Cost of LA quilting

[meliswan]

Please tell me more..... I have a machine that is the same size.
How do you work that much fabric through?

Sonic, I'm sorry for the late answer I didn't see the question until this morning.

I spray baste my quilts. I have tried pinning, but no matter how many pins I use I always got ripples. I lay my quilt out and fold/roll one side to the middle. I usually set up the ironing board next to my table to help hold up the bulk of quilt. Then start feeding it through machine. Sometimes I put the roll over my shoulder to get it out of the way while feeding it in the machine. When one line is finished you just unroll a little and start the next line. The very middle is the hardest. After a several lines I usually have to lay the quilt out and refold/roll. I also use a walking foot. This is how I have always done it and it works really good for me. I hope it helps you. It can be done, just takes a little time and patience. Good luck!

[noctame]

I think part of the reason I like the more advanced blocks is because once I've completed the - I don't necessarily NEED to FMQ in order to enhance anything. The three projects I've completed? 2 of 3 of them were stitch in the ditch because of the size, and the lack of need i recognized to add any more busy-ness to the completed project.

However, when I complete my mother's double I am considering doing a bit of detail work in the border - but not the body of the quilt. Storm at Seas are complex enough and I'll be happy to be at the end of the project by that point. Lol. I'm only 3 weeks and I'm squaring off the first 8% of the body now.

This project will keep me from buying more fabric (I'm already around the 200 mark) because I know its going to take considerable time to complete. An disclipine. and sanity.....which may dwindle.

But if your feeling you need to take a break from the craft - you should take a break! Do something creative that wont stress you out. The hobby is supposed to 'net' you a positive takeaway. That is presumably why its a hobby/obsession!

[Fl girl]

My strategy is to make one fantastic quilt a year. I usually choose a challenging pattern and hand quilt it. From the left overs and scraps I make gifts. Staying with a color family is also helpful. For about 10 years I was into pastels so leftovers were used in the next quilt. Now I mostly quilt with dark green, dark red, golds, brown and cream. Also if I stay in the same colors I can catch sales and I know I will use the fabric. It is hard to resist the temptation to buy the newest fabric lines.
I also like to think my quilts are a lot more valuable than the fabric I invested.

[Fl girl]

Great tips!

[otisquilts]

I have seen many attractive quilts that were just straight -lined quilted - just plain old straight lines and I think it looked great. Also, a meandered quilt looks good too. To me, the texture of a quilted quilt is what makes it special. I admit its not easy to quilt on a sewing machine but it can be done with time and patience.

[Marcine]

[QUOTE=Kajenkids;600776]One of our local shops has a class you take on their LA. After the class, you can rent it for $25/hour and do your own LA quilting. It's computerized and everything. I figure that's worth the class fee!

How many hours to do a quilt, though? 4 or 5 hours?
Marcine

[Deegles]

Awwwww....don't let the price get you down. Send it to MS*Q and save some money. For that matter you might be able to search for cheaper quilting services through craigslist in your area or in any area and send it to them. Have you thought of searching craigslist in your area for quilting machines? I will agree that free motion quilting is hard especially if you don't have the right set up. Keep practicing, practice makes perfect!