Can't Machine Quilt...Why Does Machine Skip?

[OHhappychicks]

So, how did your project turn out?

It turned out great! If you want to check them out, it is on the Christmas in October block swap. All but 2 of the mug rugs have made it to their destinations. They turned out so awesome! Just love seeing all of the different styles. The one with the quails on them is the one I made. The one with the hearts is the one I received.

 

[speckledhen]

It turned out great! If you want to check them out, it is on the Christmas in October block swap. All but 2 of the mug rugs have made it to their destinations. They turned out so awesome! Just love seeing all of the different styles. The one with the quails on them is the one I made. The one with the hearts is the one I received.

You appliqued! I can't do it. I have no idea how to do it by machine and hate doing it by hand but I love the quail!

 

[OHhappychicks]

Thank you! Actually I find it very easy to applique. Easier than most techniques. just cut out shape and position it, set zigzag stitch to size and width and go around shape. I'm getting better at it. I started out not being a fan, but the more I practice the better I get. I like it because I think it adds deminsion to a project. I designed the mug rug in quails because my recipients user name is quailtrail! I also designed the mug. That was fun too!

 

[speckledhen]

We come from two sides of the same coin, you with machine work, me with hand work. I don't like to turn under edges to applique by hand, never can shape things properly but I have done it on sweatshirts I used to make like these featuring a quilt block:











And I did this ugly little wallhanging using applique and folded flowers.

 

[OHhappychicks]

Those look very nice! Oh, I don't like to turn under either. I use a close zigzag stitch and don't turn under. I've tried that and find it very tedious! I don't like hand work. Well, let me rephrase, I love the look, I just don't have patience enough for it. I wish I did. I like to embroider, and if it is a small project, I would do it. I haven't done it in years though. I tried to hand quilt around the quails, but it looked really bad and didn't have patience enough to try harder!

 

[speckledhen]

Those look very nice! Oh, I don't like to turn under either. I use a close zigzag stitch and don't turn under. I've tried that and find it very tedious! I don't like hand work. Well, let me rephrase, I love the look, I just don't have patience enough for it. I wish I did. I like to embroider, and if it is a small project, I would do it. I haven't done it in years though. I tried to hand quilt around the quails, but it looked really bad and didn't have patience enough to try harder!

Hand quilting takes years to perfect. I'll probably take years to learn really good free motion quilting, too.

My first hand quilted piece was not very impressive but now, I can stitch on par with the Amish quilters. I'll show you 30 years ago vs today:
(photographed 2012, quilted in the mid-80's, hand pieced & hand quilted)

and the quality of stitches now:

 

[OHhappychicks]

OH Wow! Your stitches are so perfect! My DMIL who passed away almost 2 years ago at the age of 97, quilted like that. She hand pieced and quilted every quilt she ever made. I will never be able to quilt like that! It gets on my nerves!

I'm to much of a perfectionist and I hate to take stitches out. She worked with me, and if they weren't just so, she would make me take them out!!

I tried though!

 

[speckledhen]

OH Wow! Your stitches are so perfect! My DMIL who passed away almost 2 years ago at the age of 97, quilted like that. She hand pieced and quilted every quilt she ever made. I will never be able to quilt like that! It gets on my nerves!

I'm to much of a perfectionist and I hate to take stitches out. She worked with me, and if they weren't just so, she would make me take them out!!

I tried though!

HA, me, too! I call myself a "recovering perfectionist" but I also hate "un-sewing". Hand quilting is not for everyone. It truly is a dying art.

 

[OHhappychicks]

HA, me, too! I call myself a "recovering perfectionist" but I also hate "un-sewing". Hand quilting is not for everyone. It truly is a dying art.

I agree about a dying art. My oldest daughter hand quilts some. She is pretty good.

 

[speckledhen]

Lookie, lookie. Would y'all take a chance on this one? http://www.ebay.com/itm/Brother-PQ1..._DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3aad0cabb8#viTabs_0