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Hi all! So excited about my first real quilt! Ready to try some free motion quilting made some sample sandwiches but Aggh!,, can someone give me some tips PLEEZE :-( some of the stitches are perfect then some are longer perfect longer,etc what am I doing wrong? Don't want to mess up my first baby quilt.
Leah Day on YouTube! Seriously. GOOD LUCK!!!
Slow down! And keep practicing!
I have the same issues, but I think we are all harder on ourselves than others are. We see the imperfections more so than others. Just relax and try not to obsess over it and in time we will both become more proficient - I hope!
The trick is getting the correct ratio to the speed of the machine and how fast you move the fabric. It takes some practice but once you figure it out you can get pretty consistent stitches. Just remember, the faster you move the fabric, the bigger your stitches, so if you want little stitches, slow down your movements.
Sing it!. I have the same problem, but if I follow a song that I can hear the beat or rhyme and time the needle to it, it goes better.
I've been using the TMobile ad - one, two Kalamazoo. (One, two, buckle my shoe) You could also use a metronome. Most cell phones have a free app that will keep time. As you improve, find another song.
Quick question on this...are the feed dogs supposed to be down?
I never put mine down, but someone on a newsletter said she did.
thanks
Either feed dogs down or stitch length set to 0. Lately I have been doing the latter with good results.
Remember, you are moving the fabric, not the machine.
That's a good tip for those machines that you can't lower the feed dogs on - like mine. I have been using duct tape to hold a refrigerator magnet over mine. Necessity IS the mother of invention!Quote:
Originally Posted by Roxanne
I am just getting the hang of FMQ it does take time and a lot of my stitches are still inconsistent. practice practice practice after my first attempt i said i would never do that again but I went on to do it again and again and again. feed dogs should be down as you are the on moving the fabric not the machine. Not sure what kind of machine you have , my Pfaff has a setting to put for FMQ yours may also.
Good luck and don't give up
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
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.
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.
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...:)
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 !
You are so right-visuals help lots! Your diaper bag is so beautiful! Hope I can be as good one day!
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!
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.
Absolutely! She lays it all out for you!
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.
Here is a link that has a year long challenge from 2012 about learning FMQ. 12 different teachers with info and video tutorials. The challenge took place last year but all of the info and tutorials are still there. Leah Day, Patsy Thompson and others are included. This would be a great resource for continuing practice of FMQ.
http://www.sewcalgal.blogspot.com/p/...challenge.html