Trying to FMQ and it's not going well!!

Finally this morning, I thought I would start and see if I could FMQ. After I figured how to set the machine, I did a little and it turned out not too bad. I used an embroidery hoop.

Thought I would try without the hoop and things just went downhill from there. I broke two needles because the frame does not slide very well under the needle. Do they sell shorter needles? The darning foot has to come off too. Pain in my **A**S**S. Doesn't work without the hoop!

Then the threads just bunched up underneath.

After several attempts and some very COLORFUL language, I QUIT!!!

I won't give up yet and will try again when I calm down.

Thanks for listening.

I know EXACTLY how you feel!!!! Last time I tried, after a few broken needles, I stepped back to try again another day (sometime in the future).

Do you have one of those quilting frames? I bought one and then couldn't get it under my tension bar/foot holder thingie majiggy. Took it BACK! So frustrating. You just have to get an old Singer and let it hum along with you. Do keep trying though.

I am totally lost what you are trying to do. You don't use a hoop to FMQ, at least none that I know of. You have to use the darning foot in order for you to be able to move your quilt. Are you sure you lowered your foot, that will cause all that mess on the back. Did you lower your feed dogs or set your stitch length to 0? Also get machine quilting needles, and make sure your needle is centered. Move your tension up a little, and remember that your hands have to be going the same speed as your needle.There are some very good FMQ tuts on you tube. May want to give them a look. Good luck trying to get it all worked out.

Did you drop your feed dogs? Wearing quilting gloves or glove with rubber fingers might help. Good luck!

Monique....I have the same trouble unless I just SITD with my walking foot. I feel your pain and frustration!!

I think you should check all the things that auntiemern has suggested. But I have been FMQing for quilte awhile now and somedays its good and somedays its not. Do not give up.

Your needle can break due to the tension being wrong. That can also cause the bunching up of the thread on the back of the quilt. Also, needle size can cause problems. Hang in there--you can do it!

There is a new product out that looks like an embroidery hoop but it just rests on the fabric. It is weighted and you can move it easily. It helps you move the fabric more easily. I bought one but lost it somewhere in my sewing room! Does that tell you something about the room?

Marilyn's checklist is the way to go:

Feed dogs down
Darning foot on
Tension set higher
PRESSER FOOT DOWN!!!!!!!
Plenty of bobbin thread (Jean's input)
Quilting needles in machine--new for each quilt you do
A glass of wine nearby
No time limit on getting project done
Quilting or "grippy" garden gloves help
Machine cleaned of lint both in mechanisms and bobbin case and bobbin race
There is also a product that is a silicone mat tht is very slippery that you can get to make the fabric slide more easily over the machine bed

Try again, you'll do it! Jean

Jeans sewing machine, my two favorite on that list of yours is......Glass of wine nearby and no time limit. That works for me.

I tried again. Changed the thread which seemed to help. I used an embroidery hoop. I tried with just the fabric but I could not get it to move.

Feed dogs down, Not quite, have a little plastic cover for that. YES
Darning foot. YES
Presser foot down YES
Have to work on the tension. YES
Quilting Machine Needles. NO

BOTTLE OF WINE!! NO

Ah, that is my problem, not enough WINE, or WHINE!!

I will keep trying. Thanks for all of your advice.

Jean, Sandy and Marilyn, (And any other of you who wants to come for the trip) you all need to come visit and show me HOW TO! We will have a blast. LOL!!

Maybe I need to take a trip to Missouri!!

I'm going to go way out on a limb here and tell you something that isn't supposed to work, but it did for me.

I absolutely could not do FMQ with my darning foot no matter how hard I tried. I hate that foot. I remembered Sandy posting a video of her doing FMQ on one of her machines when she got the 3 foot frame with her new long arm. My comment to her was " Hey, you don't have to use a darning foot, cool." Well, it seems Sandy just forgot to change her foot. But I remembered that and I put my regular foot back on and I was able to FMQ the double cut layer cake quilt I made with a regular foot. I threw the darning foot on the other day and tried again, still can't do it with that foot.

Watch every video you can, practice on some fabric sandwiches first, then finally decide that you aren't going to be terribly upset if you muck up this one quilt top and jump in with both feet. That's what I did and was pleasantly surprised when it worked out a lot better than I ever thought it would.

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Originally Posted by Monique

I tried again. Changed the thread which seemed to help. I used an embroidery hoop. I tried with just the fabric but I could not get it to move.

Feed dogs down, Not quite, have a little plastic cover for that. YES
Darning foot. YES
Presser foot down YES
Have to work on the tension. YES
Quilting Machine Needles. NO

BOTTLE OF WINE!! NO

Ah, that is my problem, not enough WINE, or WHINE!!

I will keep trying. Thanks for all of your advice.

Jean, Sandy and Marilyn, (And any other of you who wants to come for the trip) you all need to come visit and show me HOW TO! We will have a blast. LOL!!

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You keep on trying girl, I'm betting you'll master it!

As for me, after reading your first post, I decided I'd give FMQ another try....I had on my fmq foot, feed dogs down, gloves on, presser foot down, quilting needle(no)a glass of wine(no,I'd hurt myself)...and I've decided that this just isn't for me. I'll keep doing straight line quilting, its much easier on my nerves.

hafta add one more note: if you move your quilt too fast, the needle can't get clear of the fabric fast enough & it will break. ask me how I know. also, if you stay in one place too long (move too slow, it creates knots, nests & nasties on the back. ask me how I know that too. :0 also, you gotta use the right needle with whatever thread you're using. (metalic thread may require a different size needle than embroidery thread for example)
keep trying...you WILL get it! quilters never lose...they just change the rules & try again!
good luck!

Yeah, maybe you do. There really are quite a few of us regulars from here. We can all plan a weekend trip to MSQC. Now that would be fun :)

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Originally Posted by Monique

Maybe I need to take a trip to Missouri!!

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I can't wait till my arm is out of this darn cast because I am dying to try FMQ again....keep trying, you will get it!!

Hi Monique, I'm not sure what kind of darning foot you have, but this video might be helpful. It is Leah Day making adjustments to a generic darning foot. I am just starting to practice a little with FMQ. I made the adjustments Leah showed in the video because my fabric would not slide underneath the foot easily. It does seem to help. I haven't done very much FMQ yet, so I am still a newbie....but I wanted to mention that video. Hope this helps....I might need some suggestions from you after I start practicing more. :) Just waiting for my extension table to come in so I can get more serious about practicing!

http://freemotionquilting.blogspot.c...tion-foot.html

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Originally Posted by pcbatiks

Hi Monique, I'm not sure what kind of darning foot you have, but this video might be helpful. It is Leah Day making adjustments to a generic darning foot. I am just starting to practice a little with FMQ. I made the adjustments Leah showed in the video because my fabric would not slide underneath the foot easily. It does seem to help. I haven't done very much FMQ yet, so I am still a newbie....but I wanted to mention that video. Hope this helps....I might need some suggestions from you after I start practicing more. :) Just waiting for my extension table to come in so I can get more serious about practicing!

http://freemotionquilting.blogspot.c...tion-foot.html

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Thanks. I did watch the video and have now saved it. I will try this.

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Originally Posted by auntiemern

Yeah, maybe you do. There really are quite a few of us regulars from here. We can all plan a weekend trip to MSQC. Now that would be fun :)

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That's why I said, "ROAD TRIP TO MISSOURI" is needed. (In my dreams)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by K. McEuen

I'm going to go way out on a limb here and tell you something that isn't supposed to work, but it did for me.

I absolutely could not do FMQ with my darning foot no matter how hard I tried. I hate that foot. I remembered Sandy posting a video of her doing FMQ on one of her machines when she got the 3 foot frame with her new long arm. My comment to her was " Hey, you don't have to use a darning foot, cool." Well, it seems Sandy just forgot to change her foot. But I remembered that and I put my regular foot back on and I was able to FMQ the double cut layer cake quilt I made with a regular foot. I threw the darning foot on the other day and tried again, still can't do it with that foot.

Watch every video you can, practice on some fabric sandwiches first, then finally decide that you aren't going to be terribly upset if you muck up this one quilt top and jump in with both feet. That's what I did and was pleasantly surprised when it worked out a lot better than I ever thought it would.

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Thanks Karen, I will try your suggestion.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by pcbatiks

Hi Monique, I'm not sure what kind of darning foot you have, but this video might be helpful. It is Leah Day making adjustments to a generic darning foot. I am just starting to practice a little with FMQ. I made the adjustments Leah showed in the video because my fabric would not slide underneath the foot easily. It does seem to help. I haven't done very much FMQ yet, so I am still a newbie....but I wanted to mention that video. Hope this helps....I might need some suggestions from you after I start practicing more. :) Just waiting for my extension table to come in so I can get more serious about practicing!

http://freemotionquilting.blogspot.c...tion-foot.html

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OH MY GOD!! It worked. I can't believe the difference. I am not good at it, and need lots of practice but at least the fabric moves and I am working on the tension. But all in all, NOT BAD!! I have impressed myself!!