FMQ on Singer 301
 

I'm just starting to practice FMQ on my Singer 301, has anyone done a double quilt using FMQ, if so I'd love to see a tutorial because I can't imagine how to do it. It helps to see someone that has been successful doing their quilt.
Thanks

I've only done a lap quilt but I had Stitching Joy quilt it for me. The largest thing I've quilted on my 301 is a Baby quilt. I had to roll the sides up. Sorry I couldn't be of any help to you but that's how I did it.

Thanks for your input too. I'd love to see someone videotape their free-motion quilting on their 301.
I just learn better by seeing the technique and hearing someone's explanation and instruction, especially on a Vintage machine, it is a little different than the long arms that do a beautiful job.
The 301's remind me of the Little Engine that Could!
Since, it's my mom's machine and she was a wonderful seamstress but never quilted. I'd like to do a quilt thinking of how she'd have liked to see it sewn on her 301 on which she taught me to sew at 12. I wasn't always an appreciative pupil.

I did quite a few double quilts on my 301 before I got a Bailey...
I've said it before and I'll say it again - get a pair of rubberized gardening gloves from WM for less than five dollars - you will be AMAZED at how easy it is to handle, manipulate, move, that quilt with those gloves on...
The other tip is to use a big table so the quilt is supported.

What is WM? It's very encouraging to hear how you've done several full sized quilts on your 301.
If you do another, it would be great to see your technique.
Are you talking about the cloth kind with rubber dots on the palms?
Did you lower your feed dog. I first did that but it seemed to be better with the feed dog up.
What did you put your stitch regulator on? I put it on the lowest position available.
I know it will be a lot of practice to go in all directions.
How did you transfer your design to the quilt top?
Thanks for all your help.

WM, Wallyworld, Wal-Mart

WM=WalMart
yes, lower the feed dogs, use a darning foot (available for slant machines at Hancocks - and other places)
no, not with dots, I've not found that little bitty dots help much, if you look in the gardening department at WM you will see what I'm talking about IF they are still available this time of year because they've already started putting out Christmas stuff
I didn't move the stitch regulator - it doesn't matter with a darning foot and feed dogs down
I didn't use a design - I used "free motion", which is what you asked about

I can answer 2 of your questions- WM is Walmart. I have a 301 but haven't fmq'd on it yet. Am looking forward to it, though. So far, I've done about 9 but on a different machine. The last one I did I used stencils- entwined hearts- I marked my quilt with a thin bar of soap. It worked great- was fast, stayed on it and washed right out. I also used one of those blue quilt marking pens that came out simply by spraying a water mist on it. I've also read that you can use washable crayola markers. I'm going to try that next as you can buy a whole pkg. of those for the price of one quilt marking pen. But, I'll try it on a scrap first, of course.

Machingers gloves for FMQ. Sorry to be bossy about it, but just try them and you'll be sold. Lightweight and breathable (I've accidentally gotten up from my machine and wandered around doing other things while still wearing them and not noticed!). When they start to get worn out you can just switch them to the other hand which gives you a new surface.

The woman who does instructional videos on Superior Threads' website wears Machingers, I've noticed.

Please just try them! (Unless you have large hands, try the S/M ones first).

Do you do all your FMQ without a stencil because I've seen patterns sold for FMQ or are you just meaning stippling?
You must be very creative to FMQ without any markings to guide your work doing a quilt top.
I will try with the feed dog down and look for the gloves.
I have seen the machingers too.
Thanks for all the tips.

I just recently bought a Singer 301 but haven't got it set up yet. What do you mean about the stitch regulator? Is that just the stitch length dial?
Glad to know that so many have had success with FMQ and this machine. Can't wait to get started.

That Website in my signature has some machines with discounted prices, but it's different everyday, so I don't know if you will find there what your looking for.

Yes, it is the stitch length dial.

At first you may want to use quilting templates to mark the design on the quilt blocks or onto blocks that are a solid color by using any number of available marking pencils. Some use mechanical pencils, washable marking pens, chalk pens on dark colors, some pens fade off over night so only mark areas you can quilt immediately and there are pounce chalk bags that are used to mark the cut out lines on the stencils. You may also trace designs onto tracing, tissue or vellium paper and make your own stencils by transferring your designs to stencil plastic. There are also tutorials regarding sewing through the traced or drawn designs on the tracing type papers and then tear away after your sewn the design onto you quilt. Quilting Made Easy also makes marked stencil stripes for the borders as well as some block designs. You can find them online and order directly from them. I know this was a lot of information and probably confusing, I apologize. If you have any questions you can PM me and I'd be happy to help you. There are lots of new things to learn and of course you'll have questions. That's why we're here and only too happy to help where we can. Happy Quilting Always.

Andie, desertrose

if you bunch your quilt you will find you can put more in your throat than rolling it. I think its harder to do stitch in the ditch than meandering...I also like the look better of meandering than stitch in the ditch which I have done several times and regretted that choice. it was ok but not nice as all over quilting

I totally agree about Machingers and you can get them at Joanns on line and use their 50 percent coupons. they are not expensive.

I have to disagree with the advice to start by marking - I would say to work freehand, starting with a meander then once you have that smooth and even, start doodling in some patterns, simple to start with (flower shapes for eg). I would also try doodling on paper first - this doesn't work for everyone but it's worth a try because if it works for you it helps a lot - the drawing motion kind of 'locks' the design in your brain then you can translate it to FMQ.

I think it's MORE dificult to follow a drawn line than work freehand and also that it will limit you in the long run when you want to move on to working freehand, and if you get into FMQ you WILL. Do bear in mind that unless you are blessed with innate natural ability, you will need lots of PRACTICE so don't get disheartened if you can't get it right straight away. I have heard the ability to FMQ compared to learning to write - how long did that take you? :-D Good luck and presevere - for me, it has been the single most rewarding aspect of patchwork and quilting that I've learnt. :D

Watching YouTube examples of FMQ is really helpful too - watch a bunch whenever you can, when you find one with a pattern you want to try, watch it again right before you start your project, very helpful to me...:)

I've read about the washable marking pens and I'm a little afraid of trying them.
I'm depending on others' personal experience and preference to what really works and comes out of the quilt.
What have you found works for you on light and dark fabrics?
Thanks for the offer to pm you, I'll do that. I'm sure more confusing things will arise as I go on.
I'm reading different books and have watched tutorials online and utube, but sometimes it still doesn't make something clear to me.

I did start with meandering and spent about an hour, it was very enjoyable, but I wondered if I had a design I'd like to put on my alternate blocks like a rosebud formation if I shouldn't try to do a stenciled design.
I drew freehand a design and found I was having some trouble seeing my lines but made leaf shapes anyway, the vein markings were more difficult. I thought I wouldn't have the ability to turn the quilt like I was the quilt sandwich and I wondered how I'd be able to complete the design going in a limited direction with the blocks sewn together as the quilt top?

For the Machinger's gloves, does JoAnn's have the coupons on the online site, how do you get them?
Thanks, all for your help.

I was wondering how I'd do SID, some of my blocks are pinwheel type design, once attached in the quilt top, don't know how I'd reach those areas if I can't turn the block? It seems like it is for sewing straight ahead.
SID is done alongside the seamlines, I wondered what held the seam side of the pattern down if you don't stitch through the seams?

I can't wait to try FMQ on my 301A!! I love my oldie, but goodie machines!

Do you FM on your 301A with the feed dogs up? I was told that you cannot lower the feed dogs on a 301A. I was given a 301A (thank you very much) but have not done any quilting on it yet. Have just put the blocks together on it so far.

I don't know if the 301 is the same as 301A, mine is mocha colored and has a knee lever instead of the foot pedal.
If you have that little door to the left of the throat plate and needle, lift it up and way to the back is a plastic screw about 1/4" or more in diameter, you hand turn it, there's resistance on mine even though I oiled it underneath the machine, to the left as far as you can without making it really tight. Then, close the door and see and feel if your feed dog is below the throat plate.
Actually, I'm brand new to FMQ and I left them up a little and it worked for me, but some lower them all the way.
I know I don't have the experience but after an hour was making some progress with controlling machine speed and hand control. Maybe someone else will offer their experience.

Thank you so much for your reply. I will try to see if that works on my machine. Hope it does!

You're welcome, I hope it works for you.

A 301A is the same as a 301 the A stands for where it was made. I lower my feed dogs on my 301A when fmq.

Wow, information valuable here as I recently gotten an 301a and very interested in what feet/supplies and instructions for FMQ needed. What feet am I supposed to use and how do you lower your feed dog? Is therean plate or something to put under feed dog like the FW???

Have not seen a 301, what kind of machine is it?? Sounds like an older machine? Want to try FMQ but afraid, all I have is a nice Singer and bought the foot for it to do FMQ from Joannes but not used it yet, afraid I will do something to my nice machine.......
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