Beginner FMQ? Do draw or not to draw?
 

Just starting out on this technique on my DSM. So when you first started FMQ, did you "draw" the pattern on your fab until you "learned" how to do it? I see fabulous quilting and just can't wrap my little brain around doing this without drawing the quilting design first with special pen.

I was NOT comfortable with stippling at first so I started out following designs. I think it is easier to follow a line first working on the quality of your stitches without having to think about where you need to turn next. You can improve on your curve stitching. You can see when a quilter stops on a curve not know where next to venture. Just my opinion.

Try it without first. Just "doodle" to get yourself used to the motion. Just try to match your hand speed to the machine speed to get a good and somewhat uniform stitch length. Once you feel comfortable with the movement, do things like writing your name to get a feel for spatial placement.

Depending on the design done with FMQ, some designs are drawn first, and some not. Some people prefer to just wing it.

Try it without any drawings first.

And don't forget ... none of us ... NONE OF US ... were good at quilting without a lot of practice.

I mark spines for feathers and registration marks for FMQ. You might like www.theinboxjaunt.com/ for some ideas. Click on Tuesday Tutorials. This is what I use on most of my quilt tops for marking. It can be brushed off. Only use WHITE chalk not coloured. I use the pencil sharpener for a nice point on my chalk.[ATTACH=CONFIG]515828[/ATTACH]

TUSM for the link! Great ideas! Now to get brave...lol

One of the quilting classes I took the instructor said a lot of the quilting is muscle memory. So if you follow a pattern you will learn how to do it. Also just doing it with pen and paper or a chalk board. It is practice - especially for people like me that can't really draw.

I've been doing FMQ since last fall. I haven't graduated beyond a stipple but I enjoy stippling so much that I'm fine with that. I practiced a little on sandwiches before my first real quilt, but always freehand. I love trying to keep the design varied, not repeating myself too much and not trying to cross lines. I almost always cross once per quilt though.

Here's an example of my basic stippling.

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Get some 12 inch fabric sandwiches made up & try both ways. It takes LOTS of practice! I also use Golden Threads quilting paper. It comes on a roll & I trace my pattern on it, then pin or double-face tape it to the top. Once quilted & the paper is torn off, you'll never know if you went off the lines.

I like to mark my quilt before I start to FMQ. I am afraid that it I try to free hand sew it I will not be very consistent and the quilting will be denser in one area and more spread out in another area....

I dislike marking. When I was starting to FMQ, I went over and over my intended pattern on a whiteboard with a wipe off marker. Once it was in my muscle memory, I went to the quilt. Remember you are just making big puzzle pieces. I marked perfect circles with yellow chalk one time. I didn't like it. I couldn't see the line through the foot well enough and the chalk was difficult to remove. Repeating flowers in the center of blocks are drawn on waxed paper and stitched through the paper. I was told to never cross a line, but I've discovered I like the playfulness of swirls and loops, so that advice has been disregarded. Make a 12 x 18 inch sandwich. Play on it, then go to your quilt. Sometimes we have follow the Nike advice, "Just do it!"