Hi ,
One of the most frequent questions I hear from quilters is about moving the quilt:
How do we make it easier?
How do we
manage a big quilt on a small machine?
How will I be able to quilt that?
One of the first things I explain is that you don't have to quilt your quilt all at once. You start in the center and work your way to the outer
edges, filling the spaces of your quilt with different designs or one single pattern.
It really doesn't matter what you stitch or how it is stitched, so long as you are working from the center to the outer edges so any excess fabric or batting has the ability to shift outwards as you go.
But starting in the center can definitely be tricky, especially when it's a VERY big quilt on your machine. Big quilts mean a lot of bulk and weight, which thanks to gravity isn't very easy to move. When we quilt in free motion, we must be able to move the quilt
smoothly over the surface to produce small, consistent stitches.
If we don't have this smooth movement, you may find yourself in a frustrating, jerky tug-of-war battle with the bulk of the quilt fighting you on every stitch. It doesn't look pretty and frankly, it's a total wear out. I've quilted many quilts that feel more like a wrestling match than a fun quilting experience.
The Importance of Your Tabletop
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If you don't have one, please, please, please treat yourself to one soon! When your machine is setting up on a table top, you are having to pull the quilt up and over the edges of the machine, fighting drag with every stitch.
When the machine is set down into a flatbed or dropdown sewing table, the machine's needle plate will be on a flush surface with the table top. The difference is the feeling of running up a steep hill
or running along totally flat ground - which feels easier?
Instead of having to pull your quilt up over the arm of the machine, all you'll need to do is slide it under your needle. No more tug-of-war, no more battle of weight and gravity against you.
Click Here to check out our Affordable Sewing Table which
comes with a custom cut insert for less than $300. It's a small table that can easily be expanded with folding tables to fit your space just right. It also has wheels so you can take it with you to workshops too.
Note: Due to the weight and expense of shipping, this sewing table is only available to customers within the US.
Helpful Tools for Machine Quilting
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With your machine on a flush surface, your quilts will be so much easier to manage, but you can still improve the movement of your quilt with a Supreme Slider.
A slider is a special tool for machine quilting that helps your quilt slide smoothly over the surface of your machine. I've just recently created a new video on the Supreme Slider that will show you three ways to use it on your machine.
Yes, quilting really is easier with the right tools and equipment. For many years I made do without these tools, and yes, you can certainly quilt without them.
But if you're interested in making this craft fun and easy, especially with big quilts, changing your setup is essential.
Invest in your space and make quilting much easier for yourself for years to come!
Galadriel Costume Coming along
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I've been working hard on my Galadriel costume all weekend, and the dress is definitely fitting better. All that's left is finishing the sleeves, inserting the lining, and stitching the hem.
This project has definitely become longer and
more involved as I fell head first in love with couture sewing. This style of sewing is very different from ready-to-wear garment making. Instead of overlocking or serging the seams, I'm finishing many by hand.
This of course takes a
lot more time, but I love the deeper connection I'm finding with this form of sewing and this dress feels amazing to wear for all the time and attention to detail I've put into it. a
So that's it for this week! If you're tired of fighting the endless tug-of-war with your quilts, please make your experience easier by investing in your setup. My tables have lasted for years and made
such a difference to how easy and fun quilting feels and I know it will make a big difference for you too!
Let's go quilt!
Leah Day
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