Sunday, August 7, 2011

FREE MOTION QUILTING AT (MY) BEST AND AT (MY) WORST!!

Yesterday I had the best time quiling these quilts... all that is left is the binding....and yep, could have done them last night but decided to take a break and sit a spell.

So I decided to do loops and hearts....

....what fun....my Horizon was just singing away. I finally figured out that the needles I purchased in Amerika Samoa are really no good, especially for machine quilting. I had taken my machine back to the shop at one point and they said, that my needle was no good. I thought, how could that be, I just changed it.


Well....Friday while trying to quilt the Beehive quilt, the thread was giving me fits, breaking and skipping stitches. I changed the needle, the thread, cleaned my machine....and still nothing. Saturday rolls around and I am determined...so I get my manual out...says change the needle....I already did but will do so again. This time I am using the needles I brought here in the US


BINGO

....problem solved. So....I am throwing out all my needles from Amerika Samoa.....

Loops and hearts again...




I decided that if I can show you what I consider my best work, that I can show you a blooper too....do you notice it? There are two segments....the blooper is in the bottom half..... No, I didn't take it out...but I did notice that when I over think what I am doing....that I would not do that great of a job.



So my advice....just relax and have a good time.





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30 comments:

  1. Needled MomAugust 7, 2011 at 5:02 PM

    Who knew? I have always heard that one should change the needle first and go from there, but who would have thought the needle itself would be the problem?

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  2. Bridget BAugust 7, 2011 at 5:16 PM

    Very nice- like the hearts and loops. I usually got too fast.

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  3. Wacky WomanAugust 7, 2011 at 5:27 PM

    Design opportunities, all design opportunities. I just see a different design there. The right needle is so important Barb.

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  4. TerryAugust 7, 2011 at 5:30 PM

    The only free motion quilting I've done was on my Gardener's Journal quilt, and it has lots of mistakes on it. But I love it anyway! :0)

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  5. JocelynAugust 7, 2011 at 5:36 PM

    Great quilting Barb. And we all have bloopers :-)

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  6. FionaAugust 7, 2011 at 5:41 PM

    Lovely Barb.... such a happy place doing FMQ...
    Hugz

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  7. Flo @ Butterfly QuiltingAugust 7, 2011 at 5:56 PM

    your FMQ looks great! I have had issues with mine lately too...it is so frustrating when that happens. Glad you found a "fix" for your problems

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  8. JoannaAugust 7, 2011 at 6:03 PM

    Looks good to me. FMQ is not easy, but yours looks even, including the blooper.

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  9. RhondaAugust 7, 2011 at 6:35 PM

    I think you are doing a great job of quilting.

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  10. West Michigan QuilterAugust 7, 2011 at 6:41 PM

    I love your loops and hearts! I'll have to give those a try. I'm still a little afraid of FMQ. You did a great job!

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  11. sandraAugust 7, 2011 at 7:00 PM

    I think you are doing a wonderful job with the machine quilting, we all make bloopers but no one is perfect and you are the only one who knows where it is. I have really been struggling with machine quilting i just can't get it even (the stitches). Well you just have to keep trying. Blessings Sandra

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  12. onlymehereAugust 7, 2011 at 7:46 PM

    It looks great to me! Amazing that a little needle can make such a difference but I know from experience that it can, especially with hand-stitching. Hope you're having a great day today!

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  13. Quilter KathyAugust 7, 2011 at 7:56 PM

    I agree with your advice 100%!

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  14. Robin (RsIslandCrafts)August 7, 2011 at 8:01 PM

    I'm glad you figured out the problem. I love to free motion quilt. I like to randomly put designs or words in while I am quilting. This is actually the relaxing part for me.

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  15. JustCindyAugust 7, 2011 at 8:26 PM

    Love the loops and hearts.

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  16. Hands Sew FullAugust 7, 2011 at 8:39 PM

    Thank you, I will put that tidbit of information into my pocket for next time my machine acts up! I am learning free motion quilting and am just winging it so far! I just swirl around until it looks quilted to me then move on! I like the loops and hearts theme though, maybe I'll have to give that a go. (Right after I change my needle! It has been a long time!)

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  17. Jean(ie)August 7, 2011 at 8:39 PM

    I'm so glad you're having fun with your machine. I'll be putting mine through it's paces this coming week. Wishing u were with us.

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  18. hettyAugust 7, 2011 at 10:14 PM

    I like your advice - just relax and have a good time - and change your needle. I love the loops and hearts. Will try that when I get my machine back from the shop.

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  19. LindaAugust 7, 2011 at 10:34 PM

    I'm glad you figured out your problem. I hate it when it doesn't go like I want it to...Your quilting is great, bloopers and all. We are our own worst critic. If you don't point it out, no one will know.

    I like your loops and heart, I'm going to steal that one and use it on a baby quilt I have going for community service. Thanks for showing this.

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  20. QuiltNut CreationsAugust 7, 2011 at 11:05 PM

    It looks great Barb, even with the opps!

    You have been super busy lately; good for you!

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  21. QuiltSueAugust 8, 2011 at 2:54 AM

    Your quilting is wonderful. I had to look really hard for your whoopsie and I don't blame you at all for leaving it in.

    As for the needles, I'm glad you found out what was causing the problems. I have heard that you can get bad needles, and that's usually what I try first, but I never would have thought that you might have a packet where they were all bad.

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  22. KristaAugust 8, 2011 at 3:49 AM

    Nice Loops and hearts. I'll have to remember the needle change.

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  23. CrispyAugust 8, 2011 at 6:58 AM

    Amazing that where you bought the needles made such a differance. Great swirls and hearts :o)

    Crispy

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  24. Gene BlackAugust 8, 2011 at 7:09 AM

    The needle change is usually where I start (unless I KNOW that I haven't cleaned the machine in a while. )

    I don't really see the blooper. So don't worry about it.

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  25. BetsyAugust 8, 2011 at 7:28 AM

    Beautiful Barb.

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  26. AnonymousAugust 8, 2011 at 8:33 AM

    Practice makes perfect. Oh yes....the culprit is usually the needle if not...threading of the machine. Sometimes the thread will slip or miss a step in threading.

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  27. Stray Stitches (Linda G)August 8, 2011 at 9:22 AM

    Your quilting is wonderful. And I bet you are the only one that will ever notice that blooper - well, except for all of us now in blogland since you pointed it out to us. But really, I really like your quilting design and I think you did a beautiful job.

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  28. Mary L.August 8, 2011 at 10:48 AM

    I read somewhere that on average 1 in 4 needles is bad in the package. I use top stitch needles for everything now and that makes a difference too. Also always loosen your top tension for free motion. Your loops and hearts look great.

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  29. andsewonAugust 9, 2011 at 7:58 AM

    Yes needles in a new package can be bad! Hate it as they are not cheap anymore!Love the quilting!!

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  30. Joanne LendaroAugust 9, 2011 at 8:19 AM

    It's the love that goes into a quilt, not the perfection....it does get easier the more you practice.

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