Some of the 'frog' brand painter's tape has curved and other edges that can be used for mor variety.

I think straight line takes much more time. I know when I have tried it, I have to completely turn the quilt aound several times and I seem to quilt closer together. A fmq meander is quick and easy once you get the hang of it.

Doesn't anyone use the straight line guide that you attach to the walking foot? I have used this to make sure that my lines are straight no chance of tape residue on my quilts. Besides it allows me to determine the width between the lines.

I can cross hatch a quilt in no time. I bought the Stanley six foot and four foot straight edge from Lowe's. They are exactly 2 1/2'' wide. I can mark the lines easy and straight using those. I start in the middle of the quilt and stitch out, flip and start in the middle out again. Turn the quilt and do it the opposite way. It's a little boring but it's easy and looks great for the majority of my pieced quilts.

Oh forgot to say it's very important to start marking from the middle, corner to corner then mark out to the edge. I mark diagonal.

I like to do curving designs achieved with templates on borders and sashes where it is effective. generally, do SID or straight lines to do my machine quilting on my domestic machine. Love, love, love the Frixon marking pens.

I always use a straight stitching on my big quilts and FMQ on smaller items only because I find it stressful doing FMQ and I take a long time to pluck up the courage to do it - therefore time wasted.

I feel when doing straight stitching the machine is set at a length and my stitches are nice and even and I have a good "straight eye" when using my walking foot. Sometimes my stitches when FMQ - especially around curves -are not as good as I would like and I am not happy to put them on a project that I have spent such a lot of time on particularly if it is a gift for someone else.

Very interesting topic, I do have a question, Maniac 2 I think mentioned a hand quilted look using an older walking foot. I sew with an older Bernina(1230) and have a walking foot that I bought about 10 yrs ago. Wondering if there is something older because if this one is capable of that look I don't know about it and I sure would love to have the option.

Very interesting topic, I do have a question, Maniac 2 I think mentioned a hand quilted look using an older walking foot. I sew with an older Bernina(1230) and have a walking foot that I bought about 10 yrs ago. Wondering if there is something older because if this one is capable of that look I don't know about it and I sure would love to have the option.

sorry about the double post

I am going to check for these straight edge rulers at Lowes. Thanks so much for describing how you do this. :-) Two questions - do you mark before sandwiching the quilt and what type of marker do you prefer?