My machine comes with a button to drop the feed dog, but if yours dosen't, Your right, use a piece of tape to cover the feed dog, I have stippled the last three quilts I've done, I love the visual effect as well as the the feel of the stippling. Let me know how it goes? Have you stippled before? If not remeber, pratice, pratice, pratice. Thats how I learned.

What is stippling? :roll:

Stippling is free motion quilting, You drop your feed dog and move the fabric around as you sew, If you have a machine that goes by just pushing a button, you press the button and move it around, the idea is to make curves kind like a jig saw puzzle piece. don't cross over lines just curve and wind around. You hold the fabric snuggly and move it around. You work in small areas at a time. Thats how I was taught 2 yrs ago, I have since learned that its about finding the speed that is comfortable for you as you do this. At first it did'nt look the way I was taught, So I almost gave up. But I was told do this for maybe 30 mins every day for a week and you'll get the hang of it. And BINGO, I did, and it did, I've seen it done on vests and pillows and quilt. I love the visual effect, I use it alot when I do echo quilting, then I stipple in the blank areas.
Also think about this it's Free Motion quilting, it's about being your own artist and creating what You like. You do not have to have a push button machine, you can do it with a pressure foot as well.

Did you use masking tape to cover the feed dog? Someone mentioned setting the thread count to "0"....tried that and didn't work. I used some thin cardboard over the feet....perhaps too thick. Explain a little more how you stippled w/o lowering the feet... Tx

I had to drop my feed dog, because I could'nt stipple with it up. When I said you can use the pressure foot, I meant the pressure foot on the floor, Have you removed your throat plate on your machine, the piece that goes over your feed dog? Is there a way to drop the feed dog from inside there? Have you looked in the manual? Also try this web site for maybe some better ideas then I can offer. www.valeriehearder.com/information.htm. Or if that dosen't work, go to your closest book store and go into the craft section and check out their quilting books to see if they have any info, or your library . I've done this many times to get the info I need and I'll sometimes research before I jump in.I hope I've helped some, Don't get frustrated,

I drop the feeddogs now but used to machine quilt with them up. On some machines there is a dial on the left-hand side that controls the pressure on the feet, in other words, how closely the foot hits the feeddogs. Try decreasing that pressure. I had a Viking and put it on "2" (I am not talking about the thread tension dial.)

Judy

Do not use the regular sewing foot. You can use an embroidery foot, or quilting/darning foot with circular hole. I have even done it without any foot. MANY years ago I used a little spring device that fit over the bar by the needle that cost $1.(!) I didn't know at that time that my OLD Singer had a way to drop the feed dogs, but I covered them with tape. I darned LOTS of my kids socks that way, before I ever thought about quilting, and it would have worked the same way. I have stippled several quilts now. Just takes PRACTICE!! Don't give up! I still like my 55 year old Singer in a cabinet better than the machines that don't have a large flat working area.

Okay, and now a word from mommy Boo. Please do not stipple without a foot!!! The chance of puncturing your finger is very high. I worked a few years in the ER and believe me, the girl that is sitting at the registration desk doesn't want to see a needle sticking out of your finger! You do realize that once it goes in and bends, someone has to take it out. Consider the other patients who will cringe at the sound of your scream. They have feelings too.

my sister works at Sears (repairs sewing machines) and a lady brought her neighbor in sewing machine and all because she had sewn her finger but they sent her to the hospital and would not let my sister raise the needle. Too much liability.

My machine has a button on the back to drop the feed dog. What kind of machine do you have? Do you have a manual with it? Check in there to see if they have a section on it? It mite be located underneat the throat plate. If not try the tape, but I suggest using wide scoth tape, It is slicker then masking tape and therefore easier to slide around your fabric for stippling, As to where masking tape has a rougher top texture making it more of a strain to move your fabric around.I personaly have never stippled with the feed dog up. Let me know how it goes.