I'm only working on fmq on my first quilt right now, and I started out with the machingers gloves. Haven't tried fmq without gloves and don't intend to - if it ain't broke, don't fix it!! I can tell you this, though - My hands, shoulders and arms are less tired using the gloves for fmq than without on straight line quilting. I will never quilt again without gloves, fmq or otherwise.