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Blonnie: As a beginner free motion machine quilter, I still have a lot to learn in techniques and tools that I need to make this adventure easier and far less stressful. While Carla was showing me how to get started and how to take the stress out of free motion, she introduced me to the Fons & Porter Quilting Glove. I put them on and felt like a pro. (Although I expect to be in about 5 yrs, maybe). What a difference the gloves make in maneuvering the project around versus bare handed. You have much more control of the project being quilted and it doesn’t escape your clutches. They are comfortable, cute, (mine are red), and the non skid palms make the task much easier. I suggest you always use quilting gloves when machine quilting. It takes a lot of the headaches out of the job and it makes you want to go ahead and tackle the next one. Two things though, with the Fons and Porter’s glove, it is almost impossible to thread the machine needle or any other task similar to that like you can with other gloves. So go bare handed or you will get caught. Also the gloves are thread magnets. So all your little thread worms will attach themselves to your gloves, and you will try to remove them with the gloves on, and then you get in trouble because your hands are not wrapped around not only the worms, but your own hands. But besides those two little things, the gloves are great. Blonnie's Ratings: 
I just wanted to end by saying what fun I had this year in sharing the spot with Carla in being a Gadget Girl. We loved demonstrating the great tools and toys to everyone and you all were so interested in what we had to share. I do want to tell you that all but one or two gadgets were gadgets that we had in our own sewing rooms. We wanted to share the tools we used and were important to us in our quilt making experience. So when you saw us demo, we were using our own rulers, bobbin holders, seam rippers, spray basting, pounces, etc. Thanks for all your interest, and looking forward to the gadgets that the new Gadget Girls will be introducing us to. | ||
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Machingers by Quilters TouchCarla: I'm one of those people who must use quilting gloves when free motion quilting; otherwise, I don't have good control moving the quilt smoothly while using my home sewing machine. Using quilting gloves, either the Fons and Porter brand or Machingers, have improved my skills and have made quilting my quilts myself an enjoyable experience. I had observed quilters extolling the merits of Machingers for quite a while but it wasn't until I took a machine quilting class from Kathy Kuryla at the TVQA (Tennessee Valley Quilters Association) Spring Seminar last year that I actually tried them. Ever since, I have been a Machingers convert. Machingers are similar to a support style glove so they are comfortable to wear for long stretches of time. Unlike Blonnie's experience with the Fons and Porters' gloves being a "thread magnet", threads don't stick to Machingers. The biggest difference that I have found, however, is that I am able to thread a sewing machine needle, manipulate winding and replacing a bobbin, and pin and use quilting pins with no problems while wearing Machingers. Both brands of gloves come in various sizes and it is important that you wear the proper size for the closet fit. Quilting gloves should not be baggy nor should they be so tight that your fingers are uncomfortable. When I purchased my first pair of Fons and Porter gloves, I didn't realize that the color of the gloves indicated the size so while I liked the color very much, the fit was not so good. My first pair of Machingers was also the wrong size as I had bought a M/ L rather than a S/M. So, do some research as to how to choose your size for a particular brand.
I, too, have enjoyed being a Gadget Girl and I thank "President Michele with one L" for asking Blonnie and I to take on this position for the past year. Quilters are the greatest people in the world and we've had the opportunity to meet so many of you while back at our table. Keep up the good work, everyone! |
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