Thread: Learning to FMQ

My practice is usually on a quilt. I made a giant king-size quilt for the purpose of practicing feather motifs in different shapes and sizes - there are probably a hundred or 150 feathers on that quilt. The top is so busy, you can hardly see the quilting - but if you look at the back, you can tell that this is the most over-quilted scrap top ever made in history.

I also buy quilt tops - I don't like piecing very much and I can't get tops finished fast enough to get on with the next quilting session.

Christine Maraccini's book on machine quilting is one of the best ones out there - for each quilt top, she has three examples quilted for different purposes - one is intended for heavy use and lots of laundering, (she calls that one a "dragger," because it will be dragged around by a child everywhere s/he goes) one is intended to be a keepsake/heirloom and one is intended to be a show-stopper. The quilting gets progressively fancier and more difficult going from "dragger" to "show-stopper." She has a lot of beautiful motifs and shows you step by step how to go from one to the next.

One thing that is a big help is drawing the motifs with pencil and paper or on a Dry Erase board. Draw the motif over and over and over until you're sick of drawing it. Draw it until you no longer how to think about where you're going next - getting into and out of tight spots is automatic.

For some reason, this complete confidence with the design translates itself to drawing with a sewing machine and thread. When you sit down to quilt it, it seems to come out of the needle almost by itself. The tension will be gone from your shoulders and you will breathe without having to remind yourself to do so. So draw, draw, draw.

Then go to a practice sandwich and after doing some quilting on it, check the tensions by examining the stitches on both sides. Make any necessary adjustments and then go on to the quilt.

You can do it - don't be afraid of it and don't get frustrated with yourself. It takes time and practice for most people. Have fun!

I practiced on sandwiched pieces and then made potholders. Leah Day designs videos on FMQ were a huge help and inspiration and the book Heirloom Machine Quilting by Harriet Hargrave is a keeper.

Originally Posted by thepolyparrot

My practice is usually on a quilt. I made a giant king-size quilt for the purpose of practicing feather motifs in different shapes and sizes - there are probably a hundred or 150 feathers on that quilt. The top is so busy, you can hardly see the quilting - but if you look at the back, you can tell that this is the most over-quilted scrap top ever made in history.


I also buy quilt tops - I don't like piecing very much and I can't get tops finished fast enough to get on with the next quilting session.

Christine Maraccini's book on machine quilting is one of the best ones out there - for each quilt top, she has three examples quilted for different purposes - one is intended for heavy use and lots of laundering, (she calls that one a "dragger," because it will be dragged around by a child everywhere s/he goes) one is intended to be a keepsake/heirloom and one is intended to be a show-stopper. The quilting gets progressively fancier and more difficult going from "dragger" to "show-stopper." She has a lot of beautiful motifs and shows you step by step how to go from one to the next.

One thing that is a big help is drawing the motifs with pencil and paper or on a Dry Erase board. Draw the motif over and over and over until you're sick of drawing it. Draw it until you no longer how to think about where you're going next - getting into and out of tight spots is automatic.

For some reason, this complete confidence with the design translates itself to drawing with a sewing machine and thread. When you sit down to quilt it, it seems to come out of the needle almost by itself. The tension will be gone from your shoulders and you will breathe without having to remind yourself to do so. So draw, draw, draw.

Then go to a practice sandwich and after doing some quilting on it, check the tensions by examining the stitches on both sides. Make any necessary adjustments and then go on to the quilt.

You can do it - don't be afraid of it and don't get frustrated with yourself. It takes time and practice for most people. Have fun!

WOW WOW WOW....You did this on a regular machine????? This is amazing,I didn't even realize that was possible.I thought I was doing good with my little swirls lol.
I will look for this book.Thank you so much for showing us

I have done very little FMQ so far, as it also scares me. After the holidays, I plan to take a few weeks where I just do practice FMQ every day for 15-30 minutes (that is if I can get the time to sit and sew daily). I wasn't ready when a group that I follow on my blog did it earlier this year.

I plan to use practice sandwiches that will probably end up being donated to the animal shelter as pet mats once completed - but some will also go into a binder of samples.

I purchased the batting sampler pack from Harriet Hargrave to practice on so that I can figure out which battings I like and also how different battings handle.

I did find when I was testing tension for a project I finished this summer that FMQ on a small piece is very different from manhandling the larger quilt, so I had to put together a larger practice sandwich.

Cheers, K

Originally Posted by LivelyLady

I practiced on sandwiched pieces and then made potholders. Leah Day designs videos on FMQ were a huge help and inspiration and the book Heirloom Machine Quilting by Harriet Hargrave is a keeper.

Heirloom Machine Quilting is my go-to book at this point. I've read it several times and started practicing a few techniques.

K

Thanks for the recommendation Holice! I also have a practice piece with a bunch of different patterns on it for when I'm ready, though I've forgotten the manufacturer.

Cheers, K