Friday, June 14, 2013

Free Motion Update - June 14, 2013

I've been practicing free motion quilting this week. I also have changed the gadgets I use to free motion. I've used gloves and I tried out pieces of shelf lining. I hated the gloves although they did work, because my hands felt weird in them and I was constantly taking them off and putting them back on again. The shelf lining system worked pretty well. One advantage was that my hands weren't all that close to the needle. I freak out every time Leah Day stitches close to her hands in her videos. I've stitched through a finger, and have no desire to do that again.

But I saw Sharon Schamber using something called a halo on her video classes at The Quilt Show, and I decided I wanted to try it out too. Years ago I had bought something like it, but not as good a product, so I found it in the drawer it had been sitting in for about 15 years, unopened, and I tried it out. Not too bad, but it was obvious to me that the halo would be better because it was a circle and sat closer to the fabric.

I went to Amazon and I ordered it. It arrived about a week ago. I liked it. A lot. My hands are well away from the needle, but the halo makes the fabric sandwich stay together and stay flat.



Sharon uses a Supreme Slider and so does Leah Day. I decided I wanted to try that as well. It is very expensive, and I knew I needed to buy the larger size because I have an oversized slide in table. I bit the bullet and decided to do that too. It arrived yesterday.

The UPS guy scared the morning dove off her nest, but he did ring the bell this time, so I was able to get the box from the front porch while she was gone. She got back before the rain came, so it was all good.

I generally do not try to sew after dark, but I had to try the new setup and I didn't want to wait. At this point I've used this setup twice, and I'm happy with it. I think my table was slippery enough that I'm not seeing the huge difference some people see when they first get the slider, but I am seeing good results and more control with the combination of the slider and the halo.

Take care all.

11 comments:

  1. You are really going after FMQ and doing great! I'm with you re gloves, they just feel funny. I can't keep my gardening gloves on either.

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  2. The gloves take some getting use to but once you do they really do help you grip the quilt. FMQ is sooo much fun although some times frustrating.

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  3. Experimentation is a good thing to do, you never know when you'll find something that works. Your FMQ work is looking good.

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  4. I've been deliberating about the trying the halo for years. Thank you for sharing your experience with it. Do keep us posted. I didn't see much difference with the slider. I do use gloves. The biggest difference for me has not been the gadgets, but practice. I find the more comfortable I get with where I am heading the more my work naturally glides where it needs to be.

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  5. I have a Sew Slip, which seems pretty much like the Slider, but less expensive. I did notice that I had more control over the quilt when making bigger movements with it. I know I need to be careful with keeping my hands too close to the needle- twice I have sewed into the tip of my glove, but missed my skin! Keep up the good work- your quilting looks great!

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  6. It sounds like you're having fun, trying new things and ... figuring out what works best for you. Happy quilting!

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  7. It took me a bit of time to get used to quilting with gloves but I'm so much better with them. I've heard of some people cutting off the tips of the fore-finger and thumb so maybe that will help? I've wondered about the slider and don't know that it will make that much difference. I just read online somewhere about someone using a little bit of car wax on their extension table with great success.

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  8. I noticed a difference with the Supreme Slider on larger quilts, but I wasn't so sure it made a different on small projects--until I forgot to put it on one day when I was in a big hurry to get a table runner quilted. For "no reason" I had three thread breaks when I usually had none. I stopped and looked at my setup. I saw that I had forgotten the slider. I replaced it, and the thread breaks stopped. I can't explain it, but it happened.

    I love the gloves but get annoyed when they go on and off a lot. I have gotten better at grabbing threads with them on, so I don't have to take them off as much. I use Machingers; I have the dotted Fons & Porter, but they don't grip fabric as well, and it's more difficult to grab a thread with them on.

    I have see this halo online; I'd be curious to hear your review after you use it more.

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  9. I was hesitant because of the price as well, but finally bought the Supreme Slider and I've liked it so far. It definitely is most useful with larger quilts. Sounds like you're having fun. It's looking good so far.

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  10. For me the Supreme Slider makes a huge difference, I'm glad you tried it out. I've been eyeing that halo tool, so am glad you gave that a try and shared your experience with it. Your free motion stitching looks great! (And I love that you have a dove nest on your front porch.)

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  11. It is so great to read about the gadgets you are trying, and how they help you with your quilting. But mostly I loved your concern for your morning dove. You are a very special lady.

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