Machine Quilting

"Fit to Frame", Quilt Design by Lori Smith

I quilt all my quilts on my Juki TL-98Q. I've had it for several years now and it works well for me. It is a straight stitch machine and I use it exclusively for machine quilting.

I started machine quilting on my Viking 60 20 which is about 40 years old!! I cannot believe that it is that old, my parents bought that sewing machine for me when I was 15 years old and it is still my favorite machine for piecing my quilts.

The next sewing machine was a Viking Lily, which I use a lot for sewing clothes and for putting my binding on the quilts. I keep the walking foot on that one at all times, unless I am sewing clothes, so it is always ready for a new binding. It worked OK for quilting, but I still had a lot of problems with tension, broken threads, even broken needles!!

Then came the Juki and life became easy!! Wow, what a difference it makes to have a machine that was made to machine quilt. Love it!!!!! Now I have my eyes on a long arm, but I will keep my Juki always.

The little quilt shown here is from a pattern set called "Fit to Frame", a design by Lori Smith. There is hand applique and machine piecing. The inner borders are quilted with "Ribbon Candy", well, that is what I call it. It is fun and easy and I use it in a lot of my quilts. I look at it as practice. The more I do it the better my skills should become!!

I quilted around each applique piece and then did a small stipple in the background.

I have this quilt hanging up in the medical office where I work. It is such a comfort for my patients and I enjoy sharing with them  :^)

Happy Quilting and keep those needles sharp!! Martha