Being a control freak, I'm having trouble with FMQ. I've tried: Fabric Mover for my Viking (back in box, stuffed under bed); music (from ACDC to Yanni); fatigue; mouth guard (so I don't clench my teeth). Drop the feed-dogs? You might as well tell me to drop my pants!! Without feeddogs how do you control speed and stitch length? How do you know where the damn machine is going? Can I quilt with the feed dogs raised? Help!! You all do such beautiful work--please share your secrets. Thanks so much, Jan

how about prozac? j/k

relax, practice on scrap "sandwiches". that's what I did- I like everything structured, always did stitch in the ditch. first efforts of FMQ were structured- like I was trying to copy what is in the books. Once I unclenched my fists and wiped the tears of frustration and loosened the tension in my shoulders, I sat down, said the heck with this, it's supposed to be fun, off I went.

Now I twirl and swirl and zip along. It's fun and fast. Give it another try. Smile as you are doing it.

(I remember my nephew saying how he looks for shapes in it, he thought he saw a dinosaur in one baby quilt).

ok, here's a few secrets:...oh, wait...you mean about FMQ...sowwy, can't help there :wink:

I'm not a control freak (I don't think). :lol: But I did find it hard to let go. I took a class from a school teacher who has won awards with her art quilts. I did a lot of practice squares in class. She was a GREAT help. I am still not good but I'm having fun FM now. :D One she she had me do over and over was writing my name. After a few trys you could reading what I was writing. :lol: :lol: :lol:

I took a two-full day class in FMQ and still can't figure it out. I did sit down with a Bernina that has a Stitch Regular and I'm pretty sure that the feature will change my life with FMQ. now, does anyone have a spare $5000 they can lend me to get the Bernina I want? It's not much, really, when you think about it. RIGHT LADIES? Back me up here...I have a pitch I need to make, and need some great reasoning... :mrgreen:

I think the practice sandwiches are the best idea - done with the intention that it's okay for it to go into the scrap bag -

got an idea for what that can be used for! make it into every-day potholders!

then no need to feel guilty about the fabric being used.

It's just practice, practice, practice!
I have to keep the feed dogs up on my machine when I FMQ. They can't drop them unless I am appliqueing.

The fabric mover that is under the bed has a stitch regulator.
I have been thinking about getting the new one with the larger hole.
What is the problem you had with it?
How does it handle a large quilt?
I saw it demonstrated at a quilt show but of course only on a small piece of quilt. I want to see how it handles a large quilt.

Practice, practice, practice. I cut a square 8-9 inches in size with batting and a back on it. Then I started by writing my name/ I did lower the feed dogs, had the darning foot on my machine and started . I did not adust any tensions or other things related to the machine. I have a Janome. I describe it like playing the piano. YOu have to get a rythum going. My sister for the life of her cannot do it. So guess it is natural for some people to be OK with it and others not. so don't give up just yet. Marge

Practice and breathe! And practice some more while breathing.

Actually, we control freaks prefer FMQ. After all, that is when we are in control instead of the sewing machine being in control. In FMQ, you do the creative work and are totally in charge!! :mrgreen:

Don't let the machine tell you where to go. When you are a control freak you want to tell everything and everyone what the next move will be. With the feed dogs down, that is exactly what you are doing. Keep thet machine under control!!

Maria

JanRN, as and OCD, excessive compulsive control freak critical care nurse all I can say is 'RIGHT ON SISTAH!". However, I did take a FMQ class and it really helped. Learning to FMQ is kinda like learning to write PRETTY with your non-dominant hand. It takes practice, practice, practice!

Are you old enough to have taken short-hand classes in high school? (I'm not, but I heard about it--riiiiiiiiight :wink: ) Anyhow, you practiced pages and pages of just one character until you could do it in your sleep perfectly. FMQ is the same for me. I just had to put in hours of practice before I was even half-way happy with the results.

Here's another example. I do genealogy. When I'm trying to read some faded document from the 1600's that was written in old german with very bad handwriting, I've found that it usually takes about 16 hours of reading before I am comfortable just picking out certain words. It gets easier the more you do.

If I can do it you can too. Have a glass of wine or a shot of whiskey (just one) before you start. And good luck.

P.S. Yes, you drop the feed dogs. YOU control where the fabric goes with your hands, and you control the stitches by how fast you move the fabric. Take a class, it will become more apparent.

LOL, Crazy. I just choked on my coffee!

As far as free motion, I have always stitched in the ditch, and am now practicing with little sandwiched pieces. The practice pieces look terrible and the bottoms look like I may have done it with my eyes closed. But I am told it will get better.... :roll:

Most do FM with the feed dogs down, however I have read that some people do FM with them up, also using a zig zag stitch, so I practice trying all sorts of things...one day it will click and all come together, I just know it...in the mean time I have some wicked looking squares that will eventually be sew together for a big dog quilt for my brother's "horse" 8) 8) 8)

Being a control freak like yourself, FMQ is just something else to "control"!! Deep breath, make up a small quilt sandwich (15"sq gives you a bit to hang onto) drop the feed dogs, speed medium, foot on the pedal slowly and as you increas the speed of the machine, move the sandwich slowly. Take your time!! If the needle/thread breaks, replace it! Do not give up! Keep trying, no-one is over your shoulder telling you what you are doing is wrong. Do what works for you. And, it is really true what everyone who does FMQ says - PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE.

It won't happen overnight, but, it will happen!! Be a true control freak, and take control LOL! Good luck, you will be up and FMQ'ing in no time. Dianne.

I am just learning myself and made good progress after a sewing class where it was demonstrated (but not the main purpose of the day). Feed dogs down, darning foot or free motion foot and no walking foot seem to be the basic requirements. As others have suggested - making up sandwiches to practice - I use calico with cotton batting (not too squishy but easy to control). I read good tips in "Machine Quilting Made Easy" by Maurine Noble who takes you step by step through lessons to practice. I quote from her book "Running your machine too slowly will cause uneven, jerky-looking stitches. If you move the fabric very fast while running the machine slowly, you will have long stitches. If you move the fabric very slowly while running the machine at a fast speed, you will have tiny stitches......When you're first learning, push yourself to run your machine faster than is comfortable and you will develop control sooner." She also says "Don't forget to breathe, let yourself go, and have fun!" Just keep practising I think is the answer and what I am finding is helping me improve. Good luck! :-)

I have that same book lizwhizcat! The only thing I'd add is imagine that the needle is a pencil and the quilt a piece of paper - you're drawing squiggly lines but your moving the paper instead of the pencil - if that makes sense! I also endorse the glass of wine idea! I did my first (and only so far!) FMQ on a One Block Wonder kaleidoscope - it's so busy you don't notice the (slightly!) different stitch lengths here and there! And I'd agree on the go faster thank you feel comfortable with - the BEST results were where I was rushing because DH called to say he'd be home in half an hour, and I wanted to finish before he got there!

Practice is the key here! BUT set aside a certain time (10 minutes ) a day and practice EVERYDAY.... Pretty soon you'll be a whizz.... Also a beer or glass of wine helps! (that is what is my instructor said. Honest!! ) also humming a song like the JEOPARY helped a friend of mine....Get that stitch regulator out and practice. the regulator sure makes it easier.... one less thing to worry abt....

One of the practices is with paper and paper ... open up that tablet and relax and start doodling.
Since I too have control issues, I practice while I work, and my first quilt was SOOOO stiff, too small stippling is NOT a good thing ...
It wasn't until I was wanting a new pattern for quilting, since one pattern over and over is boring, that I considered the paper and pencil. Use a pencil because it will create a drag, and gives you more control <g> ... feels more like what you are going to be doing with your machine.
I hate practicing for no good reason, so I would encourage you to declare your practice pieces for charity.
Our LQS teaches long arm classes. Using their fabric, batting, machine and backing, we learn/practice. When they have enough quilting on a piece, they bind the whole thing and give it to an animal/pet shelter ...
the fifteen inch squares recommended are grand ... you can practice joining them together to make a nice little blanket for some lonely animal ... or ... make them twelve inches, bind and use as potholders.
There is no rule that says your practice pieces cannot be turned into perfectly practical items ...
and practicing your name or words of encouragement or the year ... the idea is to get familiar with what you do that makes the machine do something ...
I put feed dogs down, since they don't do anything under free motion quilting, anyway, and all they are doing (in my humble opinion) is scratching up the fabric used as backing ...
Finally ... after you have put your feed dogs down
put on the darning/free motion/embroidery foot
threaded your needle
loaded in your quilt
PUT THE FOOT DOWN ...
something I have learned from this site ... if the back/front has long stitches, you are moving the fabric too fast ... even a stitch regulator can be over ridden if you go fast enough ... after all, it is only a machine, not a mind reader ....

Is this why I freak out every time I try to FMQ???? LOL!!!! Yeah, I'm a control freak, too, but never put the two together in the same sentence before! LOL!!!

I checked out a book from the library almost 5 weeks ago on FMQ, and had to renew it last week when it was due back (untouched at that point). I finally picked it up last night, and OMG in that 30-ish minutes of reading, I learned a lot! Haven't had the chance to practice yet, but it makes a lot more sense now.

The book is called "Guide to Machine Quilting", by Diane Gaudynski. It's a quick read - about 140 pages total, with big print. I think I read about 60 pages in that short time. I just might invest in this book!

I too have been too intimidated, even after taking a class.
I am in control...I am in control... I like that way of thinking, unconventional! Thanks for that confidence builder. I think
I'll try FMQ myself.

I am a human being.
I have been given superiority over all inanimate objects.
Therefore ... the inanimate objects HAVE to do as I command.
feels sooo powerful, eh?

And how is that working out for you, omak? I know, when my car dies, I don't have the ability to command it to act.

At my command is to find someone who knows how to make it do what it is supposed to do.
but, I know what you are saying ...
If it is man-made, man can control it ...

This may sound crazy, but I found some examples of stippling that I liked that looked like water rippling, printed them out, and tried to duplicate them on squares of fabric. It was sitting down and not knowing where to go that was driving me crazy.

Also, even tho' I have the Bernina with the BSR, my machine also has an On/Off button and a speed control. So, I unplug the foot control, use my needle up/needle down button to bring the bobbin thread up, then hit the On button. Then I move the fabric around. When I'm finished, I hit the off button and I'm done.

If you do your practice squares using the Insulbrite or using the teflon fabric as your backing, you can put a narrow binding on them and you have handmade potholders.

I agree with the practice, practice, I do a practice piece every time just before I work on my project, to try to get in the rythym for that day! I'm still not very good at all and am taking a class next week so hopefully that will improve it. And Yes to the wine! One glass relaxes me a bit (or like my first time, 1 glass relaxed me a bit, 2 glasses relaxed me more & the 3rd glass made it so I didn't much care what it looked like! Oops)

Yep, that's one thing about us teachers -- we have them do it over and over until it's right. :lol:

You hit the nail on the head. I haven't made a fm quilt yet but I have been practicing and I do not breath. I have to stop to get air. How funny is that! I'm glad I'm not the only one that did that. Will I at some time start breathing? Someone told me to practice doodling it on paper and that gives you a feel for where to go next. And I've been doodling away.

I think one of the people suggested working at it for a few minutes every day.
I am highly analytical, and I don't remember all the reasons I was afraid of making mistakes when I first started quilting.
Forget the free motion aspect, for awhile. Just practice free wheeling straight lines, although, believe it or not, moving it from side to side actually is a better use of the machine, I think.
Just take comfort in the fact that others have done it before you, so you know it can be done ... the only thing to decide is how you are going to do it, but do it, you must ...
The breathing thing will come. Take a few deep breaths before you start and you will have enough oxygen to sustain you for quite awhile <g> ...
You all will do just fine.
I am not a big one to say, "I did it, anyone can do it" ... but, I will say ... others have done it, you know it can be done, all you have to decide is when you are going to try.
And, don't be so hard on yourselves ... we are our own worst critics! Maybe someday I will do a job that I absolutely know is perfect, but I am never sure that it is really good ... but, I am better today than I was last week, and most certainly a lot better than I was five years ago when I tried it for the first time.
Trust yourself to be able to learn, and be excited because you are about to start accomplishing something that will make your quilt more useful and maybe even prettier!
You will do a good job. And, you will keep breathing <g>

I too had trouble learning how to better control FMQ my break through was to wear gloves. It helps move the fabric easier. I bought a pair of gardening gloves that have rough finger tips and they work like a charm. I understand fons and porter have gloves to sell but the everyday gardening gloves works fine for me.

You can FMQ with the feed dogs up and the stitch length set at zero. I find I actually stipple better this way than with the feed dogs down.

Yes, I find the gloves essential for control. I have the cotton ones with the little pimples on the finger tips.

A pitcher of margarita's helps wonderfully with the practicing :)

but seriously I am a doctor diagnosed perfectionist and I have just started FMQing and I freaked when the 1st,2nd and even the 3rd tries looked horrid. The instructor at the Quilt shop where I took the FMQing class said, "honey, you need a stiff drink, a margarita or wine cooler or something to relax you."

So hey I may turn out the be the best FMQing lush ever now...lol

I guess the real answer is _ we all didn't learn to walk in one day so why do we expect to be a expert at FMQ the first or second time. The old saying "practice make perfect" applies.
And do I need a lot of practice. :oops: :oops:
I have a bernina 200 and was able to get the BSR fitted to it. It really helps but I still need to practice. Am pretty good at the borders - still have a fair bit of trouble in the center areas with all the bulk.

How about a glass of wine if you don't like whiskey?

Lots of people FMQ with the feed dogs up. Try it and see if it helps.

I can FMQ much better standing up. Have a cutting table the right height, so I put my sewing machine on that.

Having the right surface helps enormously. Try making the inexpensive quilting table in this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g14govA4pIM

It has helped a lot of quilters. This is what I'm going to make for myself before my next FMQ session (standing up, of course!).

Thank you. Very informative video. That is something I could do myself.

I did this by mistake the other day.... and found my stitches came out a LOT better than normally. But everyone is so rabid about putting the feed dogs down... is it bad for the machine to leave them up?

It doesn't hurt the machine at all.