FMQ woes!

I have made several tests and my machine works to free motion quilt on tiny projects. But this Iron Quilter II lap size quilt that I'm trying to FMQ is really getting to me. I end up with itty bitty stitches, interrupted with a long skipped stitch. I then spend half an hour picking it all out to start over. I can make beautiful stitches on my test swatch, wish I could figure out how to do that on this big project. I went to Leah Day's blog, and she says that as long as your big toe wouldn't get caught in the stitch, she doesn't rip them out! Pretty funny stuff. I think part of the problem is I can't see my quilt chalk lines very well, especially when I am going up the line (using a stencil pattern.) I almost have to guess where the line is going, so I think I slow down too much. I also found that I can leave the feed dogs up, and get very nice stitches that way with the darning foot. I have my machine on the dining room table, I really want to make a temporary sewing table with the insulation boards I saw on YouTube. That would probably help a lot. Thanks for letting me vent my frustrations!

At least you are figuring out what is causing your troubles! That is always the first step in being able to correct them.

You are much braver than I! I haven't begun to FMQ. I have a foot that should work, but have been putting it off ... for a few years!
Good luck on getting this worked out, and congrats on being that close to finishing your Iron Quilter project!

I struggled with eyelashes, uneven stitches and more for months and then one day I tried to quilt with the feed dogs up and it worked great. I still have uneven stitches, a lot frankly but I am very happy with where my quilting is now compared to where I started. I am not even close to good yet but I am far more comfortable than I used to be following a pattern.

You know, I do really well on my small practice pieces.... But not as well on a real quilt. I think I stop and start too much... And then get little knots in the back.... I need lots more practice.... That's for sure...

I think one tip for easier FMQ is to have a well waxed surface. You mentioned that your machine is on a table. Do you have a Sew Steady Extension Table so you have a larger flat surface? If not, then your quilt sandwich is dropping down off the edge of your machine as you work. There should be no drag. Keep the quilt rolled up & don't let it drop over the edge of the table. Also, in my opinion, the Supreme Slider is a must for easier management of the quilt. It will slide so much easier, thus making the FMQ easier. Are you using the Machinger gloves? They also help. I bought an extra ironing bd. which I set up next to my sewing table when I'm quilting. It works great to rest the bulk of the quilt on. FMQ takes a LOT of practice, so don't get discouraged. It's always easier when practicing on a small sandwich than it is on the whole quilt. JCY

I had not fmq'd in a few months, but I did the other night. First I stitched in the ditch, which I learned I do not enjoy! Since I was going to be quilting long narrow strips, I had decided to just do that with my regular machine too......that was a stupid stupid stupid thing to thing, because Matilda was just steps away. Anyway, after ripping out 2/3's of a strip, I moved to Matilda. Oh, how I missed her! A large table is key, especially one that is pretty slick. Make sure you keep your shoulders relaxed...that helps a lot!

When I fmq on my normal machine, I always leave the feed dogs up and the stitch length at zero. On Matilda, I have no choice as she has had her feed dogs surgically removed!!! I don't know why, but that just entertains me.

Keep at it, practice, practice, practice and you will succeed!!! I know you will!

Sounds like more practice !! I too bought the styrofoam sheeting at Home Depot to sit next to my machine when quilting. Gosh what a BIG difference in quilting and in my aching neck and shoulders trying to keep the heavy quilt level with the needle! Very cheap solution as well as the silver coating makes it slippery enough to move around. Good luck, sounds like you are working your way through many ideas and will get there :-)

My stitches are far from perfect, but no eyelashes on the back so if some are bigger then others its all good with me.
It definitely helps to have your machine down in a table where you have a flat surface even with the needle. Beware the sew steady tables...I have only had mine for about 2 years and it surrounds my machine and still got stress cracks from the weight and pressure of quilts. I have since had hubbys help in making a wooden insert for this machine and she works fantastically.Attachment 60942Attachment 60943 this is the before and after picture for those that did not see it earlier. You can't see the stress crack in the acrylic in this picture but its there...the price you pay for sew easy products they should last more then 2 years. Very very happy with my wooden insert.

There was something I wanted to say in my earlier post, but I am at work and got sidetracked and forgot what it was at the time. I use the Machinger gloves and the other night, for some reason or the other, I wore only the one on my left hand...oh, I know, my thread kept breaking and I use my right hand to thread the needle. Anyway, I had a much better time of controlling my fabric with just the one glove on and hope I remember that the next time I fmq!

I don't FMQ anything larger than a lap size quilt. I've not had any problems with stress fractures with my Sew Steady Extension Table. When it's freshly waxed, the quilt sandwich slides very easily over the surface. JCY

I also have had all the same problems that you all have mentioned but have finally gotten better. Some things I have learned from all my practice.....I don't do stencils shapes as well as gentle wavy lines or even rows of loose zigzags. When I have a quilt that is made up of rectangles or squares, I quilt each shape as if it is a mini quilt. I like the look of long snakes of gentle curving lines. It is easier to do stems with leaves than detailed shapes. I,too, have wanted to quilt stenciled designs but it has not worked so well because a free flowing shape is easier to FMQ than following a drawn line. As everyone says, keep on practicing.

Brenda

Problem solved, it was the thread. I was using 100% cotton machine quilting thread from Coats & Clark; switched to an all purpose thread and now I can FMQ like nobody's business again. Too little, too late. But now I can finish it once and for all. Lesson learned.

Boy do I know what you mean! I have done that same thing! Works fine on the practice piece but not on the quilt. I think alot of that is simply you are dealing with a smaller piece to move around and not all that weight of the quilt. I know I do great on the piece! But with practice, you get better. My problem.. I was doing pretty good, and then got sick of quilting so I started making other things and just last week went back to quilting...and FMQ'ing and there the problem started! Only this time was with the thread breaking for no apparent reason. But the key is keeping hands and quilt moving equally..which is hard with the big bulk of the quilt. Keep practicing... it is worth it!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Lisapc

I struggled with eyelashes, uneven stitches and more for months and then one day I tried to quilt with the feed dogs up and it worked great. I still have uneven stitches, a lot frankly but I am very happy with where my quilting is now compared to where I started. I am not even close to good yet but I am far more comfortable than I used to be following a pattern.

---

Do you set your stitch length to 0 with the feed dogs up? When I try to FMQ on my small machine I get a lot of eyelashing with the feed dogs down.

So now that I can FMQ without the thread breaking, I went back to my machine to do some more. I totally forgot to change any of the settings (my feed dogs are down) and my stitches look awesome. The default stitch length is 2.5 which seem to work great if I leave my speed control in the middle and move quickly. If I dilly dally, the stitches become real small. I have over half the quilt done now; I was hoping to start sewing the binding on it this evening. But I don't think that going to happen for another day or so. Cooking and laundry are calling my name.

I thought I had my problems solved, still trying to finish my Iron Quilt. I have about 2/3 done, but now my thread keeps jamming underneath the quilt as I try to FMQ. I already bent one needle this morning and replaced it. Was working well, but now the jamming starts every few inches. I have to stop, try to pull up on the quilt, get the seam ripper under there to cut through the rat's nest of thread, rip out stitches, restart. Then have to stop again when it jams again in couple of inches. I tried to tape a piece of cardboard to my needle plate, but the jam is right where the needle is going in. This is never going to get done. :icon_neutral:

Try to re-thread your upper thread and see if that helps.

I have found that if I leave my feeddogs up, I get a better stitch as well. It just gives the quilt a little nudge. I love FMQ!

Seems the problem was the needle I put in wasn't strong enough, so it kept getting hung up on the thicker seams. I changed it out to a regular machine needle (not a quilting needle) and now I am chugging along. I've got just a little bit more on the bottom row to go. There is light at the end of the tunnel!

I was getting on quite well then I had a break for a few weeks and I've slipped right back. Practise, Practise, Practise - its the only way. Keep a few 'sandwiches' by your machine and try to do some at least once a week!