When FMQ can you please tell me where my foot should be on the fabric...I have the Jnome 6600 with adjustable pressure FMQ foot and I am not sure wether my foot should be on the fabric or hovering just above... ( machine pure set to 1: Tension at 5) ....sometimes the tension is good sometimes awful....and I know it is user error because all other stitching is beautiful...any advice gratefully received

In my case, the foot is a bit above the fabric. I have also modified my foot so it does not hop. The hopping drove me crazy.

I have the Janome 6600 and tried FMQ yesterday for the first time ever. The foot hovers above the fabric. I set the tension to 4 as the manual instructed on page 46; dropped the feed dogs; set the foot pressure to 1; and used stitch 11 mode 2 and went to town!

With a hopping foot the foot should be touching the fabric, whenever the needle is in the down position.

a free motion-hopping foot hops up and down- when the needle is down so is the foot- when the needle is up-so is the foot. your tension problems may be from moving your fabric faster or slower than the machine is stitching- it takes some practice to get your speed/stitching equal.

Janome 6600, Mode 2, D01, 3.5,0.00, pressure 1, tension 7, feed dogs down, foot pedal unplugged, speed notch is under the middle speed-the arrow on the right in the set of 2 arrows.
I hit start, let it make a couple of stitches in place, and then begin to move the practice sandwich. Finding hand speed slow and in balance with machine speed affects the size of the stitches. Making long lines. When no eyelashes, I try curves. When no eyelashes on curves I go for a charity quilt etc. I practice with a different color bobbin from top thread so I can see which thread is creating issues if there are any issues.
I changed from Wal Mart thread to a R. Anston thread that came with my Janome and all the issues disappeared. I don't know if it was the thread or if by then I was doing something right, but the C&C all purpose kept breaking and shredding on top and that was something I had never experienced. I love this R.Anston thread. Can't remember what the R....word is. 100% cotton 50 wt.
I change settings with thicker batting. I am using warm & natural today.