tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2244865727892186735.post645335492284608876..comments2024-03-13T19:15:39.655-04:00Comments on The Root Connection: First finish of 2014 and Reflections on Machine Quilting Sujata Shahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08342637667662268215noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2244865727892186735.post-15839724485327991912014-03-14T10:44:51.444-04:002014-03-14T10:44:51.444-04:00Sujata, your quilts are all absolutely gorgeous! I...Sujata, your quilts are all absolutely gorgeous! I admire your bravery in machine quilting large size quilts. I have no fear of machine quilting in and of itself, but I have always been frustrated when trying to cram a big quilt in the machine... the weight, the lack of space and difficulty in moving it through. It's been a long time now since I even tried. Your post makes me think... maybe it's time to try again, but this time with the spirit of practice, not perfection. Thanks for a great post!Victoriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06913095438247860953noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2244865727892186735.post-63213964115033006502014-03-06T09:36:55.758-05:002014-03-06T09:36:55.758-05:00you are an amazing quilter sujata..i need to take ...you are an amazing quilter sujata..i need to take some more time to browse thru your beautiful blog..so much of awesome work...Nimahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17275701099832636262noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2244865727892186735.post-12031288910374897752014-03-03T17:26:30.311-05:002014-03-03T17:26:30.311-05:00Terrific job and wonderful commentary. You can do...Terrific job and wonderful commentary. You can do it as long as you remember that nothing in this world is perfect. Your quilts come closer than any I know. Beautiful beautiful beautifulMary Keaslerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04908710230407490209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2244865727892186735.post-5885545919375233352014-02-28T00:29:53.550-05:002014-02-28T00:29:53.550-05:00I'm trying to clear out the quilt tops in my s...I'm trying to clear out the quilt tops in my stack…I keep thinking that quilt tops don't keep anybody warm! :D<br />One of my professors in college said something that's stuck with me through the years. It was in a painting class…"Practice, not precious." It's such a freeing idea to apply to quilting as well. Beautiful quilt- love the colors so much!!sallgoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06257935141857664852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2244865727892186735.post-72041434601909090472014-02-27T20:01:45.509-05:002014-02-27T20:01:45.509-05:00Sujata, I have seen you around the web, on several...Sujata, I have seen you around the web, on several different sites, and have always been in awe with your creativity, your sense of color, and the amount of things that you can accomplish. I was surprised to see that you have problems with machine quilting. I too have problems with machine quilting - sometimes it works for me, and other times it doesn't. I enjoyed reading this post to see that you are not superhuman. Your house is really pretty, you are a great photographer, your quilts are pretty and you keep learning. If you were perfect at everything, there would be no joy in it.Shelina (formerly known as Shasta)https://www.blogger.com/profile/03290945204269323129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2244865727892186735.post-33791431272342033822014-02-27T15:54:09.002-05:002014-02-27T15:54:09.002-05:00Thank you! I needed to get to the bottom of why I ...Thank you! I needed to get to the bottom of why I resisted machine quilting. After all, we all like finished quilts better than the piles of tops in the closet. Sujata Shahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08342637667662268215noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2244865727892186735.post-44629026567918954902014-02-27T12:25:34.517-05:002014-02-27T12:25:34.517-05:00gorgeous stack of quilts! Yup, I have quite a lot ...gorgeous stack of quilts! Yup, I have quite a lot of tops too. sigh.Tonya Ricuccihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10778059489713831067noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2244865727892186735.post-62644961712585933342014-02-27T08:42:10.339-05:002014-02-27T08:42:10.339-05:00What a great post! Hats off to you for moving for...What a great post! Hats off to you for moving forward on new things and not "fixing" what is just fine. My favorite thought is "Practice makes better, not Perfect" I love that. Its so true. I also really applaud you for tackling your quilt tops and getting them done. What a great accomplishment and what a lovely stack of quilts!<br />I'm planning to start quilting a big quilt today - thanks for the push.Barbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08619642267222624728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2244865727892186735.post-70221118960761088062014-02-27T08:14:20.332-05:002014-02-27T08:14:20.332-05:00I agree, I agree! When I started quilting, I lear...I agree, I agree! When I started quilting, I learned traditional methods from older ladies. I thought that hand quilting was the only REAL quilting. Now, 30 years later, I have changed my mind! I like big stitch quilting with pearl cotton (size 8 or 12) because of the look and the speed. I also do simple machine quilting, but don't want to do anything over about 36". (By the way, you didn't mention whether or not you use quilting gloves - they help and reduce shoulder/neck/hand strain). I have had store samples machine quilted by "professionals". And I have stacks of unfinished tops .... sometimes it's just more fun to try out a new idea or put together a new fabric combination! I can piece a lot faster than I can finish. Oh, well!Lori R.https://www.blogger.com/profile/00186092404883985796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2244865727892186735.post-63073120222597074132014-02-27T07:47:10.583-05:002014-02-27T07:47:10.583-05:00I really enjoyed reading this post. You got right...I really enjoyed reading this post. You got right to the heart of the matter and I truly appreciate what you had to say. Take care, ByrdAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2244865727892186735.post-82691069529892466262014-02-27T04:56:35.395-05:002014-02-27T04:56:35.395-05:00In the end, the quilt is loved because you made it...In the end, the quilt is loved because you made it. No one will be analysing your stitches. I let the quilt tell me what to do and then quilt it by hand or machine. Both are intense because of their different natures. Machining means an afternoon of sore hands and back but a finished quilt top to show for it. Hand quilting means theraputic stitching but still sore hands and months of waiting. Just like in your house, the quilts are snuggled under and enjoyed and that's what counts.meli Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02974319759288178899noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2244865727892186735.post-33285199054139801402014-02-27T00:37:30.607-05:002014-02-27T00:37:30.607-05:00Snow Blossoms is beautiful. A great mix of colours...Snow Blossoms is beautiful. A great mix of colours and fabrics - plus your choice of machine fmq works perfectly. Yes, indeed, time to turn those quilt tops into quilted delights for all to enjoy. Each style of quilting seems to have it's place, sometimes the quilt seems to help you make the decision for you.Karen @ Pieces of Contentmenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00719349569606790410noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2244865727892186735.post-62828946102975403322014-02-26T18:26:01.668-05:002014-02-26T18:26:01.668-05:00As usual, your color choices are a delight to the ...As usual, your color choices are a delight to the heart! I machine quilt most of mine. Like you, I like the ownership of the entire process... and I love touching the fabric. Machine quilting certainly is helpful on bed-size quilts; however, it usually feels as if I'm a beginner again each time I start one. And the "invisible stitching line" is a constant issue. Thanks for laying out the reasoning so elegantly.Annhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12922656955543465650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2244865727892186735.post-65410057969528341062014-02-26T18:09:24.271-05:002014-02-26T18:09:24.271-05:00Sujata, you are a great quilter whichever way you ...Sujata, you are a great quilter whichever way you finished your quilts. I haven't given myself time to practice with machine quilting. I will do it one day. Donna Ward promised to teach me when I'm ready. I'm as excited to get my quilts back from Donna as I quilt them myself. Without Donna, I wouldn't have finished any quilt to used. Enjoy reading all your thought process. Thanks for sharing it with us - Hugs NatNat Palaskashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03591758405112517434noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2244865727892186735.post-72855531694613952772014-02-26T17:28:54.913-05:002014-02-26T17:28:54.913-05:00Your quilted quilts are beautiful! I remember see...Your quilted quilts are beautiful! I remember seeing them in the store where you worked here. I admired the simple, utilitarian quilting. It made me feel like I could do it too. I am finding myself become more interested in machine quilting as I think about it as a creative endeavor. When I think about myself as an artist adding texture to my piece, it's almost as exciting as designing a new quilt. Nifty Quiltshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11249020129403851346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2244865727892186735.post-81444302261527640002014-02-26T16:37:04.090-05:002014-02-26T16:37:04.090-05:00Enjoyed your post. My husband bought me a walking ...Enjoyed your post. My husband bought me a walking foot last year, so I've tried to learn how to use it. Hopefully the more I use it the less stressed I'll be about the possibility of 'ruining' one of my quilts.:)audreyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18102559813211702736noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2244865727892186735.post-91060056354752469202014-02-26T16:13:53.937-05:002014-02-26T16:13:53.937-05:00Thanks for this. I enjoy both hand quilting and fr...Thanks for this. I enjoy both hand quilting and free motion quilting, and I pick the method according to the quilt. I like the look of hand quilting, but the speed of free motion. I used to disparage machine quilting as cheating but I have found the learning curve much longer when it comes to getting even small stitches on the machine. I like hand work, and I like machine work.Brendahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09029115839076216849noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2244865727892186735.post-91385153948927092562014-02-26T15:52:01.999-05:002014-02-26T15:52:01.999-05:00Excellent post! Excellent post! Quiltdivajuliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15593385265961892847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2244865727892186735.post-21206285908392894562014-02-26T15:38:44.350-05:002014-02-26T15:38:44.350-05:00Gorgeous quilts....all of them! And I loved your ...Gorgeous quilts....all of them! And I loved your comment about not watching CNN while quilting! That's so true.....I have to be in the right mood to machine quilt, and the tv, drink, room temperature, etc.....they all have to be just right, or I just can't enjoy it! No depressing news shows while I'm quilting.....only Jane Austen movies! :o)reganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14822110311373036914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2244865727892186735.post-47177620139190036122014-02-26T15:21:23.773-05:002014-02-26T15:21:23.773-05:00I think we are too hard on ourselves sometimes. I ...I think we are too hard on ourselves sometimes. I will bet anyone would look at your quilt and say how beautiful it is!Pinkadot Quiltshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11466115545346146469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2244865727892186735.post-2582491852943525452014-02-26T14:35:22.478-05:002014-02-26T14:35:22.478-05:00This is such a wonderful post Sujata!! I have very...This is such a wonderful post Sujata!! I have very similar blocks to machine quilting. I like the way you say you're not striving for perfection but about being comfortable and enjoying it. That's my problem, I don't enjoy it, it's just something I have to do sometimes. Thanks to your valuable insight I'll try again with a lighter heart. Rachaeldaisyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15437603769773251690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2244865727892186735.post-55923089804127181812014-02-26T13:44:08.893-05:002014-02-26T13:44:08.893-05:00So many good points articulated here, Sujata. As ...So many good points articulated here, Sujata. As one who has spent too much time thinking about machine quilting and hardly any time practicing, I think I'll be revisiting your post. Maybe this is the year of facing all of my concerns about it and just diving in! I am in total agreement re: wanting to use and enjoy my quilts vs. enjoying a stack of unfinished tops.Janhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05308304528741934038noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2244865727892186735.post-49178003425967139972014-02-26T13:25:02.467-05:002014-02-26T13:25:02.467-05:00How I loved reading of your journey Sujata! Your w...How I loved reading of your journey Sujata! Your winter blossoms are lovely and bring the fragrance of a spring that looms in the wings! I have a large quilt top looking at me, think I will try your idea and alternate between one by machine and hand quilting a smaller piece . Thanks friend, always a pleasure.Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03527505463760502930noreply@blogger.com