Great thread with a lot of great advice! I have only started practicing FMQ, and it's going to take a lot more practice before I attempt to do it on this quilt. I am going to SITD on most of it; but wanted to FMQ the borders and sashing. I will come back and reread this thread often (cuz I forget a few things these days). Thank you all for posting such great advice!!!!

I just turned my tension all the way up to 8 (I usually do 3.5) and the difference was A.MA.ZING. No more eyelashes on the back. I need drop my machine into a table next.mor rewire my 15-91 to try since its in a cabinet already.

for those of you that suggest drafting chairs...sounds great but how do you reach the foot control? I am only 5-2 would i be able to reach the foot pedal?

some great advice for newbies & oldies!!

I am only 5'2" also and I use an office chair at it's lowest, and sit at a home made table that is 26.5" high. This is comfortable for me. When I have a large quilting project I move my machine to a larger table that is 2.5" higher and that difference is noticed, but I adjust ok. No way can I use a drafting chair. My feet dangle. My quilting frame is too high for my comfort so I just stand. I have tried using a stool and drafting chair, but end up pushing them asside and just stand. My feet need to be on the floor or they go numb.

I have been working on fmq for a while now. I don't have any real advice, other than when I go to do a project, I have begun doing a practice sandwich of the fabric and thread I plan to use. I don't know why--but if I don't, tension issues seem to erupt!

I have also found that the larger the quilt I am quilting, the more I need that "surround" on my machine. I have even used books and magazines to build up around my machine to get the sewing bed even with the desk. Of course that was when I had no idea what I was doing, but it worked. :)

I am one that tends to jump right into a project without thinking about it. I will practice a little bit on a small sample to get the tension right, but then it is onto the quilt it self. I also started with a meander and am now just starting other designs. I find it very relaxing and tend to zone out the kids when they are around. Which can be good and bad at the same time :shock:

Have fun, take it one step at a time, enjoy the process and don't sweat the little things.

Ok I've all heard about bring the thread up when you begn quilting, but never about ending your stitches. What do you do with the thread then? Bring them both to the front or just cut them off, one on the bottom and one on the top? Please advise as to the proper way.

I was taught to have appx 2-3" of thread at the beginning and end and pull the bobbin thread through, tie a knot close to the fabric, then take a hand needle that has a split/open end, and put needle through the same hole the thread is in and pull the knot inside the sandwich, pulling the needle about an inch across and back out. Then cut the exposed thread. This way the thread ends are secure and hidden. - Try to weave the thread through the batting so it does not show through the fabric. This can be an issue with white/light colored fabric.

Obviously, if it doesn't work for you, then you wouldn't go there!

Here's something else that may not work for you either -- my machine has a push botton start/stop button so I don't use the foot pedal. I sit on a stool to quilt with my feet on the bottom rung -until I can get something better anyway. Susan - I think you are extremely tall - I'm a shade under 5'. :)

My Viking dealer taught me this trick--get machine set the way I want it --even the speed as I found a medium speed was too slow and the highest too fast so in between works best for me and then do the start/stop button and if I want to stop I hit the foot pedal.

Thank you for this wonderful information. I am a beginner quilter and will be undertaking my first FMQ quilt. Our instructor said many of the same things that have been mentioned but it is really nice to have others make the same recommendations. Her comment was to make another block using the leftovers from our quilt, and use it as a test - that way we could be practicing with our quilt fabrics but not the real quilt.

I have been FMQ for all of 2 days now. For me, tracing an exact line was really hard to keep a smooth line of stitching but following a general direction worked easier.

My tip would be to start off working in short increments. After even 10 minutes I get tired/frustrated and need to go do something else for a while and come back to the FMQ.

Here is a pic of my daisies, which seem to get happier as I went along. Maybe I will be ready to use them on the tabletopper I want to give my MIL by August!

LOVE your daisies! Remember that you are looking at every single stitch in every single flower. No one else will do that! A more primitive flower here and there will be completely okay and will add to the charm of your heart-made piece.

I've tried so many times to meander or stipple and just cannot do it. BUT - that idea about thinking about a cactus shape might just work - I'm so excited to try again. You guys are great!!

The BIGGEST helps to me right now are:
dividing the project into smaller sections by "utility" quilting some straight rows both horizontally and vertically. The quilt is stabilized and you can think in smaller units.
thinking a snake trail through the section I am quilting.
cactus shapes

Have to admit I haven't read every post so not sure if this has been mentioned. A trick one of my quilt teachers taught me when I'm struggling to get a rhythm established is to hum the "Skater's Waltz". It has such a smooth rhythm, has 1-2-3 count and also has a calming effect. It really does work!