Oversight leads to improved FMQ on DSM
 

Learned something new about my Singer the other day. Got myself set up for FMQ. I changed the needle and switched to my darning foot and commenced to quilting. I noticed that I wasn't having the eyelashing and tension problems that I normally pull my hair out about and figured it must be the thread. Well, been using that same cone of thread for some time. When I ran out of bobbin thread I noticed my feed dogs were not down when I switched bobbins. I had been quilting the whole time with the feed dogs up!

I have no idea why the machine still lets me smoothly FMQ, but needless to say those doggies are staying up! I hope it doesn't hurt the machine.

There are many people who FMQ with the feed dogs up. If you are have problems with them up, try them down and vice versa!

Thanks for posting this! I've been having issues with FMQ and will try leaving the feed dogs up to see if that helps.

I find that on some FMQ projects I have better results with the feed dogs up and other times it goes better with them down. Who knows???

Maybe look into one of the plates that covers the feed dogs.

I haven't done much FMQ but, on practice pieces, I find that my FMQ is better with the feed dogs up.

I had an old kenmore that had 2 settings for feed dogs. Not sure why but I had to click twice to get them out of the way. Maybe 1/2 way is what would be needed for FMQ! ?

I just did the same thing last week. I put my supreme slider on the bed of my machine and my hopping foot. I went to town on a wall hanging. Stitches were great; not a single eyelash! When I was finished, I realized that I hadn't put my feed dogs down or turned my stitch length to zero! I'm going to try it again soon to make sure that it wasn't just all the stars and planets in perfect alignment that day!

Maybe it has something to do with the fabric. Who knows. Do you realize what this means!!! All of this time, I had been thinking I couldn't FMQ because my machine's feed dogs wouldn't lower. I could have been doing it all along. Geezzzz!

At one time, I also found my fmq was better with the feed dogs up. Now I still don't lower them, I just set my stitch length to zero, so while they are up, the do not move. But I have done it all three ways (feed dogs up and moving, feed dogs lowered and feed dogs up but not moving) with good results all around. Just find what works for you (and your machine) and go have some fmq'ing fun! :) :)

I leave FD up and stitch length at zero which works great.

My friend just showed me how he FMQ with her feeddogs up. I will have to try it.

Boy, I'm going to be trying this. I can't drop my feed dogs so assumed FMQ was not in mu future.

I have a singer also and it works great with the dogs up, I have played with the stitch length from 0 to3 I have not desided what is best I do use a supreme slider to cover and it works great!

Not saying I'm expert, but I tend to leave the feed teeth up also with fairly good results. I have a Viking Rose, though, and it may vary from machine to machine.

I have done both and find I generally like the feed dogs down - but occasionally I leave them up. Whatever works best on my practice sandwich of the fabrics I'm using in my quilt.

I'm fairly sure Leah Day leaves those doggies up and she does the most wonderful FMQ.

I did attempt to FMQ with the dogs up - when I first started and I nearly burned out my sewing machine motor! LOL* I think if it works for you wonderful - but I can tell you those eyelash issues are merely minor tension adjustments that are very small and simple to fix, I would love to help you with that if you would like me to!! :) Your top tension does need a little tinkering with depending on the thread type, weight and needle size you're using...but it's very minor and once it's adjusted you won't have those issues anymore with your feed dogs down. :)

I hear ya! Didn't happen to me, but I have heard this before. The answer is to keep the feed dogs up, but put your stitch length at zero, that way the feed dogs do not move.

Leah Day does this (for those who follow her blog) and she swears by leaving them up (stitch length set at zero) because she believes the machine was made to work with the feed dogs in the up position better than when they are down. My experience on my machine backs this up, but each machine is different. So just play around and do what works for you!! :):)

She does leave them up, so I followed her recomendations with the foot and the dogs up, and I have never had a problem.
It does dent your 'Slider" a little if you are using one. If you have a single hole plate, that helps, too.

Leah Day keeps her feed dogs up ... like you, she discovered it by accident.

The purpose of FMQ is for the sewer to be "free" to do the motion instead of motion being controled by the machine. By lowering the feed dogs and using the FMQ foot the sewer is in control of the quilting. Many times the eyelashes/loops are caused by the sewer's speed of moving the fabric. By leaving the feed dogs up they put a little drag on the fabric therefore slowing down the movement of the fabric. this slower speed may be preventing the eyelashes/loops. The drag on the fabric actually prevents the fabric from moving "freely" and may make you FMQ harder. Also if you are using a slider then why leave the feed dogs up since covering them will stop them from grabbing the fabric. as for damaging the machine? not sure but it can not be the best thing for it since you are working against the feed dogs. There may be a good reason that lowering the feed dogs is recommended. IMHO

I leave the feed dogs up, use 0 stitch length, and use a super slider on the throat plate. It works well for FMQ for me.

I had the exact same "accident"! Now I always leave my feed dogs up.

Hey whatever works for you! If it was messing up your machine you would definitely know. Just make sure you clean your machine as often as need. I clean the lint at the end of the day. Also if I'm going from one different type of fabric to the next.

I think that Leah Day says to keep your feed dogs up for FMQ.

Leah Day always quilts with the feed dogs up.

I have read that on certain machines the feed dogs are somehow connected to the tension. If that is true (and it sounds like it is), it would affect the stitches on FMQ. It really is a matter of what works for you. The important thing is to keep trying.

I've done it with them down and up. I took a class and the instructor said to leave them up. worked. but then, there are times I have difficulty moving my quilt and can't decide if it is my fabric, batting or feed dogs. they are usually down.

I do havea couple of settings for my feed dogs. Down all the way, up all the way and in between. Maybe I will experiment to see if there is a difference. I have accidently left them up, no difference at all.

Thanks for the great information.

I have a number of machines and I have tested fmq both ways, with feed dogs up or down. For vintage machines and even antique machines (100 years old or more), where feed dogs don't drop, I find I can do very good fmq by using a Stoppax attachment and having the feed dogs up and uncovered. This even works on treadles. I normally find them on e-bay for about $60. I don't see any there now. They are about 50-60 years old and made in Denmark, I think.

I am new on the Board, could someone please tell me what FMQ means.

I also found a huge difference in fmq with feed dogs up....love it!!!

FMQ = Free motion quilting. There is straight-line quilting, which is when you sew a straight seam (usually) with the aid of a walking foot. You are sewing through the top of the quilt, the batting, and the backing. Then there is fmq, where you move the quilt to make the pattern you want. You are controlling where the machine goes and how big the stitches are. Normally, you would drop the feed dogs to do that. It could be considered an art form.

Other questions?

Cormiae, I am fairly new as well and was very happy when someone posted this link to a guide for abbreviations we often see on this board. I hope this helps you decipher the posts. It really helped me. Welcome!

http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1...s-t178507.html

That is funny. The last one I did still working on it. I just got the quilting food about 3 or 4 month now. I was fighting my machine one day . So I put it away some time it helps if I walk away . Came back and try again I seen my foot was not down,LOL it work so mush better when it is down . I got those quilt glove to do not like them so I have small hands and I keep running over the tips. I think that I'm going to order those tips I see and try them . They look like there think rubber it would work better for me.

Leah's theory is that the machine just works better with the dogs up and that's what she does.

Hooray for you! I prefer to leave the feed dogs up too. It won't hurt your machine.