Advice wanted, please
 

I will soon take possession of my brand new sewing machine, a Juki HZL - DX7, and I am determined to get out of my comfort zone in terms of free-motion quilting. I would really like to learn how to do feathers, since they are so pretty and seem so versatile. My problem is that when I google classes, lessons and tutorials, etc. so many come up that I am overwhelmed. I think that the Patsy Thompson's class on Craftsy "Ultimate Free-Motion Feathers" might be very good but then I see that she has dvd's. I also realize that there are many other classes out there. That is why I would like advice from you very knowledgeable ladies. Where do you think I should begin? PS. I am a very visual learner. Thank you in advance.

I took a class from Patsy Thompson at a show and have both of her craftsy classes. She got me more confident in quilting and my feathers look great so don't hesitate on her classes. and if you get to take a class in person with her I would do it. I also love Cindy Needham on craftsy as well. Practicing drawing feathers on paper or one of those magnadoodles really helps

Drawing feathers on paper has to be one of the best suggestions ever! Remember to practice from the top of the page, as well as from the bottom and from right and left edges. Practice until it is "second nature" ... I have had my Juki DX7 since April, and have used it a lot. It's a great machine. I've used it for piecing, quilting and used the decorative stitches for crazy quilt blocks. You might want to look up a thread I posted recently on a problem I'm having with the needle hole slide plate. It's probably an isolated problem on my machine, but you might want to check it out.

My advice is to make placemat size practice squares and go for it. I have a friend that has been working on feathers for the past 4 years. They take practice, practice, practice. Watch videos, everyone seems to make them slightly different. But all the classes in the world won't make up for experience. Once you have filled a placemat, bind it and donate it to a good cause. All your practice won't be wasted.

I taught myself with the Hooked on Feathers book by Sally Terry.

https://www.amazon.com/Hooked-Feathe.../dp/1574329731

It takes LOTS of practice....start with paper or a dry erase board. Repetition is the key. Once you think you have got it practice some more before you go to fabric and thread. Muscle, hand and eye control all need strengthening. Also before you start on a day of quilting do some warm ups on paper or your dry erase board. Even if I have done a panto on my Gammil repeatedly I will still trace my finger over the pattern to refresh my brain connecting the design. .......jmho

I agree with Patricia. You may find it easier to follow a line at first. Go look and buy a feather stencil that will work for future projects. Remember, it takes practice to make consistent FMQ stitching so following a line will make it one less thing to worry about where you are going next. Then when you have your stitches down pat, go looking for the self quilting feathers.

Leah Day does 365 patterns. She is very good in discussing the set up of the machine and then giving confidence to try new ideas including feathers.

Leah Day's "Building Blocks" pattern and videos helped me a lot! You purchase the patterns and the step by step videos are free. Here is a pic of the finished project. She has you piece 3 or 4 of the same block and shows you how to quilt each one differently.
Please be kind re: the pic - I was a beginner, just learning to FMQ,
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Try http://theinboxjaunt.com/ for lots of great practice ideas. I and a friend challenged each other to work for 15 min a day on these patterns, and we gained a lot of confidence and I even used the sandwiched squares that I worked on to make a quilt as you go baby quilt which I sold on Etsy. It was lots of fun.

I don't know what you've tried so far, but here are a few things you could think about. Try quilting on computer paper for awhile. Also, see if there are any charity quilts you could practice on.

The MOST helpful YouTube video I've found shows a woman who created a "book" of sample free motion quilting styles.... she creates pages by quilting a practice sandwich with one or two styles. Confidence and skill can ONLY be gained through practice... no amount of DVD watching or videos comes close to hands on experience... and having reference of a style you quilted and may want to repeat isn't a bad thing. Watching is good for new ideas but just like the piano, it's practice or have someone else play... if you don't put the time in you'll never be happy with your own results... if practice sounds way too boring or not your cup of tea the send your tops to a longarmer... you'll be happier and have more time doing what you like... for me, I wanted control and to do it all myself. .. I am a looooong way from where I started but not yet where I want to be but for me the process and practice is fun and reviewing my past work to see how I've improved is so very worth and sore muscles from initial stress over fear of ruining a quilt with bad machine quilting... onward and upward!

What helped me get started was drawing designs on a white board and on an oversized paper art tablet (cheap newsprint, or any fairly large scrap paper . If you try to confine yourself to 8.5 X11, you aren't going to have much freedom to spread out.

Next thing i did was make about 3 practice sandwich mats about 20x20, solid on top so I could see my stitches.
Ugly fabric on the back. Open toe foot, barely resting on the fabric do you can move fabric easily around. Long stitch length . Write your name in cursive over and over . Try meandering. Feathers. Bubbles. The alphabet. Simple shapes. Just don't worry about anything. Let yourself go and know that this is just practice. Let yourself be a kindergartener . Muscle memory takes time, like playing the piano or a sport or anything new. I practice on those ugly sandwiches before every quilt I attempt to FMQ. I'm still far from good at it, but I'm no longer afraid. It's truly fun . Oh, yes, wear garden gloves (rubber palms) to grip the fabric. I was frustrated by all the slipping until I did that.

A few years ago, I was priveleged to take a FMQ class from Judy Woodworth. I had been trying to do feathers without success. Once she explained how to pretend sewing part ways around a coin and then finish off the feather by doing a gentle curve towards the spine, this was my breakthrough point. Doing feathers is so much fun for me nowadays.

put Leah Day feathers in your search browser and look to the right for Youtube There is one which shows two ways to do feathers. Look at it it might help you.and it is free.

Great video on line -- What to quilt on your quilt -- by Quilt Expressions...runs about an hour.
There's only a few movements you use for all the quilting -- and knowing those makes
it easy to progress to feathers! Hope you enjoy it -- you go girl!