Today’s Topic: How to Fight Quilting Enemies: Gravity and Friction
Welcome to Lesson 9 of our 2021 Quilt-a-Long, Even Better Machine Quilting
This FREE multi-week tutorial is based on my books available in my Etsy shop: LoriKennedyShop
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Find the 2021 QAL links HERE
Find the 2020 (25 Week) QAL links HERE
Good Morning, Quilters!
Please JOIN ME for a FREE quilting lesson!
First LIVE event in more than a year!
As a follow up to the virtual MN Quilt Show, I will be demonstrating quilting techniques in person.
If you’ve ever wanted to try the fabulous BERNINA Q20-or any BERNINA sewing or quilting machine– this is a great opportunity! Fabulous Quilt Show pricing will be available!
Also, if YOU have any quilting questions or techniques you would like to see, I will be available all day…
Most of all, I would LOVE to meet YOU!!!
FREE Open House
2930 146th Street-Suite 108
Rosemount, MN 55068
Rosemount, MN
Tuesday, June 15, 2021 from 10-4
On Discouragement and FMQ
Thank you for all the helpful and encouraging comments on yesterday’s post: Are YOU Discouraged with Free Motion Quilting?
If YOU are feeling like your progress is slower than you hoped, read all of the comments and stay the course. The skill will come–if you have the necessary knowledge. Everything you need to know is right here at LKQ and in my books-especially 25 Days to Better Machine Quilting.
Today, let’s spend a little time creating a work space to help create a smooth glide.
Quilters Arch Enemies
Quilters have two arch enemies (okay three-–Responsibilities other than quilting is enemy #1)….
But when we ARE quilting, we have two foes-Gravity and Friction.
While we are trying to move the quilt in a smooth, gliding motion, Gravity is trying to pull the quilt to the ground and Friction is trying to keep us from moving it at all!
Fighting Gravity
Read How to Create a Smooth Glide for specific ideas on how to fight gravity and friction.
In general, there are two key ways to fight gravity:
- Create the largest possible work surface to support your quilt.
- Block the quilt from falling off the surface while you quilt.
Fighting Friction
See How to Create a Smooth Glide
There are a few things you can do to minimize the effects of friction between your quilt and the sewing surface:
- Reduce friction on the sewing surface by adding a Supreme Slider or a silicone spray.
- Reduce friction on your backing fabric by avoiding texturized fabrics.
- Make your backing fabric more slippery by using spray starch.
-
My sewing room before remodel-lots of quilt support!
For a Smoother Quilt Glide, Try This:
Evaluate your work space.
Are you able to place your sewing machine in the corner to prevent quilt from falling off.
Would a Sew Steady Table give you more working space?
Is your birthday coming up? Wouldn’t a set-in sewing cabinet be a great gift?
Is there room to set your ironing board nearby for more quilt support?
Try a Supreme Slider (one of the few quilting notions I highly recommend.)
Prep your sewing surface with silicone spray.
Spray starch and iron your backing fabric before basting.
Is YOUR Quilting Smooth?
What about YOU?
What techniques have made quilting easier for YOU?
Do YOU use a Supreme Slider or silicone spray?
Are YOU available on June 15th to come to Rosemount, MN?
Are YOU excited to be able to attend in-person classes again?
We’d LOVE to hear!
Excited in Minnesota,
Lori
PS…All tutorials, images and information are the property of Lori Kennedy Quilts and are intended for personal use only. Feel free to re-blog, pin or share with attribution to LKQ. For all other purposes, please contact me at Lori@LoriKennedyQuilts.com. Thank you!
Visit my Etsy shop: LoriKennedyShop for all of my books! They are ALL bestsellers!
9 comments
Cyndy
I’d love to join you on the 15th, but I moved to Georgia. (weather of course). Quilters Haven is one of my must stop stops when I go back once a year or so. No supreme slider here, it folded up and got sewed on, which irritated me, so into the trash it went, and I use a teflon oven sheet, which I love. I sew on either my Juki, or my Viking (sorry, not a Bernina person), with 2 Husky tables back to back, which gives me a good sized space for just about anything.
Pamela M Peterson
Yes, I do use a Supreme Slider which I very helpful. I will definitely spray star h the backing next time- great idea! I’d love to see and visit with you in Rosemount, but I spent the last two weekends in the Twin Cities and am not ready for another 5 hour road trip! Another time perhaps… Stay cool this hot weekend! (From NW MN).
Marilyn Larkin
Yes I have a supreme sliderI I couldn’t quilt without it anymore, oh I I love gloves to grip the quilt too which helps when moving the quilt around. Would love to come and join in, BUT Australia is just a tad too far to travel, and my govn’t won’t let me back into the country without lots of cajoling, quarantining for 2 weeks and probably other restrictions they are reluctant to advertise!! I am hoping that one day I can travel to the U.S.A. But, who knows when international travel will become as easy as it once was. Enjoy your day with a group of eager quilters. I will keep reading your books and watching your posts.
Sally Broste
Do you use silicon spray on the tabletop of your Q20? Or a Supreme Slider?
I too have used a Supreme Slider for my domestic machines and never taped in place because of top loading bobbins. I follow directions on package to wipe off with a baby wipe or just run under water. Never had a problem with it and don’t like to even try fmq without.
Cindy Clark
Yes, I would love to stop by Quilters Haven on Tuesday! Looking forward to meeting you!
Cari Grierson
Hi Lori: I have a very small sewing room with counter top very close to my built in sewing table. One day we had a new piece of furniture delivered in a huge packing box of corrugated cardboard. I flattened the box and repurposed it as a support surface for my big quilts when it is laid between my counter tops and my sewing table. It is slightly shiny on one side so quilt moves easily and is totally supported. This could be done also between an ironing board and sewing cabinet. I also use a teflon mat, sold to protect oven bottom, instead of my supreme slider because it is bigger. Tape it down like the slider. I am going through your book and lessons for a second time! Thank you so much. Cari in New Brunswick, Canada
Helen
I used a Sew Steady table until I was able to get a cabinet and still use one with the machine I take to retreats. Like you, I really recommend the Supreme Slider. I don’t tape mine down like you do and have never had it slip. I do rinse threads off the back now and then to keep it sticky. I have a drop in bobbin and if I had to remove and reapply tape every time I changed the bobbin it would be a real chore. So for your readers with drop in bobbins know you don’t need all that tape. Infrequent maintenance will keep the Supreme Slider sticky, I guess indefinitely. It has for years for me.
Arvilla Trag
Lori, I love that antique iron in the photo! I can actually remember my grandmother using an iron like that (and a hand-cranked wringer on the washing machine), and I have two of them from her house that I now use as doorstops. Mine are rustier than yours.
As for your questions: I had a Sew Steady table for my VQ3000 (it was a lifesaver), but I replaced that machine with a Pfaff Creative Icon (which I adore!), and have not yet gotten around to getting a new Sew Steady table for that.
A set-in sewing cabinet has its appeal, but my Martelli electric table lets me adjust table height for sewing versus quilting versus changing needles, etc.
Two years ago I got a Dreambox and I HIGHLY recommend it. There is a place for all the various items I make (totes, window treatments, quilts, etc.), and a work table. I have fabrics and the patterns I intend to use them for in their own bins, unassigned patterns in another. It is 100% customizable to suit each person’s needs, too. Except for the assembly instructions being just a bit vague in a few places, it is perfect – very solid, nothing flimsy about it.
Kim
Do you use a supreme slider on your Q20?
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