Quilt in a Day Forums

do you use your sewing machine to machine quilt...what kind of machine is it...do you use a walking foot...darning foot...drop the feed dogs???...special gloves...hoops or any other tools???...what kind of thread???...are you happy with the results???...

I have a Janome 6500 that I use with a walking foot. Never had a class on how to do it so I mainly do stitch-in-the-ditch or sew around a shape. Not really happy with the results, the machine could probable do much more than I know how to do with it, but until I win the lottery, it is enough to secure my quilts together, and what really draws me to a quilt is the top/piecing anyway; the quilting is a distant second.

I Have a Janome 6500 as well. I have used the walking foot a lot, but usually add some free motion quilting with the darning foot and feed dogs down. I always practice the free motion on a scrap first. It takes a lot of practice. I can basically just do loops or stipples.

I use my sewing machine to machine quilt. I have a Bernina virtuosa 155. It is not one of the fancy ones, but it does a great job for me. It runs so smoothly. I do not have to drop my feed dogs. I feel like I can control my fabric better with them up. I do use a darning foot. We (the sewing gang) have made charity quilts, and I have found that it is a great way to practice your machine quilting. It does take a lot of practice. I basically do meandoring stitches. But I have tried to do a little more in the borders. Things like swirls, and lightening bolts. I have also used gardening gloves for a couple of years. I buy them at Walmart. I have tried the sticky stuff on my fingers, but I don't feel like they give me enough grip. And I really LOVE the tread from Connecting Threads for machine quilting. I have tried a lot of different ones (including the expensive brands), but theirs works best for me. One hint that has helped a lot too is to make sure that you are sitting higher over your machine. I used to sew on my dining room table and my back and arms would ache after a while. I got a sewing table with the machine set down into it. I set my chair up as high as it will go, and it has helped a lot. I don't tire as much and I can see it better too. Good lighting is important too.

Well that's my 2 1/2 cents worth

i quilt two ways either 1 on my long arm or
2 on my janome quilters compainion then i use a darning foot, leave the feed dogs up and do freemotion

I have the Brother 1500ps that is for machine quilting. It stitches like a dream.

I have a Kenmore that sews like a dream. I use a walking foot or to do straight line quilting. I use a darning for fancy quilting, but I don't do very much.

Loretta

The little gardening gloves with the dots on the palms work just fine for me. I like to use the walking foot; and it is worth the money to get the open toe one. You can see alot more when using it; which gives you better control in the ditch.

I have a Bernina 165 and it's a little work horse. I use the walking foot for in the ditch or not to curvey patterns. I'm just learning free motion with the darning foot. I also use garden gloves and the Connecting Threads thread. Good luck, have fun.

i use my Janome Memorycraft 3000 and I love it. I use an open toed
even food foot which I recently purchased. You can see where you are going so much better.