Originally Posted by
DogHouseMom
I've seen the same. I even saw a person post once that if using a stencil or marking of any kind it is not FMQ.
FMQ only means that the MACHINE is in free motion. It has nothing to do with whether the quilt was marked in any way. The quilter can choose to use a stencil, chalk, pounce, golden thread paper, pencil - or just "wing it".... whatever. But once she/he takes the feeding mechanism off the machine and starts moving the quilt by her/himself ... that's FMQ.
Thanks DHMom for getting here first and saying exactly what I would have said ... but probably not as clearly as you just did!
It's the way the machine is working that is FMQ .... with or without markings to follow!