Machine Quilting Makes Me Talk Like a Pirate (Maybe even a sailor)

Arrrgh, me hearties — I’ve been at it once again — I’m talking about machine quilting !!?#*&&!!!

My new (to me) Bernina Virtuoso 153 Quilter’s Edition, wonderful and steady as she blows, cannot (apparently) save me from my own mistakes.

I’m determined to machine quilt my pix-elated sugar skull wall hanging. So I decided to use my walking foot and quilt it on the diagonal — easy as begging for candy from neighbors, right?

As I began quilting, I was struggling with the pins and I was having trouble keeping the stitches even. Despite the walking foot, the weight of the quilt kept slowing the stitches down and making them very uneven. It was bothering me, but I was trying to learn to live with it. Then I turned the quilt over to take a peek at the back side….

ARRRgh (more pirate talk) (even more sailor talk *&$#@@!!!).

For this failed attempt at machine quilting, I was using a new “jeans” needle, my walking foot, safety pins to secure the sandwich and my usual piecing thread in both the top and in the bobbin. The stitch length was set to 3.

After I stopped with my pirate soliloquy, I picked out every one of those stitches and then threw the backing and the top into the wash in an effort to remove all of the tiny bits of thread clinging to my quilt like barnacles on a sea cow.

Here are the steps I’ve taken before beginning my second attempt:

I went to Joann to buy some machine quilting thread (all my quilting shops are closed on Sunday). I purchased a Sulky 12 weight thread, hoping to make the stitches more distinct.  Next, I found a great blog post on QuiltSocial.com from Jennifer Houldon on using this thread to machine quilt. I also purchased a can of quilt basting spray. I switched out my walking foot for a free-motion foot, guessing/hoping that I can begin in the center and make a tight stipple pattern that will reduce fabric bunching.

Finally, I am trying to figure out where and how I can protect my floors from the basting spray. I thought I had a large sheet of new drywall in my storage shed to use as a base, but I do not. This isn’t supposed to be this hard, is it?

Any and all advice welcome on any and all of the above! I don’t want to have to keep the eye patch I have on order.