I'm in the same situation. My plan is to piece my top in sections, quilt the sections, and then sew the sections together. I believe this is called "quilt as you go."
Salijo

Don't let anyone discourage you from trying. Some of the best machine quilters in the world use home sewing machines.I machine quilt on a 1950s machine mounted over treadle irons and I used this machine for five years for my machine quilting business. (I moved this spring and the business has been put on hold for a while.) I can MQ a king-sized quilt on it. Is it fun when I'm working in the middle? No, but I'm not in the middle for very long, and once I get out further, it gets much easier. Some tips:

If you are doing straight lines, roll the edges. If you are doing free-motion, just smoosh the excess under the arm of the sewing machine. You don't want rigid edges when FM quilting.

Make sure the quilt is supported at your left side and also in front of you. A card table or adjustable ironing board works well at the left side, a table works well for sliding the quilt onto as you work it through the machine.

Make sure you are sitting high enough. You shouldn't have to hunch up your shoulders in order to put your hands on the machine. Most people don't sit high enough and they end up with lots of neck and shoulder pain becauase of it.

Pace yourself. At first you will probably only be able to quilt for 15 minutes before taking a break. Work your way up to longer sessions. I takes me about a week in shape to quilt all day if I've been off for a while.

Don't be too critical of your first efforts. It will seem very difficult, you will get frustrated and you may want to give up in despair. When this happens, stop for the day. The project will look better tomorrow!

Don't let anyone discourage you, it isn't that bad. You have gotten some great advice so far, I agree with everything. I would like to add:

Baste very well, I like to use safety pins.

If you are straight stitching, use a walking foot and alternate the side of the quilt you start on. Even with a walking foot the fabric can "creep" a bit.

Stitching in the ditch isn't as easy as you think. I stitch near the ditch.

If you are stitching a grid, use painters tape to help with hour spacing. It comes in lots of widths, doesn't stick enough to leave marks, and can be re-used several times.

beverly

I'm a new machine quilter too. The advice given is right-on and if you keep those things in mind you will see it's not so bad. One thing to remember is you will get better and better each time you sit at that machine. So give yourself plenty of breaks and don't expect perfection the first time out, or the second, or the third...it is a work in progress.

The only thing I want to add is: I have found if I wear my quilters gloves (with the rubber fingers) my arms and shoulders, (not to mention my control of quilt) feel so much better!

So take your time and have fun! It does get easier...

Susan

Do it! Everything you've read above is good advice and you'll be thrilled with the results. I machine quilt all of mine and do it on a regular machine. Yes, my hands and arms get tired when I'm working on a queen sized quilt. Yes, it's kind of hard to work the folded/rolled quilt under the arm of the machine. Yes, you might have moments of frustration. But it works and it's fast and you'll feel great when it's done!

I tried the gloves and found that they don't work well for me. Not sure why but they made me feel clumsy. Try it with and without to see which you like. You can find lightweight gloves with sticky dots in the garden center at any big store for just a couple dollars.

Kate

I recently finished quilting an 82x98" top on my small machine. I kept putting it off because of the size. But I got it done---not perfect by any means but it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. You've been given good advice. GO SLOW,--- have patience, take lots of breaks. As was mentioned, the center area is the hardest part. The first few blocks took me 35 minutes each to do. As I worked out, I was doing a block in 15-20 minutes.

I found it easier to keep the quilt loosely around the machine area rather than roll edges, because I had to shift the top a lot as I quilted around the block. I had my machine on a large table. Behind the table I had my vacuum-cleaner chest with some thick books piled on it---that was helpful to take some of the bulk of the quilt when needed. To my left, I had my coffee table to take bulk on that side.

I have a tendency to push the fabric through the machine---I had to overcome that,--- let the machine do the work.

I do have to get a better chair as I do hunch my shoulders leaning in towards the machine---I'm going to look for one of those adjustable bar stools that someone mentioned.

I love this forum--everyone is so helpful. I got lots of quilting tips here---wish I could have had access to the 'net' when I first started quilting!!

~Geraldine

All wonderful advice. And, I don't do SID well either, Bev. If you make a wavy line down the ditch, it looks like a design. LOL

As a long time hand quilter, at first I didn't like the way machine quilting looked at all.
Now I do!!
Use plenty of starch and cotton batting sticks to the fabric better.
Use a 14/90 needle.
Rosa

You guys are so helpful :) Thank you.

I'll be buying my fabric tomorrow, and then working with my friend on the cutting on Saturday. I expect to have lots of questions over the coming months, so I hope you can bear with me :)

Hi Rivkadr.

You've gotten great advice--there's not much I can add other than I find that spray basting works GREAT for me. Although It's kind of a challenge, because you need to find a well ventilated place to do it, as well as an area to work on, like a couple of banquet tables pushed together, or the floor (plain on taking a few advil the next day--it kills your back) The tables work the best--if you belong to a church you may be able to use their fellowship hall, It's worth the time and effort though because you end up without puckering in the back.
Another suggestion--I find that I do better if I wait for the effects of my a.m. cup of coffee to wear off. It's best if you're nice and relaxed.

But I'm also writing to find out how you like quilting on your 755Q. I have the 750Q--basically the same model only a different color panel. I love my machine, but wish it had just a little bit wider space to work on, don't you agree? You would think that being a machine for quilters, Viking would've thought of that. But be that as it may, it's been a wonderful machine and I've quilted some nice big wall hangings and baby quilts on it, but have yet to go much bigger.

Hopefully we'll both have good luck with that!

anitastitch, I haven't actually tried quilting on my 755 yet. This is my first quilt! But once I try it, I will let you know.

I'm lucky in that I have a lot of space to work in -- we have a "game" room that's about 20x20, with big tables in it (to play boardgames, of course), so I should be able to spread out on a few tables with no trouble.

I'm making a double Irish chain -- it seemed like it would be pretty easy for a beginner. We'll see how it goes.

Hi Rivkard--

Sounds like you have a nice area to spread out in. Hopefully, you'll find the space on your sewing machine spacious enough also. After writing, I remembered that I did quilt a good sized lap quilt and that worked nicely--not free motion, just straight lines. I just had to roll that quilt nice and tight to give myself room on the right side of the needle to work.

The Irish chain is a nice pattern. One thing, that I'm not sure was mentioned, if you end up quilting on the diagonal, try to always go in the same direction, otherwise you will get puckering on the back between the rows of stitching that were quilted from opposite directions (one of those things I learned the hard way). That happens because when you're sewing on the diagonal, you're sewing along the bias of the backing which can make scary things happen.

Does that make sense? It's hard to explain in words. But anyway, happy piecing, and don't forget to update on the quilting end!

Hi There, I am so glad you asked this question, I have copied and pasted the info from everyone here for reference later on in my quilting endeavors.

Sidnee

Great advice ( I do both machine and hand quilting and have actually done both on a double Irish Chain... locked in the long colored blocks straight across the quilt with walking foot and straight stitch... then hand quilted in the open areas).... I might add...

1. Always warm up first...when starting each day (or if you rested from a.m. to p.m.) use a scrap sandwich to just get the feel of things again and to make sure the machine is working OK

2. Don't race.... find a good medium speed... too slow won't work but too fast will find you in a "corner" sometimes.

3. Does your machine have a speed? If so use a medium speed (for #2 reason's) but if it doesn't, find a medium speed that works for you and then put a block under your foot pedal so when you mash down on it, it will automatically go YOUR speed. This takes the foot out of the thought process and you only have to worry about where you are going :-)))))

4. Most of all... enjoy... and if I were you, I'd probably do a couple of small pieces (like placemats) before I actually threw the bed quilt under the needle