I do not know if part of the problem was that some of the blocks are foundation pieces and others are not, but I could definitely tell the difference even thought I worked from the back of the machine. I did not have puckers, but there are a few areas that were thinking about it!!! Spacing was right on except in the last row. I seem to have done the design twice on half the run, but the bobbin thread ran out on the other side. Since this is a practice, I did not go back and rip it out. Of course since I did not even figure out the mistake until I was trimming the quilt, it would have been very difficult to go back, anyway.
What I have learned after two practice quilts:
- Squaring up the quilt and loading is always the best practice and something I already do.
- Finger tracing the pattern several different times was great for helping me think through where I was headed. I basically have done this regularly on freehand designs so that I can plan where to go next.
- A very quick pause at points helps make them sharp. Same plan with freehand.
- ANY loose thread or semi-loose thread on the top can cause a bit of jerky moment, so make sure to check before doing the pass. When I am working from the front I see the threads far in advance and trim as I go.
- Just let the phone ring and keep on doing what you are doing. Call back when you take a break.
- If you step away from the machine, ALWAYS check to remind yourself what you were doing before starting to sew again.
- Until further notice, combination of foundation and non-foundation blocks using a poly bat or even 80/20 will be quilted from the front to help me visualize and work ahead of a puffiness issue.
- Practice new pantos on busy ground-use or donation quilts. Errors don't show as much and the quilt still gets some great texture.
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