Any quilters around?

[NannyR]

I'm planning a quilt project to keep me busy over the winter and just trying to work out what size. My pattern is 14 squares by 12 squares and I've been looking at doing either 4in or 5in squares.
Using 4in squares the finished size will be roughly 56x48, slightly smaller than I wanted (I want to use it on a single bed). Using 5in squares it will be roughly 70x60, which is a better finished size.

However I'm concerned that the bigger size will be too big to easily quilt using a normal sized sewing machine. What's the largest size quilt you can quilt using a normal sewing machine?

A single should be fine in a normal sewing machine. I’ve done a single in a normal machine.

If you’re doing lines or wavy lines that’s easier than free motion. I clear the space all around the machine so the quilt doesn't crash in to anything. I pull the table out from the wall and put something behind the table to try to create a larger table surface. Ironing board is good.

Good grippy quilting gloves make it easier to control. Making sure all the layers are secure is key. I use 505 basting spay. Also high loft batting is more tricky as it’s so bulky. A nice cotton or mix batting is more flexible and takes up less room when you roll up the sides to get it through the arm of the machine.

I looked at YouTube tutorials before I started. There are some great ones out there. I’ll have a look to see if I can find the ones I found most helpful and post later.

I found the thought of it was more daunting than doing it. Once I started it was fine and it took less time than I expected.

Also if your preference is 4 inch squares, you could always use them and put a border/s around to get the size you want.

I've done a king sized quilt in a normal sewing machine. It was really heavy and unwieldy and I wouldn't choose to do it again, however it was possible. It depends on what sort of quilting you plan to do, if you're going to do straight lines with a walking foot then any size is possible. If you plan to free-motion quilt then a single bed size is about as large as I would be able for. But for either method both sizes that you mention above would be fine.

Here is my most recent one, it was quilted mostly in straight lines with a walking foot, but I did fmq with a ruler in the larger grey areas. All done on a regular sized Janome.

Have a look at quilt as you go, that way you only have a limited amount under the machine at any one time. I've recently completed this one. Did the patches first, then joined the rows with short sashing, then the long columns. Was easy to make as big or little as you needed.

Interesting question for me at the moment, as I'm just starting my first full sized quilt, will probably be about 2 metres square (80 x 80 inches?) although I never know for sure until I'm finished how big my quilts will turn out. My largest so far has been about 2 metres by 140cm (80 x 50 inches?) and that worked ok on a normal machine (a Brother), but doing the middle was a bit of a squash. Quilters on YouTube seem to be split between 'rollers' (who roll the surplus quilt into a tube to get it through the arm of the machine) and 'squashers', who just squash and push the whole thing through. I'm more of a squashed myself. Leah Day has a good video on how it's done.

I'm interested in trying out the 'quilt as you go' technique - does that mean you do the top for each square, then baste it into a sandwich and quilt just that square - and once all the squares are finished as three layers together you then attach them with the sashing? Stupid question: isn't the sashing much flatter than the sandwiched part, or are the strips so narrow that the filling of each square is directly adjoining the next square with no gap? Does it all feel like a single quilt rather than separate squares sewn together?

And I just love both the quilts posted about so far! Really beautiful work and colour choices.

I'm a 'roller' Mentounasc. I find it more comfortable to grip the roll with my right hand for manoeuvring than to try and force my hand into a flat bit of a scrunched quilt.

There’s always hand tying if you want to make it thick or big
m.youtube.com/watch?v=F4bLCfIFT5s

Just looked back and that looks like a rude post. Its not i promise!