Go Back  Quiltingboard Forums >
  • Main
  • FMQ Problem >
  • FMQ Problem

  • FMQ Problem

    Thread Tools
     
    Old 01-03-2012, 04:29 PM
      #11  
    Member
     
    lovequilter's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Jan 2011
    Location: Texas
    Posts: 95
    Default

    I use a all cotton batting for free motion quilting, as the ploy slips around. I also spray baste. Check your back often.
    lovequilter is offline  
    Old 01-03-2012, 04:55 PM
      #12  
    Super Member
     
    katier825's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Mar 2009
    Location: FL
    Posts: 7,084
    Default

    Spray baste helps tremendously! Another thing I do sometimes is to use water soluble thread and baste every foot or so (each block of rows). This helps hold it together a bit more than the spray baste alone. I use a large stitch and do a simple grid every 12-18" inches or so. I always do my stitch in the ditch first, then quilt the blocks. I rarely have any puckers. Once the quilt is all done, I wash it and the water soluble baste washes away.
    katier825 is offline  
    Old 01-03-2012, 05:05 PM
      #13  
    Super Member
     
    Join Date: Oct 2010
    Location: Arizona
    Posts: 4,039
    Default

    Morelcabin is correct. Use darning foot (FMQ foot) for FMQ. Use walking foot for SID (after stippling is done) or whatever design is quilted in that block (space)

    Originally Posted by morelcabin
    No, walking feet are not for FMQ...darning feet or FMQ feet are
    suebee is offline  
    Old 01-03-2012, 05:44 PM
      #14  
    Super Member
     
    tjradj's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Sep 2010
    Location: London, Ontario, Canada
    Posts: 1,326
    Default

    Wow, lots of advice. Looks to me like you're having the normal issues when learning FMQ. I assure you my first quilts were a lot worse. Here's my take on things.
    If you notice, your quilting around the lamb is actually quite good. The backing really shows up when there are areas of the quilt that are not quilted as much as the others. So, the lamb area looks poofy on the back. When there is a poofy area, you're bound to get puckers beside it.
    Spray basting or using fusible batting is a great fix. Pin basting is also very good but you have to take the time to make sure you tape the backing down tight to the table before layering the batting. Take the batting out of the package before you're ready to use it so it can relax and 'dewrinkle'. Make sure it's straight and evenly laid out before adding the top. Smooth the top from the center to the outside. Once the entire quilt sandwich is ready, pin baste from the center of the quilt to the sides, pinning every 3 or 4 inches. I even pin baste when I use a spray baste on larger quilts.
    I find that the quilting works a lot better if I quilt evenly throughout an area = making the spacing between the rows of stitching about equal. I do SITD around blocks before filling them in. If you've made the backing tight enough before basting, it works.
    When I'm ready to do the borders, I stitch the edge together, about 1/8" in from the outer edge. I find it helps to prevent the border from bowing out. It also helps me gauge the border design so it fits in the border but doesn't get chopped off by the binding.
    Anyway, keep up with the fmq. You're doing great, you just need more practise.
    tjradj is offline  
    Old 01-03-2012, 06:16 PM
      #15  
    Banned
     
    Join Date: Nov 2010
    Location: Ontario Canada
    Posts: 848
    Default

    I use painters tape and tape my backing to the floor before layering on the batting and quilt top. Then pin every 4 inches or so and peel the whole thing off the floor to sew.
    morelcabin is offline  
    Old 01-04-2012, 06:54 AM
      #16  
    Super Member
    Thread Starter
     
    Join Date: Aug 2010
    Location: Kansas City, Missouri
    Posts: 1,040
    Default Q

    Thanks to everyone for your suggestions. I actually taped the backing to the dining room table so it was nice and smooth. then I added the batting and then the quilt top. I started in the middle making sure it was all nice and straight with no wrinkles. then I pin based the top about every 4". When I turned the quilt over it looked very good so I thougt I was good to go. I do think the suggestion of FMQ the center of each block before the SID rows was a good idea. I could also have messed things up by removing the pins before FMQing the blocks. However, I straightened them out really well before doing the FMQ so I thought it would be OK. I used a darning foot on a Singer 15-91. I removed the pins so I would not sew over them or the foot get caught on them. I think perhaps a better way for the FMQ would be to baste the area really good. It just seems like when I do FMQ and I have only done it twice, it always winds up not staying taunt and when I get to the end I always have the puffy places. I have tried adjusting the presser foot tension but I am not sure that is the problem. Anyway, I don't think I can take out the stitches because they are very tiny and I will keep on trying. I am sure there are youtube videos on FMQ that I should check out. Again, thanks for your help and ideas. This is the greatest place for all things concerning quilting know how.
    Blackberry is offline  
    Related Topics
    Thread
    Thread Starter
    Forum
    Replies
    Last Post
    annesthreads
    For Vintage & Antique Machine Enthusiasts
    0
    01-15-2012 02:57 AM
    Lucky
    Main
    5
    09-08-2011 07:34 AM
    Homemother
    Pictures
    15
    06-09-2011 01:33 PM
    Fancy Nancy
    Main
    19
    03-25-2011 11:22 AM

    Posting Rules
    You may not post new threads
    You may not post replies
    You may not post attachments
    You may not edit your posts

    BB code is On
    Smilies are On
    [IMG] code is On
    HTML code is On
    Trackbacks are Off
    Pingbacks are Off
    Refbacks are Off



    FREE Quilting Newsletter