As I was quilting Pulsar, a 72″ square lap quilt, with my walking foot on my domestic sewing machine (I have a Juki TL-2200 QVP mini), I employed one of my standard tricks to cope with the quilt bulk when I reached the corner of the quilt. I decided to record a quick video to share this tip, and you can find it here and on my YouTube channel.
By choosing a strategic starting point and then rotating my quilt clockwise (instead of counterclockwise) for the final turn/pivot, I was able to avoid having to pass all the bulk of the quilt through the throat space of my machine. This choice minimized wear and tear on me (pushing a larger quilt through the throat space can be a workout) and reduced the amount the quilt needed to be handled and smashed.
What is the largest quilt you’ve quilted on a domestic machine?
Thank you for the video, It can be really difficult to quilt a larger quilt on a domestic machine. But always so worth it though.
Great demo! The largest I’ve quilted on my DSM was a king size using a walking foot with an 8.5″ throat space. I subsequently took a longarm class so I could rent time for larger quilts, but I still quilt mostly at home, either walking foot or FMQ. When my ‘big’ machine was in the shop for maintenance I quilted twin-size quilts on my little Baby Lock Joy; not a lot of room & no needle-down feature, but the stitches are beautiful. The more you quilt, the more you learn about maneuvering the quilt, and I also use the technique you illustrated here to keep most of the bulk on the surrounding table.
Great tip! I also learned another new thing, to pull the bobbin thread up thru the top before quilting. Just working on my first walking foot quilted mini quilt.
This was a nice video. I find it reassuring that I’m not the only one trying to find ways to cope with the bulk as I quilt around the outside of a quilt. Thank you. I have done larger quilts in the past but not limit myself to a medium lap size because it is really hard on my neck and shoulders. It is more cost-effective for me to pay a LAQ than to spend weeks (and money) visiting the chiropractor.
Great video. Figuring out how to maneuver the quilt and not deal with the weight is one of the biggest challenges when quilting.
Great video! Managing the bulk of a quilt is sometimes the most challenging part of quilting and your tips definitely help manage it.
Thanks for sharing your tip. I thought you were going to stitch the last line backwards. So smart to just change the direction of rotation–light bulb moment!
That is a great way to do it. I think the largest I did was a twin, probably not very much larger than 60 x 72.
All that bulk of a large quilt can be frustrating, thanks for the video!
Just wondering, in the video you showed us how to quilt on the corners of the quilt??? what I would like to know is if and how you did the Yellow Star in the middle of the quilt…
I’ve done three or four king size quilts on my Janome Travel mate 4612. Not easy, but it can be done, with forethought and planning. Sometimes I have done the quilt in sections, joining the batting and backing after the center section was quilted.