I read a post earlier today that made me stop and think. The poster said, and this isn't an exact quote, "If you can't draw with a pencil you won't be able to draw with a sewing machine." :shock:

I have all the technical aspects of FMQ down. My practice sandwiches are pucker free, stitch length is fairly even throughout. Yet, they still look like crap because I can't draw my way out of a paper sack and have never had the ability. I honestly didn't realize how much being able to draw mattered! No wonder FMQ has been an exercise in frustration for me. Even my stippling and meandering has the look of something being tortured.

I'm going shopping for stencils.

Please don't give up. The owner of my LQS talked me into taking any picture from any magazine or newspaper and just practice drawing or tracing over that picture. It helped me, maybe it will help you too.

You can use a white board and just draw, draw, draw. Also, turn on music you enjoy and that will help you relax and not stress. If you have a friend that can draw a stipple or meander for you, place a piece of plexi-glass over it and use a vis a vis marker and practice tracing it. Or put it on a copy machine and make multiple copies that you can practice tracing.

doodle on a white board, really will make a huge difference.

Seriously, Sally Terry suggests using paper and pencil to practice any chance you get. Eventually your hand and eye learn to coordinate and the motion becomes second nature. Like learning to ride a bike I guess. It worked for me!

You can also get Golden Threads paper. You trace the quilt design on to it and pin it to the quilt and just quilt along the lines. That will also help you develop muscle memory. Believe me I can't draw much either, but with the paper it comes out looking pretty good.

Doodling with a pencil, without any plan or thought and without lifting it off the paper, will relax your mind and loosen your muscles. Waltz the pencil around on the paper. When you're relaxed, switch hands and hold the pencil still while you move the paper around underneath it. You are now free motion drawing! :lol:

You're not trying to quilt the Mona Lisa after all, just lines and shapes. People learn to draw all the time...with pencils, paints or sewing machines. For all of them, it takes practice.

I've never felt it's the fact that some people can draw better with a pencil (ok,maybe they can) but I think the doodling is to practice the motion - getting the hand and eye coordination working.

If you're doodling (with a pencil) teardrop shapes, for instance, what do you do - or how do you - extricate yourself from a dead end?
How do you move to another section of the block?
How do you adjust the shapes if you're in a tight smaller area trying to find your way out?

I think it's more to become familiar with those kinds of situations so you don't panic and tense up and/or freeze when you're actually FMQ-ing and confront the same situations.

So like Sadiemae suggested upthread, just keep drawing.

I'm not giving up! No way, no how! Seriously though - I really can not draw. My hand writing is barely legible, to the point my signature is never the same twice.

I'm going to look into the Golden Threads paper. Do they still make tracing paper?

i have never been a doodler... never. and i am definitely not the artist of the family. but there are lots of squiggles and other designs that you can use for your quilting that don't need tons of talent. just find your niche and use what you are good at. your quilts will look great.