Advice Really Welcome!
 

Am about to try and quilt my first quilt - and I am scared! I think I have the tension set up correctly with my new walking foot, at least it seems that way on the test piece (I have a free motion foot, but don't think this is the right project to try in earnest for the first time - results so far have been, well, variable!). I've read and watched videos about how to sandwich it all up (the pieced top is going to be sitting on a Hobbs Heirloom premium cotton batting, with a joined cotton back), and I have a huge table (it will still need to be stuck together in three folds) and my spray baster at hand. I was going to just quilt it very simply with not quite straight lines (as wavy as I can manage with a home machine with a not very big throat) which will not follow any obvious diagonal - will this work? My machine is threaded and ready to go - and there everything has been for the last couple of days, but I am lacking the confidence to get started... Given that I have already begun the piecing of the next quilt, and have plans for the one after that, (and the next one...) I really need to get this done!
Any advice gratefully received :)

Let'er rip!!! It's yours with perfection or imperfection. I know from experience, I was alot like you and still am to a degree. Every single quilter started somewhere and WITH mistakes! No quilt police here that's for sure. You can always get a block sandwich and do a test run on it before you actually start quilting. I still do that. Someone else will see it with much beauty even you can spot your "flaws". You will do just fine!!!! Post pics when you do!

Happy Quilting!!

Monique

Well, I guess you will have to jump right in and start it... What is the worst thing that can happen?

Do small section at a time, take some break to rest, check what is done regurlarly so you can pick up the "mistakes" and don' t be your own quilt police. Stand back 3 feet and if it looks good, IT IS good.
the wavy lines would be perfect.
Feel the back of your quilt as you quilt a small section. You will be so proud mistake or not!

Sounds like you are ready to go! Wavy line quilting is a great choice, I use it a lot. I do make my first stitched wavy line down the center of the quilt, top to bottom edges, which helps stabilize the whole quilt together. Then I work adding lines from the middle alternating on both sides toward the outside edges. This way you should not have much issue with the layers shifting. Post a picture when you are done!

Be brave and go for it! You may see flaws, but if it is a gift to someone close they will only see the beauty and hard work that went into the quilt.
That's what happened to me with the first quilt that I ever machine quilted. I saw every nitpicking flaw, but my dil just loved it to pieces...literally. But I am really glad that I took the plunge and got my machine quilting feet wet. It has been easier each time thereafter to do the quilting.
Good Luck and I can't wait to see it!

Jump in the pool! The water is fine! Good luck!
Sandy

I'm at the same point as you. :shock: Scared but excited. All of these wonderful words of encouragement help so much. I have two tops done. Fmq her I come.

Leah Day suggested that it takes three quilts to get the hang of FMQ. I found this so helpful, as I then wasn't hung up on getting things perfect when I started. The important thing is to get started. And I was so thrilled to be finishing quilts, I didn't even mind the imperfections.

The best advice I ever received about free motion quilting was when you see something that is not "perfect", just keep quilting. Then when it is done, see if you can still see it....if you can then fix it ( unsew it and redo). 90% of the time, you can't even find it and most of the rest of the time....it's not that bad. Character I call it. The Amish ladies have said "only God can make something perfect." I lean on that idea.
Enjoy the effort.

Sounds like you are ready to get started. Go for it!! The wavy lines will be a great design to use. Remember to breathe, and relax those shoulders. You'll be done sooner than you think!
We are cheering for you! Do share pics when you are done~~:)

Unlearn the art of self-criticism, it is very crippling. Now do a little practice sandwich, and off you go!

I agree with Mariposa.....shoulders down.....deep breath and just jump in!

All I can tell you is to "do your best" and it will be fine. After you get a few quilts under your belt, you will notice that "your best" just keeps looking better and better. The mistakes are little surprises that prove that the quilt is made by a human being (not an automated robot). If you do your best, are proud of your work and ENJOY yourself.......you will be fine. Go for it.....you can do it!

Do another practice piece and then straight away move on to the quilt, it will get your mind in the right mood - have fun

I was just this point yesterday myself,new walking foot and all. I think the wavey line is a great idea because I struggled all over the place trying to find a spot on the walking foot to line up with. do practice with the walking foot before you start out I was surprised, and need to do a lot of "remove all."

Wear a pair of gloves ie like gardening gloves with grip. They will stop your hands slipping as you move the quilt. I found my first time the weight kept pulling the quilt. Now adays love free motion and I wear my gardening gloves on both or one hand depending on quilt.
I did one quilt listening to a tennis match with serve and back and forwards , then serve back and forth.

great free motion and I liked the match as well.

I have read that it takes about 8 hours of FMQ to get the feel of everything. Don't do it all at once. Your brain is building up memory so go with it. Eventually you will do the quilting automatically. Enjoy the process and remember--don't watch the needle; it's not going anywhere. Watch where you are going next and enjoy the process.

Just remember we all have to crawl before we can walk. Finished is better than perfect. Only thing is to jump in and surprise yourself. Best of luck and above all - have fun.

We all have to start somewhere. I happen to love wavy-line quilting. Once you stitch that first line, you've got it made ... believe me. I'm sure you will do a great job.

Wow, so many kind replies, thank you! Imbued with all your confidence, I made a start... Well, I have the quilt sandwiched (I wasn't expecting it to be such a struggle - I suspect something that gets easier with time, shouldn't have tried on a bigger quilt first, I guess!), and I have a single wavy line stitched roughly across the middle of the quilt: the stitching looks fine - but the colour of the thread looks all wrong now!! I spent so long trying to find a neutral pinky colour that would blend in with the fabrics I used, but that line seems to jump out: I am going to leave it overnight before I make any decisions...

Hope your fmq goes well, jonese!

Go for it! Too much planning can kill creativity - you'll expect it to come out perfect according to plan. Play it by ear. Let the music flow naturally and it will be perfect no matter how it comes out!

I know that it can be intimidating the first time you start to quilt your very first quilt, but just jump right in and do it, you'll be fine. Once you start you may wonder why you hesitated so long. Good luck, I'm sure you'll do fine.

We all have to start with that first quilt and I am sure most of us felt just like you do. I think you will do well and be very proud of it when it is done. You have chosen a easy one to start with. Just go slow and have fun.

Go for it!!! You are gonna have fun

You could try a variegated thread and that would solve the quilting colour problem. I've been quilting over 30 years and haven't quilted one of my own yet, except for QAYGs and my hand made quilts! Good luck.

I think you have the right idea to leave it over night and then have a look at your thread. Made me smile because for a recent quilt I found a very light pink Aurifil thread that I thought was perfect, then on my test block I thought, oh, no, not quite right. So back to the store and I bought a different brand of thread that I thought was more subtle, just right! When I got home discovered that the two threads were exactly the same color. It was just me, doubting myself. I ended up using the Aurifil as it is my preferred thread anyway. And I love how it turned out. Some of this is just over thinking! Do just go for it, you will be happy in the end! Good luck!

Go for it! My quilting still has a long way to go but when I look at it hanging from 6' away it looks OK! Each one gets better too.

Go for it! I look at each project as a snapshot of what I'm capable of at the time. You will learn something from every quilt, and eventually, you won't get nervous when it's time to start quilting. (I still get a little nervous when I start cutting the fabric for a new quilt... especially if it's quilt shop fabric at $10+ per yard.)
Enjoy the process, learn from mistakes, and don't require perfection of yourself.

If you are that apprehensive about starting, why not try sandwiching two FQs and practicing on those before you start on the quilt? Then you could cut them up for pot holders. I took a class from Harriett Hargrave and her advice was to always start on a practice piece and quilt for about 20 minutes to warm up your muscles before you begin your actual quilting.

Just get started. My first FMQ was really bad, it is the quilt we use the most.
It will get better, you just need to get started. I love doing FMQ and mostly do that on my quilts.

Well, when I got up in the morning, I realised I was happy with the colour I chosen to quilt - so very glad I hadn't ripped the stitching out in a panic! It was a little harder to quilt than I had anticipated - hadn't realised quite how heavy it would feel - and I have a standard machine, no bigger throat to give more space! But, all in all, I am more than happy with how it went (And while there are plenty of places for improvement, I did it! :)). Still waiting for the binding to arrive so I can finish it off, but here it is so far (the bright patches are sunlight - tried to get a better picture, but...):
[ATTACH=CONFIG]521829[/ATTACH]Thank you all again so much for being so encouraging!!!

Great! You did it even on your standard sewing machine. That is the only sewing machine I have and I do my best with it. I have no intention of buying another one for now. It can be done and you did a great job.

My first experience with FMQ was much the same as yours. I was terrified! I jumped in on a very special quilt for great grandchild and had so much fun with it, I now always look forward to that part and trying new designs! You'll do great!! Just relax and breathe! The hardest part is getting your speed to where you get your best results. It won't take long to figure that out though! Enjoy!! What a wonderful feeling of accomplishment you'll have when you're done!

I don't know how large your quilt is but it is best to start with something small. I can say that because the first quilt I pieced was a King size quilt. It is just not worth struggling over such a large quilt with your first one. If you lack confidence, why not find a beginner's class held in a LQS?? Good luck and remember to have fun, this is a hobby after all. :)