In the videos I've seen teaching free motion quilting, they tell you that when you start, to pull up the bottom thread to the top. Okay.

So when you're done, then what? What do you do with all these ends that are now on the top?

Thanks!

-- Jillaine
who just finished my first fully FMQ'ed quilt (well, still have to do the binding)

I tie them in knots and use a needle to bury the knot.

I prefer, because I am not the neat, to pull them to the back, tie the two together with a square knot, then thread a needle with the two threads, and bury into the middle of the batting...... that is the CORRECT way to do it....myself I cut them off and call it good !!!

i always try to end off the edge on the batting. but you can do a securing stitch or reduce stitch length to very small and tie off that way.

ditto!

ditto here

That's very tidy, but I was taught to stitch in place then clip the threads at starts and stops.

Ah the stitching in place... that can replace the knotting then?

i pull both threads to the top, take a few stitches tightly together, then stop and trim those threads. then i continue. when done, i take some stitches tightly together and then clip those threads. done.

i bring the bobbin to the top, stitch in place- then 2-3 very tiny stitches and take off- then clip even with the top....when stopping i take a few stitches in place again- bring the bobbin to the top and clip again.

I just kind of back stitch when I start & end, to lock the thread in, then trim the ends of. Same way I use to sew before I started quilting, & have never had any come apart. Works for me...

I do 2 or 3 stitches in one spot, cut the threads and call it good, too :D

You can stitch almost in place taking tiny tiny stitches. Or you can bury the threads. Or you can back stitch a little.

You must reduce the length of the stitch and not really stitch in place. If you stitch in the same place, you will make a lump of a stitch that can't be buried and will likely come undone or get caught on something. It should be smooth. I do the small stitches thing and then still bury the knot. Can't be too careful!

Was going through here reading and when I read your response I thought, "Uh oh! You've been doing it wrong and now all of your quilting is going to come loose!!" :shock: Then got to the part where you said you just cut them off and call it good. Whew! Because that's what I do.

It is a good idea to knot and trim the threads as you go so you don't end up sewing over them in the next pass of quilting. Some times my bobbin runs out in the middle of the quilt and I have to unstitch the quilting several stitches so I can knot the thread and bury it before countinuing.
hope this helps a little.
peace

how do you bring the bobbin thread to the top (if it is what I think it is, just having both threads exit the quilt from the top)

do you just put it on a sewing needle and stitch it to the top?

Ditto. :thumbup:

When you first put the needle in the fabric to start FMQ, and the needle comes up through the fabric, I use a pencil point to pull up the bottom bobbin thread. Then I take a couple of stay stitches and start FMQ.

Pull to top then few small stitches to secure and trim.

Use easy threading needle to bury the knot in front or back. It's just important not to stitch over the loose ends while you're FMQing.

They make easy-thread needles to make short work of burying thread ends, as in previous post.

I pull the thread to the top and stitch in place a few times at beginning and ending and clip the threads.

I use one of those needles with the open eye, thread it, knot it and bury it.

ditto, to much work to bury all the knots.

Never done any different.

All great responses. Thanks so much.

There are you tube videos you can watch. Some by Sharon Schambers and some by Leah Day and several others, but the first two named show step by step.

Good Luck

Suzy

That's what I do.....I don't like burying threads and it takes too much time, besides, they can work themselves back out and still have to be clipped!

When I start I backstitch in place and then just cut the ends off.

What she said!

Ditto!

same here... if really short thread , I insert needle in material first .. then thread it and pull thru..

That's how I do it!

thanks for the valadation....

I finish on the edge, put a few extra stitches in, and clip the threads. The binding then covers and secures the stitches.

I like the way you think.

I try to pull up enough to bury in the quilt as if I were starting a hand quilted project. Then continue on with my machine quilting. Wrap the thread 3 times around the needle, pull to the end of the thread, then put needle in and pull the know thru.

Yes it can ! If you've ever tried to pick out some stitching that his been stitched over and stitched over, you know it's not going anywhere !

When you stop (after you take the locking stitches) push the machine away from you 3-4 inches to get some slack, then pull it back to you, take one stitch and pull up the bobbin just like you lock when you start then clip the end of the bobbin that that is closest to the quilt top. Clear as mud?