This is where I am today. I tried to do some simple FMQ loops with is. I love the texture it gives and really wanted that for this quilt. But it turns out that free motion quilting a queen sized quilt is really, really not going to happen on my machine. It hurt my arms too much, my stitches were extremely uneven because it was so hard to muscle all that bulk around. And really, toward the middle of the quilt I could hardly fit the bulk through the throat space, let alone with room for one of my arms to keep maneuvering.
So. Lesson learned. I spent a good 3 hours on this and only got about 1/8 of the way finished. There was no way I was going to go through another 21 hours of that torture! So I am ripping it all out and will be going with some nice straight lines instead. And starting to save for a machine with much more ample throat space!
I'm linking up to Sewjo Saturday over at My Go-Go Life! Mostly to cheer me up about having to rip out all my quilting by looking at the other pretty projects people have been working on.
I don't think you're defeated as much as just recognizing the limitations of your machine. Wrestling one that big through that little throat space can be agonizing...ask me how I know! Beautiful quilt, though, and straight lines will look wonderful -- and save your shoulders!
ReplyDeleteOH NO!!!!! I love the look of straight line quilting ESPECIALLY diagonal. BIG HUGS and I am really looking forward to see what you do with this beauty. Thank you for linking up to Sewjo Saturday!
ReplyDeleteIt is frustrating to be limited by what machines can do. I am very familiar with sewing machine woes. I am also planning to save up for a more FMQ friendly machine. =)
ReplyDeleteJust a suggestion, check out a Flynn quilt frame. Definitely helps if you have the space( works like a type writer). I bought other lengths emt for bigger quilts.
ReplyDeleteJust a suggestion, check out a Flynn quilt frame. Definitely helps if you have the space( works like a type writer). I bought other lengths emt for bigger quilts.
ReplyDeleteJust a suggestion, check out a Flynn quilt frame. Definitely helps if you have the space( works like a type writer). I bought other lengths emt for bigger quilts.
ReplyDeleteJust a suggestion, check out a Flynn quilt frame. Definitely helps if you have the space( works like a type writer). I bought other lengths emt for bigger quilts.
ReplyDeleteJust a suggestion, check out a Flynn quilt frame. Definitely helps if you have the space( works like a type writer). I bought other lengths emt for bigger quilts.
ReplyDeleteStraight line quilting is beautiful and a huge accomplishment on a queen sized home machine quilted quilt. I am doing SITD and echo quilting on a 93" by 78" group QOV on my home machine right now and it is a big labor of love.
ReplyDeleteIf I had the cash I would have a long arm and sing and stitch doodle happily along on many quilts large and small.
But I would still do straight line home machine quilting on some quilts. It just looks sew nice.
Your quilt will be beautiful. Enjoy the process ... {{{hugs}}} Pat