Originally Posted by
wildyard
So much great information! I think my two biggest problems are that my machine is not flush and sits above the table surface so everything is always uphill, and working with the wrong foot pressure and foot. I don't even have an extension table so my actual surface area is very small and I don't see that changing. Guess it's back to straight line quilting for me. I really don't mind so much, I get a lot of quilts done that way and people seem to like it ok.
My favorite saying is Bloom Where You Are Planted, and I seem to be planted smack in the middle of straight line quilting! LOL
Not sure what "very small" means, but when I started FMQ, I was using a computer desk with a card table next to it. I built up the area around my machine using empty Whitman chocolate boxes (they were the perfect size ... and the perfect excuse to eat more chocolate!). They are already coated with this slick, wax coating, so the fabric glides right over them. I've also used shirt boxes with waxed paper taped on top & that was almost as good. The trick is to get everything level with your machine bed. I had probably 4-5" to the left & 6-7" behind my machine on the desk (which was butted up against the wall to help support my quilt). The card table did give me extra room to the left. I used a paperback book under each of the legs to get it the same height as my desk.
Depending on what brand of machine you have, the darning feet may not be expensive. For my old Singer, I paid $10 for it. Of course, my Bernina darning foot was quite pricey.
I have not had a control to adjust the pressure foot pressure on any of my machines, so while that is a great feature, it isn't necessary to FMQ.
Of course, there are a lot of beautiful designs that can be done with straight line quilting ... just wanted you to know you have options without investing a huge amount of money (and, for that matter, even my "cabinet" is an IKEA hack of their $60 INGO dining table -- so I went from $15 worth of chocolate boxes to a $60 table & have enjoyed FMQ'ing every step of the way!).