Jojk

Hi all,

I've decided to start upping my game and dive into the realm of free motion quilting on my regular home machine (i.e. not longarm). I've been watching tutorials but I haven't really seen any that begin at the beginning. When learning to quilt it was always emphasized that top stitching should start from the center of a quilt but many of the videos I've watched seem to start at the corners (maybe those are just the longarm videos?). I just want to verify - I still want to start in the center yes?

Thanks,

Joann

Tartan

I look at my sandwich in quarters. I start in the center of the top quarter and work out to the edges until that top quarter is quilted. I then do the bottom quarter, center out also. Then I rotate the quilt and do the last 2 quarters the same way. Don’t worry about the whole quilt, just concentrate on the section that is under your needle. Make sure you have on Machinger gloves or similar to help move the sandwich. Also make sure the sandwich is all supported around the machine so you have no drag.

Watson

Tartan gives very good advice. I would add a Supreme Slider, if possible.
My very favourite instructor, Patsy Thompson, has a 4 part series for beginner FMQ-ers. The first one is real beginner but stick with it, she's really great. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39I5A3iyCtw

Watson

Dolphyngyrl

I took craftsy classes and an in person class by patsy thompson, she is truly awesome she helped me finally get the hang of fmq

JJBlaine

Leah Day has some awesome videos on youtube. Her "Paisley Feather" video in particular has really helped me. It has been a great design for me to learn and practice many skills, such as smoother curves, getting sharper points when changing directions, moving from one area to another without changing thread, echo quilting, and more. And, it is a really pretty design to use as a background filler.

LivelyLady

Great advice!! Thanks!

Boston1954

Tartan, I wish you lived next door to me. Every time I read one of your posts, I think you must be one of the smartest quilters on the planet.

quiltedsunshine

Well, I decided for myself that I like to stabilize the borders first. That keeps my quilt squared-up. Then I'll stitch-in-the-ditch to stabilize around the blocks (or strips, etc). Then I'll do the free-motion, ruler work or stencils.

Try both ways and see what works best for you.

jmoore

Tartan gives excellent advice...and I also use a Supreme Slider and gloves. Good luck Joann and don’t forget it’s supposed to be fun.

Jingle

I now start in the center of the side and FMQ to the other side. Go to center of the strip I just did and go to the bottom. I turn the quilt,go to the center and go to bottom. I then fill in the open spaces. Works best for me to always quilt next to quilting.