How did you learn how to free motion quilt?
 

I'm going to try and learn how to free motion quilt. I know that it is all about practice, practice, practice and also drawing but is there anything that you may have done that would help me out. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

i'll be watching this since I just quilted my 6th quilt on my friends LA. I've hand quilted over 350 quilts. this FMQ has me stumped. true artists do wonders.

There is a blogger, Lori Kennedy, who does wonderful step-by-step free-motion quilting tutorials. She has started a series of doodling tutes that people are finding really helpful for building muscle memory and freeing up their creativity. Her blog is The Inbox Jaunt. http://theinboxjaunt.com/

She just recorded a Craftsy class that I bought, but I haven't as yet watched. It's getting great reviews.
Check her out.

Leslie

Also Google Leah Day. She has lots of free videos. I taught myself by watching videos and practicing a lot. I am not an expert but can do a respectable enough job.

I'm pretty good following instructions from a book or video, but this was one skill that I really benefitted from a hands on class. I had done a bunch of practicing on my own, but the instructor just observed me for a few minutes and made some suggestions (faster machine speed) and it just clicked. I would see if there is a class at a LQS in your area.

For me it's definitely a "learn by doing" thing. My first FMQ end product makes me cringe just a little bit, but I gave it to my sister, who looks at it with an un-critical eye and loves it. I made the rule for myself that I would not rip out my work -- just keep going and try to make the next part look better.

I find it helps to practice regularly -- 15 minutes every day, just to make it feel natural and intuitive. I have scraps I piece into improv pillow covers (24 inches square) or table runners (18 inches by 70) and I will practice on those every day. The end results are a mixed bag, but they work really well as picnic table covers or pillows for pets. Some recent practice pieces are so nice that my niece asked to have a quilt made of them. I use the practice pieces to try out new stitches, trial threads, think through the approach to a design I intend to do on a real quilt -- they are really my key to success.

I did take some classes and had a great teacher and of course practice drawing on paper whenever you can or I used a dry erase board just doodle and enjoy

check out the pajama quilter, she makes it so easy

OMG Lynnie!

Over 350 hand quilted quilts?

You must be very good at it and lightning quick!

My great aunt had a friend who hand sewed everything.

Her work was just breathtaking.

Anything she made had the strongest most beautiful perfect even stitches. Anything she made looked like it was done by machine. I have never seen the like anywhere else.

Perhaps try using a dry erase board and markers to work on your doodles, and muscle memory. Then also try different designs on muslin and batting sandwiches, using a dark colored thread to see your stitching better~~

:)