I don't have time this morning to search this site to see if this question has been asked. But I saw this web address in a quilting magazine and I wondered if anyone has used this method.

http://www.QuiltingMadeEasy.com

I have over and over tried FMQ and its not working for me at this time. But I'm not going to give up. In the meantime if this will enable me to finish all the quilt tops that I have awaiting I will gladly use it. Just wanted some opinions on this site and method and other useful ways.
Thanks a lot everyone. I'm off to work.

Doda

I've just started trying free motion. Right now all I can manage is a meander type of stitching (and that's not great). My problem is not getting the quilting design on the quilt (which is what those stick on's would do). My problem is trying to follow a design. With my free motion foot, my stitches are not consistent. And with my walking foot, it's hard to see where I'm supposed to be stitching

So for now, it's just practice, practice, practice.

Good luck!

Diane

I haven't used it personally, but watched a friend at the LQS one day. She said she had no problems with it really, but thought it was expensive (but so is having someone else LAQ your top). She said she did struggle a little at first to get the borders connected at corners. I then saw the finished quilt and I thought it was beautiful! I am not sure that she "knew" there was a rating system.... that would be helpful!

I like the fact the beginner designs are for a regular walking foot. I usually machine quilt a simple grid or circles on my quilts. This is something I will definitely try.

I found a roll of this and tried it. I didn't care for it. PM me and I will send you some to try if you like.

I've tried it too and didn't like it much either. I found the curves difficult to follow with the walking foot, plus you have to do your stitches quite close or you can't tear it off easily. Haven't tried it with the darning foot though but I think I'd rather go where I want rather than try and follow a line - that way I can pretend that wobbles were intentional! LOL

Instead of FMQ, have you considered using your walking foot (and feed dogs up) to make wavy lines? As long as the curves are big, the walking foot works great for this. You could, for example, mark the curved borders shown in the link and sew them with a walking foot.

Another option is to just make wavy lines across the quilt, or wavy lines in both directions so you have a wavy cross-hatch.

I didn't use the specific product in the link, but I did try to quilt over paper once. I found removal of the paper tedious, plus it was hard to get some of it out from under the stitches.

I quilted a border with a roll of this once. It was a little difficult, but was much cheaper than sending my quilt out to be quilted.

I agree, the hard part is following the design. I recently bought a quilting frame and some pantographs (paper designs). I've only tried it once on the frame with the laser light and it was really difficult to stay on the lines for me. I can stipple just fine, but know to master a design is going to take a lot of practice. I think trying to follow designs would be easier just using the machine and moving the material with my arms rather than doing it on the frame. Good luck!

That stuff is expensive.
Get the roll of yellow quilting paper. Draw the design on a piece then cut a bunch of pieces and with the drawing on top sew the design without thread in needle. The design will show thru on all the pieces. Or use whatever paper you want.
I buy stencils and use disappering ink most of the time for my borders. Use a simple stencil with continuous lines, like hearts or leaves.

This was what I was thinking/wondering also...that thin paper doesn't always want to tear off nicely in large pieces....

thanks for the link

Something I have tried is wash-away stabilizer. It comes in a large roll and I have it for when I do my embroidery. I just trace my design on the stabilzier and use a spray of spray baste to attach to the quilt. Then I just stitch on the lines. When finished, trim away the excess and wash the quilt. The stabilizer completely washes out without leaving a residue and you don't have to worry about pulling stitches. It might work out to be a bit cheaper then buying all those patterns.

I have made my own pattern on tear away. The stichine was a breeze. Pulling the paper out on the other hand was not.

what does LQS & LAQ stand for ? I like to read what peopel are saying but don't know what all the letters stand not just yours but a lot of them. Than You shrabar

LQS = Local quilt store

LAQ = Long Arm Quilter (typically when you send "out" your quilt to be quilted it will be done on a long arm machine)

local quilt store
long arm quilting

Hey Dora,
Let me know how this works for you as I also was thinking of trying it myself. Let me know if you think it is worth the money.
Thanxs,
Bev

Here's a method enjoyed by oh-so-many. It has the added benefit that you did it yourself and you saved lots of $ in the process. It works well and you'll find lots of pictures and tuts in the following links. Hope this helps. (Just do a cut-and-paste on the links. I couldn't figure how to keep them hyperlinked here. ---- I'm back on Edit. Looks like they automatically set up hyperlinked. I love this site!)

Glad Press N Seal works beautifully when designing your own quilting pattern. You just apply the Press n' Seal to your quilt top and draw whatever you wish. After quilting, just tear the PnS off.

Draw designs on Glad Press n' Seal, lay on fabric, sew through ... here's a tut w/pics
http://www.appleblossomquilts.com/ti...ssNSeal/page2/

This tut uses Glad Press n' Seal prepared as stencil through which you pounce design
http://home.ptd.net/~shoofly/PNS/directions.htm

Here are a ton of uses in quilting for the Press n' seal
http://quiltingonabudget.blogspot.co...l-in-your.html

Glad Press n' Seal has a list of quilting uses for their product at
http://www.1000uses.com/search.php?search=quilt

Here are a lot of photos of the process
http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/...04983873nwwGpg

This site encourages the use of washable markers on the PnS instead of Sharpies
http://forums.about.com/n/pfx/forum....ting&tid=58626

Have fun! You'll be so proud of yourself. And, be sure to share with us.

I also understand Glad Press and seal is great. I told a friend about it she is new to quilting and machine quilts, she tried it and loves it.

I am a hand quilter and have not tried it yet, but I understand it can even be used for hand quilting.

doda,
haven't used that paper, but have drawn my own design on golden threads paper (it's gold color and tears off easily), or what ever they call it, and I loved it. Also, I used a stencil for a cable on a border thought that worked great. I used walking foot and was really pleased. Since it was a border and near edge of quilt it wasn't too difficult. Good Luck
peel

Never thought of using Glad Press 'n Seal, but I've used Kabnet Wax deli paper with success. It's translucent like tracing paper and available in a lifetime supply at Sam's, and probably Costco.

Trace design onto the paper, then pin or spray baste to quilt top. The paper helps the free-motion foot glide over the surface, especially over thicker areas. It's a bit of a pain to remove all the little bits that cling to small areas of stitching, but otherwise it tears away very easily.

Stencils are great, too! You can make your own....blank stencil plastic is available at JoAnn's, Michaels, etc. Use an X-Acto knife with a pointed blade to cut the design, remembering to cut it in long dashed lines. Takes a little time, but when finished you have a permanent stencil.

I have tried this & in fact still have lots left. I found it tricky to match up at the corners but it looked good when completed. Will give it another chance when I do a lap quilt because it was quite expensive & I certainly do not want to waste it.

Diane, you are using the free motion foot which is what you need. Make sure you put on a pair of gloves, a pair of garden cotton gloves for ladies, with a ruberize type of palm or maybe the dotted palms will do, but you do need gloves with palms that will hold the fabric taut. Spread your fingers out and around the area of stiching again keeping the fabric taut. At first go slow, and think of pieces of puzzles, might could help if you draw them on scrap paper first, trying not to cross over lines, you can draw or sew the puzzles design large or small. The larger the design the faster the stippling will take and much less thread. If you practice on a 14 by 14 piece of fabric ( three layers in place), using the puzzle design, you will be ready for your quilt. Move the fabric at a consistent speed, not to fast, watch your stiches as you sew, and if your going to fast it will skip stiches, to slow your stiches will be to small. A short time practicing will get you there.
Good luck

As to learning FMQ (I don't know if we ever feel like we've really "learned" it), but the one tip that noticeably advanced my confidence in my FMQ skills was this tip:

On a 14" or so square quilting sandwich, with your regular or walking foot on and the feed dogs UP as normal, make a line of stitching (normal length) across the square every inch or so.

THEN: Put on your Free Motion (darning) foot, drop the feed dogs, and start doing your free motion STRAIGHT lines of stitching in between the lines done by the machine. You might even want to use a different color top thread, just for comparison.

As you do each row, try to coordinate your throttle speed with your hand control to duplicate the straight line of stitching done/controlled by the machine. You'll be surprised how much easier FMQ gets and how you develop a "feel" for it once you get the straight-line technique down so that your FMQ line looks a lot like the machine-produced lines do.

I still do this as a brush-up if it's been awhile since I've FMQ'd, just to get back in the groove. Works well for me. Hope it helps you too.

These are way too expensive for me. I have made my own out of tissue paper. It is time consuming but the results are worth it. I use a pattern that I like out of a magazine or library book and make a template and draw away.

Thanks for the Glad Press and Seal links.

I have been wondering - How much does it cost to send a quilt out to have someone MQ for you?

what does LQS & LAQ stand for ? I like to read what peopel are saying but don't know what all the letters stand not just yours but a lot of them. Than You shrabar

local quilt shop and long arm quilter

Jo Belmont, thanks for that good tip on how to improve your FMQ. I'll try that.

Here are some Machine Quilting Patterns to use with your GLAD WRAP

http://www.forestquilting.com/motifs...sfree_pg1.html

What a yummy site, that! Thanks for the tip - and all free ... imagine!

Jo - thanks for the free motion advice and to all of you, thanks for the links to sites.

[quote=sewingladydi]I've just started trying free motion. With my free motion foot, my stitches are not consistent. And with my walking foot, it's hard to see where I'm supposed to be stitching.

When fmq besure to wear the gloves with the nubbies on the face. They help you grip the layers as well as control the flow. And unlike when we piece and the fabric moves away from you, when fmq, the quilted section is pulled toward your lap so you can see where you need to go next.

And yes, it does take practice. Prepare a "play" sample and fmq using white or lighter thread. Later you can use the same sample and fmq using a darker thread.

Suz

You can also use a wood burning tool instead of exacto. Not sure but i may have heard it here