How to do the meander on the machine?

[HomespunMary]

I'm just finishing a beginner machine quilting class at QuiltUniversity.com, and it is so much fun! I would never have thought I would dare do anything but stitch in the ditch on a real quilt, but now I'm starting to think that on the next quilt I'll at least try some stippling. It really is difficult in the beginning, but I found that with a few practice pieces (small quilt sandwiches made up of really cheap fabric) it was not so hard to get the hang of it.

The most difficult thing for me is to get the stitches to be of even length, and I'm definitely not there yet (not even close!), but as someone else said below, it takes a lot of practice and I'm sure it will get better in time. And, I also think that with the meandering/stippling, the various stitch lengths don't really show unless someone is really going to look at it very closely.

So, I think it is a really good technique to use also for beginners. Some say it is even easier than to stitch in the ditch, and actually, now that I've tried it, I think that may very well be true. Also, if doing it on a big quilt, it means you won't have to keep twisting and turning the whole quilt so much (which is really what I have dreaded the most when even dreaming about making a full size quilt one day...).

Anyway, good luck Suzette! I hope you're making progress!

[Oasis]

HomespunMary. . . .

Isn't Quilt University a wonderful site. I just signed up for the free class, "Borders Crossing" which is about choosing and making borders.

Just looking at the 13 galleries of quilts that students have sent in for the instructor to help them with would be worth the $$$$ for the class. I haven't even gotten to the 1st lesson and spent a lot of time getting ideas for borders. She (instructor) made masterpieces out of those quilts.

I didn't see the free motion class but will look for it and probably do that one next since you found it helpful. I also would like to take the EQ5 basic. Hands on approach is better for me.

Welcome to the forum, I guess you already have found how addictive it is. Everyone here is wonderful.

I can't believe I'm talking to someone in Sweden. I've never been past Arizona!!!!!

[HomespunMary]

Oasis, yes, it was absolutely worth the dollars to take the class!

Perhaps you don't see the machine quilting class on the web-site right now because it just finishes this week. Maybe they don't know the dates yet for the next time they'll offer it. It was really a beginners class, though, so if you've already done free motion quilting I'm not sure I'd recommend this particular class. For me, who had never seen, let alone heard of, a darning foot etc etc it was extremely helpful.

I hadn't seen the free class you're mentioning! Have to look into that! But, first I'll get back to my free motion practice piece. We're supposed to send pictures of it before the class ends...

And, yes, isn't it fun that you can talk to anyone, wherever they are, on this forum!

[Oasis]

Believe me, I'm a beginner at free motion. I'm really glad to hear it is a very basic class. We have a few professional LongArm quilters here and they have got me thinking.

Thanks.
Linda/Oasis

[HomespunMary]

Oasis (and others who may be interested), if you've never tried stippling before, here's what four weeks in the "Machine Quilting" class at QuiltUniversity will do for you...

We were given a butterfly motif, then told to improvise the rest of the practice piece by dividing it into various sections of our choice. Then practice different stitches in different areas. There were lots of good advice on how to do different types of stippling etc, what notions to use, how to move the fabric and so on... I drew a heart and then a lot of lines going out from it. Then I just played around in the different areas. This is the result, my little "quilt sandwich practice piece":











The stiches are extremely uneven in length, but I'm still really happy with the result. Not in my wildest dreams would I have thought, four weeks ago, that I could do this. I didn't even know what my darning foot was for at that time! I guess going to university really pays off! LOL! It was so much fun! I'd really recommend it to anyone who think they'll never get past the stitch in the ditch technique.

[Evie]

HomespunMary, you did an awesome job! And to think that you are a beginner! This time next year you will be entering contests! :^)

[Oasis]

Wow that is fantastic! If you can do that after just 4 weeks I am definitely going to take the class when it is offered again.

I like the whole piece but really like the little flowers and curly cues right next to them. What kind of machine do you have? Mine is a very old Kenmore (Sears) and I want a Bernina 440 so bad with the stitch regulator. Maybe if I feel I can do this after the class I will just go and get one. You only live once and all the other sayings that I have heard.

Keep showing your work, it is wonderful. Let us know what class you take next.

Linda/Oasis

[SewSew]

HomespunMary, your quilting is just beautiful. I have signed up for Quilt universitys free borders class and I will keep a look out for when they have their next machine quilting class for sure. Although I am not a beginning quilter, I am a beginning machine quilter. I have done a little bit of practicing on just meandering but I would really like to do more intricate designs.

Thanks for sharing.

Ann

[HomespunMary]

SewSew - thanks! If you've already practiced the meandering, I think the class I took would maybe be too much of a beginners class for you. It really was for those who had never dared to try one single free motion stich before. I'm sure though that they also have more advanced classes for machine quilting.

Oasis - I have a Husqvarna Viking Platinum 770, bought it new about a year and a half ago, and it doesn't have a stitch regulator. When I bought it, I had never heard of such features, so didn't realise I should maybe have at least tried a Bernina that had one. Have you ever tried one? Is anyone else using the stitch regulator? Do you like it?

Evie, thanks a lot to you too! The contest thing will however never be for me... First of all, I'll never get that good. I normally never have any time at all to sew, my job takes up most of my days. It is just now in the summer that I have some time to play with my machine. Second, should I anyhow ever get good enough to enter a contest (which will not happen in a million years!) I wouldn't find one here anyway. Don't think there are any such things in Sweden. And, really, most importantly, I think this is just something I do exclusively for the sheer enjoyment of it. I get enough of seriousness in my job, so this is just for FUN!

[Oasis]

HomespunMary. . .

I haven't had the opportunity to use a Bernina/stitch regulator but have seen them on TV. Maybe I should start a discussion on "What kind of machine do you have"? Then we can find out who has one and how they like it.

SewSew. . .have you looked at the gallery of quilt borders on Quilter University yet? I keep going back to look at them. I have a quilt I'm working on now and am going to try out a few before I decide which to use.