While I have machine quilted several simple charity projects using tissue paper patterns and marking my quilts, I was longing for the day I could just “doodle” my quilting on my larger projects.
So, not expecting to be a professional (yea, like THAT was going to happen!), I hoped to be able to use my Bernina BSR attachment without sewing into my finger (yes, I have done that three times already). With band-aids in my pocket, off to class I went with an open mind to put myself outside of my comfort zone.
Terri and the other ten ladies in my class (one was her mother) jumped in with two feet. Terri gave us print outs of simple patterns and asked us to take a couple different colored pencils on the table and doodle a quilting pattern on it. Some of us dived in; others just stared at the paper (see my hand raised?). After a couple of sheets, it began to get easier. You see, the doodle technique is the real secret of learning free-motion quilting. The more you trace over the pattern, the muscle movement in your brain remembers it and makes it easier to create the same pattern on your quilt. Terri suggests have a doodle pad and pen around you to practice, practice, practice! You could do the same thing with a white board if you wish, allowing you to practice larger feathers and the such. Another suggestion was to find an old Spirograph (you remember having one of those when you were a kid?). Check your attic or the kid’s toy box and doodle to your hearts content.
Terri corrected me several times to put my “chicken wings” down and relax my neck and arms while I quilt. I noticed when she mentioned it to me, I did relax—at least, for the time being. She also suggested that before you begin to quilt to hug your machine. Yes, you read that correctly! Hug it. If you are seating in front of your sewing machine and cannot place both your arms completely around your sewing machine, you are not working close enough to it. Gee, and I thought she just wanted me to bond with my machine!
As all but one of the sewing machines in use during that class were Berninas, I won’t bother to get into pertinent details (Giselle, we can chat later) specific for that machine. Some of her most helpful tips were:
Use a #16 needle (either jeans, topstitch or leather) when machine quilting with Warm & Natural quilt batting.
Remember, the thicker the thread, the bigger the needle eye.
If you spray baste your quilting projects, do not overspray! This will cause your backing to ripple when it dries. And do not use your hands to “spread” smooth your top. If you have it layered correctly, lightly patting it in place is the way to go.
We all know that we should replace our needles every so many hours of sewing. But when you quilt, especially if you are using different types of thread and needle sizes, this is hard to keep track of. Take one of those tomato style pincushions and on each section, mark the needle size and style at the top and then mark three equal horizontal rows and mark 1-2 hours, 3-4 hours and 5-6 hours. When you put on your new needle, mark down the time you used the needle. Okay, time to change the needle for a different weight thread? Remove the slightly used needle and put into the appropriate place on the pincushion. In this way, you know how many hours you have left to use that particular needle. Of course, if the needle is damaged with burrs, dispose of it.
When threading your sewing machine needle, do not wet the thread, but take your wetted finger and place it behind the needle eye. With your other hand, thread the eye. The wet thread expands and makes threading the eye harder to do. Terri also suggests that you cut your thread at an angle and it will fly through the needle hole!
Speaking of threads, Terri says you get out of your thread what you put into it. In other words, buy the best quality thread you can, such as King Tut or Superior. So, ladies, use your Coats and Clark for machine piecing, but not for machine quilting. For the finer detailed quilting, Isacord, Aurifil or Superior threads.
All in all, I learned a lot in the class and will be able to look at machine quilting with my eyes wide open instead of with blinders on. You can visit Terri’s blog at http://terificreations.wordpress.com/ and form your own opinion.
