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Tuesday, June 23, 2009

My struggle with machine quilting

My experiences with machine quilting has been limited , you could say it's been a saga over the years to get to the point where I'm not hyperventilating when I have a quilt under the foot to quilt or seriously considering a few glasses of wine to relax enough to just do it. I had done a couple of quilts before I got the Bernina 440 with the BSR foot and this quilt was the sacrificial one where I just went at it, doodling and making it up as I went. After all, the quilt was so busy, it didn't matter if I stuffed it up. This quilt freed me from my hang ups and the BSR foot gave me the confidence. Then I found out about these Patsy Thompson DVD's and they changed my whole attitude which went from too hard to I can do this. I no longer had to stick to stippling.
I did what was suggested and made a pile of little sandwiches to practice on. I'd just like to say that these were the first ones I had a go on.

Free form feathers! I was so proud



I keep a folder of the free downloads from Patsy's site to give me ideas for background fillers. I also look at quilts at the shows and in magazines to sketch out other ideas. I'm happy with how my machine quilting is going, I'll never do one of those amazing quilted works, I'm happy to be at the point where if I want to do all over quilting or background designs, I can do it, after all finished is better than perfect.
If you don't have a Bernina with a BSR foot, did you know that you can do free motion quilting with the darning foot keeping the feed dogs up? Yes UP! Pam Holland does amazing quilting doing just that. You'll have more control and you don't have to go at the speed of lightning..

47 comments:

  1. AnonymousJune 23, 2009 at 2:46 PM

    Janet - thank you so much for the info about Patsy Thompson...I also have a Bernina 440QE and feel so intimidated with anything beyond basic shapes...and that is after some wine too!!! The BSR & I are not on the best of terms yet.
    Your new 830 is a beauty...enjoy every stitch.

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  2. ;lelawangsa.blogspot,com oJune 23, 2009 at 2:46 PM

    Hello Janet,

    It's me ,probakti21.My profile (translated)reads "Sharing all without prejudice".

    This morning,I could'nt move my eyes from the photos on your posts.They are nice and astonishing works.Congratulation to you.

    I am a father of three children (now working adults)and since retired,spent most of my time traveling and blogging.And still engaging in lot of interests and hobbies.

    Anyway,how could I get hold some of these "Patsy Thompson" Dvds ?

    Please be free and do welcome to
    visit my site at hrtp://probakti21.blogspot.com

    Thank you

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  3. SewCalGalJune 23, 2009 at 2:59 PM

    Looks to me like you are now a Master of the BSR Foot. Great job.

    Thanks for sharing.

    SewCalGal
    www.sewcalgal.blogspot.com

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  4. NedraJune 23, 2009 at 3:01 PM

    Wow, great job on your machine. I think you've got the hang of it!

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  5. JuliaJune 23, 2009 at 3:16 PM

    Oh wow Janet...you did great!
    Your feathers look beautiful...I hope I can do just as well with my new Quilting frame that's just been delivered..not set up yet..can't wait.I will have to check out the "Patsy Thompson" Dvds.
    Julia ♥

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  6. wishes, true and kindJune 23, 2009 at 3:17 PM

    You have no idea how impressed I am!!! Your quilting is wonderful. It looks like you have been doing it for years! I especially love your free form feathers! Wow!

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  7. JanetJune 23, 2009 at 3:32 PM

    I am so impressed. You definitely have the hang of it NOW! Is your jaw locked up or were you able to relax. I'm going to check out those DVDs. I like the patterns. They look like they flow nicely. Thanks for the hints and have fun with your new toy.

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  8. Anne-Mettes OaserJune 23, 2009 at 3:57 PM

    It looks fantastic. You did a great job and I hardly can believe, that these are your first ones :-). Thanks a lot for sharing the link to Patsy. I also have a Bernina 440QE, but I haven't been using it as much as I should. I really feel tempted after seeing what you have sewn.
    Greetings from Denmark,
    Anne-Mette

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  9. LurlineJune 23, 2009 at 5:06 PM

    Janet, your quilting is just wonderful - no one could wish for better! I am hopeless at free-motion, no confidence at all, please give me more detail to finding Pam's method with the feed-dogs up!
    Hugs - Lurline♥

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  10. antique quilterJune 23, 2009 at 7:12 PM

    I am glad your bonding with your new machine!
    Pam does amazing machine quilting

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  11. CrispyJune 23, 2009 at 8:34 PM

    Your quilting is just wonderful. My problem with machine quilting is stuffing the dang thing between the needle and the throat...I'll stick to hand quilting until I can afford a longarm....yeah dream on LOL. I bow down to those of you who can machine quilt!!

    Crispy

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  12. LindseyJune 23, 2009 at 8:58 PM

    I assume you have a BSR foot...your quilting is lovely! Thanks for the tip on the DVDs I think I will try it...beautiful feathers...good for you!

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  13. Abby and StephanieJune 23, 2009 at 9:10 PM

    WOW!!! I've never been able to do a feather. I do practice on quilt sandwiches but definitely need to expand my "horizon".

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  14. UnknownJune 23, 2009 at 9:36 PM

    Janet.... you did a fantastic job!! Yay, you have broken the mold on stippling. I love all your practice pieces. Go Girl!

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  15. TerryJune 23, 2009 at 9:47 PM

    You give me hope! I'm about to attempt machine quilting and I'm certain my first attempts will be horrible. But if I can work up to having my quilting look half as good as yours, I'll be quite happy! Thanks for the link too! :0)

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  16. KaarenJune 23, 2009 at 9:49 PM

    Your feathers are gorgeous, Janet. I could have them on all my quilts. Now, if only I could do them...sigh.

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  17. BernadetteJune 23, 2009 at 10:09 PM

    your feathers look great, well done!

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  18. ranetteJune 23, 2009 at 10:12 PM

    Okay...now I'm going to have to get those dvd's...I used to machine quilt all of my quilts until I got my Bernina and the BSR foot and I just cannot get the hang of that foot!

    Wonderful quilting Janet! I'm very impressed by your "skills" :o)

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  19. BetsyJune 23, 2009 at 10:20 PM

    Janet I have the exact machine and I just love, love my BSR. But like you I struggled with design choices. I have always wanted the Patsy Thompson DVDs but was afraid to get them just in case they did not turn out good. I am so glad you posted about them.

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  20. Julie in the BarnJune 23, 2009 at 10:28 PM

    Wow, I'm impressed. I can't believe those gorgeous feathers. You give me hope. My Bernie is an old 930 so I don't know if I can get a stitch regulator foot thingy for it. Is that what the BSR foot is? For now I just use the darning foot and stick to stippling and simple star & heart shapes. I find that several glasses of wine make my quilting look much better.

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  21. Doodlebug GailJune 23, 2009 at 10:30 PM

    You certainly do have the hang of it now ..... I need to branch out and try feathers sometime soon. BTW I also do free motion quilting with the feed dogs UP on my Janome MC6600 ..... it helps with the tension on the underside and it looks a million times better.

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  22. Kim BrackettJune 23, 2009 at 10:33 PM

    Great job on the quilting! Your feathers look wonderful. Thanks so much for sharing the information on the DVDs

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  23. LoriJune 23, 2009 at 10:47 PM

    Great machine quilting Janet. It can be overwhelming if you let it. It can also be enjoyable and beautiful!

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  24. KarenJune 23, 2009 at 11:19 PM

    I like the feathers!

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  25. CarolJune 23, 2009 at 11:33 PM

    WOW! That is very impressive. Machine quilting on my machine makes me so nervous. I guess I should just practice.

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  26. VivianJune 23, 2009 at 11:43 PM

    I just checked out Patsy Thompson online. Thanks for the information! I quilt my own on my sewing machine and help from experts is always welcomed.
    You're doing a great job with your machine quilting. Nothing beats practicing. I put up-tempo music in my ears and just start going. (mellow music for piecing and faster tempo music for machine quilting --> works for me)

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  27. AnonymousJune 23, 2009 at 11:46 PM

    Janet I love your sandwiches, just lovely. Now I never knew you could have the feed dogs up with free motion quilting. Tried it with them down and thought eek looks rotten, not for me. Is there somewhere where we can get more info on this method?

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  28. JocelynJune 24, 2009 at 12:32 AM

    Janet, I don't have a BSR but I do have a Bernina, and I have always done my machine quilting with the feed dogs up. It does work much better on that machine. I have wanted to order one of Patsy's DVD's but am a little confused about her website. She says one is like the other, so which one do you start with? I've done a little machine quilting, but nothing like what you have shown. Mostly just meandering. Can you tell me which one would be a good one to start with?

    Jocelyn
    http://happycottagequilter.blogspot.com/

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  29. AllieJune 24, 2009 at 1:08 AM

    I can't believe those are your first ones, wow, truly amazing! I must get those dvd's. And quilting with the dogs up? Have to check that out, thank you!

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  30. EileenJune 24, 2009 at 2:53 AM

    Your feathers are wonderful.
    And yes.. I tried it after your suggestion to me.. to keep the feed dogs up. I'm going to blog about it eventually.. because it is so awesome!

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  31. BrowndirtcottageJune 24, 2009 at 3:12 AM

    Oh Wow....now I'm totally excited....you 'dun' good girl....I know that practice makes perfect....I'm off the check out the FAB info you so graciously shared!!!

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  32. Debby in DEJune 24, 2009 at 3:51 AM

    Your quilting is beautiful!

    I do leave the feeddogs up (have no choice) and stitch length at "0" when doing free-motion on the older machines (treadles).

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  33. SherriJune 24, 2009 at 4:17 AM

    Loved this post...you've given me hope as well. I know I just need to keep practicing!

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  34. Mary JohnsonJune 24, 2009 at 4:20 AM

    I love Patsy Thompson's DVD's too - her work is amazing and you did a great job on the quilt and the practice samples.

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  35. BarbJune 24, 2009 at 4:58 AM

    I have always stippled with my feed dogs up and just now I put them down, and yes, you have more control when they are up....I am so glad you said that.

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  36. DanielleJune 24, 2009 at 10:12 AM

    You've done such a great job! and you've inspired me to reach a little higher when it comes to free-motion quilting! I'm off to look up those DVDs.

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  37. ThimbleannaJune 24, 2009 at 10:44 AM

    Wow Janet -- you're doing wonderful quilting. Could you come and show me a thing or two? I have a hard time with my machine quilting. I'll have to try the feed dog up tip. And Congratulations on your pretty new machine!

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  38. UnknownJune 24, 2009 at 11:54 AM

    Thanks so much Janet for your post...I too am a learner on machine quilting only Just...I too have been very Envious on other people's Beautiful work...I will be looking up those DVD's ...love what you have been doing they look Great to me...
    cheers

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  39. amyJune 24, 2009 at 10:21 PM

    I love and adore Patsy's videos. Just got volume 2 of feathers. Yea!! Your quilting is divine!

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  40. Rose MarieJune 25, 2009 at 12:35 AM

    Thank you for the wonderful inspiration. I forget to lower my feed dogs and now I have just learned that it is OK to do my free form quilting that way.

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  41. jeanJune 25, 2009 at 9:08 AM

    Hi Janet

    You are very gifted,but also very generous and sharing of your knowledge. Thanks you so much.
    You have inspired me to have a go at free motion quilting on my very old Bernina.
    I will check out Patsy Thompson

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  42. QuiltedSimpleJune 25, 2009 at 10:29 PM

    Thank you so much for the links!!!! I've done a lot of stipling, but would like to do different stuff. YOurs is beautiful.
    Kris

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  43. Nanette MerrillJune 26, 2009 at 1:06 AM

    Janet! I'm so glad you found my blog so I could find you. I love your header, first off. Love it. Really really love that quilt. So now I have to go read your posts and skim back to see your work. I really like this idea about machine quilting. I do my own machine quilting on a limited basis - meaning smaller projects. But I didn't know about the presser foot up. Going to try that. Thanks! And these videos. I have to get them. Thank you so much. I have worked and worked to get my sippling fairly ok. But I can't progress past that or haven't and I want to.

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  44. LizJune 26, 2009 at 6:11 PM

    OMG Janet, I have to get those DVDs, they just might free me from my horror of ever being able to quilt on my sewing machine. Your quilting is just fabulous.

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  45. Sarah VanderburghJuly 2, 2009 at 10:48 AM

    Finished is better than perfect. Yes! You have given me hope and some resources. Guess my local liquor store will keep their wine stock:) Thanks for the great motivating post!

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  46. I am Arizona; a person, not a place.July 4, 2009 at 11:11 AM

    I was looking at books on continuous line FMQ today at Joann's. I like the idea of a DVD much better, though, so thanks so much for this information! Your free motion quilting looks wonderful! FMQ with the feed dogs up is intriguing...I'll have to check out the links you provided. Thanks!

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  47. SonjaAugust 18, 2010 at 5:55 PM

    I purchased my BSR foot on Monday... I used to free motion quilt with the darning foot down and it worked! But I so much wanted to free motion quilt my Kim Mc Lean's "Hearts & Flowers" with the BSR foot;)
    But now I need a lot of practice!!!

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