Can you FMQ with a paper guide? Can it be done?

All my quilts are FMQ'd on a home machine and I can stipple and I've used templates for drawing lines etc, chalk, frixion pens, you name it.
However for my latest quilt (the kaleidoscope one) i really feel the kaleidoscopes and negative spaces need more of a precise mandala type of design.

I am not a human computer nor is my expertise up to being that precise. However I do know how to print onto freezer paper or trace on disovable embroidery paper I guess.

SO......I'm wondering if anyone has ever used paper templates for FMQ then tore the paper away? Am I crazy for thinking this is a worth a try?

Someday when I'm rich I'll buy a longarm with computer but until then I need a poor man's answer to my quilting needs.

I believe the answer is yes you can. I am no expert by any means but I have seen this done or mentioned on some of the Craftsy classes. Quilting Big Quilts on a small machine was one of them. I believed Ann used Glad's Press and Seal to show this method. There most likely are some You Tube videos also.

I think someone here used tracing paper. It was a while ago so I'm not sure who. I think it's the same as using the paper intended for quilting, only much less expensive. I wish I had more info for you, but that's really all I remember.

I have done it. You use that paper called, I think, Golden Threads. You trace the design you want on it and once you have sewn/quilted it onto your quilt, tear it away. It tears away quite easily, but where the are small sections, you will need tweezers to pull the paper out, which is very time consuming.

It comes in rolls, 20' long I think.

Golden Threads -- Shop | Category: Notions | Product: Golden Threads Quilting Paper - 12" Wide

I just picked a roll of this paper off my Joann's clearance wall. It it marketed for longarms quilters but there is no reason it couldn't be used by us DSM free motion quilters.
Amazon.com: Dritz Longarm Quilter's Paper-18.8"X20 Yards: Everything Else

and it is listed on Joann's site. Quilters Paper 20 Yards at Joann.com

I used a paper product about 20 years ago and it worked well, but the removal was very tedious. It wasn't sticky to adhere and it was not near as thin as some of today's products. Now, skip forward 20 years, and I have seen a lot of new products and many other marking methods. I've never used it, but Golden Threads makes a paper that you might consider. You have to draw your own pattern on the paper. I've also seen the Glad Wrap method, but have yet to try it out.
http://forum.missouriquiltco.com/mem...nfinished.html

All I can tell you is to not use toilet paper. It is a bugger to get out of the quilt. I saw a neat swirl pattern one day while in the bathroom and thought, great quilting design......not.
I have noticed in the quilting magazines a product that is printed paper that you quilt along the lines and then tear away. I have not tried it yet.

The long arm paper. Draw your design on it. Then sit down at sewing machine with no thread and sew the lines. Now you have a stencil. Place on block and use pounce powder. Quilting lines are marked and then you can FMQ. None of the paper to be removed. And also could make more then one stencil if you put layers of paper before you sewed.

Jane

Regarding the pounce powder, I just got mine and tried it this weekend, for the life of me I could not get it to work...any suggestions?

I use paper all the time, I print out images onto regular paper and then pin them where I want them on my quilt. Then just sew on the line, tear the paper away( this is the messy part) and Voila you have a beautiful design on your quilt.

LOL, I thought I was the only one not getting the powder to come out of pad! I mean how low tech can you go and I can not get it to work right! LOL

I do know that you are supposed to swipe it across the template instead of patting it on there, but I'll be darn if I can get it to work like Eleanor does! LOL

I did just buy some quilters preview paper from Quilters Touch. (WoW, they shipped it really fast,) I just got it last eve and have yet to open it and use it. But I'm excited to try it. I'll let you know….


PS How do you get this powder thing to Pouf?

Make sure you have pounced the chalk out on the surface of the pad by pouncing it on scrap fabric or paper, then you can rub it on easily.

I found some plastic that is pierced all over with tiny holes. You draw your design on it, then put it in place and trace over it with a water soluable pen. I am about to try it, I'll let you know how it works once I try it out.

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Originally Posted by Slokarma

LOL, I thought I was the only one not getting the powder to come out of pad! I mean how low tech can you go and I can not get it to work right! LOL

PS How do you get this powder thing to Pouf?

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When you first fill it, pounce it on something at least 100x to get the chalk flowing. Once that happens, it works like a charm. Every once in a while, you have to pounce it a few times and then again when you refill the chalk.

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Originally Posted by Iris Girl

I use paper all the time, I print out images onto regular paper and then pin them where I want them on my quilt. Then just sew on the line, tear the paper away( this is the messy part) and Voila you have a beautiful design on your quilt.

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How big of an area would be the biggest you would use?

I just used a pounce and template for the first time. I went crazy and pounced the design all over the project that I was working on, and THEN low 'n behold, all the areas I wasn't quilting in, rubbed off and I had to re-do.

note to self: only pounce the EXACT area you are immediately working in.

The pounce chalk, after quilting, did disappear really really easy though. (used the sleeve of my robe as it was handy)

The jury is still out as to how I feel about the whole pouncing thing though.

There's a very good YouTube video called 'Kaye Wood Bold Beginnings Quilting Stencils & Paper' where they show how to make the paper templates with your sewing machine. You print out your design and then lay that printed copy on a stack of thin tracing paper and sew through the whole pile, following the design, without thread of course. Each piece of paper is placed on the quilt, pinned I suppose, and then you quilt over the holes (with thread) and the paper is very easy to remove. She says she can vacuum off the excess pieces! Haven't tried it yet but it sure sounds fun. (Sorry, I'm new here and don't know how to attach a link yet :icon_rolleyes:)

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Originally Posted by Sondra

All my quilts are FMQ'd on a home machine and I can stipple and I've used templates for drawing lines etc, chalk, frixion pens, you name it.
However for my latest quilt (the kaleidoscope one) i really feel the kaleidoscopes and negative spaces need more of a precise mandala type of design.

I am not a human computer nor is my expertise up to being that precise. However I do know how to print onto freezer paper or trace on disovable embroidery paper I guess.

SO......I'm wondering if anyone has ever used paper templates for FMQ then tore the paper away? Am I crazy for thinking this is a worth a try?

Someday when I'm rich I'll buy a longarm with computer but until then I need a poor man's answer to my quilting needs.

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I use Golden Threads tracing paper ( connecting threads has good price) and use patterns from books and from the internet. Love this method for instance when I needed reindeer for Christmas or peace signs for the Piece out Quilt (MSQC). If you quilt a small design you will need tweezers at times but well worth the effort in my opinion. Good luck

Thank you everyone! This is very helpful! As you can tell I am still a "newbie" learning new tricks. I love that we have such a wealth of experience here on the boards!

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Originally Posted by Hulamoon

How big of an area would be the biggest you would use?

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I have done entire quilts this way, Just don't pin them all on at one time, pin 5 or 6 them do your fmq then I rip off the paper so I can see what I have done and then pin more on. The hard part is the ripping it off my sewing room floor always looks like a snow storm hit it. Depending on the area you need to be fmq'd it could take a lot of prints since paper is only 8.5 x 11.

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Originally Posted by Racing Nana

The jury is still out as to how I feel about the whole pouncing thing though.

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I have a love /hate relationship with pounce. I find it very messy, but love that it irons off. I use it for dark fabrics where my frixion pens won't show.

Sulky has a stabilizer product named "Solvy". You can draw or trace your quilting pattern on that, stitch over it, then tear off what you can and the rest will dissolve when sprayed with water (plant mister) or put through the rinse cycle in the washing machine. I always put my finished quilts through the rinse cycle and dry in the dryer because I like the "antique or used" look.

If you want to try an inexpensive paper readily available at most grocery stores, pick up a roll of kitchen parchment paper. I used that for the borders on my last quilt. I drew my pattern on the paper, pinned it to the borders, sewed the pattern using a FMQ setup on my standard machine and then tore the paper off when done. It takes a little time to remove the paper but a good pair of tweezers makes quick work of it. The nice thing about the parchment paper besides the price is you can pull off as long or short a strip as you need to fit your borders. :)

Attachment 70520
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To get Pounce to stick longer, use cheap hairspray. I little spritz helps A LOT!

Also, I use a foam paintbrush to apply it. I hate that bulky pounce pad.

Now, if you use paper, won't the little leftover bits come out in the wash?

I'm unleashing myself from my work desk and I am now on a hunt for tracing paper and Cling wrap! Thanks everyone! I am very inspired now and found some great ideas to begin tracing. :-)

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Originally Posted by Memejudy

Regarding the pounce powder, I just got mine and tried it this weekend, for the life of me I could not get it to work...any suggestions?

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I found the best way to use pounce is to not use the "pouncer". Kind of defeats the purpose but I use a 1- 11/2" wide paint brush, dip it in the dry pounce and then brush over the stencil. It didn't work right for me either until I tried it this way.

I had read somewhere that you can use freezer paper cut into shapes, iron it onto the quilt, then sew around the outer edges of the freezer paper, then tear the paper off. I'm not sure where I saw this, but I want to try this method. I sometimes use the Golden Threads paper, but when working with a larger block design, it shifts around and tears before I get to finish the block, making my designs a bit uneven. Luckily the fabric is busy and it won't be as noticeable.

The Sulky Solvy is easier to deal with than the cling wrap. It washes out and you don't need to sit there with tweezers after.

My most favorite marking method is Blue Line Eraser. It's awesome!
BLE -3 Piece Kit

:)

I used some of those thin foam shapes from the dollar store to sew around at one time. They were big flowers and butterflies for children's parties I guess, I just used a pin to attache them to the quilt sandwich. It didn't hurt anything to sew through the foam at the edge occasionally. It worded OK but I have not done it again since I must have gotten a little better and can make freehand flowers finally.

Yes you can use paper, I even use copy payer. But if you can use freezer paper draw your design on the paper then sew on that design with your machine. having perforated the paper with your needle you can then use the powder chalk and pouncer to make your design on your quilt. But, I over the years got tired of doing this so now come up with a design make templates out of the cardboard or freezer paper and them trace my design on the material using teacher chalk and follow the design. I also use my white dry eraser board to practice my designs as I sit in front of the TV at night, that way you are teaching yourself the movement of your design and it makes it so much easier to do the design with your machine.

I don't use paper, templates, or traced patterns. I just do FMQ as the spirit moves me. No pieces of paper to pluck, no pen markings to wash out, no powder to fuss with. One way to get the pattern in your mind is to use a white board with erasable pens & practice the moves. I always make one sample quilt block out of the fabrics used in the quilt & practice on it to make sure the thread & FMQ look ok. JCY

I absolutely stink at ANY and all kinds of drawing, so I MUST have a guide line to sew on. That muscle memory stuff does not work with me. I am not a "doodler".

I am currently in the quilting process, and am using self adhesive water soluble stabilizer. Trace the design onto the stabilizer, peel the paper off, stick to quilt. Nice because it stays in place! I always wash my quilts as soon as they are finished, I like STARCH and have to wash it out anyways.