I have played with FMQ but now I want to actually use it for a quilt.
My question is, do you really just roam all over the entire quilt till done or do you confine your meandering to a long section, say 12" wide, from top to bottom, then move over and do it again and again in sort of columns?
Thanks

I roll up half of my quilt and then start at the bottom (at the centre) and work my way up and down, un-rolling as I go until I get to the edge.

I then flip it around, roll up the un quilted side and then begin the quilting from the bottom centre section and work my way up and down the quilt until it's complete.

Did that make sense?

You start from the bottom center? Really? I thought I should start in the very center and work outwards. Interesting.

you really just have to experiment to find out what works best for you, i start in the middle and go a ways then turn and go some more, when i'm done i've usually missed a spot and have to back and fill in :oops:

I try to start in the middle of the quilt and work my way out to the edges. It will depend on what kind of fmq I am doing...if it's stippling, I work a small area and then go on to the next. A feathery pattern or something in a border will require me to work that pattern until done. There are just so many different ways to fmq, that to say "this is the only way" doesn't cut it. As you get more practice, you will find your most efficient method.

I start in the middle and work my way out to the sides and I do not roll my quilt I bunch it up, it makes it quickly available for the next section and I find it moves easier that way. I have done over 40 quilts this way including king sized quilts.

I start in the middle at one edge & work my way across the width (or length) of the quilt, making about 12-16 inches of meandering. Then move the quilt over & start meandering again, working edge to edge.

I found just starting out, to stick to smaller areas. I did some SID and then went back and filled those areas in. I didn't have to worry so much about bigger areas, I could concentrate on moving a smaller portion of the quilt at a time, and it is already stabilized too :D:D:D

Thanks for the info! Did one small quilt want to try more!!

I start in the middle and wrok my way to the ;eft and down,then turn. You will find what works best for you. I also use the 'fluff" method instead of rolling.

Just a thought....make something not so big, and something that won't really matter if there are mistakes. Then try it out to get comfortable with it. Maybe like the size of a wall hanging. Because if you try this and things go wrong you would be so upset if it was something you were giving as a gift. etc. Its alot of fun. And before I had my quilting machine this is how I fmq'd my quilts. Play you some music to get you going in a good relaxing rhythm and before you know it, you will be going at it like you were born to do it. :D :thumbup:

And don't forget to breathe!

Right now, the only thing I can do is meander. I roll up one side of the quilt, and I start at the top block in the center row. I move to the right and then back to the left of that block until it is filled. Then move to the one below it. I always do one block at a time. Doesn't seem so overwhelming to me then.

lol

That sounds like a good idea too. thanks

Depends on what I am deciding to do on the quilt, on a piece of paper I plot it out, sometimes to keep it stable I will SID on some borders if I do that I start in the middle & work my way out to one side than I go back and do the other side. Once that is done I go back starting in the center and do my FMQ by sections. I don't roll my quilts I puddle them they seem to move easier for me and I don't end up with any puckers on the other side. When I plot the sections on paper is when I decide what parts will be FMQ, which parts are a stenciled pattern, etc. I have an adjustable stool to sit on so my hands are above the quilt and I am not reaching up and I can easily see my stitching as I go. Not sure if this makes sense to you but its what I found that works best for me.

I roll my up, start in the middle, quilt 1/4. Flip it aroung and quilt another 1/4 etc until all quilted. If it is a baby quilt I start in the middle and quilt all around until done. If I want to echo stitch around the block, a dresden plate, I quilt each block.
Good luck and post pictures please.