Joset

i use a 1600 p janome on a quilt frame. works great.

dixie_fried

As mentioned by everyone here...DON'T start on a quilt! Make practice sandwiches and keep trying until you get it right. The biggest problem I had was getting my tension set right for my machine to keep from having eyelashes and nests of knots on the back.
I found my tension had to be quite high on the needle thread to keep the back from looking a real hot mess. Once I got everything worked out, I kept the practice sandwich that looked the way I wanted on front and back. I wrote on it with marker to note what my tension settings were, what sized needle I used and even what thread I used. When I am ready to FMQ something else, I grab another practice square of material from my current project (if possible), set my machine as noted on my successful square, and make sure that everything holds true.
THEN I will FMQ my piece.
It's a few extra steps, but, it sure beats picking FMQ stitches out of a quilt!!
Good luck to you!

Val in IN

I took a Craftsy class called "Qilting Big Projects On A Small Machine" by Ann Peterson. I loved it so much I took the next class by her called "Beyond Basic Machine Quilting". All Craftsy classes are on sale through today for $14.99 ea. Once you buy the class, it's yours to use forever. It's completely interactive. You can make notes, ask questions, and read other users questions, see their results and post your own results. You can go back to any chapter of any class any time and watch as often as you want. I was really desperate to learn because I can't afford a longarm and I can't afford to send them out. I do enjoy handquilting but it takes a long time. These classes are a real life saver for me. I won't hesitate to take more classes on different techniques in the future.

jillnjo

I want to pop in here to encourage you to go ahead and start practicing with the machine you have!! I used a very basic machine for several years and didn't know any better!! It does work and I also recommend you start on practice squares you have sandwiched together. Then, maybe try a small inexpensive panel. The above threads have lots of great ideas that are so helpful. I recently showed several friends the way I FMQ and they all tried, too. One lady had the nicest stitches and fairly smooth curves the first effort she made! Most of the others felt like they were all thumbs, and that is how I felt, too. I am always excited to encourage anyone to get started-old and young alike. It is fun to create with thread. Enjoy!!!

patchsamkim

You can machine quilt on any machine as long as you can lower or cover your feed dogs. It just takes a LOT of practice. Start with sample squares, or on a baby quilt with cheater fabric that you can donate and learn on that. A baby won't care if it isn't "perfect" and you will learn a lot more than you will on samples.

lillybeck

I have a Janome and I do it all the time. I would love a long arm but, once I conquered the FMQ it is not so bad.

lalaland

I use my regular sewing machines (mechanical and computerized) for FMQ. Whichever machine I'm sewing on, that's the one I use. I also have a Brother 1500 with a 9" throat that I use exclusively for FMQ. When I have a big quilt, I put it on a big table and use my 1500. I have pretty good luck with the results. All the smaller stuff, table runners, toppers, wall hangings, I just do on a regular sewing machine.

bigsister63

I do my FMQ on a singer confidence and I do "good enough" for me. I usually only do SID or meandering or stimpling all of which I find fairly easy. I have yet to try "fancy" FMQ on a large quilt. On reason is that I like the FMQ to be secondary to the design/pattern of the fabric. Also FMQ on a large quilt is hard/struglle! Do not forget that since practicing on a 12" sample is EASY! It take a lot of "muscle" to push a large quilt thru the machine. The usual quilt size that I do is 80x100. Also be aware that your backing may not lay as smooth when quilting on your machine as when done on a longarm. All the above said I will continue to quilt my own tops on my machine since I can not afford a LA or to send them out to a LAQ. YOU CAN DO IT!!!!!!!!!!

dilyn

I have made everything from table toppers to king sized quilts with my domestic machine. I like the fact that I can sit and stich, take my time and do whatever I like in my stitching. It dows take some practice, but I've only been quilting a about 2 years and it didn't take that long...start with something simple and go for it!

Holice

I do it all the time. Don't have or want one of those machines that cost more than my first house and car combined.
Of course, that was a long time ago.