How do you balance Piecing and Quilting?

[happymrs]

I seem to be collecting tops too, lol, need to just work on quilting some & finishing them! This next year I have told myself, finish at least one quilt a month, even if it's one of these tops, so am hoping that will help. Once I actually sit down to machine quilt one, I find I really enjoy it, so don't know why I get so into just piecing tops, lol. I also have a small, crowded, 3rd bedroom, so that may have alot to do with it too. But in reality, lol, I have no excuses, just me, & I just need to do it, & then have more finishes to enjoy & show off!

Nancy...

[busylady]

I had to set down some rules to my quilting. I saw the piecing was going to overtake my quilting. I have a large hand quilting frame and try to keep a quilt in it at all times. Then any time I have a moment I try to spend it in hand quilting. The next rule is that I restricted my days for piecing per week. At first it was Saturday and Sunday only now I am so far behind that I can only piece a quilt on Sundays. There is an exception (thank goodness for exceptions) if the quilt is small enough like a wall hanging, doll quilts, baby quilt, or lap quilt,I can piece and quilt on my regular sewing machine. Right now I am 4 quilt tops behind for the hand quilting process. Does this always work? Heck no! But at least I have the rules. LOL

[knitnoid]

My tops are supposed to be quilted?

I've got 31 tops - in various sizes which need to be quilted - not including the 4 I've started working on in sections. One of the tops was a group project and we are sending it out to be quilted. A girlfriend bought a Tin Lizzie a few months ago, so I'm hoping to get to use it to work on some of the tops.

After looking at the stack of quilts I would like to finish by the end of the year, I'll put my piecing on hold once I get the borders on my stack and whack. The only reason I'll do that is because it was one of my challenge quilts to get to the top stage by the end of the year. Other than that, I can't think of anything which HAS to be pieced before the end of the year. It's not like it will get quilted by then.

I've got to straighten up the sewing room and then I'll put the walking foot back on the machine and start quilting. My nephew really would like his graduation quilt, and my boss does need her baby quilt. Ideally, it would be nice to finish at least 1 of the other 4 challenge quilts I listed at the beginning of the year. Hum...can I get 3 quilts quilted on my sewing machine by Dec 23rd? Stay tuned.

[Quilter7]

BusyLady - I like your rules! Do you machine quilt any of your tops? I realized I simply could not keep up if I hand quilted every top, but some tops simply must be hand quilted.


Knitnoid - You are too funny! 31 quilt tops! I am glad to hear you got a Tin Lizzie. Please do post progress! I bet you have some beautiful quilts to show us.

I really like all of your ideas and I think the one thing that keeps running through these postings is that you must discipline yourself to limit piecing and finish quilts. It may be that you complete each project, others chose to finish piecing a few then quilt or just quilt so many days a week. This discussion has really helped me. Thanks to everyone!

Knitnoid you made me feel prety good I think I only have 5 or 6 tops that havent been quilted. LOL

[CaroleJ]

I like making "congratulations" or "thank you" quilts. So generally, if it's a quilt for an event, I try to get it done fairly promptly...like before the baby goes off to kindergarten--!

I love to piece tops...the layering and basting is the YUCK part...I am liking MQing more and more, especially because I can FINISH quilts that way, and FINISHING is the best part of all!

I try to only have 1-3 BIG unfinished projects going at once. Smaller pieces don't really count; they are just "quickies" to satisfy me in between slogging away on the big beasts. You know, the ones that feel like you are making a ball gown with yards and yards and YARDS of fabric?!

Sort of itching to get to the "thank you" quilt for our neighbor to be started w/ layering and MQing, but I am almost sure I don't have enough batting...and even if I do, I will be down to scraps if I don't go get more. I am going to MQ it myself, with my trusty Singer 401, Flossie, and her walking foot. Can't decide if I should use the "green to tan" variegated thread, or the one labeled "sticks and stones"...and I can't wait to use Michelle's layering method with the toothpicks!

[quilterbee]

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[sewcarolyn]

great question...I love to piece the quilts but am a chicken to try to machine quilt on my little machine. I have spent so much time on the piecing that I don't want to mess it up. So I send them out $$$or tie them. I only have 3 tops not quilted because my H takes them to the quilter who works at his school. I had 2 done and ready to give to her and she returned them in 5 days...all 3...then my other LA takes about 3 months I do want to bite the bullet and learn to machine quilt I know I would love it because you can be so creative...and that is my favorite part of quilting.

[Tulpje]

*Smile*

I am getting the feeling that I am the MOST UN-organised of ALL.

I have several quilt tops quilted. I quilt either on my Baby EL OR my Pinnie frame with a Juki mounted on (until I can afford to buy the Jewel)

Most of MY time is spend on fabric/color selection and actually STARTING to cut.

I guess I am a 'hopper'. I hop from one room (messing up with as MANY of my quilting fabric/tools/machine/notions) to another. I have 2 rooms, one hall cabinet and 1/2 of the down stairs to choose from with Quilt related items, machine, notions, rulers, table.....etc

Once I start in one location, and start the actual cutting phase, only *I* will be the one that knows what is where.

LOL, at camp I think I used a place where easily 4 people would normally sit/cut/sew/quilt. It just HAS to look like a giant explotion went off. Ask GmaAnn and SFQuilter.

There are nights I just do NOT want to go to sleep and take my meds, bc I am working on a 'dead'-line. Once in a rare while I Love those ALL nighters.

Actually I do ALL my quilting and piecing basicly the way I type my posts/replies. Un-organized and UN-coordinated.

Main thing now is that I feel comfortable NOT to be as good as EL, or my forum family members, and feel good enough about what *I* perceive as a nice looking quilt. Nice enough to give as a gift, or hang on my walls.

I *KNOW* they're not, because I just *suck* at doing the binding or ANYthing that needs to be done by hand. But EL just makes us feel more at ease about how and what we make. She has so many stories behind all of her quilt books....

See......there I go again......blah...blah...blah...non-stop.

*T*

[busylady]

Quilter 7,
If the quilt is a wall hanging, baby quilt, doll quilt or a lap quilt I use my sewing machine to quilt. Anything bigger I quilt by hand on a large quilting frame. I just like the bulkiness of quilting anything larger on my small sewing machine.
It takes a while to do the hand quilting by it is affordable when I do it myself. And it sure give you satisfaction when you get the project done.

[ilovetosew]

I LOVE quilting on my long arm! It is so gratifying to be able to finish everything for myself and others, and I love the creativeness of the designs I can do with ease on the big quilts. I also have quilts that I hand quilt so I have something to work on in front of the TV. Still time to get lots done before Christmas! Janie