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Tips for Machine Quilting from Expert Quilter, Ricky Tims
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Last year, Ricky Tims was a guest for our Eavesdrop on a Telephone Conversation.
Ricky specializes in art quilts, and his work is fascinating and fun to make.
Because he does everything on the machine, he had some great tips for machine quilting. Here are just a few:
Preparing Your Machine
Lower your feed dogs, even if your machine allows you to machine quilt with the feed dogs raised. You will have more control of your quilting with them lowered.
Needle for Machine Quilting
Choose either a maching quilting needle or an embroidery needle. The best choice is the smallest size possible that will not cause the thread to shred and break. If you have problems, increase the size of your needle.
Tension
Practice on a quilt sandwich and adjust the tension on your machine, if that is necessary. Do this before you start on your quilt!
Presser Foot
Ricky likes a closed-toe, circular darning foot for free motion quilting, because it is small and allows him to see detailed work. A quilting foot is usually slightly larger and has a bowl-shaped bottom that allows it to glide easily over thick seams. A quilting foot is also less likely to get caught on an applique design. You can switch from one to the other to determine which is best for a particular area on a quilt.
A Magnifier
Bernina has a magnifier attachment that allows a machine quilter to do detailed and intricate work. If you have one, try it - you will probably find that you like it!
Quilting
Take a deep breath and remember the area you are working in is only the size of a potholder. Your hands will frame an area that small, and you should be focused only on that area. The remainder of the quilt is not involved in the current process.
Not to over-simplify the process, but by mentally making it simple, you will have more confidence, which will put you ahead of the game.
Quilting Density
Quilters ask Ricky whether to quilt from the inside out, or the outside in. His answer - neither! He quilts all motifs first - such as feathers, outline quilting around applique and stitching in the ditch. After those are completed, progress with stippling or other filler- remembering to keep the same density over the entire quilt.
Starting and Stopping
When you start, bring the bobbin thread up to the front. Hold both the top and bobbin threads and take several small security stitches. Don't scribble or backstitch. After you have begun moving forward on your quilting, snip the tails of the threads and continue.
Positioning the Quilt
Ricky just pushes the quilt into the machine where he wants to quilt. It will generally "accordian" itself as you push it next to the body of the sewing machine.
Learn more about the Eavesdrop on a Telephone Conversation with Ricky Tims.
Happy Quilting!
Penny Halgren
This article courtesy of http://www.How-to-Quilt.com.
You may freely reprint this article on your website or in your newsletter provided this courtesy notice and the author name and URL remain intact.
©2009, Penny Halgren
