Just now catching up on some posts. THIS is a really neat place as I struggle with machine quilting.

I love to piece and make a billion tops, but the basting & quilting always get delayed as I'm a very poor quilter. SITD only lasts so long.. 

I have quilted somewhere around 400 quilts. I began with handquilting and all the designs were marked first.  Then I began on my domestic and just did very simple straight stitching. I finally tried freemasonry and once the fear of ruining the quilt wore off I just loved it. Marking designs is also easier, you can also follow the print of the fabric. My breaking point was stuffing a queen size with a allover design, I broke down and got a longarm and had to learn all over again. I also took in quilts for others and did free charity quilts for my guild. I have not quilted on my domestic in years and last time I tried it was like starting over.

So I will quit waffling on and just want to say get on your machine and just start doing it. Make some dog blankets to practice but just practice. 

Sometimes the computer just doesn't understand what you are saying ...   LOL

"I finally tried freemasonry and ......."

Ya know I saw that after I posted but since I use my phone to post and that takes time I figured all if you would know what I meant. 

But now when I approach Lily Aurora to do some freemotion work I might have an attack of the giggles .....

One sad thing I have figured out since I got my pacemaker implanted in my chest is that pantograph work is not going to be good for me. I thought I felt something "funny" when I was doing panto work on a small quilt and I instinctively moved more to the side of the head of my HQ Avante instead of standing so close to it. (You know, instead of standing with my elbows really close to my sides, I moved my arms to a more open position so I could be back away from the wheel.) The "funny" tingle stopped.

So I after I was done with the pantograph work I did some checking on the pacemaker company's website about the magnets in home appliances (like sewing machines) and yeah, that can be a problem with their pacemakers. And so can the magnets in my induction cooktop.

I said some bad words.

I guess you just need to figure out the best position for yourself while quilting so you keep the pacemaker happy.

Tucker, do you have a walking foot?   I follow a pattern designer, she does almost all of her quilting a horizontal wavy line with a walking foot.  If she hadn't mentioned it you won't notice.

So get some fusible batting, baste and quilt.  Anyone who loves quilts is not going to criticize your quilting.

Jo

glad it gave you that tingle and you recognized it.  I've seen warning signs around but my dad never mentioned it being a problem when he got his.  But as a man, it probably never occurred to him to comment on it to anyone.

I have never felt the "tingle" and have not ever had a problem with my pacemaker.  I think pacemakers are more advanced now and less susceptible to outside stimulations.  The only thing I hated was giving up was my TENS unit for my back.  The electrical stimulation always felt so good for a sore back.

Carolyn

Carolyn, I've only had my pacemaker since the end of September so it's pretty doggoned new. I dunno, perhaps it is the defibrillator part that "tingled". It was a very odd sensation, that's for sure.

I'll check with the pacemaker implant people when I go in for my six month check-up and perhaps I'll be the first one to ever ask them about a longarm machine.  LOL