SewExtremeSeams

Recently I did my first writing on a quilt with FMQ by writing my wording on my quilted piece with a Crayola Ultra-Clean Washable pen; put my needle to end in the down position every time I stopped and started slowly to follow my cursive. It was much easier than I thought. Then, I threw it in the washer followed by the dryer and it came out nicely. Sorry I did not take photos. Hope this helps.

quiltsRfun

Yes, I do much better when my quilts are marked. Try the washable markers or a Frixion pen. Do your own design or use a stencil. Takes a little time to mark but the results are worth it.

sval

So mark a design and then FMQ it? I don't think I have the confidence or the skill to do that. This is a twin size quilt. So bit largish to be turning all around under the needle. I don't have a UFO pile. This may be Number 1.
I just keep reaching this road block. And am ready to give up quilting because of it. I can't send things out and pay a longarmer and I'm not happy with my own quilting. So I was doing a lot of kids quilts and just doing a decorative stitch over the seams. But I really got burned out doing those. It turned into a production like process.
SVAL

RST

You say you have an embroidery machine. . . what if you had fun with that. Do enough stitch in the ditch and block outlining to make it pretty stable, then can you do some fun tone on tone embroidery motifs? Playing on the envelope / mail idea, what if you did some faux postage stamps or seals, or phrases, like "sealed with a kiss", "air mail," "do not bend, spindle or mutilate". By keeping your embroidery thread matched to the background, it wouldn't totally overwhelm the quilt, but it adds a fun and creative touch, and I'd think it would be fun to do too -- taking the dread and drudgery out of this step of the process.

Either that, or find a quilting buddy who loves doing the quilting step and trade off chores with her/him. I love FMQ so I do a lot of it for friends, if they help with some of my ironing, stretching and basting, tidying up.

sval

that sounds like a great idea. have any idea how/where to get the phrases? Can you buy them to download? I could get it "held together" with SITD and outlining.
Thanks. SVAL

Feathers-N-Fur

I hate doing stitch in the ditch, due to all the turning of the quilt under the machine. Free motion is actually much easier because you don't have to constantly rotate everything. I have a big stack of tops because I was too intimidated to learn to FMQ. Then I started Leah Day's free motion quilt. I don't remember the name of it, but the pattern was around $35 and there are online videos for every step, a video a week for the entire year. I haven't even made it half way through the quilt, but what I did get done gave me the confidence to complete 5 queen size tops on my DM, and now I'm most of the way through my first king size. I was contemplating quitting due to my fear of FMQ but am so glad I tried her way of doing it. Good luck.

QuiltnNan

that's just what i was thinking

SewExtremeSeams

sval: you said, "I just keep reaching this road block. And am ready to give up quilting because of it."

What you need to do is get over this hump/road block and then you will be on your way. Cut a swatch out that is maybe 6" x 6", make a quilt sandwich, mark it like it has been suggested and try it. Perhaps make 4 swatch sandwiches and see if a little of the fear is gone by the time you get the 4th one done. However, don't do all 4 in one day.

I had the fear; I didn't breathe; and then one day I just crawled over the road block. It will happen if you keep trying. You will be so much happier than if you give up all together. It is like learning to ride a bicycle. I fell in the ditch several times and was never going to ride a bicycle. But, I did learn and loved riding my bicycle all over town (in the days when it was safe to do). I hope you will try.

RST

I have several fonts on my non-embroidery machine. I can stitch words in a circle using the circle attachment (bernina). I'm not aware of any products on the market like what I described -- that would be the fun of it. you could do something completely original and creative.

Or not.

You could also consider doing edge to edge wavy lines 3 inches apart and be done with it.

sval

Thanks for all the encouragement. I did it. I made a couple samples and have been playing with this attachment I didn't know I had. It's called an echo quilting foot to be used with the feed dogs down. It's clear and round with lines and circles on it. So you can guide it along either a seam or another row of stitching. Not doing too badly for just starting out.
BABY STEPS.
Should be pretty good at it by the time I get the quilt done.
SVAL