This is how I look at it too. I am learning to FMQ so that I can quilt my own Project Linus sized quilts and small projects (table toppers, pillows, etc.). I have learned to really enjoy walking foot quilting over the last six months and feel it's time for a new challenge. I'm taking it slow and not stressing over it.

I will continue to send larger quilts or special projects to a professional as they have a skill set that I don't and I'm not interested in purchasing a long arm of my own. I don't have the space or the desire to learn those skills and there are MANY more quilts I want to make instead!

You could mark your pattern for a while, start out slow, and just practice, practice, practice. You will get it, if I can get it, believe me, anyone can. I marked for a while just to get the feel of things, then my body developed a motion memory thats lets me do most anything I want now. I just had to go at it slow. Don't give it, you'll get it.

Oh my, I know just how you feel!! I took an FMQ class and felt like a complete and total failure! Although I haven't attempted it again, I have a better outlook and much more information than when I first attempted it. I agree with looking at Leah Day's website for alot of great inspiration!! Have heart, don't beat yourself up, or psych yourself out saying you can't do it... it takes tons and tons of practice and alot of patience. Just practice on a quilt sandwich made up just for practicing FMQ. That's what I plan to do, just lots and lots of practice!!

Just keep trying! You will get better. Although I took a class at a LQS, I have found videos and classes on the web much more helpful. Doodling has never helped me - but different things work for different people. Pretend you are looking at someone else's work and I bet you will see more good and less bad. Don't be too hard on yourself.

Keep trying. I told myself for years I couldn't machine blanket stitch applique pieces because my brain is not good a picturing things and I was afraid I wouldn't be able to know how to position the applique so the needle would fall in the right place as I went around the applique. Well, I tried a straight stitch inside some flower applique blocks for a quilt I was making. I had trouble keeping the stitches the same width away from the edge of the applique. Frustrated, I decided to try my machine blanket stitch. I had two practice pieces to work on. You know what, it was a lot easier than I thought! The foot I was using had an opening and if I kept the edge of the applique straight in that opening and went slowly around all the curves, it worked!!! So keep trying and practicing. The more you practice, the more confident you will feel and I bet even like it. If during practice you get uptight, then leave it for a while. There's no law that says you have to do it well all at once. Have fun. Believe me, I am going to experiment with more machine applique!

I am learning FMQ too, it is pretty ugly starting out. What I am doing to practice is cutting up 3 layers of flannel into squares and using them as my sandwich. When I get done, I will sew the squares together as a rag quilt....can't see spending all that time/fabric/batting and not ending up with something...even if it ugly.

When I first started I would even draw out meandering to follow but don't worry overmuch if you go off the lines. The Frixion pens by Pilot work fantastic for drawing because when you iron your work lightly the lines go away. Buy them at an office store like Staples, tho'... way cheaper than at a quilt shop. Try to keep your touch light. I often find I have to repeat "pretend you're driving in the snow... don't oversteer". Another thing I discovered... I NEVER like my work until I've washed it. It's amazing what a difference that makes! Don't give up on yourself! Just keep practicing and it will come. All of a sudden you'll wonder what you found so difficult.

I'm with you - I want to learn to quilt on my machine and am intimidated by it. Then I read that a person should practice for at least 100 hours so that is my goal. I cut a bunch of squares and layered them. Now I practice a bit every day and find that I'm getting a lot better. I tried the gloves and they helped a little bit, then I tried the "handles" and love them. They come in two sizes, have a grip on the bottom. You place them around your needle and move your hands. They made learning a whole lot easier.

I'm also having some trouble with fmq. I have read all the comments and will try them & practice alot more. I have changed my tension many times & my speed but I still get small loops on the underside but at least they are small now. What am I doing wrong? :0(

Just try again another time. You can also quilt by doing stitch in the ditch or over a line you draw on the fabric with a walking foot and stitch lenght set to 3.5.