pumpkinpatchquilter Posted February 8, 2013 Report Share Posted February 8, 2013 I just finished my second customer quilt and have another to load up this evening. This one I decided to do rosettes in each block and swirls around the rosettes. I think it turned out pretty good! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witha'K'quilting Posted February 8, 2013 Report Share Posted February 8, 2013 nice roses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pumpkinpatchquilter Posted February 8, 2013 Author Report Share Posted February 8, 2013 Wow, that wasn't the kindest or most gentle delivery there, but I'd like to think your intentions were to be helpful and not unkind. I am learning to maneuver my long arm, this is my fifth quilt, and I'm pretty happy with it (hence the posting). The stitches are a little longer than I'd like - I have no stitch regulation so that makes an impact. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
delld Posted February 8, 2013 Report Share Posted February 8, 2013 PPP and the tension will get better!!! Not having the stitch regulator well up your speed a little. Great fifth quilt and I also love your roses!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witha'K'quilting Posted February 8, 2013 Report Share Posted February 8, 2013 i was not meaning to be hurtful or upsetting to you. i had forgotten that you had an unregulated machine. i figured since you were posting, you were up for any and all comments...good and bad. this is how we learn from each other. please accept my sincere apologies! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pumpkinpatchquilter Posted February 8, 2013 Author Report Share Posted February 8, 2013 I understand - and appreciate the apology! I could see your intentions weren't to be hurtful, but I will admit, being new it stung a little when I was so happy with this and the first comment was a criticism! I absolutely am open to suggestions, and am grateful for the help and advice. I am getting there and this is worlds better than my first quilt so I'm pretty thrilled with the results! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meg Posted February 9, 2013 Report Share Posted February 9, 2013 You should be thrilled cause you're doing great...keep PPP-ing and sharing your progress. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pumpkinpatchquilter Posted February 9, 2013 Author Report Share Posted February 9, 2013 Thanks guys, the encouragement means so much! I am still learning - but it is thrilling to see improvement with every quilt! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitepinesquilter Posted February 9, 2013 Report Share Posted February 9, 2013 Pumpkinpatchquilter, you are doing fantastic for a new long arm user and one doing so without stitch regulation. I struggled for months and just could not get the hang of doing exactly what you are succeeding at - it's not easy, and your dedication shows! Your quilt top is very cute, too. Good job and great progress! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liam Posted February 9, 2013 Report Share Posted February 9, 2013 Your doing Great!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K. Szymaszek Posted February 9, 2013 Report Share Posted February 9, 2013 I love the rosettes. I have to admit, I am totally intimidated to quilt without the SR. You are rocking it. K Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quilting Heidi Posted February 9, 2013 Report Share Posted February 9, 2013 You are coming along nicely. It is clear that you have good control over your machine because your stitches are consistent. I'm not sure what was said that upset you but I know Kristina well and she is a sweet heart who would never hurt anybody intentionally. Sometimes words that we read impact us differently than words that are spoken. Looks like your tension is a little on the loose side, lol mine is almost always on the tight side. It takes practice tweaking it just so. Looks like you are ready to speed up a little and then you're stitches will be able to keep up with you. I wish I could be that consistent in non-SR mode! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pumpkinpatchquilter Posted February 9, 2013 Author Report Share Posted February 9, 2013 Aww thanks guys, I'm getting there!!! When I first discovered WHAT it meant to not have stitch regulation - that the machine just GOES even if you don't move it, I think my jaw dropped and I was speechless for several minutes. LOL** I tried out a friends Gammill and was like, "what???" Before that I had been totally adamant that I needed stitch reg...but later discovered off the bat it just wouldn't be in my budget. I will get there. Hahaha - my first sewing machine was a 1970's olive green Europro, no needle down, no fancy stitches, not even the pedal had speed control. Hahaha - it was, push the foot pedal and GO at a hundred miles an hour! I free motion quilted on that thing, I did amazing things after getting the hang of it. I have faith (silly beginners faith right?) that I'll get there even without all the bells and whistles of the new machines. (But I fully intend to earn those bells and whistles when I can finally afford them!) Edited to Add: Kristina deleted her original comment, I know it's confusing for others that read through, but I'm not upset. It was direct and I think the way it was worded was a little painful to my ego, but I truly think her goal was not to be unkind but to point out my error so that I can improve upon it. Much is lost when sharing over the internet. She responded as kind and apologetic as anyone could have asked for and I'm grateful for her care to not offend anyone. Just having the decency to acknowledge that it was forward and apologize for it - she's a stand up gal and I truly have no ill feelings towards her! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sewhappy Posted February 9, 2013 Report Share Posted February 9, 2013 It takes a good person to realize what was said may have been hurtfull tho not intended to be- I am glad you got a sincere apology! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DawnCavanaugh Posted February 9, 2013 Report Share Posted February 9, 2013 Pumpkinpatch, So glad to see your second customer quilt! Those roses look like they are real! You have an excellent imagination and "eye" for design. I'm also happy to see that we quilters can support each other and know that any constructive comments are meant to help and not to hurt. We all know that no amount of emoticons or italics can express the feelings behind our words, so it's easy to misinterpret the intent of anything we type. Glad to know that you're taking any helpful hints in the true vein in which they were intended and not as meant to hurt. I don't have a stitch regulator on my machine either (it's an Ultimate I just like yours--an oldie but a goodie bought in 1994.) You've done a marvelous job of managing both the motion as well as the smoothness. Those rose petals are nice and round! You should see my first wiggly-giggly quilts! If you'd like some "technical" tips on making the Ultimate I work better for you (such as what to do to if you want a different stitch length, what setting is best to do micro work, how to manage tie-offs if the motor "over runs", etc.) just let me know and I'll share some with you. Actually using a machine in manual sewing mode is an excellent way to become skilled at freehand work much faster. You have a hugh advantage! Without a stitch regulator you are forced to concentrate on fluid motion and design formation first, without regard to length of stitch. In fact, I encourage all my students to practice new techniques without the SR on first to "train their brain" and imprint "muscle memory". For example, when doing feathers, there's a certain rhythm one must develop to make the plumes smooth and graceful. When you stitch in manual mode, you must concentrate on that aspect because the machine keeps sewing...it doesn't allow you time to stop and think. Which in this case is a GOOD thing! You want the motions to become a natural reflex, just like the guy who shoots 3-point shots in basketball. He doesn't have time to stop and think about his feet placement, his hand position, his wrist bend, etc. He has to pump and release! He's practiced it 100 times so that it is natural and intuitive, not stunted by over-thinking. When I force students in class to finally turn off the regulator and try some things without it, they are amazed at their results and find out their fear was unwarranted. You're doing wonderfully, keep posting pictures! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pumpkinpatchquilter Posted February 9, 2013 Author Report Share Posted February 9, 2013 Thank you Dawn! You are certainly an inspiration. I keep telling myself if you, and all of the kind folks on this forum who have done well with their Ultimate 1's can do it, then so can I! Everyone here has been incredibly supportive and helpful, and I'm grateful for it. While I have many quilting pals, not many of them have long arms, and not one of them has an APQS! So this is such an invaluable resource. I am finding that now that the muscles are developing in my arms that are necessary to move this machine correctly, it's much easier to make round shapes. I wish I had started working out before getting my machine though!! HA!! Lifting weights maybe would have helped!! I am really having a wonderful time. Love to be inspired by all of the amazing quilters here and what a great group of cheerleaders you all are. I tried to sew on my domestic today - it was like trying to walk after spending an hour on a lawn mower!!! HAHAHAHA I fidgeted and fumbled and kept looking for the dials on my long arm on the side of the sewing machine!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.