What do you do when you can make all the beautiful quilt tops in the world, but don't know yet how to do any quilting except stitch in the ditch & straight machine quilting?

I have some beautiful patterns selected for two different wedding quilts I will be making between now & April. I have no qualms about trying these new patterns. In fact, with each quilt I make I am trying to do something different so I learn more as I go. However, it seems like such a disappointment that I can't do anything more than straight stitch machine quilting. Beautiful patterns with boring straight stitching? Blah.

I've tried FMQ with no success yet, so I am going to take a class in late March. Money to pay for LAQ is not feasible at this time, besides, I want these gifts to be 100% done by me & from me.

So...what would you do? Can straight stitching be done in a way that looks fancy & more than just corner to corner? And if yes, any samples you could show me?

I know just how you feel. I forced myself to learn FMQ for that very reason. Now it is the most fun part of making the quilt! It takes some practice, but well worth the time.

Maybe you could drive a couple hours north & spend a day helping me? :D Just kidding (kinda lol)

I will continue to pursue learning FMQ. I know it will be worth the time to learn FMQ - it is just that I don't have time to learn it before I need to get these 2 quilts done.

I am in the same boat-I love hand-quilting and for years that is all I did, but it takes so long to finish one quilt! I love piecing tops and got ahead of myself this past year and made 3 queen tops (2 are with applique) and I have just finished basting one to hand-quilt, but the other two I don't want to do now-and I cannot affort to send it out so I guess they will continue to sleep in their zip-lock bags until I can! I am just attempting small stuff with fmq-but I am in no way going to attempt on a large quilt with my machine!

I took a 8-week quilting class that my dealer offered. We started with basic SID (and believe me, I learned a lot of tricks there even if I have been doing it for years) to FMQ, to Bobbin-work and thread-play, to full-on FMQ and ended with Quilt-as-you-go. OMG I still need more practice, but I am no longer afraid.

What I like about this class in particular is that we worked on basic pieces of light muslin NOT on a top. By not having to produce a quilt, we could focus on the TECHNIQUE!

We used the book "Machine Quilting Made Easy" by Maureen Noble. There are lots of activities (exercises) to do and they may seem odd but boy, are they helpful.

A question and a suggestion.
1- is FMQ free motion quilting on a standard sewing machine or a long arm machine?

2- why don't you get a pretty but plain fabric-like polished cotton, in a size for a lap quilt or baby quilt, sandwich it with batting and a back, and practice some stitches. The plain fabric will let you see your stitches. When you are done if you don't care to keep it you can donate it.

Re #1 - FMQ is on a standard sewing machine, with the feed dogs lowered & a quilting or darning foot, so you have "free" motion.

Re #2 - I've tried it using scraps, but am having problems catching the bobbin thread, so obviously have to troubleshoot that problem before I can practice stitching.

My dilemma is that I am going to make these 2 quilts, and want to make them as pretty as can be, but don't see myself mastering FMQ between now & when the quilts have to be finished (one wedding is in Feb & one in April).

I was hoping for suggestions/examples of what other quilters have accomplished with just straight machine stitching.

FMQ can be done either way. I started on small projects, like candle mats and hot pads. Then I went to table tops. I practiced the motion with a pencil and paper. Did the meandering around never crossing the line. Then I went to the sewing machine and used the same motion. I discovered that I could do it better when I start with the fabric at the back of the machine and pull it towards me as I quilted. I was less comfortable when I was starting with the fabric in front of the machine (the way you normally sew). It is all trial and error, with lots of practice. You can do this!

So where do you live?

Thanks for the tips about FMQ. If I can figure out my bobbin thread issue, I can probably try some actual FMQ. Maybe this weekend I'll give it another shot.

I'm in Fresno :)

Just read about your bobbin challenge. Is this when you first start the quilting? I take two or three stitches in the start point before I begin moving. It has the same effect as backstitching but doesn't show. Then I clip the threads after I stop.

what you do is ...

-practice freemotion on scrap sandwiches until you feel brave enough to try it on a real quilt.

- in the meantime, you'd be surprised how many ways there are to use straight lines and broad, sweeping curves (which can be done with a walking foot) to produce beautiful quilts. look around online for ideas and inspiration. :-)

Do you have any "fancy" stitches on your machine? I have done SID using some of them on my machine....have to go very slow, but it looks better to me than just straight stitches.

Thanks! This is what I needed to hear! Hadn't thought about broad, sweeping curves using the walking foot. Although...my walking foot broke last time I used it. Guess I had better hunt down a new one for my old Singer 403a :) Need it for straight stitching too!

Thanks for the suggestion & the picture (worth a 1,000 words). My old Singer 403a does have the stitch cams - not as fancy as the newer machines, but some do look fairly good. Will have to think on this & see what I can come up with. Both couples are pretty contemporary & not into too much pretty, pretty stuff (do I make any sense?). Don't want to get too carried away with embellished stitching.

Yes - when I first start. I tried staying still & do nothing but try to get a stitch to catch...wouldn't do it. I'm using my Singer 403a that I inherited from my Mom. Thought I would get out my Featherweight, cover the feed dogs, and try it. If that fails, I'll get out my yucky Kenmore & try it. If all of them do it...then well...guess it must be me! :D

That is really pretty. Nice idea also

A combination of sweeping curves and more open decorative stitches can be beautiful :D:D:D

Made perfect sense...my sister preferred the simpler "curve" stitch over the "vine and leaf".

I've made miniature quilts with decorative stitching.

That is very pretty. Thanks for the picture. From the looks of the stitching you have a newer machine than mine. No loopty loop stitches from mine. Some nice scallops, diamonds, blanket stitches, etc. though. Will be playing around with it some more.

I cannot FMQ. I can't and no amount of practice has helped me--I feel really stupid. I draw whatever shapes or designs I want to quilt on my quilt top then use just straight stitching and follow the lines. I've done hearts, circles, holly & berries, you name it--it can be done. Whenever a book comes out called FMQ for Dummies my picture will be on the cover!! Try drawing and stitching on your lines. Hopefully you'll do better with FMQ than I ever have. Good luck!!

can you take a machine quilting class before late March? that may give you some help and ideas.

The machine I did that on was a 2002(?) Singer.

The machine I did this on is an older White. I just did wavy lines with it. I have no idea how to FMQ on the White.

This is such a great thread. Thanks so much!!!! :D
I'm bookmarking it as I'm really wanting to learn to FMQ. Like Jill, I've always quilted by hand and I need to learn the other so I can get more things finished!!! :D:D

I was determined to learn FMQ, meandering or large stipple, whatever it is called. The more I do it the better I get. After the quilt is washed and dryed and put on a bed, I think to myself, that doesn't look so bad after all. We are our worst critics. I'm sure they will love the quilts because you made them.
I don't try anything in particular as I think it would detract from the quilt.

Do you have a pic of the quilt/quilts you need to quilt? Maybe then we could give you more ideas.

I feel ya! I want to master fmq so bad but it isn't happening for me. I must try to find someone to teach me in person. I learn better that way :)

Well - got good news tonight...the February wedding has been changed to April 30th. So now both weddings are in April. I'm going to fiddle around on my own until then to see what I can learn about FMQ. Also going to concentrate on getting both quilt tops done by March 1st, take the FMQ class at my LQS in March, and hopefully be able to use what I've learned to finish the quilts in April.

Thanks everyone for all of your wonderful suggestions. Got some great ideas, found out I'm not alone in not knowing a thing about FMQ, and enjoyed sharing with everyone in the process. I'll let you know how it goes! :D

There's the spirit. I made a wall hanging - sorry no pics - but used two different fancy stitches in the sashing. Even used variegated contrast thread to really show the stitches. It looks like I added embroidery to the quilt.

I didn't read what pattern you are making. If it has distinct geometrics (squares, triangles) you can quilt a straight line about 1/4" in from each line so when all is done you have quilted a square in a square or a triangle in a triangle. That looks cool too.

I free motion quilt on my sewing machine. I do my quilts in sections, makes it a lot easier.

If you want to practice FMQ, look for prequilted fabric in the remnant bins at your fabric store. Then you already have the "sandwich" (fabric w/batting in the middle), use a contrasting thread so you can see your stitching, and practice away!!

I havent read all this post but I use my fancy stitches on my machine and I use varigated thread to give me a lift in my quilting.

Me too! Sometimes the SID is the only way to go on a quilt and the decorative stitches make it more interesting.

The 400/500 series Singers don't do FMQ very well - the bobbin configuration causes a LOT of skipped stitches - sometimes it skips more than it hits!

I first tried to learn FMQ on my 401 and I did manage to get some done, but that was an experience in frustration. I even brought out the "quilting words" when I was trying to quilt with that machine! ;) But, I found a beautiful 15-91 on craigslist and life suddenly got a lot better! :D

Some machines just aren't as capable in certain areas as others - your 403 is one of the best all-around household sewing machines you could have, but this is one thing it isn't good at.

A vertical bobbin machine would open a whole new world to you - many of the Kenmores from the 50's to the present, the Singer 15's, the post-war "clones" of the 15 and many more will have this bobbin configuration and most of the vintage machines will have a much bigger open area under the arm than modern machines. You can find them really cheap on craigslist - just watch for them. :)

Thanks! Good to know that it may be more the machine than me LOL. Sounds like I have a reason to buy another machine to add to the collection? :D Too bad my Featherweight has such a small arm area - it has the vertical bobbin.

I signed up for the Beginning Machine Quilting class at my LQS. It isn't until March 10th, but I can't wait.

Charisma does a great job and she is reasonable

Yes - I love what I have seen here of her work. I'm just not at the point yet of having LAQ done on a quilt that I am making as a special gift to a family member. I am planning to have some done on a couple of things I have planned for me.

Great thread,would love to learn FMQ,I did make a basket quilt for my DD with strawberries in the baskets wanted to quilt the word "strawberry" on it,so I wrote the word on paper,pinned it to the quilt and stitched away,turned out okay,but getting the little bits of paper out of the stitches was a little different :wink: :lol:

Interesting thread! I want to get back into making quilts again, but I was thinking the same thing... I don't have time to hand quilt and can't afford to send it out right now... at least not until my husband finds a job! FMQ scares me! I would be afraid of ruining the quilt. I was wondering how people that make charity quilts get them quilted. I have so much fabric and was thinking about making lap quilts to donate... but again there is that cost of quilting problem! I guess people that make charity quilts are either long arm quilters... or have mastered FMQ!