Hand quilting vs. Free motion machine quilting

There is always this fear of treading into new horizons. I'm very at home with hand quilting because you can do it anywhere and you are in full control of your stitching. Then I told myself I have to overcome the fear of machine quilting which actually looks very formidable and signed up for Anna's class last year when I went back to Malaysia. Forever ambitious, I thought I'd try it out on the borders of my hand quilted single comforter.

As with anything new, practice makes perfect. I'm rather fastidious and won't settle for anything less. So it was first try, unpick, second try, unpick, third try.....you get the picture. 

I bought some basic equipment to make the free-motion quilting easier.

(1) A wide table for my sewing machine

(2) A quilting foot

With the leftover material, I came up with 2 cushions

Having completed the quilt, I still wanted to do more free motion quilting, so I made a plastic bag dispenser. I stuff all the plastic bags into this bolster looking thing and hang it up. The bottom is scrunched together by elastic. Plastic bags can be pulled from the bottom when needed.

Quilting

I enjoy hand quilting because I can take the project with me anywhere, especially when I watch tv. Unless the tv programme demands my full attention, I normally multitask. This is a lap quilt that I made for my late mother-in-law. I was told that she loved it and would show it to all who came to visit her.

An example of machine applique. The quilting is done by hand.

A quilted single bed cover using the binding technique

A christmas tree quilt to throw over the back of a sofa

                      Hand sewn applique and shadow quilting

                 

 A quilt for my daughter Sonya

A label behind a quilt for my nieceny

                    A quilt made from a jelly-roll

     This is a quilt I made for charity using simple blocks and rectangles. I was told that the child in the foster home loved it.

        This is a teddy bear quilt for Michael's grand nephew

                                   A Christmas wall hanging quilt

                             Quilted cushion with  musical instrument design

      This is a cover for my sewing machine.  I embroidered the centre picture with a mixture of wool and embroidery thread. Then mount it on yellow gingham before quilting it.

                            A quilted bag for the musician

                 Three patchwork-quilted cushions using jelly roll

Hand quilted king-size comforter with a Japanese theme.

           Another angle of the quilt

 Patchwork quilt using Hawaiian batik for my newspaper editor

Hand sewn baby quilt for our grand daughter

Crazy patchwork Christmas table runner

Quilted baby blanket with dinosaur motif for my grandnephew

  

I love hens so can resist quilting this foursome!

Hand applique and shadow quilting....dozens of hearts for a cushion

My friend gave me a half done project and I completed it. Cotton lace soaked in tea to get the vintage hue.

Sun flower cross stitch on hand quilted cushion for Michael's aunt who lives in Thurles

                    A close up of the 1st patch work cushion

                       A close-up of the 2nd cushion

A quilted bag with Peter Rabbit motif to house Easter delights

                 

                                       A combination of felt-applique and patchwork

                          A close up of the third cushion