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I tried to stipple a medium size blanket. I just couldn't get the quilt to glide over the machine bed, so the stitches were all different sizes. I know part of that is me learning but it seems the quilt was "stuck to the machine".
Is there something to make the fabric move easily?
REPLY:
There are several things that you can do to make moving the quilt sandwich easier. Some are low tech, requiring hand lotion or soap and water...others involve the purchase of special quilting tools.
Lighten Up
...the pressure of your hands that is. Sometimes when we first start quilting, we press down very hard on the quilt sandwich as we are trying to quilt. Get up on the tips of your fingers. This creates less friction than having the whole palm of your hands down.
When you are moving the quilt under the sewing machine needle, remember that the only part of the quilt that should be moving is the part between your hands. You are not moving the whole weight of the quilt as you stitch. The rest of your quilt should be supported and contained so that it doesn't suddenly move (i.e. fall off the table) and pull unexpectedly as you are quilting.
Wash the Bed of Your Sewing Machine
Dampen a cloth with warm, soapy water and wipe down the bed of your sewing machine. Sometimes we accumulate dirt and residues that make the bed "sticky".
Polish
There is a product called "Quilt Glide", a silicon based spray, that can be applied to your machine bed. Follow the instructions. Some have recommended car wax to make it more slippery.
This is a Teflon sheet that adheres to your sewing machine bed (just like a vinyl cling for the window). The Teflon makes the area more "slide able".
It can be cut with scissors to fit your machine. The Teflon reduces friction.
Expect to pay about $30 retail.
The Quilt Halo
The Quilt Halo is weighted red and slightly tacky, PVC-coated metal ring. It sits on top of your quilt sandwich. You move the quilt with the ring. Expect to pay about $25 retail. For more information, go to Quilting Tools - Quilt Halo.
Machingers Quilting Gloves These gloves have a coating on their finger tips that help them grip the quilt. They are light weight, breath and are a great improvement on previous versions of quilting gloves. Expect to pay about $8.00 retail.
Try these suggestions. One of them should work for you! Machine quilting is so much fun to do! Getting over these initial hurdles is well worth the effort. Do let us know which of these suggestions works for you!
Tools to Improve Freemotion Quilting by: egyptquilts
I tried a spring needle this week. I loved it!
I had bought it some time back and never tried it. I would advise wearing Machingers gloves or using a hoop.
You have to be careful and go slow to moderate. Work on control. The hoop and me had a challenge, it won, I broke the needle and they are pricey. About $5 each. But I did order more, as I like the quality and improvement of my work.
I also like to use plastic finger tips you buy from the office supply to sort piles of paper. They improve your grip. I also found out that if you use a quilting table you will have great success. I purchased a cheap one and that I could drop the machine down in. I think its much better.
There is no drag on the needle from weight of quilt.