Does anyone else? - straight line quilting
 

Is it just me? Or does anyone else find straight line quilting a design take longer than fmq on a dsm? Im currently straight line sewing a design and Ive definitely spent more time doing this than I do fmq, this is the second quilt I've felt this happen with. Don't get me wrong I'm enjoying and it will be nice when finished, this is just an observation. Happy 2015 everyone.

It's harder to keep the line straight when doing FMQ, plus using the feed dogs with the walking foot probably pulls the fabric along faster.

A nice wandering kind of pattern is so much quicker mostly because it doesn't require all that marking. Last night I tried using some painters tape to mark my straight lines. Why didn't I try that earlier? It was quicker, it doesn't brush off while I'm working and I can see it easily.

it's hard to say - definitely - one way or the other.
i think it would depend a lot on how often a quilter used each method compared to the other.
i'm not at all fast using either method.
my results are not spectacular either way, either. LOL

i can usually get one done in less time doing a basic cross-hatch than i can doing FMQ.
i use a "domestic" machine, though.
if i had a long-arm rig i assume that [after lots of practice] FMQ would go much faster than straight lines & curves on the regular machine.

anybody want to donate $30 - 50k so i can test my theory? LOL

I think you turn the quilt more often in strait line quilting than in FMQ which would add to the time it takes.

I find a basic stipple or meander is quicker than grid work or SITD.

I have always preferred the look of hand quilting when I machine quilt my quilts. If I am doing a straight line, I always use my walking foot. Last year I was lucky to buy a brand new older version of a Bernina walking foot. I think it is important to quilt a quilt the way to give depth and perspective to the piecing of the quilt.

I use my walking foot for as much straight line quilting as I can do comfortably; but I find that I end up doing up at least half or more straight line quilting with my BSR. That is slower, for me, as I want to be sure my stitching is straight. I am not yet to the point that I can FMQ a straight line rapidly.

The quilts I've worked on have been straight line on the diagonal. I used the painters blue tape with the light adhesive. Anytime I see it at the home improvement stores, I pick up a couple roles. I have also done cross hatch. Small child's crib size quilt.

I have only don straight line quilting. I have don a small amount of meandering but I am not good at it YET. If and when I can stipple good I will probably say it is less time consuming.

Yea, it might take longer. But sometimes, it's just what the quilt needs.

Happy 2015!

straight lines on a long arm are a bear...DIAGONAL straight lines on a long arm make me crosseyed and give me a headache!! Love FM...SID not so much

I've tried to do straight line quilting free motion, but it looks like I'm either drunk or have severe palsy. It is slower using the walking foot and a huge pain to wrestle large quilts under the small throats of DSM's, but for SID and straight lines, I have to accept the tradeoff.

I so agree with you!!! Love quilting that emphasizes the piecework and all the time that took.

I just wish I could master fmq, lol

That blue painter's tape is a Godsend! I have 1" and 2". Love using it and it can be used over and over on the same quilt.

SLQ is easy for me because the Bernina walking foot has a guide right down the center front. I just follow the seam or whatever mark I"ve made.

I'm so glad you mentioned this. I do love the look also but have forgotten about the hand quilting look feature. I've never tried this but I so want to now! I will have to figure out how to do it I guess.

I do sometimes quilt SiTD with a walking foot or use the little bar to line up the walking foot next to a seam or previously quilted line, and yes it seems to go slower but I try to let the quilt determine how it should be quilted. I also like to quilt simple designs with gentle curves with my walking foot. But I agree, the FMQ seems to go faster most of the time.

Yes, me too.

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?

This was fun and easy: http://www.bijoulovelydesigns.com/20...-tutorial.html

Suzanne, I love your quote!!! My smile for the day!!! Thanks!!! Sally from Virginia

I find it much faster to do FMQ than any straight lines. I have a sitdown Sweet 16, and I use a ruler to do the straight lines since the S16 doesn't have feed dogs. Ruler work is much slower than anything else, but it is sometimes the right thing to do for the quilt. I am currently working on a baby quilt that is simple large blocks. The plain blocks have FMQ and the featured fabric blocks are getting scalloped ruler work -very slow but very appropriate to the fabric.
Pam