Marcia

Great advice from all these ladies. They know their stuff!!

I just wanted to say that I think your quilt is very beautiful and I cannot wait to see it when you have it all quilted (I know you can do it!!)

Zoo

Ok Ladies, I'm going in!
Thanks for all the input, answeres and support, it's realy appreciated.
I'll post an update, or rant by the end of this weekend.
Zoo

MaxineB

I did a king size quilt on my Bernina 830. I rolled - very tightly - both ends toward the middle. I pinned the rolls with diaper pins to keep them tight. It fit through the machine throat just fine. I unrolled & repinned as I moved along. I also threw the bulk over my shoulder as the quilt moved toward me. It wasn't as easy as a lap quilt, but it worked just fine.

k_jupiter

A couple more hints to help (help?) you along...

I built a 4x4 quilt sewing table out of 3/4 inch Birch plywood. In one corner (to the left as you look at the front of the table) I cut a square hole to place the sewing machine in. I hung a panel of plywood below with carriage bolts and nuts with washers to support the bottom of the machine. As such, the sewing machine plate sits flat with the top of the table. The table sits a bit high (I am 6'1" tall) but works out nicely for me.

I then took black plastic garbage bags and taped them with duct tape to the table top. The fabric now slides nicely across the table top. You'll see how important this is. Wax the top of the sewing machine also.

I then put my ironing board behind my shoulder lengthwise a couple of inches above my shoulder height. This helps control the roll of fabric as you feed it through the machine.

If all your lines are pretty much straight, use a walking foot. You will see how you can control any amount of tendency for the fabric to scrunch up and overlap where you cross other diagonal or intersecting lines.

I hope some of these ideas help you.

tim in san jose

Sallyjane

"Also the first pic is a close up of the center pannel, I can't decide how to quilt any of the 3. The little bubble looking things on the pannels are actually flowers, so I was thinking I could do little french knots in the middle of them? Or I could do a stipple design around the cranes and trees on the background? Or both?"

If I put french knots on a quilt, I can just picture the grandkids picking at them. I think a stipple design around the trees and flowers would be the best way to go.

MaxineB

Maybe stitch in the ditch around the squares of bamboo-on the inside & outside. Frenck Knots would give it texture. After that stop & look at it again & see what it needs next,