Mary Johnson said...

This baby quilt is very cute - I may have to make a similar one but not 3D - it would be way too much trouble to quilt it.

I've had my longarm for 4 years and I did quilt on my sewing machine before I bought it. I think I felt initially that the longarm was going to make me a better quilter than it has. At this point, I'm fairly decent but know I won't ever be an award winning quilter.

It does take lots of practice and it helps if you are naturally artistic. I'm at the point that if I draw things out on paper enough times I can usually quilt it.

Straight line and ditch quilting aren't that easy on the longarm - in fact I think they are easier on a regular machine with the feed dogs up - so I don't do a lot of them.

Pantographs are easy to quilt and look great on on the type of quilts I usually do - very scrappy.

Passionate Quilter said...

cute baby quilt! I love all the bright pinwheels.

I bought a Handiquilter last Dec. and love it. I was a machine quilter on my regular machine. The only thing is that I still find it a bit scary to do designs like I used to, because it goes a lot faster and you have to think faster! LOL I'm still kind of new at it, but I love it. Again, practice is the key. I do think an advantage of a quilting machine is that you don't have to deal with all the weight of the quilt and moving in and out of the machine. I would say to try to get to one of the bigger quilt shows and really try them out. Or go to a dealer. That's the only way you are going to know if you like it or not.

ForestJane said...

I'd love a longarm too, but just don't have the space for one. I can still drool though!

That pinwheel quilt is so cute, love those colors!

Hanne said...

Very cute pinwheel quilt.

Libby said...

The baby quilt looks great.
I'm in the "would love to have a long arm someday" group, so I can't offer any advice. Have fun testing and deciding what to do.

Finn said...

Well Baby Quilt #2 certain is lovely! And probably you are being too hard on yourself..but it is frustrating..I know. Can't answer any of your questions about the longarm..but it sure is a good thing to think about whether or not you can improve with it.
In the meantime, I know the babies don't mind if it's not professionally done. Hugs, Finn

Judy said...

You have a Handi Quilter..but just the frame right? Not the Hnadiquilter machine itself right? I think even with the stitch regulator there is some getting used to it.

Eileen said...

I've had my longarm for almost 6 years and I like not having to move the quilt around. I started without a stitch regulator, but got one a couple of years ago. I use it mainly for stitch in the ditch and template work. I work mostly from the back of the machine and do pantographs.
There is a learning curve no matter what large machine you get.

Pam said...

Bright and happy, love this 3-D quilt!!

Hedgehog said...

I love your pinwheels. Another thing on my to-do list. I like how your prairie points aren't at the edge. I saw another like that recently.

Evelyn aka Starfishy said...

Gosh - sometimes I wonder about getting some sort of home set-up, but for now, I have a busy 3 year old who needs lots of attention. My time is limited so I would rather spend it piecing instead of trying to learn something new. So, for now, I don't mind sending my tops out to be done. But - I still read all about quilting systems - maybe you should look into a stitch regulator and it might make you much happier with what you already have. You are doing such a great job with it and are doing very beautiful work!

Cheers!

Evelyn