does it qualify
 

I'm elderly and I keep reading we old folks should learn new stuff to stimulate our brain. Do you think learning free motion quilting after70 yr of hand quilting counts? have it started it's not perfect . I 've got the straight stitching done and I am going oo learn free motion on the quilt.LOL It is just for me and my dog so why waste practice thread? Sound like my brain is too far gone already ;)

Why not? I'm past 70 and started a few years ago. It gets better with practice. I don't have a fancy machine.

Try it if you want to, not for anybody else. I enjoy FMQ a lot, and you might also. Just don't think your first efforts will match the quality of your 70 years of experience in hand quilting! It certainly does finish quilts faster than doing them by hand.

Barring some sort of disability, I think older age is a poor excuse to not try something new.

If you don't want to - that's fine. If you want to - that is fine, too.

Expecting perfection on a first try is unrealistic, though.

PS. I am 74.

70 is young these days...90 is closer to old.

Yep, I'm 70 and free motion quilting is on my bucket list. I have a long arm, but really think that I want to learn FMQ. My bucket list is sooo long and gets longer every day.

Personally, I think sewing is a thought and logic challenge. You have to think ahead of what you need and sewing in order. Even just figuring out patterns, so in my opinion, it is very good for our thought processes.

It take a little practice like riding a bike. Try to look ahead to where you want to go. Wish you lived closer because I would love to learn to hand quilt.

We are never too old to learn something new. I didn't start quilting until I was 65 or 66. My quilting will never win a prize but I learn something new and helpful every time I make even a simple quilt. FMQ hasn't been the easiest thing for me to learn but I keep trying. Go for it!

FMQ is great! Requires planning, artistic design & hand-eye coordination. Probably one of the better things to learn to exercise the brain & it's super fun, too. Plus, we quilters have all these unique terms that are practically a different language (learning a new language is supposed to be the best way to stave off Alzheimer's & dementia).

A friend of mine is 89 and she has been learning to free motion quilt on a long arm at a quilt shop.

Darned if I'm telling anyone how old I am, but I've lived past the age of any of the women in my family who came before me, except for one contrary great aunt. I am very shaky on FMQ, but the whole process of making a quilt excites me. It's the thought of making a quilt by hand that I find daunting.

Unfinishedbusiness, you have my admiration! I view elderly and old as two different groups.

At age 75, I decided to learn how to quilt. Five years later, I am so excited with this new hobby! I work on quilting every spare minute. While my free motion quilting isn't the greatest, it gets better each time. I strongly encourage you to take up free motion quilting. By the way, I find FMQ very relaxing.

Yeah for you! 70 is the new 50! There are 70 year olds in my guild that don't like anything new. They are real drags when it comes to enjoying quilt programs and lord forbid someone demos a new ruler when an old beat up scratched ruler will do the same thing if you turn it just right. LOL

One by one, I hope you're not describing me!
Bree123, I am way past 70 and relatively new to quilt, but I don't consider age a hindrance except the thought of starting a quilt with tiny pieces. My only advice would be to not work at for too long a period of time. Start with an hour and work your way up. Just think of it as writing your name without moving your hand - by moving the paper, LOL. Look where you're headed and have at it.

I just started to FMQ in the past year or so. I decided I could not afford to pay 2 cents a inch. I am not to good yet but I have started to improve. I am 74. I have been sewing for 61 years nonstop. I have been quilting for about 8 years now. I love the whole thing and make lots of Items. Keep up the good work and don't ever give up and you will stay young. My Mother just turned 100 in August.

YES, Totally agree! I am over 70 and just took up quilting since I retired. Just got back from a quilt retreat on Lake Superior with 40 other quilters and one of the sweetest quilters just turned 80. Just hoping I can go when I am 80 and have her sweet disposition!

You should definitely go for it. The main reason is because you want to & another is because it is a good exercise for the brain. The more you do the better it looks too. I do a little FMQ & I'm far from good but I have lots of fun.

You should definitely go for it. ( You are never too old to do something you want to do)The main reason is because you want to & another is because it is a good exercise for the brain. The more you do the better it looks too. I do a little FMQ & I'm far from good but I have lots of fun. You can buy lots of good books for FMQ or maybe attend a class in your area or watch online videos. The possibilities are endless. ( You are never too old to do something you want to do) Have fun!

I'm 71 , started machine quilting 5 years ago, learned FMQ, simple patterns came easy, figuring math dimensions is my quilting problem. You can do it, you go girl. Thread is cheap and not a waste, don't sit in front of a tv and fade away, stay busy with what you like, that keeps you young.

I think she's older than 70. She didn't start quilting when she was a baby.

I'm over 80 and still teach at the one room school and square dance twice a week.

Last week I tried a new pattern for my FMQ. I usually do loops. Since the quilt was all machine tacked already, I started around the side on the half blocks. As I worked my way around, the quilting changed noticeably. The last 2 or 3 blocks started to look like something I really liked. So I ripped out about 5 of them and went on to finish the quilting. Then I went back and looked at those half blocks again. Didn't like some of them. Ripped out three more. Now most of the blocks on the whole quilt look mostly the same.

What I did I call Mushrooms. It is sort of a variation of 3's and E's with deep curlicues in each corner. I have a lot of flimsy tops around now and need to get them finished, so had to find a way to do that quickly.

You are certainly not elderly. I know a few 80 and even 90 year olds who have more energy and vitality than some of the younger generation. It is never too late to learn a new technique. You may not be so quick at it, and you may not be an expert, but even the experts had to begin somewhere. The important thing is to do what gives you pleasure. I am not very good at FMQ and almost gave up after my first few attempts, but it does get better. I am not entering any competitions so what does it matter? Just have fun and congratulate yourself on your creativity.. Another young 70+

I am 70. Started quilting a few years ago. Have been doing free motion for a year now. It does not turn out perfect....but I love it and the people I gift my quilts to just appreciate that I care enough about them to make a quilt for them! I have many small sandwiches that I have practiced on, it seems they are wasted. I am going to buy some inexpensive fabric that I like and turn my practice into placemats!

Since you say it's just you and your dog, who's going to say you can't do it? There isn't a wrong or right way to free motion, that's why it's called that. Go ahead, you may like the speed you can complete the quilts you make. If not you can always go back to hand quilting on the next project.

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*** Go for it - new things stimulate the brain.
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I am not into quilting to win prizes and have a list as long as my legs I want to make. I am 74 and will be taking a class at my LQS in LAQ. I just want to see if I like it. I do a lot of hand quilting and I take several quilts a year to a LAQer. I won't be purchasing a LA machine because I can have a lot of quilts done for that money. I take classes that interest me in the hopes that my brain will continue to function. Personally I don't feel old but know we must keep busy and active as long as we can.

First of all...you're not elderly. You're just older. Older than what? That's totally arbitrary. Some are older than dirt and some are just older than the other guy. Secondly, give it a shot. I've been playing with it for a couple of years and it sure does take practice, but your regular table top machine is plenty good. Just drop those feed dog teeth and get a practice sandwich and play.

HEY, I'm 70 and far from elderly !!!!!!!!!! I just started a Zumba class

I think learning anything new is always good, no matter how young you are:).

I am seventy six and have started doing it. The only problem I have is the strain it puts on my back and neck. I have to work awhile and get up and move around then sit down and do more. I did my first one about six years ago. I didn't find it hard to learn I just had to learn to be more patient. Try it and good luck with it.

Never ever too old totry something new. I know you are going to love it.

go for it!!! I think that sounds awesome!

This is inspirational. I too am in my 70's and hoping to learn FMQ. I am waiting for the delivery of a sewing desk that will allow me to have my machine level with the table and then I am ready to practice on animal quilts for shelters.

Funny stuff actually! If you choose to learn fmq Hot Dam! I am 60, and although I even had a "stitch regulator" nope...haven't learned to do it right. 30 years ago, I did hand quilt...loved it....but OMG took me two years to finish a quilt....I say...do what makes you happy!

I took my dog for her checkup and Vet asked. Me how old she was. I said she is the same age as me....I am 70 and she is 10! He said "Well 10 is the new 7 in dog years!"
Moral: you can teach an old dog new tricks! I got a midarm Tiara for my 70th birthday ....oh and a Featherweight almost as old as me!
I say go for it.....I love the freedom of FMQ!

I love doing & experimenting with various FMQ patterns & have it straight from my doctor's mouth that the act of learning whatever new things, quilting was what we were discussing in particular, slows Alzheimer's which is rampant in my mother's family. Our brains excrete some chemical while learning that Alzheimer's doesn't care for. So go ahead and have fun with your quilt!! :thumbup:

Hi, go for it whilst you are still a "young girl". I used to teach patchwork and quilting and everything went great until I mentioned FMQ, shock horror so I then said that we would just scribble with our machine. Sneaky, eh.