FMQ on a Viking machine
 

My DH bought me the walking and darning feet for my Scandinavian 300 machine by Viking. I'm doing well with the walking foot, but do not like the darning foot. It lifts from the fabric every stitch, and the sales rep at the Joanne's says that is how it is supposed to work. I don't seem to be able to get consistent length stitches when I'm trying to do FMQ. Any tips or suggestions for me? I really need help! Thanks so much.

With the darning foot, you control the stitch length by how fast you move the fabric, it takes lots of practice to move the fabric so that your stitches are nice and even. Keep practicing;)

that is how it works.there is no stitch regulator-you are it.they say sew fast move slow to get nice stitches.I could not master it that way and we have a long arm now-with stitch regulator. quilting takes lots of practice on any method you choose.by the way feed dogs should be down when free motion on your domestic machine.hope this helps

Yep - it is unsettling at first, but that really is the way it works. FMQ takes lots of practice to develop a comfortable rhythm for the stitching.

Cheers, K

it just takes practice---and patience---if you make up a stack of (practice) sandwiches- and just every once in a while when you have some time-sit down and quilt them--after some time you will get the hang of it-
but it takes time-and lots of practice.

I have the Viking Sapphire 855 and have been practicing for a year.....still cannot get my stitches regulated but it isn't the machine....it is me. If I get a good "rythmn" going then I can do pretty good if I do not get interrupted.

It is a lot of practice. I just finished a baby quilt and I was happy with the consistency of the stitches but I have been working at it for a while. Keep at it. It will come.

I have a Viking Emerald 118 and use it for FMQ. With enough practice, I am able to keep my stitches fairly regular. I even tried FMQ using a darning foot and leaving the feed dogs UP (read that somewhere on the 'net and decided to try it). The movement of the fabric was obviously not as easy with the dogs up, but I had an easier time getting even stitches and was still able to draw circles and pebbles, etc. I was using a small practice sandwich at the time and switched back to dogs down because I realized that if I am doing a larger blanket, the extra drag created by the dogs might be problematic. I figured it was a shortcut that will not pay off in the end and it was better to learn to do it the harder way and get my timing down.

Do you listen to music while you FMQ? I find that VERY helpful. Good luck! ;)

I have a Viking 500 that I use the "hopping" foot with. It took some practice, yes sewing faster is better. I finally figured out that I use it like the beat of music and it actually helped me make the stitches more even. Try thinking that way. On my Viking D1 you don't use that foot, just darning foot with no movement. I actually have more trouble with that as I haven't practice so much but also miss the "music hopping beat" Just keep practicing. Feed dogs do need to be down.

I have a quilt designer and I love it for fmq can you slow your machine speed down a notch that works for me. And believe me it does take practice and patience. If you choose a light thread like 60 and that blends into the fabric you will get better results than once you get the rhythm you can go to different threads .