FMQ practice
 

Hello ladies. I was just able to finally log in on the board, it wasn't accepting my user name or password either one. Spend three days playing with it. Hurray!!!! I'm back. Does anyone know of a good way to practice free motion quilting without wasting a lot of scraps and fabric. I am trying to do a Judy Neimeyer quilt and really want to practice a lot before quilting this one.

Try www.daystyledesigns.com. Leah Day walks us through FMQ. It will take a lot of practice, so maybe you can make placemats or potholders so you don't waste much. There are also many free videos on Youtube and you will get lots of wonderful suggestions from everyone here. Good luck, and remember, it takes practice, practice, practice and then more practice.

you have to put together quilt sandwiches together & practice in order to practice- I usually buy inexpensive muslin from joannes & on sale or with a coupon batting- or use scraps- load up, use a dark thread so you can see what you are doing & practice, practice, practice. i've had some pretty cool practice quilts come out. sometimes i zigzag the edges & donate them to the local animal shelter- a few of them my granddaughter's have claimed- they use fabric markers, pencils or paint & decorate them & use them for play quilts- forts, picnics, what ever...don't think of it as (wasting) materials- practice is necessary in order to become (good) a person can't just sit down at a piano & play a concerto with out some practice.

Make a practice sandwich & do some sample stitching. When the sandwich is all quilted, change thread color in top and bobbin, put another piece of fabric right on the top of the sandwich and practice again.

Water soluble thread is what I'm thinking of trying on a fmq practice sampler, that way I can wet it and re-use it.

I did a lot of practice "doodling" with paper and pencil. It allowed me to gain a lot of control and eye hand control. Any and all practice will make a difference.
D

Great idea! ..... I wonder, how the cost of water soluble is in comparison to regular thread?

PLUS ... what happens when you do a really good job, and say, I want to keep that one!! :)

I was told to start doodling with pencil and paper, then move to paper on the machine with an old dull needle, then to try FMQ on small sandwiches. I've tried some of each, not necessarily in that order. Then I moved up to baby size/lap quilts. Then bigger quilts.

I use fabric sandwiches and thread that I don't have much left. I don't consider it a waste - it is necessary practice! You could always sew the sandwiches together and donate the finished product to an animal shelter.

I took a Craftsy class and the instructor suggested using muslin and inexpensive batting for practicing sandwiches. Then once we feel comfortable with it, make a reference pad divided up into several different blocks. I think she had 18. Then do different styles in each block.

there are panels that run about 12 dollars
https://www.ericas.com/quilting/tools/skillbuilder.htm

This is exactly what I have...great for practice! I paid $7 for the water soluble thread. If it turns out really good quiltE you'll at least know you can do it, lol!

When you get a little better (but still not confident about quilting a "good" quilt), practice on some panels and donate them to a kids' charity.

You can also draw on tissue paper then put that on the quilt to follow the lines. Tears out easily.

I made a bunch of placemats and practiced on that.

This was my thought too. Apparently, you hold the pencil still and move the paper as if it were fabric under a needle. I do know that my DIL "doodles" her designs for a long time on paper before she does her quilt. It makes sense, because your subconcious will record it and hopefully it will flow from your brain to your hands. Good luck.

Ann Petersen's craftsy class "Beyond Basic Machine Quilting" is an excellent way to learn FMQ. You make a small wall hanging while working your way thru.

Pencil and paper to start or a piece of thin Plexiglass and a wipe away marker. I think I saw that you tape the edges and then lay it on your quilt and practice......
see if you like the design

I make plenty of orphan blocks to pass time and/or just test color combinations.Later I assemble those to make blocks of about 12" or so. Having plenty of those I use them for FMQ practice. Later I can cut them to make insulation for potholders or for sturdier purse/tote bottoms. Nothing goes to waste here!