Alex's TQS Classroom

[View My TQS Profile BrinkOfNorway]

Hi SON...Your ear rings are greate!!! You look real good with that gitar..you play it too??? I am sooo happy you posted some pictures for me

[View My TQS Profile Judymc]

Sonuvaquilter, you're a character! Sherry, my son (27) has a great sense of humor, too!
Judy in Torrance

[View My TQS Profile QuilterLynn]

Say, young man, you make me wish I had a daughter young enough to introduce you to! You do indeed clean up pretty well! Like the guitar pic..........Christmas at church?
Lynn

[View My TQS Profile ipquilter]

He's a cutie. No shortage of little girls for him to hang out with. His current GF is a Junior Miss pageant winner. Know what he likes most about her? Her confidence and indepence. Cool, huh? Of course it doesn't hurt that she's just as cute as she can be. The pic of him playing his guitar was taken at the yearly Chili Cook Off and Talent Show at our church.
My kids are a blessing.
Sherry

[View My TQS Profile vmckenna]

After watching Alex's great how to videos on hand quilting I decided to start practicing. My stitches on the front are beginning to look pretty good and even - but on the back - well it leaves a lot to be desired. Sometimes I just catch a lonely thread-other times the stitch is slightly smaller than the front.

So - here's my question - should the back stitches look the same as the front? If so -then how is that accomplished. I will continue to practice before moving on the a 'real quilt'. I'm using red thread on a cream fabric to really see the stitches.

Thanks for all the advice.
Virginia

[View My TQS Profile AlexAnderson]

As far as I am concerned my back stitches need look like the top stitches - BUT, they too should be even - at least that would be what I am heading for but also, i will use a print on the back and that covers a multitude of sins -

[View My TQS Profile vmckenna]

As far as I am concerned my back stitches need look like the top stitches - BUT, they too should be even - at least that would be what I am heading for but also, i will use a print on the back and that covers a multitude of sins -

Thanks Alex for the quick response. My stitches certainly need some work then. Is there a trick to get the stitches even? My 'real quilt' that I have in the works will have a darker tone on tone backing. For the practice I'm using just a light colored fabric with dark thread to really see what's happening. Not good at times-almost there others - practice, practice, practice is in the cards for today.
Virginia

[View My TQS Profile AlexAnderson]

loosen up the three layers in the hoop - keep them even, but loose - that gives you better shot at the rocking stitch -

[View My TQS Profile snowplow3840]

Alex you should be spending your Sunday enjoying your family and your friends. I am surprised to see you blogging and answering questions. Love your dedication but as I heard you and Ricky say once (early on in one of the shows -maybe 101 even) QUILTERS NEED TO GET A LIFE SO DEAR HEART GET A LIFE!!!!!!

just concerned about you and your sanity Ann aka Snowplow

[View My TQS Profile vmckenna]

loosen up the three layers in the hoop - keep them even, but loose - that gives you better shot at the rocking stitch -

Thanks Alex for the tip. What I discovered - I had the layers too loose. Once I took out some of the floppiness the stitches on the back and the front were more consistent. I also went back and watched all the videos again. When I got to the one about the backing fabric - I realized that my white on white fabric could also be part of the problem. I'm still practicing. Thanks again for being such a great teacher.
Virginia

[View My TQS Profile Judymc]

One time I used a white on white for backing that was like quilting through canvas!!! I pretty much stay away from them now.

[View My TQS Profile cbear]

I am so excited that Alex is going to do a class on quilting design! I'm always looking for something different than stitch in the ditch or menadering and I have several questions about design.
I've been auditioning designs for the 2" sashing on a scrap quilt I am ready to quilt and I find that 2" ready made stencils bring the design right out to the seam line. A 1 1/2" design of course, leaves a quarter inch margin around the design. Which way is the correct way to fill the area?
Another question is about quilting density. I understand the concept, except when doing something like outlining an applique design and then quilting a dense design outside that outlined area to make the applique design pop. At what point does it become uneven quilting? If you have handled the interior of the quilt in this manner, how should the boarder be quilted?
Cindy

[View My TQS Profile Bluesbroad]

This is a perfect class for you to teach, Alex! You were fortunate to have a master teach you from the beginning, and thank you for sharing what you learned!

I'm always stumped in deciding what design to quilt! Frequently, my decision is based on the size of the blocks and the stencil I have in that size

I'm really looking forward to this series!
Brita

[View My TQS Profile Sewdreamy]

I'm really happy Alex is doing the quilting design class...I'm sure it will be applicable even to us machine fanatics. It's one of my weakest points. Thanks, Alex!

[View My TQS Profile Judymc]

Cindy, I would use the 1 1/2 inch stencil so you aren't quilting through the seam allowances. Brita, you can always transfer your quilting stencil design onto a piece of paper then take it to a copy machine and enlarge or reduce the size to fit your block. If you use a dark pen over your new stencil copy, you can put it under your block or use a light box to transfer the design to your block. Hope this helps.