Originally Posted by omak
When I started free motion quilting, I needed two things - - feed dogs that drop down and an embroidery/darning foot.
I have done free motion quilting with a Babylock, a Singer, a Europro, and just about any machine that will allow me to drop the feed dogs.
Most of what you need is the COURAGE to just go ahead and start trying! (I know this because I know what stopped me from doing a lot of things that I had seen others do ... lack of confidence doesn't go away until you start practicing doing what you don't think you can do!)
There are a lot of tips, and if you do a search on this forum, you will find all sorts of encouragement and ideas and books to buy and videos to watch ... YOU CAN DO IT! <wave> :thumbup:
COURAGE!!! Yes, that's great advice Omak! And a generous pinch of self belief plus tell yourself 'what's the worse that can happen?' :-D
Re the machine - before the Janome, I had a machine that dropped it's dogs and a darning foot and I could FMQ meanders and vague shapes. The Janome FMQ foot (I bought it as an extra) doesn't bounce with the needle - it has a little wheel that you adjust so the foot just skims the fabric. I tried this foot and the supplied foot (which has the bar over the needle screw) and find this one gives much more control. I also got the extra bobbin case which is adjusted to a lower tension and the stitches are much better. Along with the Janome's speed control, I think this is what has improved my FMQ so much. Plus I think my new machine to me is a little like 'Dumbo's feather' - you know, when he had it, he BELIEVED he could fly! :mrgreen: