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  1. #11
    scrappyquilter is offline Senior Member
    9 Patch Princess

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    Default Re: New to free motion quilting- help!

    Thanks Roxanne,
    i have only FMQ a baby quilt so far ---I did neither of your sugestions..lol
    So I will try these things when i next quilt.
    I have a small stack waiting.
    Thanks again

  2. #12
    scrappyquilter is offline Senior Member
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    Default Re: New to free motion quilting- help!

    Hi dwil23,
    some of my machines come with a plastic plate to place over the feed dogs, are u sure you don't have one?

    And i do agree about mother's of invention.

  3. #13
    Tamara J Liddell's Avatar Tamara J Liddell is offline Senior Member
    Batting Beauty

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    Default Re: New to free motion quilting- help!

    I don't have the cover plate for the feed dogs. But I can lower mine.

    But like others have said, either lower them or set your tension to 0. Try not to speed up as your moving your quilt around for FMQ, its a bit tough at first but it does get easier with practice.
    And always practice a round or two before FMQ a quilt, it will help get your eye>hand> and foot coordination a going.

    Leigh Day over at http://freemotionquilting.blogspot.c...tart-here.html has some awesome videos and tips to begin your FMQ adventure.
    Last edited by Tamara J Liddell; January 29th, 2013 at 01:58 PM. Reason: spellcheck, :P

  4. Thanks Newkid thanked for this post
  5. #14
    GrammaBabs's Avatar GrammaBabs is offline Senior Member
    Missouri Star

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    Default Re: New to free motion quilting- help!

    Definitely Leah Day.... on YouTube.. tons of good stuff.. there is nothing like a visual..
    but let me say this...
    all machines are different..
    all people are different...
    all practice is a huge help
    all ideas that WORK are good ones...
    my feed dogs did not lower in my first yrs. of FMQ... i put some masking tape around the "teeth" and left the "hole" open... not perfect,, but i kept going... if you find you LOVE this process... you'll be thinking frame very soon... check out Angie here on the forum.... we have similar set ups.... they are the next logical step...
    but enjoy your journey getting to know the FM world!!!!
    ps.. in my album... the pastel diaper bag was my very first FM project... i just did FM on small pices of fabric and cut the pieces to patchwork the whole project... one of my most complimented pieces... go figure...
    "Each day well-live and Happy;
    that's all there is to Life!"

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  7. #15
    Fire1 is offline Junior Member
    Fabric Fanatic

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    Default Re: New to free motion quilting- help!

    OMG Leah is such a great young lady! I watched several of her tutorials very helpful-Still like the Missouri Quilt Co duck though!, Thanks again !

  8. #16
    Fire1 is offline Junior Member
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    Default Re: New to free motion quilting- help!

    You are so right-visuals help lots! Your diaper bag is so beautiful! Hope I can be as good one day!

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  10. #17
    Suzyq is offline Senior Member
    The Guild President

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    Default Re: New to free motion quilting- help!

    Took a FMQ course at my local quilt shop...once I tried on a pair of light white stretchy gloves which they were selling, well FMQ was much easier... You lay both hands on the quilt, no bunching up fabric in your fist so helps us arthritis sufferers... It takes practice to get the stitches consistent... We were taught to Let the machine take the stitch and avoid jerky movements which throws off the stitch length. Enjoy the journey most of all!

  11. #18
    auntiemern's Avatar auntiemern is online now Senior Member
    Missouri Star

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    Default Re: New to free motion quilting- help!

    Practice, practice, practice. Yes your feed dogs should be lowered, or your stitch length wet to 0. Make sure your aren't going to fast around curves, or you will end up with eyelashes on the back. I have done some FMQ, but still have a ways to go. I only started FMQ last year. I hand quilted everything before that. Good luck and don't get discouraged.
    You should check out our FB Group

    The Quilting Cupboard https://www.facebook.com/groups/quiltingcupboard//

    Blankets wrap you in warmth, quilts wrap you in love

    Marilyn......

  12. #19
    Newkid is offline Junior Member
    Beginning Stitcher

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    Default Re: New to free motion quilting- help!

    Absolutely! She lays it all out for you!
    Becky

    An Optimist is someone who figures that taking a step backward after taking a step forward is not a disaster, it's a cha-cha. ~Robert Brault,

  13. #20
    MartinaG's Avatar MartinaG is offline Senior Member
    Missouri Star

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    Default Re: New to free motion quilting- help!

    It depends on the machine whether the stitch length goes to 0 or not. With mine, at 0 I only get very tiny ANGRY stitches and I have the dickens of a time moving the sandwich. When I set the stitch length to the maximum I have free range.

    From your description it sounds like you have not found the "sweet spot" yet, where the speed of the motor matches the movement of your hands. If your speed is fast and your movement is slow you have tiny stitches. If the speed is slow and the movement is fast you have large stitches. The trick is to find YOUR personal best combination. Only practice will show the way.

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