Quilt Qua
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Home Machine Quilting Systems
Fri 20 Nov 2009
If you are trying to research home machine quilting systems, the alternative to an expensive long arm machine that allows you to use a home sewing machine and a carriage-rail system, here are several resources to help you. This information is based on personal research, and reflects my own knowledge and opinions based on that research. I would like to add my appreciation to Laura Starr of the UFO-Orphanage for compiling much of this information. If you would like to add a comment to this page, please E-mail me. MACHINE OPTIONS: Your standard home sewing machine with drop feed ... Read More...
Adjust the Tension in Your Machine for Successful Machine Quilting
Wed 01 Oct 2008
Proper tension in your sewing machine is the one thing that can set your quilt apart - making it look like a professional did it versus an amateur did it. It's all about the tension; and you know that little dial on your machine - if the tension is not right, it's either too tight or too loose. The goal is to have your threads meet in the middle inside the batting. If your bobbin thread is showing on the top of your quilt, you need to loosen your tension which means a lower number. And if ... Read More...
Husqvarna Mega Quilter Gives Machine Quilters Many Options
Tue 30 Sep 2008
The Husqvarna Mega Quilter offers a 9x6 sewing area and 1600 stitches per minute. Many quilters enjoy piecing and finishing their quilts by hand. Some machine quilters are content with the results their regular sewing machine provides. Quilters who want speed and consistency, though, can benefit from the Husqvarna Mega Quilter. The machine promises perfect stitches on all types of fabric with features such as the automatic stitch control, thread pre-tension adjustment and adjustable presser foot pressure Stitch speed and length are adjustable. If 1600 stitches sounds too fast, you can decrease it to your liking. Stitch length can be ... Read More...
Machine Quilting Designs
Tue 30 Sep 2008
Quilting, like painting is a wonderful art. It is similar to painting in the sense that paints and brushes are replaced by threads and needles. Paper is replaced by fabrics. Quilts were traditionally made by hand, but not with the advent of sewing quilting machines, many prefer to use machines. This is because, machines make quilting work easier, faster and not to mention a lot neater. You have the option of using an ordinary sewing machine which has quilting capabilities or you can use a machine that is specifically designed for quilting. Small patches of different fabrics are used to ... Read More...
Machine Quilting: Hit the Accelerator
Mon 29 Sep 2008
Machine quilting is becoming more and more popular by the day. Long gone are the days when you would sit down with a quilting frame and manually hand sew it until you are satisfied that it is well designed and will stand the test of time. If you still do use that method then you should really try machine quilting for size. If you do not like it then it is your choice, but you owe it to yourself to try out the technology that may just save you a lot of time and make it more enjoyable as a ... Read More...
The Mythical Singer Featherweight Sewing Machine
Fri 26 Sep 2008
Quilters just love their Singer Featherweight sewing machines. Even people who don’t sew love Featherweights. There are even people who collect Featherweights. Some have as many as forty of them. As a quilter I find that sacrilegious. Featherweights need to belong to quilters so they can go to class and retreats and make beautiful quilts. I can see someone owning one or two Featherweights, but forty? Please. Let’s put those machines back into circulation so that they can be used by deserving quilters who promise to make patches, go to retreats and classes, and pursue other quilterly pursuits such as ... Read More...
Tips for Machine Quilting from an Expert
Mon 22 Sep 2008
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 ... Read More...
Choose the Right Sewing Machine for Machine Quilting
Mon 22 Sep 2008
Penny: Are some machines better than others for machine quilting? Do you have an opinion about what makes the difference? Which ones might have a larger opening so you can stuff the quilt through? Monika: I do machine quilting—the most popular machine I sell for that is the Janome 6600 because it has the largest open-arm space so it allows you to get a lot of your larger quilts in there. So you have to decide if you’re looking for a machine just for quilting, if you want a variety of stitches- do you want, for instance, ... Read More...
Buying a Sewing Machine
Mon 22 Sep 2008
With the variety of sewing machines available, making a decision of which sewing machine to purchase is much more complex than it was way back when….. Today’s quilters are presented with some interesting and fun options that can make their quilting more interesting and relaxing. Many of the more popular brands, including Singer, Simplicity, Janome, Brother, White and Necci sewing machines feature an LCD display, dial-a-stitch selector, automatic needle threader, convertible free arm, extension table, electronic speed control, drop in bobbin, and computerized stitch selection, to name just a few. These machines sew not only straight stitches, but zig zag, ... Read More...
A Great Sewing Machine or a Mediocre Sewing Machine - Can You Tell the Difference?
Mon 22 Sep 2008
Q: What’s the difference between a great machine and a mediocre machine? A: In a lot of cases, number one it will be the brand. Number two it will be the number of stitches and functions, the reliability of the machine, how well it will handle your different types of fabrics and the techniques that you can do on it. Q: Are there any machines now that still have all metal parts? A: Every machine will still have metal parts, it’s the type of quality that the metal is. In the industry there is a type of metal we call ... Read More...
Quilting Machine -- Easy And Profitable
Sat 06 Sep 2008
Quilting machines allow you to not only create quilts faster but, you can even make a profitable business out of selling them. People will pay high prices for handmade quilts. People are attracted to quilts by the variety of designs and the many different colors. With a quilting machine you can make a quilt twice as fast as with more traditional means. The easiest way to make more money selling quilts is to make more quilts, and that's where the machine helps you. You cannot run an efficient quilting business without the productivity enhancement of a quilting machine. You can ... Read More...
Why You Should Consider Buying a Quilting Machine
Sat 06 Sep 2008
Quilting was a painstaking process where one had to work laboriously for endless days to create one quilt. Now due to time constraints, more and more quilters are turning to the use of technology to ease their task. The quilting machines are a great boon for it saves a lot of time. You cannot deny that handmade quilts are unique but the new age quilting machines can also produce some excellent results. Quilting Machines are Time Savers With limited time in hand most of the traditional quilters are seeking the help of quilting machines to produce more numbers and also ... Read More...