FMQ help! The plastic foot broke; can I FMQ without it?
#12
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Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 17,468

OKSGlad ... sorry, I really have no "good" suggestions!
My only thought would be that you could give it a try on a test piece (new Mug Rug?) and see if you'd be happy.
Though I know you well enough to know that you probably won't be!!
The END SOLUTION ............ don't buy a new foot ... get a new machine!!!!!!!!!!!
Yes I knew you'd love that ...... and so will DH!
My only thought would be that you could give it a try on a test piece (new Mug Rug?) and see if you'd be happy.
Though I know you well enough to know that you probably won't be!!
The END SOLUTION ............ don't buy a new foot ... get a new machine!!!!!!!!!!!
Yes I knew you'd love that ...... and so will DH!

#13

FMQ without some kind of foot is usually not very successful. The spring neegle, in my experience, doesn't do a good job either. Useful only in emergency. Well that is what you said you have.......
Do you have a darning foot for your machine? It really needs foot that doesn't set tight on the surface of the quilt.
The spring needle and the separate spring that you can attach around the needle were developed for "thread painting" or perhaps darning. I have provided them for class but was not satisfied with the results.
Do you have a darning foot for your machine? It really needs foot that doesn't set tight on the surface of the quilt.
The spring needle and the separate spring that you can attach around the needle were developed for "thread painting" or perhaps darning. I have provided them for class but was not satisfied with the results.
#15
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Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Lived in San Diego now retired in Eagar, AZ.
Posts: 887

honestly, this is the way we did it in the 70s and 80s when everything was done by moving the material... no machines with built in embroidery... the closest they came was the rudimentary line stitching with arrows, hearts, flowers, etc..... and by the 90s, we had a few alphabets built in... I took machine embroidery in adult night school. We were taught thread painting, applique, satin stitching (which is the ONLY thing we did with a foot on, and 'writing'.... it not only can be done but is done all the time.....and in every class, there was at least one person who forgot to put their presser foot down for a minute... you know immediately, because it doesn't want to sew... presser foot down and go..... single line quilting is much easier than some of the techniques we were taught...
#16

I've seen some quilters (Leah Day, for one) "modify" their FMQ foot (like the one above) by cutting out the front third of the oval for better visibility. I also have a metal FMQ (janome) that is made with a gap in the front part of the oval (so it is open). I have seen videos of it being done with no foot at all, but haven't tried it myself. I'd say take it for a try and see how you do.
Here's the video of how Leah modifies the generic FMQ foot. The part where she clips the plastic oval begins at about 4:50 into the video, althoug it's worth it to watch the whole thing.
http://www.daystyledesigns.com/freemotionfoot.htm
Here's the video of how Leah modifies the generic FMQ foot. The part where she clips the plastic oval begins at about 4:50 into the video, althoug it's worth it to watch the whole thing.

http://www.daystyledesigns.com/freemotionfoot.htm
Last edited by Dandish; 01-23-2012 at 09:13 PM. Reason: Add link
#17
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This reminds me of the machine embroidery I did back then; can't remember how I did it though. Vaguely recalling using a spring hoop and you're right deemail no foot, just the needle and the pressure foot down. Thanks for reminding me, so will see what happens.
While looking up the foot on line I noticed ones that were all metal. Anyone have experience with those types? What do you think the advantages would be other than not breaking (duh, got that one!)?
Thanks dandish!
While looking up the foot on line I noticed ones that were all metal. Anyone have experience with those types? What do you think the advantages would be other than not breaking (duh, got that one!)?
Thanks dandish!
#18

http://www.daystyledesigns.com/freemotionfoot.htm
Here's Leah's modification - the part where she clips it starts at abotu 4:50 into the video.
I don't know the advantage of the metal feet - although that's what I use. Mine is actually shaped like a curcle with the opening to the front. I have used the generic hopping feet too, although that was before I learned the nice modifications.
Here's Leah's modification - the part where she clips it starts at abotu 4:50 into the video.
I don't know the advantage of the metal feet - although that's what I use. Mine is actually shaped like a curcle with the opening to the front. I have used the generic hopping feet too, although that was before I learned the nice modifications.
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