Nancy,
I think it's just as important to spend money on speakers as it is to save it for putting on a show. My guild skimps on speakers and loses members because all they want to talk about is the last or upcoming show.
eileenkny

We could share ideas about programs, recruiting, publicity, charity projects and whatever else people need help with.

Maybe ideas about how to find a guild or start a guild.

As a fairly new president, I'd enjoy giving and receiving this kind of help!

Nancy in Western NY

Good, Bobbi, I'm glad I could help.
eileenkny

Eileen, yes that helps! Thanks so very much. Bobbi

I love Patsy's method of doing feathers, also!

Maggie in E. Central illinois

LadyRags wrote:
I've taken machine quilting classes with lots of teachers (including the quilting goddess, Diane Gaudynski) and could never quite get the hang of feathers. But for some reason, Patsy Thompson's method clicked! So yes, you're right. Try many, but mainly practice!

Brita

I finished my GSon's farm quilt today.. machine quilting and putting on the binding. I am thinking I should have done heavier quilting through out the middle of the quilt panel so I am thinking even though it is bound I would go back and add in some more machine quilting.

I also made my first panel of the FUN AND DONE ( quilt as you go block) I am saving Ricky's style of quilting til I can really do much better than what I have done in the past. I do like doing his RICKY DOODLES but I need to be able to manipulate my fabric better than I am doing before I try it in a real quilt.

I started with Patsy Thompson's first DVD as it has a lot of patterns to work on and master. What is amazing to me is that for every quilter there is a different way to do the quilting of feathers. I do not think any of the quilters do the feathers using the same technique. SOOOOO confusing! I guess a quilter has to find the method or style they like best and is easiest for them to do.

Anna, what a great idea! I need to practice my machine quilting, and this sounds like a wonderful way to do it, plus you end up with a comfy quilt. I'd be interested to see the results. Cheers.

I have been teaching myself how to machine quilt ... I have watched Grand Finale, Patsy Thompson's DVD on quilting, DVD from Karen McTavish, and any other quilting DVDs I could get my hands on.

Right now I am working my way through all the DVDs but making a sampler quilt as I go. I have cut out block sandwiches about 11 x 18 ( using FQ ) putting batting about one inch shorter so there is a half inch all around. I plan to use the revised QUILT AS YOU GO method as used in the FUN AND DONE patterns. I have been machine quilting each block in a different pattern from the DVDs.... I hope to have a reference quilt that I can actually use out of my practice pieces. My hand - eye coordination is slowly progressing. I will post a picture if this actually works out.

Bobbi,
What I tell customers is this: if the piecing is very geometric, then go for quilting with some curves in it to soften the piecing. If there's applique, I'll outline it to make it pop and then try to do something in the sashings/borders to complement the applique.

Does this help?
eileenkny

I must admit to also being of the mind that if you wait long enough, something will happen/turn up/ go ping that will answer just about anything. And that doesn't just mean in quilting either.

Looks like tomorrows TQS show could be just what we're all looking for as well.

I try to let the quilt talk to me about how it should be quilted. But, I have to be honest, quilting scares me. I put so much work into piecing that I want the quilting to be just as creative, but being new to the art I just stop and wait. Sometimes inspiration comes and sometimes not. SID at least gets the piece done. Plus trying to put even a twin size quilt through my domestic machine is tough. So I would love any and all information that can be shared. Bobbi

This is a great idea and I for one would certainly benefit from it...I've only stippled so far really and it's just not what I want to do on all of my quilts. I find it difficult to manipulate a quilt through my machine and have recently invested in a hoop (after watching Alex's quilting videos) so that I can try hand quilting.

I posted this in the BOM forum but I wanted input from everyone on this, including administration. I don't know if this has been suggested before but............................

Why not have a forum category where we can all help each other? Then those of us who've been quilting forever can talk directly to the newer people who need help.
Since I quilt on a longarm, I try not to do stitch in the ditch(SID). I don't believe every quilt needs it. A quilter working on a domestic machine may think differently, and a hand quilter might have an altogether out of the ordinary idea that doesn't resemble the other two.
Why don't we have an ongoing category for quilting ideas?
eileenkny