Learning Free Motion Quilting
#51
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Central Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA
Posts: 7,695
[quote=GGinMcKinney]I reuse my practice sandwiches by adding new fabric top & bottom. It gets thicker but I can add clean fabric 2 or 3 times if I begin with thin batting. I use different color thread top & bottom so I can determine what I need to do differently to improve.
Different threads might be good idea in class....
Wish we could get class handout, webinar or something. Sounds like this will be a wonderful class.
Try working with cheap Walmart felt as your batting for practice quilting. I bought a bolt of it just for that purpose.
Different threads might be good idea in class....
Wish we could get class handout, webinar or something. Sounds like this will be a wonderful class.
Originally Posted by BuzzinBumble
When I run out, I plan to get more at Goodwill. Now if I could just find something less expensive than using up all this batting...
#52
Originally Posted by BuzzinBumble
These suggestions have helped me even though I cannot take your class - thanks for asking the QB!
I have been practicing FMQ on quilt sandwiches made from old, orphaned pillowcases and contrasting thread. It's cheaper than muslim. When I run out, I plan to get more at Goodwill. Now if I could just find something less expensive than using up all this batting...
I have been practicing FMQ on quilt sandwiches made from old, orphaned pillowcases and contrasting thread. It's cheaper than muslim. When I run out, I plan to get more at Goodwill. Now if I could just find something less expensive than using up all this batting...
Deby
#53
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 606
Originally Posted by BuzzinBumble
These suggestions have helped me even though I cannot take your class - thanks for asking the QB!
I have been practicing FMQ on quilt sandwiches made from old, orphaned pillowcases and contrasting thread. It's cheaper than muslim. When I run out, I plan to get more at Goodwill. Now if I could just find something less expensive than using up all this batting...
I have been practicing FMQ on quilt sandwiches made from old, orphaned pillowcases and contrasting thread. It's cheaper than muslim. When I run out, I plan to get more at Goodwill. Now if I could just find something less expensive than using up all this batting...
#54
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 4,829
Originally Posted by sewmary
I have taken a FMQ class and have practiced at home but what I found is that it is easy to do on a small square but much harder when this big old quilt is going through!
I know you can't use actual quilts in class but some tips for how to handle and move a big quilt around would be helpful, I think.
I know you can't use actual quilts in class but some tips for how to handle and move a big quilt around would be helpful, I think.
#55
Walking & chewing gum, :) By that I mean the importance of the speed of the machine and the movement of fabric as a combination. Also think of FMQ as drawing with a needle----
most of all relax and have fun--
most of all relax and have fun--
#56
Originally Posted by audsgirl
Quilts don't handle the same as practice pieces, and what you have learned doesn't always apply to a real quilt. That's the most frustrating part and why I put off doing the quilting.
#57
Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 251
I took a class and the instructor spent a lot of time on threads, needles and other things. She could have covered the basics and then given a handout. When it came time to actually FMQ I found that my machine, that had all the right elements to FMQ, just couldn't do it well. She kept telling me that I must have my machine (which I've owned for over 30 years) threaded incorrectly! She also spent time with people who dropped into the class to say hello or show her their latest project. It was a waste of time.
I took another class at a different shop and the instructor had a few machines for students whose machines just couldn't FMQ. She had us spend the bulk of class time practicing various techniques and I learned that, given enough practice, I can FMQ. She had us do many of the things mentioned here such as write your name. We filled a 4 inch square area with little circles, which I think helped the most in getting control. We also copied patterns that she just showed us (no tracing) and then we used two patterns to get the feel of that. She was with us the whole time and made sure that she got to everyone. Very worthwhile class
I took another class at a different shop and the instructor had a few machines for students whose machines just couldn't FMQ. She had us spend the bulk of class time practicing various techniques and I learned that, given enough practice, I can FMQ. She had us do many of the things mentioned here such as write your name. We filled a 4 inch square area with little circles, which I think helped the most in getting control. We also copied patterns that she just showed us (no tracing) and then we used two patterns to get the feel of that. She was with us the whole time and made sure that she got to everyone. Very worthwhile class
#60
Lots of good suggestions here. Something I would have found helpful in the beginning would have been, not only to pull bobbin thread to the top before starting, but also suggestions on different methods of starting and ending. For example, starting with small stitches or tying and burying threads at start; what to do when you run out of bobbin thread, etc. When I first started, I found a lot of information on the internet on how to start and stop, but I found little info on what to do when you run out of bobbin thread.
I now prefer to leave enough thread at the beginning and ending to tie and bury using a spiral eye needle. When I run out of bobbin, I unsew far enough back to have enough thread to tie and bury.
I now prefer to leave enough thread at the beginning and ending to tie and bury using a spiral eye needle. When I run out of bobbin, I unsew far enough back to have enough thread to tie and bury.
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