The Joy of Quilting with Your Long-Arm Machine
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KathyQuilts.com
your laser on the majority of your quilts, first learning how the machine feels will give you
greater control and precision as you use a laser.
Note From Rachel:
As an operator in the industrial sewing area, I relied heavily on muscle memory
while sewing. Every day I practiced the same process repeatedly, and over time my
operation became natural and I did not have to consciously put forth as much effort
as I did when first learning. It took me a long time to gain this muscle memory, but over
time, and with patience, it came to me and to my hands. I became more efficient and
had fewer mistakes as I gained this natural muscle memory. As you put in consistent
and diligent effort, over time, quilting will become natural to you. I haven’t at my
industrial sewing operation for years, but I am confident that if I were to go back to
work today, my hands would remember all the steps of the process and it would all
come back to me quickly.
Getting into a creative groove
Create an atmosphere that allows you to concentrate on your quilting and think
of new ideas. You will get into a rhythm with practicing the designs and techniques
you’ve wanted to try. This will significantly help your quilting skills progress as it will
increase the quality of the time you spend quilting. Here are some suggestions that can
help you create this kind of atmosphere:
• Schedule your quilting time. Let family/friends know you will be working at that time.
• Before you begin quilting, make sure you have all the tools and materials on hand
that you will be using.
• Keep your tools nearby and in an easy to reach place.
• Stay organized. Create a space for all your tools so that nothing gets lost.
• Listen to music that allows you to block out distractions and concentrate. If audio
books do not distract you, these can also help you get into a creative groove.
• Remove distractions. If you have work, tomorrow’s busy schedule, or what you’re
going to make for dinner taking away your attention, either try to get those
things out of your mind or take care of them first so that you can concentrate
on your quilting.
it’s not about being
perfect,
it’s about being
confident
