StephanieR

Normally I'm a hand quilter but in order to finish a quilt in time for Christmas I need to learn to machine quilting pronto. Can someone recommend a good tutorial, preferable video but I'm up for anything? I'm especially confused on how to secure the beginning and ending stitches?

Thanks!

feline fanatic

If this is your first rodeo in machine quilting, I would suggest straight line quilting with your walking foot rather than attempting FMQ for the first time on a Christmas gift. Here is a You Tube by Leah Day that can get you started.

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q...BF17&FORM=VIRE


As far as starting and stopping you have a few options. One thing you always should do is bring your bobbin thread to the top and hold it when you get started. You can either leave long tails and knot and bury the threads just like hand quilting or you can take several teeny tiny stitches to lock things in place. Same for stopping. Bring your bobbin thread to the top and knot and bury by hand or finish your quilting line with several tiny stitches. Like all things quilting there are many techniques around to achieve the same end result. This is just one suggestion.

Tartan

Before starting, how are you basting your quilt? A well basted quilt helps with quilting so you don’t get wrinkles on the back. Hobbs 80/20 fusible batt will also give you a good surface to quilt on.
If you have a machine that does a multi stitch zig zag or serpentine stitch, rows of that with a walking foot will add a lot of texture and interest to a quilt. I always recommend a loop de loop for a starting FMQ as it lets you reposition your quilt and hands where the thread crosses over.

StephanieR

Thank you so much! This is exactly what I needed to know.

ETA: Oops, forgot to answer the basting question. I've already pinned it. Now I'm making a practice sandwich and trying to figure this machine quilting out.

StephanieR

My machine has a stitch regulating foot so I'm getting a handle on the meandering, not good by a far shot but hopefully soon it will be acceptable. My major problem right now is getting the bottom thread to the top. I just can't see it and when I try different things I end up with a big thread nest and my machine making ominous noises. I need help! Any tips?

Maureen NJ

I couldn’t copy the link but goggle “YouTube How and why to bring up the bobbin thread”. Good video. Good luck.

thimblebug6000

If you are using a thread cutter on your machine, you won't be able to bring up the thread as described. At least not on my machine... maybe that is the situation?

Granna of 5

On my machine I just do needle down and up a couple of times and this brings my bobbin thread up to grab on to.

sewbizgirl

My favorite online quilting teacher is Angela Walters. She has made a ton of videos. You may want to try her Free Motion Quilting Challenge. The first video (link below) is where she mainly talks about what you need for FMQ. Then in the second one she starts quilting.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHEO_rCAqus

mindless

Angela Walters is great.

Also, just for fun, after Christmas, if you want to play with fmq a bit more, Lori Kennedy is a good teacher too. She is here at the inbox juant: http://theinboxjaunt.com/quilt/free-...ing-tutorials/
you can click on any of the designs here and she shows you how to do it.

There are lots of youtube videos that you may like also. Done by Patsy Thompson, Rob Appell of Man Sewing, Jenny Doan, Nancy Zieman, Leah Day and lots of others.
Here is a link to get you started:
https://www.youtube.com/results?sear...er+tutorial+1+