A QUILTING we will go… by Elaine Theriault June 5, 2014 written by Elaine Theriault June 5, 2014 617 Have you ever wished you had the time to just play with your sewing machine? The more I play with the Husqvarna Viking H|Class 100 Q, the more I like the machine. Every time I turn it on, I find another feature or well thought out detail. This makes me think that I had better set aside some time to play with my other sewing machines. I am probably just scratching the surface of their capabilities. A quilting we will go… I had a binding to put on a quilt this morning and I thought I would see how the H|Class 100 Q performs. I joined all the strips and there was no issue as I chain pieced the joins together. While I am in the habit of using a ender/leader on my machine, there was no need to use one on the H|Class 100 Q. The fabric at the start of the seams did not get sucked into the bobbin case and flowed very freely under the presser foot. When I sew a binding onto a quilt, I like to use my Dual Feed Foot (you may know it as a walking foot). It helps to stabilize the binding and get a nice even stitch along the length and especially in the corners. Remember the Presser Foot Ankle? – well it has to come off when you want to put the Dual Feed Foot on. Easy to do as there is a thumb screw (the big black one) that makes it easy to take the Presser Foot Ankle off. And then just as easy to put the Dual Feed Foot on. The combination of the feed dogs and the Dual Feed Foot make sewing that binding a snap. And I find that the edge of the Dual Feed Foot is a great guide to getting the proper seam width. One of the biggest issues I see with binding is that people take too narrow a seam. I like to use 2 1/2″ strips for my binding and the width of my seam is a generous (almost 3/8″) You can see that the seam is a very generous 1/4″ – borderline on the 3/8″ I got a beautiful even stitch all the way around. And when I flip the binding over to the back to be stitched, the binding completely covers my stitch line. Since the Dual Feed Foot was on the machine, I tried some stitch in the ditch. Can you see the stitches??? They are there! Again – I used a bobbin weight thread on the top and in the bobbin. Makes it very difficult to see your stitches and if you goof on the stitching, the thin thread makes the goof less visible. I gave the Handlook Quilting Stitch a whirl as well. This is Stitch Number 08 on the machine. Have to say that it looks much more even than MY hand quilting stitch! What do you think so far? I know – who would have thought that all this came on an entry level computerized sewing machine. I decided it was time to try free-motion. I was thrilled to see that there was a lever on the back of the machine that allowed the feed dogs to be lowered (rather than covered with a plastic plate). A small lever on the back of the machine (you have to remove the tool box to access the lever) lowers and raises the feed dogs. The Open-Toe Free-Motion Spring Foot is another foot that you have to remove the Presser Foot Ankle in order to put the foot on the machine. The thumb screw makes that an easy task. I did a small stitch out of some stippling. I have to say that I was impressed. It stitched like a charm. If you decide that you want to quilt with this machine, I think it will handle any size quilt, however, you will have to think through the quilting process because of the available space in the throat plate area. I would highly recommend that you use the extension table. While the surface around the needle is quite large and more than sufficient for piecing, you need a bit more space (as is the case on ALL sewing machines) for quilting – especially free motion. Two other details I want to mention. This has happened to all of us: you are in a hurry – you put your fabric under the presser foot and start to sew. Well not so with this machine. If the presser foot is not DOWN, the machine will beep three times and will not sew. A brilliant feature!!!! The other detail also concerns the presser foot. When I went to put the quilt under the machine to put the binding on, there wasn’t enough room under the presser foot. AHA – the presser foot has an extra “lift” that allows you to raise the foot even higher and slide your work underneath. I’ve been working with the Husqvarna Viking H|Class 100 Q for a couple of days now. I’m loving the machine more and more each day and each time I try something new. I am so convinced that this machine is perfect for classes, retreats, and the backyard that I am taking ONLY this machine for a five day sewing retreat. I know – I am stunned too!!!! I have every confidence that the machine will plow through the huge bag of projects that I have prepared. There is a mixed bag of techniques this machine is going to have to perform – applique, piecing, curved piecing, paper piecing, quilting. Can’t wait!!!! On that note – I have a day with much craziness ahead and best start to tackle it. Have a great day!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ciao!!!!!!!!!!!! Print this page or save as a PDF FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinRedditWhatsappTelegramEmail Elaine Theriault Elaine Theriault is a teacher, writer and pattern designer who is completely obsessed with quilting. Elaine’s Tech Tips column (originally published in A Needle Pulling Thread magazine) is now available online in e-book format at QUILTsocial.com. When not quilting, she enjoys spending time with her two dogs, Lexi and Murphy, or can be found cycling across the country. Her blog is crazyquilteronabike.blogspot.com. previous post It`s all about the FEET for the Husvqarna Viking H Class 100Q sewing machine next post Summertime and the SEWING is easy! YOU MAY ALSO LIKE... 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