Tracey Posted May 31, 2009 Report Share Posted May 31, 2009 Hey, O.K., so I am trying to cover this log cabin with fancy schmancy Kimmy Brunner feathers except I can't see the freaking thread on the backtracking. I have just spent 2 hours froggin out the light corners. That's all I have done so far. Please do not tell me to use a darker thread 'cause I tried that too. Too dark. I have never done feathers on busy fabric. Nor do I think I ever will again. Boo hoo me. I was so excited and now I just want to eat cheescake. (yes, the WHOLE cheescake) Any advice form you brilliant women? I think this quilt wants to eat all my confidence and spit it out.:mad: Tracey P.S. I am usine so fine in the top and bottom. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonnie Posted May 31, 2009 Report Share Posted May 31, 2009 Well first off that is one of the hardest things for me to learn, but honestly it was my trusty magnify glass that got me over that hump, and now I can do it pretty well without it. It helped because I could see EXACTLY where the line was and it didn't matter if it was black, red, white or blue threads...to backtrack for me I needed the glass to see better. AND I to am very blind...without my glasses I can't see the end of my nose, and when its as short as mine it....that's really really blind... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mary Beth Posted May 31, 2009 Report Share Posted May 31, 2009 Tracey, It helps me, when I can't see the thread or stitching, to turn off the lights in the room and just use my light on my machine. Of course I don't know what color you are using. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest LA Posted May 31, 2009 Report Share Posted May 31, 2009 Hi Tracey, Try using a black light bulb, it will highlight and cast each color in different hues, so you can easily see where you are going and where you have been. :cool: Here's a link on black light and a picture of black light quilting from a show that APQS demo'ed~ http://science.howstuffworks.com/black-light2.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracey Posted May 31, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 31, 2009 I have a black light on my machine. I've never tried it before. I will go try that and turn off all my lights. Good heavens help me:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stagecl Posted May 31, 2009 Report Share Posted May 31, 2009 I have a magnify glass that clips to my machine handles and works great! Other than that, the black light can help as Linda stated. Great quilting Linda. Love the design in the picture:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dtreusch Posted May 31, 2009 Report Share Posted May 31, 2009 You can also try some side lighting. I have a stand up Ott light that I put at the end of the machine when I can't see my quilting. I turn off all other lights and close the blinds so that the side light creates shadows. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quilting Heidi Posted May 31, 2009 Report Share Posted May 31, 2009 Tracy I think the best piece of advice I've gotten from mrm is to not try so hard and just let the backtracking happen. I know that sounds odd doesn't it? But if you will just relax and let your movements take over you will find that you naturally backtrack. All these other hints help as well! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferret Posted May 31, 2009 Report Share Posted May 31, 2009 and, don't tell the quilt police, loosen up on the backtracking. I agree with Heidi it really does come good on it's own. The more you stress the more you miss though in my experience. So much so that when I start teaching people free motion quilting we work on very busy fabric with a matching thread. They quilt better when they can't see what they are doing! Ferret Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SandraC Posted May 31, 2009 Report Share Posted May 31, 2009 I agree with Heidi and Ferret....also, Tracey, have you tried doing the feathers w/o the stitch regulator? Scary thought, I know, but you'll get over it when you find how much it helps!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracey Posted June 1, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 1, 2009 No, no, no........Sandra I NEED my SR. LOL:P Good Heavens, the thought of sewing without that?? UH UH. No way Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mary Beth Posted June 1, 2009 Report Share Posted June 1, 2009 Tracey, I am scared to death to turn off my SR too....but during MQS Claudia was very clear to me that there are a few times when you must turn it off!! So, I'm going to try it. Not on my hump-bump feathers but other places. I will work up to my feathers. At any rate, get some closeups of feathers done this way, and see if your feathers really look "that" bad. I bet they don't. This could be another case of - we are just to close to our work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SandraC Posted June 1, 2009 Report Share Posted June 1, 2009 Haha, Tracey! You make me remember the class I took last year with Sue Patten! She was the first to suggest we go without the S/R and the whole class, including me, responded the same way you just did!!! But we did it and were ALL surprised with the results. Now, whenever I do small stippling I do it this way with way better results....and when I feel brave, I do my feathers this way...and surprise myself again with the results. Try it, you'll like it!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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