feed dogs
 

can you FMQ with the feed dogs up on a fast machine?

I have heard you can, but you still have to cover them, I know leah day doesn't drop hers

Some people can, I've never tried it because my feed dogs lower with a button. Some people tape an index card over the feed dogs and find that it works for them.

don't understand what you mean by "fast machine"
Some leave the feed dogs up but dial the stitch length down to 0 to disengage the feed dog movement. That way they are not working against your hand movements.
I still prefer to tape plastic over the feed dogs if they don't lower. It helps with the movement of the quilt.

Yep - and on a slow machine too.

I generally find the tension is better when doing FMQ on my Janome if I leave the feed dogs up. Still experimenting with my new 201, not so sure it helps on that one.

I "accidently" left the feed dogs up one day while quilting and it worked fine. Tried it on purpose after that and it didn't work well at all.

I do all the timer. It gives me a better even stitch and it is easier to control than with the
feed dogs in the down position.

You might read this: http://www.The Free Motion Quilting Project: To Drop or Not Drop - That is the Question....webarchive
(I hope this comes as a link; if not you at least have the address!)
I haven't tried this yet but it is interesting.

Oops! http://www.The Free Motion Quilting Project: To Drop or Not Drop - That is the Question
(trying again)

Oh, well. I hope you get the point!

i took a class and we were told to leave ours up. did and it worked. i usually put mine down but not always. just depends on how things are working.

Leah Day's website is great and it works with feed dogs up.

thanks, I checked out Leah Day's site and read her note on feed dogs, it was interesting.

As long as you dial your stitch length to 0 so they aren't moving...why not?

Yes, on most machines you can leave the feed dogs up...I usually drop them when I am doing stippling, meandering but when doing designs, I will leave the feed dogs up as I feel I have more control.

I have found this also, gives me more control, so I don't bother lowering mine anymore on my Janomi. Now, my Viking, on my Grace frame, has a setting for FM using a spring loaded foot, so I'm sure it does it automatically on that one. I like it on my other one, off the frame, so that works better for me, leaving them up... Try it & see what works best for you & your machine...

I'm pretty sure I'd be equally as bad up or down.

There is nothing about feed dogs on that link.

I have fmq'd both ways and I think fmqing with the feed dogs up gives me a better rhythm. Remember, your feed dogs only pull the material in one direction if you have a presser foot sitting firmly on them and your material clamped in between the pressure foot and the feed dogs . With fmq you do not have the top pressure because you are using a "darning foot" which sits above the feed dogs.

I always have my feet down. Better to be safe than sorry.

feed dogs
 

With my Sapphire 850 I like the feed dogs down. I manually dissengage ----in the past when they would creep up I could feel the quilt begin to drag. (FMQ)

When I took a fmq class, the instructor had us drop the feed dog and I've always done it that way. Now I want to experiment for myself. Thanks for the question.