Originally Posted by passionpiecer
I am requesting some HELP. I am a beginning mid-arm quilter with a new Nolting machine and do not have a clue as to how to go about quilting a top. Once I get the top pinned in, how do I get inspiration as what to do with it? I have looked at and admired so many beautifully quilted tops that I freeze up when I think of doing my own. Would watching quilting DVDs help the problem? I hate to ruin my beautiful pieced tops with bad quilting. HELP
Well I only use a table top domestic machine - but I spent loads of time with practice squares, equally with pencil and paper - before even attempting a "proper" piece - and the first thing I did free motion was a table runner.
I have been doing fmq for 18 months now and each thing I do I am happier with. I have bought several books on free motion quilting which are full of hints and methods for planning how to quilt a particular piece. There are lots of videos on Utube on fmq too.
It takes me a long time to decide what I will do, but that always includes a "dry" run on a practice piece (and loads of paper :lol: ).
When you have done a fair bit of practice, your confidence will increase, but I would start with smaller pieces first.