Quilting on a Machine

[Mamafitz62]

I also posted this in another catagory. Most of us do not have the luxury of having a frame to machine quilt on but still want to quilt on our machine. I am fairly new to quilting and was struggling with my large quilt trying maneuver it through my machine. It was hard keeping it rolled up. Then I hit on the idea of flexible plastic tubes to wrap the quilt around and clamp down with round clamps. I purchased two 7 foot long plastic tubes used in pool wands. I attached extra cloth to the sides of my quilt and pinned it around the tubes then wrapping and clamping. It works beautifully, enabling me to stitch in specific areas. The tubes give me handholds to maneuver and yet they are flexible and will fall off the edge of my sewing table. I have a Baby Lock Espire, put it on autostitch, with freestyle and sew away. It has to be the pool wand as it is small in diameter and very flexible.

[Joannequilts]

Mamafitz62 I answered your other post but thought I'd answer here, too! I, too, just have a conventional, domestic sewing machine and just gave up tring to "roll" the quilt...so I just "puddle" the quilt. This sounds like a good idea.
What is the diameter of the tube?? Are they expensive???

Joanne:0)

[beccasmom]

ok tell me more. How do you do this??? I can't get the picture in my head but if it makes it easier to machine quilt I am up to trying it.

Brenda

[quilterbee]

Sounding like the John Flynn frame theory, Amie

[churchmouse]

Mamafitz62,Why don't you try the "quilt as yu go" method? It is what I use all the time since I have trouble with my hands.I quilt one block (a sandwich of block batting and backing)at a time and then put them together in rows then rows together.This way all the bulk of your quilt is to your left and does not have to be squeezed under your machine. Georgia Bonesteel has a book out called"Lap quilting Lives" that shows you how to do this. It is also called Lap Quilting.But it can be done by hand or machine.I use my old Kenmore that I have had about 40 years and it does great.I love it and it's the only way I can do it and you don't have to fuss with rolling or puddling and etc.You can use any style of quilting you want and if you can drop your feeddogs and ease the tension on your pressure foot you can free motion as well.

[quiltwithmom]

Joanne,
No these are not expensive. Just a few dollars at Wal Mart or any store. They are flexable made of foam. I have one I purchased for a class but never used it. I think it is too large for quilting but I am going to look and see if I can find smaller ones. I too have had a heck of a time even with stitch in the ditch. I'm going to learn to do the strippling method soon.

Mamafitz62,
Can you tell us what size diameter of the tube?

[swakins]

I rolled my quilt, and I used binder clips to hold the rolls in place. It kind of flattens the rolls a bit and made it easier to maneuver it.
What are these pool wands made of, is it like PVC or more like a pool noodle?
OHSue