The promise I made
10-15-2015, 11:04 AM
#1
Super Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Canada
Posts: 3,456
The promise I made
A few years ago I promised myself to learn FMQ before I buy a upgrade my machine.
I tried once and it was a complete disaster. Couldn't even get a straight stitch.
I think I set the tension at zero instead of stitch length at zero. LOL
Anyway, long story short. I put FMQ away for a long long time. Then my quilt tops
started accumulating. Don't want to do SID or straight line quilting on a very special
quilt. So my option was...send it to a long armer or do it myself. Huh.
I finally gave FMQ another shot. Made a few quilt sandwiches. Read a few books
on quilting and off I went. Wow. It was almost magical. Nothing like the first attempt.
Ok. I know I have long long way to go but it's really fun and I encourage all quilters
to give it a try. I would also recommend Free-Motion Quilting Made Easy by
Eva Larkin if you just want to get started. Have fun!
[h=1][/h]
I tried once and it was a complete disaster. Couldn't even get a straight stitch.
I think I set the tension at zero instead of stitch length at zero. LOL
Anyway, long story short. I put FMQ away for a long long time. Then my quilt tops
started accumulating. Don't want to do SID or straight line quilting on a very special
quilt. So my option was...send it to a long armer or do it myself. Huh.
I finally gave FMQ another shot. Made a few quilt sandwiches. Read a few books
on quilting and off I went. Wow. It was almost magical. Nothing like the first attempt.
Ok. I know I have long long way to go but it's really fun and I encourage all quilters
to give it a try. I would also recommend Free-Motion Quilting Made Easy by
Eva Larkin if you just want to get started. Have fun!
[h=1][/h]
10-15-2015, 11:26 AM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Southwest Idaho
Posts: 589
Good for you! That's wonderful! I recently took a quilting class from Paula Reid from Batts in the Attic and found that I could actually follow a quilting design. I had tried it years ago and was convinced it was not for me. This time around, it was much better. I also always thought I couldn't quilt feathers and I am still not good at it, but I found that I could actually quilt something that resembled a feather! So keep on practicing! It will get better with time and more practice!
10-16-2015, 06:16 AM
#7
Power Poster
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Southern California
Posts: 19,131
Remember that FMQ is a lot like riding a bike with no training wheels. It takes practice. I am glad you found something that works for you. I caught on when Harriet Hargrave said not to look at where your needle is at the moment, but to where you want to go.
10-16-2015, 10:54 AM
#8
Super Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Kentucky
Posts: 3,422
I did the same thing. I am actually getting quite good at FMQ. I worked at it for a long time with my old machine. It just never looked right. When I bought my new Janome 8900, I decided to give FMQ another try. It seemed so easy! I have done quite a bit of it now, and it works. So happy with my new Janome!
10-16-2015, 02:42 PM
#9
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Piedmont Virginia in the Foothills of the Blue Ridge Mtns.
Posts: 8,562
I have found over the years that even though my hands may not be quilting for an extended period, it seems my learning/skills/abilities continue to improve.
Not sure how that happens, but it's a truism for me that hasn't failed me yet!
Jan in VA
Not sure how that happens, but it's a truism for me that hasn't failed me yet!
Jan in VA
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