How to Quilt Paisley! Quilting on a Home Machine and Longarm Frame

[@sandan2358]

I’m learning on my long arm too. You’re an excellent teacher.

[@francesshirley]

Listening to you is like listening to a friend...thank you.

[@jenniferfarsh675]

That made my day. Leah is very special

[@LeahDay]

Aw! Thank you Frances!

[@LeahDay]

You're so sweet!

[@jenniferfarsh675]

Love how you explain what you are thinking while quilting. It helps tremendously!

[@LeahDay]

I'm so glad that helped! Thank you Jennifer!

[@warrenjimmy8383]

I guess I'm pretty randomly asking but do anybody know of a good site to stream newly released tv shows online?

[@theresathacker6436]

Wonderful! Makes me believe I can do it.

[@Weatheread1]

Love your tutorials on both machines

[@LeahDay]

Thank you Billie! They are a lot more work so I'm trying to figure out how to film ahead so I can share more often.

[@dawnboyd925]

I really love your technique for making the paisley pattern. Very smooth, and very neat. Thank you.

[@LeahDay]

Thank you Dawn!

[@bwaldron8449]

Thanks a lot..Very good description and great to see a tiny blooper..Got good info from that.

[@LeahDay]

That's great to hear! I'm glad you liked to see that!

[@deniselawrence7491]

Leah Day I bumped into the edge of the machine when practicing yesterday also. Next time I am going to try laying down a line of masking tape or a chalk line to help me prevent that. I hope it works as there's noting you can do. I am learning on a friends long arm.

[@LeahDay]

Just be patient! It takes practice to get the hang of quilting no matter what type of machine you're working with!

[@stephanniemetz3610]

Sew fun! ❤️ Thank you!

[@LeahDay]

Thank you for watching Stephannie!

[@laurenml1222]

I keep practicing this one but my paisleys just aren’t consistent ☹️☹️. How do you get it so perfect???

[@LeahDay]

Years of practice. Keep quilting them. Quilt 100. You will see improvement. Quilt 100 more. Contrast your thread so you can see what you're doing and quilt 100 more. Wash and repeat and I promise you will see improvement!

[@laurenml1222]

@@LeahDay I have been quilting so many paisleys I’ve lost count! What I did do was purchase a Sew Steady glider and WOW is it making a work of difference! My paisleys have noticeably improving as I can slide around my quilt sandwich a lot better now! Thank you ☺️

[@briteddy9759]

As always, you have shared great tips on a quilt design. Thank you! Question on the use of water soluble thread: Do you use it both in the top and the bobbin thread? I have used minky a couple of times and I love both the feel and how nicely it shows off the quilting, though I think less dense looks best on the minky. I noticed the there is a drag, so it was nice to hear you confirm that you also experience it and it is not me imagining it.

[@LeahDay]

Yep, always use water soluble thread in the top and in the bobbin. Otherwise one thread will wash out, but the other will not and leave weird little loops of thread on one side. No, you're not imagining Minky dragging! It's GRIPPY!

[@gwennadoty7374]

@@LeahDay Why would you want to use water soluble thread? Isn't it just going to wash away?

[@karenprenger1738]

G wenna Doty the water soluble thread is for basting only :)

[@knitfix_S]

I like that design! 😊

[@LeahDay]

That's great!

[@laurafarkle2993]

Do you prewash your top fabric before piecing when you use Minky for a backing?

[@LeahDay]

Yes, always. It doesn't matter what type of backing or batting I'm using, I always prewash the fabric for my quilts.

[@laurafarkle2993]

Thanks, I really have learned a lot from you!

[@katilarson6198]

Hi Leah! I am a self-taught beginner quilter, and I love your videos! Question about the baby quilt you have during the second half of this video. Do you have a pattern for this quilt somewhere? If so, where can I get it? Thank you!

[@LeahDay]

This was a very old project from 2012 with free form blocks and simple piecing. You can find the posts starting here: freemotionquilting.blogspot.com/2012/06/quilt-along-19-piecing-modern-quilt.html

[@TSMerc98]

Leah, Love your Paisley on the longarm! I am all set up in my quilting shed and beginning to practice, practice on my Grace Qnique 14+ !! I thought pantographs would be easier, since that’s what I’m used to, but have found that I really enjoy FMQ and it looks pretty good!! One question for you - what mode are you using - Precise or Cruise?? Precise seems to really scream at me when I use 16 stitches per inch for going too fast. I look forward to all your videos on the 14+. Keep up the good work, I’m looking to you for inspiration ;)

[@LeahDay]

I like the Cruise setting. I honestly don't know the difference between the two, but that one seemed to flow with me a bit better and I saw better looking stitches. I get a beep too when I swing it out too fast, but lately I've been trying to go slower and be more focused on where I'm going. Now...what should I share next?!

[@dabratmoni]

I'm learning fmq, where should my tension be?

[@LeahDay]

Wherever it works for piecing - that's where I start. I figure if the machine has good tension for piecing, it should continue to have good tension for quilting so I don't usually adjust it. I always match the same thread in the top and bobbin of the machine and that makes this easier too. If you mismatch threads, you automatically have to fiddle to get the threads balanced and they can flux as you quilt more of the quilt. On the longarm this is a bit trickier because it's 100% quilting. For this, I make sure to have a bit of extra space on the edge of the quilt and put a scrap of fabric over the batting and that's where I play and fiddle with the tension before getting started. I have to bend down and look under the frame to see it, but it's worth the extra time so I don't mess up the quilt!