ok, so i've taken the 'advanced machine quilting class' and i'm ready to go. i'm doing much better at free motion, but lately i've been trying to 'stitch on the lines' after marking with a stencil.

trouble is, most of the time i can't see where i'm going and i end up way off of the mark. hope this is making sense.

are there any tips or tricks for staying 'on the line'? my current project is a lap quilt so it's not like i can turn it to go with the flow of the design. i'm following the direction of the little arrows shown on the stencil label. i'm using the air soluble marking pen (purple) which is working out pretty good.

i just bought some new stencils at Hancock Fabrics for a couple more projects, so i hope i can get the hang of it!

practice practice practice thats what they say !!!! when i am following a line doing meander stitch i put the material inso the part i have sewn is behind the needle and the part that is not is in front of the needle dont know if this is right or helps but thats what i do


Good luck

yep, the plastic ones. you just trace the design with the soluble pen or chalk or whatever else you like to use.

some of them seem to be more for hand quilting. i picked one up the other day at the quilt shop and got home only to discover that there wasn't a way to do continuous stitching. so i'll use it for hand quilting potholders or something. the continuous design ones have a little drawing on them with little arrows showing which path to follow.

I did not know there were continuous line ones. I'll have to check that out. :mrgreen: Do you get them from a quilt shop? I've seen some at my local quilt shop and also some at Hobby Lobby. Never knew to look for arrows though.
When you use the purple soluble pen, does it all disappear? I was wondering if it would soak into the batting?? :roll:
I do have one that makes the clamshells, but I see no arrows.
Wonder if it would be doable by machine?

Like Penski, I too quilt and bring the project toward myself. This way you can see where you need to go and the bundle will be on your lap.

One other important thing. You MUST wear your gloves - the kind with the "nubbies" on the palm side. They will help you grip and control the layers. Fons and Porter offer these and you can find them at JoAnn's. Or you could use garden gloves with knit backs so they fit tightly on the fingers.

Keep practicing. Suzanne

Are you using a clear motion or seam presser foot?
Once I switched, I didn't have to guess any more.
K

I'm with the rest of them...just have to practice.
AND have patience too! ;)

yes, my janome came with the clear free motion foot.

off to practice some more!

thanks ladies! anyone else have ideas/tips?

are there any tips or tricks for staying 'on the line'? my current project is a lap quilt so it's not like i can turn it to go with the flow of the design. i'm following the direction of the little arrows shown on the stencil label. i'm using the air soluble marking pen (purple) which is working out pretty good.

i just bought some new stencils at Hancock Fabrics for a couple more projects, so i hope i can get the hang of it![/quote]

Hi, I use a clear plastic foot on my machine so that I can clearly where I am going, it works for me. It makes it easy and I also use it for my applique work, really helps to keep it neat.

Elle

When doing straight lines, I use my walking foot. I make a grid over the entire quilt and then go back and using a clear foot, I free-motion quilt within each block.

I often use mono in both the bobbin and on top. If I use colored thread on the back, it matches the fabric so as to hide my stitches. Once you get really good, then use colored on top and bottom.

Suzanne

I am new to machine quilting and have found that if I use the walking foot to straight line quilt the inside then use the free motion for the borders I get alot of practice with the free motion.
The main thing is doing the borders is an outside edge and is easier to handle than the inside.
When I try to do free motion on the center sections it is just to hard to move the quilt around.
I dont have a flatbed on my machine so moving the quilt around just dosnt work well.

Just thought of something some of the girls use in our Group They use rubber gloves to help control the flow of the material under the needs when free motion sewing.

Been practicing my free motion but all I can say is I need a lot more practice. LOL Elle

I bought a pair of Fons and Porter gloves for a couple of dollars at Joanns but they didnt help.
I did buy a border stencil of continuous line leaves that is easy and fun to do. Borders are a great way to practice free motion.

I use the rubber fingertips that you used to use for paper. I found the gloves got my hands too hot.

I was looking at that idea. Is the paper sticky on one side so that it adheres to the quilt? Or do you just pin it on. Then stitch not free motion
right?

Elle