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Thread: FMQ Bed Size Quilts Easily

  1. #1
    janbee is offline Senior Member
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    Default FMQ Bed Size Quilts Easily

    I teach this FMQ method all the time at quilt shops.

    Piece blocks together to form a size that is comfortable for you as a quilter to move easily. Suggestion: Piece 12 inch blocks together--4 across and 4 down so that your piece is 48" x 48". You may find that 24" x 24" works better for you.

    Cut your batting about 1" larger all the way around than the length and width of your pieced blocks. Lay the 48" piece on the batting. Smooth out the wrinkles. Place the quilt piece BATTING side down over the feed dogs. FMQ as desired leaving an area approximately 1/4" around the edge of the piece blank with no quilting. Do not stress over this. If you quilt a little too far to the edge, it is not a huge issue. Continue FMQ joined blocks until entire quilt top is FMQ.

    If your quilt is going to have a border or borders, join the borders to each other, cut batting exactly the way you cut the batting for the blocks, one inch larger on all sides. FMQ the borders the same way you did the quilt top, leaving approximately 1/4" on all sides unquilted.

    Using large scissors, grade batting on all edges. Grade means that you will lay the scissors at a 45 degree angle and carefully trim batting away from the edges of each FMQ piece leaving an uneven edge of batting. There will be less batting next to the stitching on the batting side and more batting on the cut edge next to your piecing.

    Join the FMQ pieces. Then join borders to all sides of the quilt.

    Lay your quilt top on a smooth surface. Lightly spray the batting side with Quilt Basting Spray. If using spray in the house, I place a big, deep box over the batting and put the spray can down in the box to spray. This limits the spray from getting into the air and on your surfaces. Moved the box over the surface until the entire area is covered.

    Roll your quilt backing. Unroll the backing over the batting. Smooth out wrinkles.

    Using a steam iron, press the backing side first, smoothing out wrinkles, flip the quilt over and press the pieced side. You will be glad that you didn't skip this step as the steam will hold the basting spray in place. Remember to press with an up and down motion. Do not iron meaning move the iron from side to side.

    Use a walking foot to attach the backing to your quilt top by stitching in the ditch from the top to the bottom of the quilt approximately 2 inches apart in rows or whatever will work best with your particular quilt pattern.

    Bind as usual.

    If you followed the grading instructions, no one will ever know that your FMQ was done in sections. Enjoy!!

    I will be happy to answer any questions. This really does work and opens up a whole new world for those of us who want to FMQ our own quilts or for those of us who can't afford to send our quilts out.

    Blessings,

    Jan

  2. #2
    sewlucky is online now Senior Member
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    Default Re: FMQ Bed Size Quilts Easily

    Thanks Jan! Do you find that with batting to the feed dogs there is more lint? Or does the batting ever catch in the feed dogs? I've purchased some Hobbs 80/20 lately and used it in my most recent quilt and found it much stretchier than the Warm & Natural I've been using.

    Thanks!
    Terri

  3. #3
    Claire Hallman's Avatar Claire Hallman is online now Senior Member
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    Default Re: FMQ Bed Size Quilts Easily

    Quote Originally Posted by janbee View Post












    Use a walking foot to attach the backing to your quilt top by stitching in the ditch from the top to the bottom of the quilt approximately 2 inches apart in rows or whatever will work best with your particular quilt pattern.

    Bind as usual.
    If you are going to quilt the entire quilt at 2" intervals why do the FMQ?

  4. #4
    janbee is offline Senior Member
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    Default Re: FMQ Bed Size Quilts Easily

    Quote Originally Posted by Claire Hallman View Post
    If you are going to quilt the entire quilt at 2" intervals why do the FMQ?
    The FMQ makes a pretty pattern on the quilt top. The walking foot attaches the batting to the quilt top and batting. It also makes the quilt much softer and it drapes around the body better.
    mommamarsh likes this.

  5. #5
    janbee is offline Senior Member
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    Default Re: FMQ Bed Size Quilts Easily

    Quote Originally Posted by sewlucky View Post
    Thanks Jan! Do you find that with batting to the feed dogs there is more lint? Or does the batting ever catch in the feed dogs? I've purchased some Hobbs 80/20 lately and used it in my most recent quilt and found it much stretchier than the Warm & Natural I've been using.

    Thanks!
    Terri
    I do not drop the feed dogs on my Babylock Ellegante but some machines do work better with the feed dogs dropped. The batting will not get tangled in the feed dogs. It causes about the same amount of lint in the machine as sewing with minky or fleece fabric. I love the Hobbs 80/20. It drapes beautifully. I, personally, do not care for stiff quilts.
    sewlucky, Carrie J and mommamarsh like this.

  6. #6
    TamiLee is offline Senior Member
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    Default Re: FMQ Bed Size Quilts Easily

    I must be having a moment here... I too wondered why one would FMQ, then quilt every 2" in a straight line pattern...? And I would think with all that extra thread in there, it would do just the opposite - make it stiff. What am I missing? I thought you were maybe going to say to just sandwich it, or just bind it, after maybe stitching in the ditch on the borders... I love to learn new techniques, but I am not getting this one.

  7. #7
    janbee is offline Senior Member
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    Default Re: FMQ Bed Size Quilts Easily

    Quote Originally Posted by TamiLee View Post
    I must be having a moment here... I too wondered why one would FMQ, then quilt every 2" in a straight line pattern...? And I would think with all that extra thread in there, it would do just the opposite - make it stiff. What am I missing? I thought you were maybe going to say to just sandwich it, or just bind it, after maybe stitching in the ditch on the borders... I love to learn new techniques, but I am not getting this one.
    .
    The purpose of this method is to be able to FMQ in smaller sections. That way, when you attach the backing you are dealing with the entire size of the quilt only while attaching the backing.

    I wish I had pictures to send you. It truly is a great method for those who want feathers and other quilt designs across their quilt top without having to deal with the weight and size of the quilt while doing the fmq.
    quiltingaway and mommamarsh like this.

  8. #8
    sewlucky is online now Senior Member
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    Default Re: FMQ Bed Size Quilts Easily

    The FMQ would secure the batting to the quilt top. I would stitch in the ditch between the blocks if I did this which wouldn't really show up at all on the quilt top.
    Sylvia H likes this.

  9. #9
    New York Sue's Avatar New York Sue is online now Senior Member
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    Default Re: FMQ Bed Size Quilts Easily

    Quote Originally Posted by janbee View Post
    I teach this FMQ method all the time at quilt shops.

    Piece blocks together to form a size that is comfortable for you as a quilter to move easily. Suggestion: Piece 12 inch blocks together--4 across and 4 down so that your piece is 48" x 48". You may find that 24" x 24" works better for you.

    Cut your batting about 1" larger all the way around than the length and width of your pieced blocks. Lay the 48" piece on the batting. Smooth out the wrinkles. Place the quilt piece BATTING side down over the feed dogs. FMQ as desired leaving an area approximately 1/4" around the edge of the piece blank with no quilting. Do not stress over this. If you quilt a little too far to the edge, it is not a huge issue. Continue FMQ joined blocks until entire quilt top is FMQ.

    If your quilt is going to have a border or borders, join the borders to each other, cut batting exactly the way you cut the batting for the blocks, one inch larger on all sides. FMQ the borders the same way you did the quilt top, leaving approximately 1/4" on all sides unquilted.

    Using large scissors, grade batting on all edges. Grade means that you will lay the scissors at a 45 degree angle and carefully trim batting away from the edges of each FMQ piece leaving an uneven edge of batting. There will be less batting next to the stitching on the batting side and more batting on the cut edge next to your piecing.

    Join the FMQ pieces. Then join borders to all sides of the quilt.

    Lay your quilt top on a smooth surface. Lightly spray the batting side with Quilt Basting Spray. If using spray in the house, I place a big, deep box over the batting and put the spray can down in the box to spray. This limits the spray from getting into the air and on your surfaces. Moved the box over the surface until the entire area is covered.

    Roll your quilt backing. Unroll the backing over the batting. Smooth out wrinkles.

    Using a steam iron, press the backing side first, smoothing out wrinkles, flip the quilt over and press the pieced side. You will be glad that you didn't skip this step as the steam will hold the basting spray in place. Remember to press with an up and down motion. Do not iron meaning move the iron from side to side.

    Use a walking foot to attach the backing to your quilt top by stitching in the ditch from the top to the bottom of the quilt approximately 2 inches apart in rows or whatever will work best with your particular quilt pattern.

    Bind as usual.

    If you followed the grading instructions, no one will ever know that your FMQ was done in sections. Enjoy!!

    I will be happy to answer any questions. This really does work and opens up a whole new world for those of us who want to FMQ our own quilts or for those of us who can't afford to send our quilts out.

    Blessings,

    Jan
    Crikey!
    I'm a visual learner, as I have come to find. Any interest on putting up a video on YouTube, Jan?
    stationarymom and BeachLizard like this.
    I really need to get off the exclamation point.
    It may give people the idea that I'm bright and cheerful all the time....

  10. #10
    janbee is offline Senior Member
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    Default Re: FMQ Bed Size Quilts Easily

    Quote Originally Posted by New York Sue View Post
    Crikey!
    I'm a visual learner, as I have come to find. Any interest on putting up a video on YouTube, Jan?
    Geez Louise, I don't know how to do that but I will check it out. Folks here have hurt my feelings about this. It really is gorgeous and super easy. Every class I have taught, the ladies have just loved it.

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