quilting-what's it take?

Yes, they do make a machine with a computer Jessamy. Check out the Statler
Stitcher. http://www.statlerstitcher.com/modes.html
http://www.statlerstitcher.com/videos/videoclips.html

--
Kathyl (KJ)
remove "nospam" before mchsi
http://community.webshots.com/user/kathylquiltz
"Jessamy" wrote in message
...
it's not bragging it's sharing! I'd buy a long arm with all the bells and
whistles if I could (do they have one with a computer you can set and walk
away from yet? hehehe) for now I will just have to plot how I can get my
grubby hands on some long arm time instead as I have given up on being
able
to quilt a large quilt all on my own on my tiddly janome (which I *do*
love
most dearly but it "only"has 6 inches of usable throat)

that said here's the answers:
I started with a borrowed n-th hand sewing machine, cardboard, all purpose
scissors and a ballpoint pen - yep I marked my quilts with a ballpoint pen
and fortunately I never got any ink bleeding through! those first quilts
were a disaster as I sewed on the lines only and well.. cardboard tends to
scrunch up a tad as you use is so the first squares may have been perfect
but the last ones were definitively crooked. I also tended to quilt about
12
inches apart at most or tie every 18 inches

nowadays I am glad I discovered rotary cutters, quilting rulers and strip
sewing! my sewing machine was bought new 3 years ago and though it's a
cheapie janome I'm happy with it despite coveting a larger machine (= more
throat) as all I really care about it the straight stitch and throat space
not the rest. I still design quilts on paper despite having EQ as I don't
only think up stuff when I'm at the computer g though I do usually draw
out my paper designs into the computer next time it's on.

--
Jessamy
Queen of Chocolate Squishies (and Occasional Liquorice Ones)
In The Netherlands
Take out: _I love the colour_ to reply.
www.geocities.com/jessamy_thompson
http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/jes...pson/my_photos
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I have one of those really nice machines. I never for a moment thought it
would make me an instant artist. It's made me a better sewer because I
don't get frustrated with it like I have with all my other machines.
There
are features that it has that I use every single day. There are also
wonderful features that I will never use.

I worked really hard for a lot of years to be able to afford this really
nice machine and I'll make no apologies for having it. I also still buy
tons of patterns, magazines, fabric and tools just because I'm still so
excited about it all.

I will apologize for having brought up a subject that has touched such a
nerve. I'm a little flummoxed at the emails I've gotten because people
think I'm bragging about being able to afford a long-arm when I apparently
haven't "paid my dues" long enough to deserve one.

I don't think that owning a long arm machine will magically make me into
an
artist who can do the work that I saw at the show last week. I will never
be able to do that kind of work because I don't consider myself an artist.
I'm a decent enough craftsman, but no way an artist.

I should have divided the two topics into two seperate posts: the exciting
show that I saw and I am looking at maybe buying a long arm. That way no
one would have gotten confused thinking I thought that a long arm would
instantly transform me.

OK, I'll shut up now.

Cindy

On Jun 12, 5:43 pm, Taria wrote:
I have spent some time thinking about Cindy's note mentioning buying a
big machine to get all her tops done up. I am having a tough time
trying to figure out just what it takes for this hobby to feel right
for us. For folks in the old days they had almost nothing. A needle
and scraps got them going. Some of the work was really wonderful.
Small perfect stitches with great patterns and colors done like art.
Some just did slap-dash or just plain old functional work. Many
probably did both. Now we quilt as a form of creativity and a
pastime. SOme of us do it because we have sewn our whole life while
others are looking for something to keep them busy or social in
retirement. The equipment runs the gamut today. I don't guess there
is a right or wrong. Our budgets dictate some of our needs. Some of
our skill comes with us when we are born IMO. Most of us need lots of
practice and training to produce fine work. Most of us will not put out
blue ribbon show quality stuff. Mostly we use our quilts as hugs to
those we care about and a lot of mistakes are overlooked with all that
love we send. I just count myself lucky as someone who enjoys most
aspects of quilting. The shopping, the cutting, sewing, the many dear
friends quilting has brought me and the ability to share something
of me with other folks. I'm glad when others can find that same joy
not matter what it takes in their corner of the quilting world.
Taria

I have really, really enjoyed reading this thread. How evident it has
been made that we all struggle with some aspect of our passion for
quilting. Hobby sounds so trite when it comes to quilting.

I love to sew on my treadle sewing machine, in fact, I think it is
utimately the catalist that got me into quilts but I digress. When I
pull out the different presser feet they had back "then" 1900 or so, I
wonder if I could have been a quilter. Would I have been very good at
it? I would have been the first to have a sewing machine because I am
not good at hand work so I guess that would put me in the same
position as a "long armer" or anyone who uses the latest and greatest
tools.

Tarias muses are just that, her thought but thrown out over the water
to see what bites. No harm, no fowl. Wow, what a response it has
caused.

Leslie wrote,
I have analyzed this and I get discouraged because I have this amazing
quilt in my
mind and I often don't have quite the necessary skills to actually
produce
the mind-picture. I know I have made some very nice quilts, but I
also have
a great pile of not-so-nice UFOs that I will never finish. I try to
pass
those on when I have an opportunity. My failures are often someone
else's
treasure.

I felt I could have wrote this also, I love to quilt and in my new
location I hope to meet some quilters to keep the passion going. I am
good but not great. I start out with an idea and it rarely ends up a
gorgeous as I pictured however it was fun and a learning experience.

Cindy, Some days I would love to own a long arm quilting machine. I
teach free motion quilting, my passion, and the thought of having the
freedom that a laqm would give me is mind boggling. Good for you.
Those that criticize you, criticize anyone who uses any new tools.
The Green Giant.................Envy. It is ugly and distroys
quilting communities all of the time. It is so sad. We should be
happy for each other, not envy. Try not to take it personal because
it isn't your problem it is the person who attacks you. They have a
REAL problem in their tiny little world.

I quilt because I love quilts. I garden because I love plants. I have
kids because I love.....................kids? OK, never mind that one!
LOL

Goodness, this has been a wonderful way to get to know all of you who
have responded.

Back to lurkdom,

Marsha in Ohio

I have a pair of eye-teeth for sale..... alternatively I'll swap them for
this machine....

--
Jessamy I'll hold on selling my soul for a tad longer....
Queen of Chocolate Squishies (and Occasional Liquorice Ones)
In The Netherlands
Take out: _I love the colour_ to reply.
www.geocities.com/jessamy_thompson
http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/jes...pson/my_photos
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yes, they do make a machine with a computer Jessamy. Check out the Statler
Stitcher. http://www.statlerstitcher.com/modes.html
http://www.statlerstitcher.com/videos/videoclips.html

--
Kathyl (KJ)
remove "nospam" before mchsi
http://community.webshots.com/user/kathylquiltz

I came from a sewing but not quilting background. My father always said to
buy the best tools that you could afford, and then take really good care of
them. I did lots of dressmaking and tailoring to earn extra money in the
early years of marriage. I used a Kenmore machine, as that stretched my
budget to the limit. Later on, as I was doing more work for others I
purchased a high-end Pfaff, and still have it 20+ years later.
I tried quilting before rotary cutters etc., and was disappointed with the
results. From the start, I decided not to buy anything but the basic
rulers, and I learned how to cut almost any shape using the tools I have.
I love playing with colour, and have become more adventurous the longer I
quilt. DH has been amazed, as it is the only hobby that I haven't lost
interest in at one time or another.
I have won a few prizes for my quilts, but no one was more surprised than I,
when my name was called!
I make quilts because it makes me happy! I donate many to different groups,
but almost feel selfish doing so, as I gain so much from every quilt that I
complete.
I do agree, that not everyone who tries to quilt becomes a successful
quilter, and I would buy a long-arm machine in a flash if I had the money
and space!
I am happy for anyone who can expand their quilting universe!

--
Susan in Kingston ON
back to quilting, as usual
http://community.webshots.com/user/sbtinkingston
"Polly Esther" wrote in message
...
I'm more in the dark than Sunny. I have no idea what prompted this
discussion but am enjoying the thoughts shared so much.
I am an artist. I am talented. So? Many times, however, I've
thought
when someone has said, "Oh you are so talented," I wanted to just kick
'em.
Talent my foot. If they only knew how hard I was struggling, making
mistakes, trying and then trying again and again. Talent? Naaaaah,
methinks, a whole lot more tenacity and hard work than talent.
When I finally got off of my high horse on that attitude, I realized
that talent doesn't hurt. My favorite Harry Potter quote goes something
like this - It's not the abilities we are given but the choices we make.
Yes. Yes.
There are people with no talent whatsoever and no matter how many
times
they try, how nice their SM is or how many classes they take, their quilts
are going to be dreadful. I saw two of those last week. I was visiting
my
sister's friend who had some sort of disc surgery. I took her some
comfort
food and visited very briefly. She proudly showed me the two quilts she
had. Oh my. They are awful; hand-quilted with 3 or 4 stitches per inch,
colors that would make you cringe and fabrics of poly and cotton that will
forever bicker with each other. Those poor quilts have nothing going for
them but love, the most wonderful quality of all. Polly


"Sunny" wrote in message
oups.com...
I'm not sure I understand the original thoughts behind Taria's
comments. But I am enjoying reading the follow-ups. I took a quilting
class six years ago now because it seemed like a fun thing to do. Then
when I became too ill to work and realized I would never work again, I
knew I had to do something. At first, I worked at quilting for my
sanity. Now, I do it for my soul. I love fabric. I have always loved
color and motion and lines. I just never let myself play with it
before. Now, I have a fabric collection that I love. Some if it will
never, ever, ever see a needle. That's ok. It enriches my life by
being with me. On those days when I can't do anything else, when pain
becomes my entire world, I can go to my stash and hold my fabric and
put pieces next to each other and the beauty and flow and the
potential of that fabric gives me joy. I am not an artist. I have a
goal of one day producing one quilt that I can enter in a quilt show
and feel it deserves to be there. It likely won't be this year. But
it's a goal and I work towards it. And in the meantime, I give
everything I make to someone else and it makes their eyes light up and
they hug me. What more payment could I ever ask for?

Were I to be transported back in time, I don't know if I would quilt.
I have lost sensation in my fingertips and can't really feel a needle
when I hold it most of the time. Sometimes I "forget" how to move my
fingers. It would be a great loss in my life. I don't know how I would
fill the void. I'm glad I live now, when I do. I, like Polly, have a
lot of fancy rulers I bought early on and never use them. I have a
nice machine. I drool over the Janome 6600, but that's as "big" as I
want. Someday I will make a quilt that I think is "good" enough to
deserve quilting on a longarm. That's not likely to be this year,
either.

In the meantime, I play with fabric, cut out pictuers for myself (you
guys would laugh yourselves silly if I showed you what I spend a lot
of my time making. I love cutting out funny "folks" and making scenes.
Just for me). It's grown up paper dolls. I make a few good things. I
come through in a pinch most of the time. And when all else fails, I
wrap myself in 3 yards of handpainted silk that I got for $2 at an
estate sale and pretend I'm a silent film star.

Why ever we do this thing we do, we are all sisters and brothers of
the fabric and we belong together in the long line of people that
started when Eve or Adam put two fig leaves together and then realized
it could use a little embellishment.

I love you all.
Sunny

I began sewing in the fifties. My first sewing machine was handed down from
my grandmother in the sixties. In the late sixties I got my first new
machine from Montgomery Wards. I moved up to a Singer in the seventies and
was dissappointed and traded it in for an Elna. That has been my main
machine since then - I purchase several old Singers that I love using.
These machines are all great but no longer meet my needs today, and I
finally got the machine I think will do all that I wish. All this aside, I
still love to handsew but arthritis is starting to give me problems. My
wish is to do more machine sewing, saving my hands for the hand quilting I
so enjoy.
--
Bonnie
NJ

Cindy, please don't shut up. BG
there will always be, have always been, those who react that way.
I think the enthusiasm is great. and I understand what you mean.
I have a couple of great machines, not the latest and greatest but they
(at least one of them) were at one point. G It is like with anything
else-- you have what you can afford and what works for you. And I after
many years of teaching of various types, I firmly believe that many
people would have fewer frustrations if they invested in a newer
machine. Many people wouldn't, but I have seen and talked with enough
people to know that having equipment that is frustrating makes any
experience involving it a whole lot less than enjoyable. That is true
be it sewing/quilting, gardening, woodworking, lapidary or ?????

Separating the 2 topics shouldn't be necessary either. G The fact is
that there are things that are much more easily done with a long arm
machine than on a regular home type machine. There is a lot of
difference in moving a lot of fabric around in the small harp area of a
machine not necessarily designed for that purpose and moving a large,
specially designed for the purpose, machine around stretched and steady
fabric on a frame also designed for that specific purpose. BG Seeing
wonderfully quilted end products produced by that specific type of
machine would lead to the idea of having one of those types of machines.
Knowing that you would not do the wonderful artistic, complex, and
intricate stitching just because of the machine is a good thing. (That
may not make sense, but it does to me.) You know that the machine only
makes the set up easier, it doesn't provide the artistic part. G

As to "paying dues"-- well that is a point of view. Some people keep on
"paying dues" forever, and making sure everyone around them know it. G
Some people are fortunate enough to acknowledge the frustrations and
such early on. They may also be fortunate enough to solve it in a way
that many can't-- by "throwing money at it" VBG I think that some
people are more envious of the good fortune (and good sense to
understand what and why something is frustrating) and it is that envy
speaking.

Personally, I applaud you for understanding what you want to do,
realizing that there is something concrete you can do about it and
wanting to do so. I wish that I were as fortunate with the ability to do
something about it, but that is life. VBG
Keep on, both sewing/quilting and talking about it. Hitting a sore spot
with some people will always be a "danger", but unless you are doing it
deliberately, don't worry about it.

Pati, rambling in Phx



teleflora wrote:
I have one of those really nice machines. I never for a moment thought it
would make me an instant artist. It's made me a better sewer because I
don't get frustrated with it like I have with all my other machines. There
are features that it has that I use every single day. There are also
wonderful features that I will never use.

I worked really hard for a lot of years to be able to afford this really
nice machine and I'll make no apologies for having it. I also still buy
tons of patterns, magazines, fabric and tools just because I'm still so
excited about it all.

I will apologize for having brought up a subject that has touched such a
nerve. I'm a little flummoxed at the emails I've gotten because people
think I'm bragging about being able to afford a long-arm when I apparently
haven't "paid my dues" long enough to deserve one.

I don't think that owning a long arm machine will magically make me into an
artist who can do the work that I saw at the show last week. I will never
be able to do that kind of work because I don't consider myself an artist.
I'm a decent enough craftsman, but no way an artist.

I should have divided the two topics into two seperate posts: the exciting
show that I saw and I am looking at maybe buying a long arm. That way no
one would have gotten confused thinking I thought that a long arm would
instantly transform me.

OK, I'll shut up now.

Cindy

Stop--- each one of you. Please. BG I am really tired of reading "I
am not an artist..." and want to say to each of you--------*YES, you are
an artist.*
every single time you pull fabrics, from stash, from shelves from a yard
sale or where ever else you find it, and you combine those fabrics into
something that is pleasing/interesting to you, you have created art.
Even if you never sew them together you have the start of an art project.
When you do sew them together, it is art. It may be useful, may not
always be what you wanted it to be-- but have have you ever talked to a
painter/illustrator or other "artist" about this? Same thing happens.
Creativity and the expression of it in any form is art.

It has taken me many years to accept the idea that what I do may be
artistic. G I have had "art" classes in college (required by my major)
and I had "art" all through elementary school. And did not do well at
all. Theory? fine and dandy. I can explain a lot about perspective, the
color wheel and so on. But actual creative "art"? yeah, right.
Then I had the primary grade teachers at the school where I taught want
me to teach art for their kids. hunh??? Me??? And my dear husband... an
"artist" of another sort (written/spoken word type), well he has finally
convinced me that yes indeed, what we do is art.

So, no more of this "I am not an artist" stuff, please. your art is,
hopefully, different from someone else's, but it is still art. Have fun
with it. Enjoy it and use it.

Please???


Alright, this rant is over,
VBG
Pati, in Phx

Sunny wrote:

I'm not sure I understand the original thoughts behind Taria's
comments. But I am enjoying reading the follow-ups. I took a quilting
class six years ago now because it seemed like a fun thing to do. Then
when I became too ill to work and realized I would never work again, I
knew I had to do something. At first, I worked at quilting for my
sanity. Now, I do it for my soul. I love fabric. I have always loved
color and motion and lines. I just never let myself play with it
before. Now, I have a fabric collection that I love. Some if it will
never, ever, ever see a needle. That's ok. It enriches my life by
being with me. On those days when I can't do anything else, when pain
becomes my entire world, I can go to my stash and hold my fabric and
put pieces next to each other and the beauty and flow and the
potential of that fabric gives me joy. I am not an artist. I have a
goal of one day producing one quilt that I can enter in a quilt show
and feel it deserves to be there. It likely won't be this year. But
it's a goal and I work towards it. And in the meantime, I give
everything I make to someone else and it makes their eyes light up and
they hug me. What more payment could I ever ask for?

Were I to be transported back in time, I don't know if I would quilt.
I have lost sensation in my fingertips and can't really feel a needle
when I hold it most of the time. Sometimes I "forget" how to move my
fingers. It would be a great loss in my life. I don't know how I would
fill the void. I'm glad I live now, when I do. I, like Polly, have a
lot of fancy rulers I bought early on and never use them. I have a
nice machine. I drool over the Janome 6600, but that's as "big" as I
want. Someday I will make a quilt that I think is "good" enough to
deserve quilting on a longarm. That's not likely to be this year,
either.

In the meantime, I play with fabric, cut out pictuers for myself (you
guys would laugh yourselves silly if I showed you what I spend a lot
of my time making. I love cutting out funny "folks" and making scenes.
Just for me). It's grown up paper dolls. I make a few good things. I
come through in a pinch most of the time. And when all else fails, I
wrap myself in 3 yards of handpainted silk that I got for $2 at an
estate sale and pretend I'm a silent film star.

Why ever we do this thing we do, we are all sisters and brothers of
the fabric and we belong together in the long line of people that
started when Eve or Adam put two fig leaves together and then realized
it could use a little embellishment.

I love you all.
Sunny

Sunny, I need to get a picture posted of Rick's VW quilt. BG
This started in a class, an applique quilt of VW bugs. Very
identifiable and could be sort of "ho-hum". the instructor had taken
the original pattern and added "characters" to the VWs. All cut from
fabric. Everything very bright and cheerful.
I ended up with puns-- all sorts of "bug" puns. Not only did I populate
my VWs, the fabrics of the the car bodies could be a pun. each block
became something very different. And my cars didn't just travel on a
static flat "road", mine went up hill, and down. One doesn't have a road
because it is in space, (a "gold bug"-- remember my DH writes science
fiction/fantasy) and so on. I finally had to stop making blocks at some
point-- well before the ideas ran out.
That quilt will not win prizes, but has been entered in a show. And
people still remember seeing it. (even when they don't remember the best
of show for that year's show.) It always brings smiles, and groans when
people recognize the puns.

It was fun, and yes I was searching for things to cut out of fabric. for
months I was searching and cutting. Just like paper dolls. G

Pati, in Phx
(Maybe I should take time to take pics of each block to put up... maybe
later on today.)
Sunny wrote:

In the meantime, I play with fabric, cut out pictuers for myself (you
guys would laugh yourselves silly if I showed you what I spend a lot
of my time making. I love cutting out funny "folks" and making scenes.
Just for me). It's grown up paper dolls. I make a few good things. I
come through in a pinch most of the time. And when all else fails, I
wrap myself in 3 yards of handpainted silk that I got for $2 at an
estate sale and pretend I'm a silent film star.

Why ever we do this thing we do, we are all sisters and brothers of
the fabric and we belong together in the long line of people that
started when Eve or Adam put two fig leaves together and then realized
it could use a little embellishment.

I love you all.
Sunny

Was it Wendy/Frood who made the snowman quilt? Each block was
snowmen/snowwomen in the poses and with the backgrounds of many different
famous paintings- like a Mona Lisa snowman. It was hilarious and
beautifully made. I miss Frood! Wish I had a link to that quilt of hers,
too. It really was a masterpiece and brilliantly executed.

Leslie & The Furbabies in MO.

"Pati Cook" wrote in message
ink.net...

Sunny, I need to get a picture posted of Rick's VW quilt. BG
This started in a class, an applique quilt of VW bugs. Very identifiable
and could be sort of "ho-hum". the instructor had taken the original
pattern and added "characters" to the VWs. All cut from fabric.
Everything very bright and cheerful.
I ended up with puns-- all sorts of "bug" puns. Not only did I populate
my VWs, the fabrics of the the car bodies could be a pun. each block
became something very different. And my cars didn't just travel on a
static flat "road", mine went up hill, and down. One doesn't have a road
because it is in space, (a "gold bug"-- remember my DH writes science
fiction/fantasy) and so on. I finally had to stop making blocks at some
point-- well before the ideas ran out.
That quilt will not win prizes, but has been entered in a show. And people
still remember seeing it. (even when they don't remember the best of show
for that year's show.) It always brings smiles, and groans when people
recognize the puns.

It was fun, and yes I was searching for things to cut out of fabric. for
months I was searching and cutting. Just like paper dolls. G

Pati, in Phx
(Maybe I should take time to take pics of each block to put up... maybe
later on today.)
Sunny wrote:

In the meantime, I play with fabric, cut out pictuers for myself (you
guys would laugh yourselves silly if I showed you what I spend a lot
of my time making. I love cutting out funny "folks" and making scenes.
Just for me). It's grown up paper dolls. I make a few good things. I
come through in a pinch most of the time. And when all else fails, I
wrap myself in 3 yards of handpainted silk that I got for $2 at an
estate sale and pretend I'm a silent film star.

Why ever we do this thing we do, we are all sisters and brothers of
the fabric and we belong together in the long line of people that
started when Eve or Adam put two fig leaves together and then realized
it could use a little embellishment.

I love you all.
Sunny

"Pati Cook" wrote in message
. net...
Stop--- each one of you. Please. BG I am really tired of reading "I
am not an artist..." and want to say to each of you--------*YES, you are
an artist.*

Well, no, Pati, in my case I really am not an artist. gr. God gave me
tons of appreciation and zero artistic ability. Just like I have almost
perfect pitch and no rhythm to speak of. I am a fairly decent craftsman. I
can copy, but I cannot create. I have no innate color sense, it's a
struggle for me to put more than 3 colors together. I can tell you that I
love (or not!) the 12 colors you have chosen to go together, and I can come
close to duplicating it, but don't ask me to choose more than 3 on my own.

When I was a kid in art class, I would freeze when the teacher just said
"draw something". OH NO! If he said, "draw this", I could do a manageable
job, but not out of my head, please!

I use a lot of kits because that takes that part of the stress away for me.
I enjoy the process of making. That's my "thing".

We are not all artists. And I don't think most of us have a problem with
that.

Cindy