Quilters/Sewers

[C.Ann]

Getting ready to start working on my quilts soon - one sewing machine all oiled up and working (although I still can't get the upper and lower tension to jive on that one) and will hopefully get the other (better) one ready this week (pretty sure it justs needs oiling)..

Anyhow - the other night I found a sale online and couldn't resist splurging.. I purchased a Fiskars Rotary Cutter and cutting mat for half price (normally $47.99); some extra blades (regular $15.99) for $12.99; and a really nice pair of dressmakers scissors (9") for $12 (I think - can't remember for sure)..

Originally I was just going to cut all my quilt pieces by hand (2 or 3 at a time), but when I saw the cutter and mat for half price - and realized that I could cut through multiple layers of material at the same time - I just couldn't resist.. Does anyone here have one? If so, do you find it helpful and easy to use?

Anyone know what I can do to get the tension correct on the Brother sewing machine? It's a free arm - quite a few years old - but in great shape.. I'll probably only use it for back up - much prefer my even older machine (from the 60's), but it would be nice if I could get the "spare" working well too.. Even went so far as to check the phone book up here to see if I could find someone who does sewing machine repairs, but of course here in the mountains there isn't anyone..

Can't wait to get started on these quilts!! I've created quite a few neat designs and have already made my own templates..

 

[donac]

I wish I could help you with the tension. If you have a manual maybe that will help. If you don't have a manual try to find one on line.

Make sure that you have the bobbin wound correctly and put into the holder the right way. It is easy to put it in backwards. Change the needle. This can also screw up the tension.

I have had a mat and a rotary cutter since I made my second quilt 21 years ago. My first one was cut by hand. I still have it on my bed.

It is very easy to use but the first and best rule I can give you is CLOSE THE BLADE EVERYTIME YOU ARE NOT USING IT. That is is one of the sharpest things you can come across.

Folding the fabric is the most important thing. It needs to be folded just right to be able to get straight cuts. You might want to look on line for some instructions.

Rotary cutters and mats are the greatest thing for quilting. It makes the cutting so much faster so that you can get to the sewing.

Have fun. Any questions just ask.

PS keep the mat flat and not in the hot sun. It will buckle.

 

[C.Ann]

I wish I could help you with the tension. If you have a manual maybe that will help. If you don't have a manual try to find one on line.

Make sure that you have the bobbin wound correctly and put into the holder the right way. It is easy to put it in backwards. Change the needle. This can also screw up the tension.

I have had a mat and a rotary cutter since I made my second quilt 21 years ago. My first one was cut by hand. I still have it on my bed.

It is very easy to use but the first and best rule I can give you is CLOSE THE BLADE EVERYTIME YOU ARE NOT USING IT. That is is one of the sharpest things you can come across.

Folding the fabric is the most important thing. It needs to be folded just right to be able to get straight cuts. You might want to look on line for some instructions.

Rotary cutters and mats are the greatest thing for quilting. It makes the cutting so much faster so that you can get to the sewing.

Have fun. Any questions just ask.

PS keep the mat flat and not in the hot sun. It will buckle.

Thanks for all the great tips!

I have the manual for the troublesome sewing machine, have followed the suggestions, but maybe I just need to spend a significant amount of time fiddling with the upper and lower tension until I get it right.. Not really in the mood to spend a large amount of time on it right now because I want to get started making the quilts..

Sunday my DstepD called and mentioned to me that the baby quilt I made for her DD when she is a baby is now being used by her DGD (a toddler)!! She refuses to use any other blanket.. I was surprised that they still had it.. Nice to know it meant enough to all of them that they hung on to it.. That particular quilt was made all in flannel - nice and soft..

 

[C.Ann]

I have had a mat and a rotary cutter since I made my second quilt 21 years ago. My first one was cut by hand. I still have it on my bed.

It is very easy to use but the first and best rule I can give you is CLOSE THE BLADE EVERYTIME YOU ARE NOT USING IT. That is is one of the sharpest things you can come across.

Folding the fabric is the most important thing. It needs to be folded just right to be able to get straight cuts. You might want to look on line for some instructions.

Rotary cutters and mats are the greatest thing for quilting. It makes the cutting so much faster so that you can get to the sewing.

Have fun. Any questions just ask.

PS keep the mat flat and not in the hot sun. It will buckle.

Well you said "just ask", so here I am! LOL..

Received my self-healing mat and rotary cutter last week - and finally used it this week.. I've been spending the past few days cutting out the pieces for the jeans quilt that I'm going to make for my DGD..

I have a question though - about the cutter.. Because I'm cutting through denim (no more than 2 layers at a time), it seems that the razor has gotten dull very quickly.. Is that typical - or am I doing something wrong? I did purchase refills for it, but it seems strange to me that I would have to replace the blade so soon..

I kept the large, flat box that the mat and cutter arrived in, so I'll store it flat in that - under my bed..

Got the other machine all oiled up and in perfect running condition, so I'm good to go there.. That's the machine I prefer anyhow..

Someday when I'm bored I'll fiddle around with the tension on the Brother machine.. Right now I'm just getting very anxious to start piecing together the quilt pieces I have cut out..

I'm having so much fun with this.. Something tells me I'll be doing quite a few quilts while I'm here at the lake - and I LOVE the mat, the very large acrylic see-through ruler that came with it, and the rotary cutter.. Things are definitely moving along much faster!!

 

[MouseEarsJenny]

Advice from my mom who quilts for a living:

The blades that come with the rotary cutter are of poorer quality. The ones you can purchase as replacements should last longer, but when you are cutting denim, any blade will wear faster.

(Side note from me - when Mom drags me kicking and screaming into making a quilt, I couldn't manage without the rotary cutter. Love it!)

For your Brother, check the thread path on the upper thread and make sure that everything is clean - such as the tension disks - make sure they are free from dust and threads, etc.

The upper tension is usually at fault. But make sure the bobbin is also clean and that you are using the same thread top and bottom. Beyond that, you'll probably have to send it to repair.

Also, mom sends the advice that you should start and finish with the same machine unless you have a quarter inch foot on every machine because otherwise small variances in the seam allowance can make the quilt not come together correctly. Her backups all have a quarter inch foot.

If you run into other rotary cutter/quilt issues, drop me a PM and I'll send you my mom's e-mail. She's amazing with this sort of thing. She loves her older machine, too. I think it's a 1935 Singer Featherweight. (But she uses a 2 year old Kenmore for most of her quilts. She tells me the Singer works better on denim, though!) Good luck with your quilts!

 

[C.Ann]

Advice from my mom who quilts for a living:

The blades that come with the rotary cutter are of poorer quality. The ones you can purchase as replacements should last longer, but when you are cutting denim, any blade will wear faster.

(Side note from me - when Mom drags me kicking and screaming into making a quilt, I couldn't manage without the rotary cutter. Love it!)

For your Brother, check the thread path on the upper thread and make sure that everything is clean - such as the tension disks - make sure they are free from dust and threads, etc.

The upper tension is usually at fault. But make sure the bobbin is also clean and that you are using the same thread top and bottom. Beyond that, you'll probably have to send it to repair.

Also, mom sends the advice that you should start and finish with the same machine unless you have a quarter inch foot on every machine because otherwise small variances in the seam allowance can make the quilt not come together correctly. Her backups all have a quarter inch foot.

If you run into other rotary cutter/quilt issues, drop me a PM and I'll send you my mom's e-mail. She's amazing with this sort of thing. She loves her older machine, too. I think it's a 1935 Singer Featherweight. (But she uses a 2 year old Kenmore for most of her quilts. She tells me the Singer works better on denim, though!) Good luck with your quilts!

Thank you so very much for all of the advice and the offer of your mom's email address.. That is so generous of you! Have you checked to see if she would mind?

I've quilted by machine before - on both of these machines - but prefer the older one better.. Both have the quarter inch foot, so if I "had" to switch to the Brother (if I ever get the tension right) it wouldn't be a problem..

I've searched and searched for somewhere that I could send the Brother for repair, but I'm in a very, very small mostly seasonal town in the mountains and have had no luck so far.. The next time I go to the General Store, I'm going to ask if they know of anyone.. Sure would be a lot faster than trying to get the tension "just right" on my own..

Thanks again.. You've been a big help!

 

[Melissa R]

Whenever I start having tension problems, I always open up my machine (down where the bobbin goes) and clean out the lint that collects there. I also second the idea to try a new needle and rethread both the top and bobbin. Have you tried a different thread and bobbin to see if there's an issue with one of them? I had issues last week while sewing and tried a different bobbin and everything was fine again - I'm not sure why that bobbin was causing me trouble but it seemed to be the cause.

With your rotary cutter/mat, I just want to reiterate the two things you've been told - make sure to store it flat and out of the sun, and make sure to always close that blade. I read about someone who cut their foot really badly when they dropped their cutter off the table and it hit the top of her foot. I dropped mine once while cutting so the blade was out, and I jumped out of the way fast because I was remembering the horror story I'd read about that woman. The other suggestion if you tend to get the dropsies (like I do!) is to never use the cutter when you're barefoot - at least then if you drop it open, your foot is protected!

Enjoy your sewing!!!