It's a quilt that you love and want to finish it but when it gets to a certain point it's just stuck and try as you might things just don't seem to be going right.
This is where I am with my Milky Way Medallion quilt that I pattern tested last year. I love this quilt and all the colors and fabrics that I used. It was a growing experience for me to put something like this together. Last year, I got the top completed and I even got the thing basted
I have had a busy couple of weeks and my first night I had to sew in about a week turned more into a marathon of seam ripping and fighting the quilt than anything that resembled relaxing quilting. This was the 2nd attempt -- the first was far worse.
I don't want to end up hating this quilt so, now I am at a dilemma with this quilt --- should I send it to another quilter and have it quilted for me?
I know people send quilts out all the time but, I've never had another person quilt anything for me before. I don't really know what to expect from the process. She is a big girl at over 80 inches square but not the largest quilt that I've quilted myself -- so then cost might be a factor (again the unknown) but it could be worth the piece of mind. I do know some very awesome ladies that I would more than trust to do it -- either on a long arm or at a sit down like a tiara. Any feedback or thoughts are appreciated, I have a few options -- sit on the project until we can be friends again, learn to long arm and work my way up to quilting it myself, send it to another quilter or purge on with it until things work out and make good friends with the seam ripper if they don't.
Thanks Everyone.
Looks like you are really 'dragging' this thru the machine. SOmetimes the mix of heavy seaming on the front and the mix of different fabrics with a pieced back cause this. If it is a simple open meander you are going for - I think for peace of mind would be to have it longarmed - not sure what the pricing is in your area (you can get quotes), but to me it would be worth it. I now quilt most of mine, but when I run into a 'head clunker' I find it easier on myself to send it out.
ReplyDeleteI have had a few quilts that have had this issue too, and I know the frustration that can happen (my first medallion quilt had the same problems). To me this looks like your thread tension is too loose - maybe try tightening it - sometimes I have to tighten mine a ton until it works correctly. It depends on the thread. I made a practice sandwich and changed my thread tension until it was finally working correctly and was able to finish the quilt.
ReplyDeleteAre you using a thread you don't normally use?
I've also found that no matter what I do with the tension, certain bobbins are bee-yatches. Like their tension wasn't right when they were wound. I feel ya, girl.
ReplyDeleteIts a beautiful quilt! If its for you I would get it custom quilted. Gina or Laura. If its one you are going to sell a pantograph.
ReplyDeleteIt really is a pretty quilt and I'm so sorry that you are struggling with the quilting. It just might be worth the peace of mind to hand it over to a longarmer so that you will love it again. Best of luck with whatever you decide.
ReplyDeleteLove your medallion quilt - your color palette is gorgeous. It's large size would encourage me to send it out to a long-armer if it were mine.
ReplyDeleteThis quilt is so pretty that it's a shame it's giving you such a problem. If it were me, I would send it out and have someone else quilt it. That way you can just enjoy it when it returns, without all the bad "energy" from all the quilting troubles. Sometimes the quilts are like children--they behave for others but not for their parents!
ReplyDeleteIf I put an uncooperative quilting project to the side for a few weeks and work on some other rewarding projects -- I'm always drawn to making bags -- I can often return to quilting with fresh eyes and renewed energy. Good luck!
ReplyDelete