LONGARM MACHINE QUILTING - Custom Machine Quilting for Ready Set Quilt Shop Sample

[@little1942]

One of my professors put it this way: “Eat the meat, spit out the bones.” It’s a good rule to live by. Enjoy watching your work and your process.

[@judithkois1892]

Thank you for this video (little shakey) I love your quilting and I too watch different quilters for inspiration. Love the rulers!

[@michael.quilts]

Thanks Judith - and so sorry about the shaky setup I had back then. Happy Quilting and Happy Holidays! Michael

[@cindys6547]

So helpful for me, a newbie at longarm quilting! Thank you!

[@lindadittrich151]

where have you been all my quilty, FM learning life? Love your talent and teaching! later... ready to watch and learn more from you!!!

[@michael.quilts]

LOL. Hi Linda! You made my day! So glad you are enjoying. I am actually filming a custom quilt right now and needed a break. Will post it by end of week. Happy Quilting! Michael;

[@sandan2358]

Stunning quilting! I use bright orange thread when basting, easier for me to see to pull out later. 😊

[@michael.quilts]

Thank You. Bright orange thread sounds like something I should do! Anyting to help my eyes. Happy Quilting! Michael

[@donnabarnard101]

Your a true artist!! I long arm I’m 69 Was a hand quilter with for 50 years Wish I was a gifted as you but you are inspiring me to do my best I custom only

[@michael.quilts]

Hi Donna. Wow - thank you so much. I am flattered. I am so glad to inspire you. Happy Quilting! Michael

[@dianeturner7090]

Hi Michael I know I'm about 2 hrs late but I just got my first new to me longarm. I'm really excited about your rulers and will be adding some over time. But thank you for sharing your talent with us. It's nice to see organic quilting at its best. 😁

[@michael.quilts]

Thank you so much, Diane!

[@clairepereira8592]

I too watch quilting videos all the time!!. Entertainment of chooice.😂

[@cindyw6621]

I LOVE watching ruler work. So calming, well all quilting is in MHO. You rulers look great and so does the stitch on your machine, perfection!!!!

[@michael.quilts]

Thank you, Cindy! So glad you enjoy. Michael

[@mari-annstumblingbear174]

Great video! And yet another subscription! I am self-taught quilter and now self-taught long armer (oye vey!). . . . I watch KZbin quilting tutorials all the time - it is my go to as well :) Thank you for your instruction - I learn something new every day!

[@michael.quilts]

Hi Mari-Ann - thanks so much for your comment. Sounds like you are well on your way to a successful quilting journey! Happy Holidays, Michael

[@cathylocklin3215]

Beautiful work!❤️

[@clairepereira8592]

I love your sampler. Great ideas. For designs and fills.

[@michael.quilts]

Thank you so much, Claire!

[@pattyc1981]

Thank you for posting I have a Innova also and do free motion for about 3 years

[@michael.quilts]

Thank you and Happy Quilting, Patty!

[@joankiely3614]

Really enjoyed watching you custom quilt the quilt you made to hang in the shop. Can you please tell me what you marked your quilt with, the blue marker, and what brand it is? Thank you. Cheers 😊❤️🥰💕😍😘

[@cyndieallen2204]

I love watching you quilt! I am learning a lot watching and listening!😃

[@michael.quilts]

Thanks so much, Cyndie! Happy Quilting! Michael

[@bonnielee8935]

While I appreciate the skill required to successfully operate a program and getting a quilt set up properly for computerized quilting, there's just something that speaks to me with organic, custom quilting. Love your sampler quilt showcasing your skills. What a treat and thank you for sharing!

[@michael.quilts]

Thank you so much, Bonnie. I am glad you enjoyed. Happy Quilting! -Michael

[@kathyleenmedland8308]

Thanks for getting g back to me.

[@stephanieturner7417]

Stunning!

[@michael.quilts]

Thanks so much, Stephanie!

[@DonnaCorum-o2m]

is it possible could you tell me how you made this quilt excactly . i would love to make this one for myself. i would appreciate any help you can give me. thank you

[@janwilliams8930]

Enjoying watching! What threads do you like to use the most?

[@michael.quilts]

Hi Jan! So glad you are enjoying the videos. Sorry this one was so shaky (filmed a couple years ago.) In answer to your thread question: I am pretty sure I used Glide 40wt thread on this one, since I see a very slight sheen. My personal preference is 40 weight thread in the top (GLIDE and Superior Thread's OMNI are my go-tos for high quality, huge range of colors, and price. They are both polyester- based. OMNI produces more lint in the bobbin area, but not nearly as much as a cotton thread would.) and then I typically use Superior Thread's BOTTOM LINE or GLIDE 60 in the bobbin - and I try to get "close" in color, but prefer not to change out bobbin threads in a project. Sometimes I use the exact thread in bobbin as the top, but I find I get really great tension on my machine with a thinner thread in the bobbin. Hope this helps. 40 wt thread does not produce a huge amount of buildin-up when stitching over previously stitched lines, but of course thinner threads build up less (like Superior Thread's SO FINE) - I just prefer 40 weight thread to quilt with. Hope this heelps. Happy Quilting! Michael

[@janwilliams8930]

@@michael.quilts Thanks for such a prompt reply! I’m a fan of Superior Threads too. I haven’t tried Omni though. I have a long arm at my daughter’s and I also work at a quilt shop doing their machine quilting. I use Aurifil thread there. It’s nice but too heavy and linty for my taste. I much prefer to use finer threads.

[@dandyquilter585]

Hello Mike, Your video gives me hope maybe I can do custom quilting one day. I was interested in how you move thru the quilt. Do you roll it back and forth as you baste and do outlining? Do you ever remove the quilt and turn it and reattach to the longarm? Ive tried both of these and although the finished quilting is pretty good...I seem be missing the secret to perfectly formed well placed stitches. Thank you for your video.

[@michael.quilts]

Hi Dandy Quilter! First of all - my apologies for not responding sooner - I was out sick, but much better now. So I approach each quilt differently, but lately - even though it takes more time - I find myself basting my client quilts with a very large and loose all over meander, then rolling back to quilt whatever areas I would like. The only time I ever take the quilt completely off the frame, turn it, and reload it is if I am doing feather work and I don't feel confident in quilting in a certain direction. As long as I have been custom quilting - sometimes my feathers don't translate well in certain directions, so I will turn the quilt. I use magnetic bars when I do this, unless there is a substantial amount of quilting to do, in which case I will pin. Hope this helps!

[@mrmillillion96]

Love your video great learning tool

[@michael.quilts]

Thanks so much!

[@tamrich100]

I like your technique. The camera was shaky so hard to watch. Thanks

[@kathyleenmedland8308]

I like your work I was wondering why some of you leafs seam to be directional.

[@michael.quilts]

Hi Kathyleen - thanks for your comment. As far as the directional leaves - I'm not sure where you are referring, but I do try to point leaves in directions as I travel - just a way to get to where I want to go. Sometimes I intentionally show direction to add movement to the quilt. But in this case, I do not remember since it was from Oct 2019 and my memory is selective...LOL. Happy Quilting! Michael

[@showmegalusa4521]

Love your videos. What marker do you use? Don’t you just love your Innova? I know I love mine.the Cadillac of longarms.

[@michael.quilts]

Thanks Nancy! Yep, I love my Innova! I usually use the standard Dritz Mark-B-Gone blue water solueable marker. I do like Frixion pens for light colored fabric though. I find heat to be an easier way to erase than water. But I don't like them on dark fabric - had a problem with residue that wouldn't go away. Maybe just me. But yeah - I like the Mark-B-Gone markers. Thank You! Michael

[@kathyenglish8427]

I enjoy your videos and your easy style! I’ve tried basting but my ruler base catches on the thread on the bottom 😞perhaps it’s because I have a Gammill

[@michael.quilts]

Hi Kathleen! You know what - mine sometimes catches too, but I forgot to mention that I normally take my ruler base off for all of my basting. I leave the ruler foot on, but I take the base off. -Michael

[@dianeluciano2468]

Michael are you stitching with stitch regulator on? I notice your needle moves up and down a little while you reposition ruler. May I ask what you have your settings on? Sometimes when I stop, my needle needs a little tug either way to get started again with my stitch regulation on.

[@michael.quilts]

Hi Diane! Yes - I use stitch regulation. What you are seeing is "Start Speed" on INNOVA machines. It's the setting that once you push the start button, it's going to stitch at that speed to start even if you are not moving the machine, and same thing when you stop moving the machine - until you hit the button to stop. Other machines may call this Coast or Cruise or something else. But yes, I use that all the time so when I pause or stop, I am getting an extra stitch or two. This sometimes help to create a sharp corner and avoid missing that last stitch, which otherwise might look like a slightly rounded corner. I hope this explanation helped! Happy Quilting! Michael

[@dianeluciano2468]

@@michael.quilts Thank you for your quick reply Michael. I also have an Innova. May I ask what your start speed is set on?

[@michael.quilts]

@@dianeluciano2468 Hi Diane. I use Start Speed 75, which is pretty slow, but just enough to get in an extra stitch or two.

[@dianeluciano2468]

@@michael.quilts Thank you!

[@sandrawilburn5934]

What's a good marking pen

[@michael.quilts]

Hi Sandra. I like using the Purple disappearing ink marking pen if I am going to quilt right away. Otherwise - the blue Marks-B-Gone if I need the marks to stay until I remove them with water.

[@roycarraway4270]

When you run out of bobbin thread in the middle of a design how do you tie off the threads?

[@michael.quilts]

Unless it's being entered into a show, I do a few stitches on top of each other and clip the threads close to the quilt top. This is usually not noticed by anyone except judges who are looking. But all depends on if the thread is ocntrasting or blending. Otherwise, I take out a few stitches and bury - then start new quilting and bury those separate. Hope this helps. Happy Quilting! Michael

[@Jessop15]

Where can I buy your rulers from the UK please?

[@michael.quilts]

Hi Sylvia. I do not have a UK Distributor, but I should start looking for one. Otherwise you can buy from my website michaelquilts.com (I know the shipping costs are high, but I can't get around that - sure wish I could!). Michael

[@MissCrickitt]

Why do you baste your quilts before you quilt it?

[@michael.quilts]

I often do a loose all over meander basting so that I have more freedom to roll the quilt back and forth early on or if I need to remove the quilt from the frame to load a quick edge to edge quilt for a client before I can complete a custom quilt. Sometimes I do it if it is a very large quilt that I think may have an issue shifting if I quilt too densely in one area first. It's just sort of a precaution that I sometimes take. It does take a few minutes extra, but can be worth it. It's also really great for quilters who float their tops and are not relying on another roller to keep things going in the best direction. But I do not do this to every quilt. Quite a few though. Happy Quilting! Michael

[@MissCrickitt]

@@michael.quilts thank you for responding so quickly. Do you have a video (other then the one you have of the pieced batting) of how you fully load and how you float your quilts on your Gammill? I really like your videos and all the “Helps” you give as you talk thru it. I did see the one where you stated that you are a high school teacher! I am an elementary secretary! It’s hard to be at work when you want to be quilting! Also, do you have more recent videos?

[@michael.quilts]

@@MissCrickitt Here is the channel link: kzbin.info/door/DcVdMXXcYIewEeUtu7J__Avideos I am trying to upload more videos on a more regular basis, but still behind. I applaud you for working in elementary education! I was finally able to resign from high school teaching last year and concentrate on the quilting business - but I still carry those teacher tendencies with me.

[@jefferyyasenchok3521]

Nice hard to watch with the shaky camera but very nice quilting

[@michael.quilts]

Hehe - yeah that was filmed back in Oct 2019. Much better camera set-up now. Sorry for the shaky footage! Happy Quilting! Michael

[@lindashaw6216]

I sure hope you fixed the jiggle ... really like to watch your method but the jiggle so takes away from that ...

[@michael.quilts]

Hi Linda - Yes I did fix that! This video was from October 2019 - new camera and mount since then. Thanks for watching! Michael

[@redknitter]

It was very hard to watch your free hand work. Your camera is vibrating so much I couldn't look at the screen. Would love to see it better.

[@michael.quilts]

Yes - I addressed this in the video itself and in comments over the last couple years. So sorry. It's an older video and my set-up was different then. I debated pulling this video and might go ahead and delete it, but there's a chance someone may still get something good out of it. I have heard you and will consider pulling it again. Thank You, Michael

[@tracykeenan4449]

You need to get that camera of the quilt frame as it’s very shaky and we can’t see very well

[@michael.quilts]

Hi Tracy - yes, this was brought up before and I know it's horrible. That was filmed in 2019 - my set-up has changed a lot since then. Sorry for the shakes back then.

[@annemariemartin4946]

sooo shaky :(

[@michael.quilts]

Yes - I mention that in the video. This is an older video without image stabilization. Sorry. There is still some value to it for some people who can get around the shakiness, so I have kept it up. I'll just take it down if I get too many more negative comments on it. Happy Holidays.

[@annemariemartin4946]

@@michael.quilts so sorry, your quilting work is beautiful ❤️

[@michael.quilts]

@@annemariemartin4946 No need to apologize - I didn't mean I was upset by it or anything. it is very hard to watch - even I can't do it for very long...LOL.

[@marleneverhage1048]

Excellent learning video BUT te jigging of the cameras made me nauseous. It was difficult to watch and focus my eyes. Would have given you 4 out of 5 stars but because of this I would give it a 2 out of 5. Just my opinion, I really like your other videos. I am slightly past beginner long arm and I found a few jewls of advice in video. Tank you.

[@michael.quilts]

Hi Marlene. Sorry about that. Last year's videos were a bit more experimental. Sorry that it made you nauseous. I am trying to pay much more attention about the footage.