FMQ - What am I doing "wrong"?
 

I did a lot of reading before I started experimenting with FMQ. I can sort of meander, I can sort of do loops ... I was playing with hearts and feathers last night,.... my control and stitch length is getting better.

I've been quilting on bed sheets, using universal needles, and -really- old thread that I didn't even wind (came with vintage machines I've bought), my fabric hops up and down with the foot.

By all accounts, I've set myself up for failure, right? Here's what I don't get:

• I'm not breaking needles (I broke one the first night, about 2 hours in, and I think that was a mistake from getting tired)
• I'm not shredding thread
• I'm not skipping stitches
• I'm not getting puckers
• I haven't been able to find a machine that I "hated" for FMQ (all have been class 15 or 221 bobbin style machines though.), nor have I been able to pick a favorite, they all seem to be "good" to my limited experience.
• All embroidery feet seem equally good (the singer one is a little noisy, and I need to keep oiling it to quiet it down, but otherwise good)

You're probably thinking: What? What's she asking? :D

When I read about people like Leah Day having trouble when she started, and needing to use those bobbin washers, etc, or talking about how this foot is better when adjusted by bending this, shimming this, and cutting that, etc, I wonder what I'm "missing".

The only thing I can think of is that my tension may be a little loose? I can see the top thread on the bottom a smidge, especially if I turn too fast. Maybe that's allowing the machines and thread to "forgive" my inexperience?

Maybe my stitching really looks -that- bad and I just don't know any better? :P

Just to clarify,... I'm not trying to be smug,.. I want to know how to recognise issues that I may be missing. So far I've been lucky to not be having the major issues (broken needles, broken threads, etc) but I can't help feeling like I'm not looking for the right things, so I can't improve on the result I'm getting.

Sounds like all you need is practice. You've already identified one common problem: going too fast on curves will cause imperfect stitches. While it is theoretically possible to get perfectly balanced stitches (between the top and bobbin thread) it's not always possible.

Just practice some people learn it very quickly and some don't apparently you did. Good for you, now just stitch stitch stitch.

Wow! I wish FMQ was that easy for me. You are fortunate.

Sounds like you're taking to FMQ like a duck to water! The more you stitch the better you'll be, and the more you'll be able to spot areas you'd like to improve (which is true of everything in life). Meanwhile, enjoy the process, and your success!

Some of the problems are exaggerated to sell products and some are greater on certain machines. Polyester thread is supposed to be easier to quilt with but I found it harder. I bought the bobbin genies and use them but don't see much of a difference. I am not a great FMQ expert but aim to improve drastically when I am off from work this summer. Use whatever works for you.

I am new to FMQ I practiced on scraps with the embroidery or darning foot, I did not like it the material was to far away and like you it seemed to pull up and I had so e issues with the bottom thread bunching up, so I bought 2 Quilting feet the ones that have a spring on it, so far I have only used the closed toe one I was very Happy that it worked so much better, at least for me.

it sounds like you're not doing anything wrong .. FMQ is just one of your natural talents!!

Most everyone that has fmq on vintage mechanical machines have a good experience. The 301 is the best I've ever used for it. It's just so limited in space. I am happy with my Brother 1500, all mechanical machine with wide throat space. I can do a great quilted feather but have trouble with round circles.

This is good news :) I will also stop trying to "tweak" the tension. :) I'll treat it like a decorative stitch then, and just make sure there's no evidence of the bottom thread on the top. Most, not all, but most of my sudden turns are me realising, or being told that the pillar of the machine will not move out of my way. That's definitely something I need to keep a better eye on.


Mastered is a strong word,... but I will stop "borrowing trouble" (as DH's grandpa used to say) then and just practice my butt off.

I watched a video from Patsy Thompson, she said that it almost required you to think "backwards"... you're moving the paper, not the pen. I just I'm just naturally "backwards". Boy that explains a lot, not just quilting either. :D

I put it off for so long, then when I started trying it and didn't have the problems I read about, I thought "I must be doing this wrong"... Thanks for the encouragement everyone!

I had wondered about the "selling products" angle. Strangely, I did do a lap quilt and used a cotton thread, and I didn't see/feel a difference while doing the FMQ. I used a 15-90 for that one, and if I compare to the work I was doing on the 301 last night, and for that matter, the work I did on the Pfaff 6122 right at the beginning, other than consistency, I can't see a difference in the stitching. Where would I notice problems with either the poly or the cotton? Tension? Snapping? I know that poly is more elastic than cotton...

Thanks DHM! I've never found straight lines to be easy (can't draw or cut one with a ruler, but I'm getting better), so the cutting/piecing part of quilting bordered on stressful. I guess I just figured it would all challenge me equally. :)

I had wondered if it had anything to do with the vintage machines. Does that have anything to do with the "auto" tensioning that a lot of the newer machines have, do you think? I was playing with the 301 last night, and realised an hour in that I'd forgotten to set the stitch length to 0 and lower the dogs. What a forgiving machine. I do agree with the throat space. I made a lot of weird angles by crashing into the pillar, and I had a much harder time using the "grips" than gloves because of the limited throat space.

I'll tell ya what, the bobbin washers for one thing don't seem to be necessary if you have a bobbin spring already in your metal bobbin case OR if you have plastic drop in bobbins. Backlash is when little unsightly loops form on the back side of your stitching - usually when using a metal bobbin in a metal bobbin case. Bobbin springs keep the bobbin from continuing to spin after you stop. I find I have more backlash issues on my long arm than any of my sewing machines...but that's the whole "bobbin washer" deal. I have a cheapo Walmart brother that I do beautiful heirloom quilting on and never an issue with backlash.

The more you do the more you'll become familiar with what to look for. Another thing that hangs some people up is thread. When you switch from polyester threads to cotton threads you generally need a different size needle and not everyone grasps what a HUGE difference a size 10 needle will make with a thin poly thread.

Sounds like you were fortunate to have a good combination of needle and thread off the bat and the stitching part comes naturally! :)

**Edited to add ** Another note on the bobbin washers. The looping and issues some of the "big name" quilters like Leah Day or Sharon Schamber have also come from using high speed machines. Sharon uses a Juki that stitches up to 5000 stitches per minute - that's faster than my APQS long arm. Backlash and sketchy tension seems to be more of an issue when you start stiching at high speeds like that.

For what it's worth! :) Have fun!!

Not everyone has issues when they first start. Sometimes they show up after a while with different materials or different fabrics.

I thought all bobbin cases had "springs".. the tension spring is what you're referring to, right? I haven't found one yet that was in good condition that didn't.... All of the machines I've been using are metal bobbins in metal bobbin cases, with tension springs...

I will use a different sized needle next then to see what happens. I've been using s 90 / 14 universal. I will have to look to see if I even have a size 10.

Considering that the first machine I ever tried this on (A 290C, self winding horizontal bobbin, aslant, - talk about stacking the deck against yourself - a couple of years ago) almost went out the window, it's more than a little surprising that this would be "natural". :)

OK,.. I didn't even think about the bigger machines. I saw tutorials with LD using a Bernina or a Janome or something and figured that was a common machine for her.

So I'm not necessarily out of the woods yet, is what you're saying? ;)

Frankls I don't get what you are asking. You say nothing bad is happening and you are getting better. So what is it?
I have no crystal ball that will tell you the future or warn you about something that aparantly isn't happening. I didn't even read all the replies since you said nothing is really wrong but you want to know what might go wrong if it ever does.

Enjoy your blessing. It's OK to be good at something.

Totally fair question. :) Why I was asking was twofold:

Do you ever get the feeling things are going too well? You're going along, figuring that things are OK, but have a nagging feeling you've forgotten something, or failed to see something, and it might be "big"? Otherwise known as waiting for the other shoe to drop.

The other thing is that FMQ is largely about creating muscle memory. I didn't want to train my brain and muscles wrong then have to break the habits. Better to catch them early.

I heard from a number of people and read on a lot of sites that FMQ wasn't necessarily for "beginners". I haven't completed my first quilt, and I've only made perhaps 3 (very small) quilted items total so far. I'm a "barely has begun" quilter at this stage. There was no reason to believe (I thought) that I would be able to do this without huge investments of time and practice at all. I expected needle shrapnel (it's a big part of my sewing history as it is), and loops and broken thread at the least. I thought there was a good chance I was overlooking a lot of smaller things just because the massive problems weren't happening.

Thanks PTF, that may well be exactly what it is. Sort of a consolation for the years of not being able to draw or cut a straight line... :) I'll take FMQ over the ability to draw a straight line any day.

Let your work speak for you. Show it at a guild or in a show. Then you can compare to other quilting and see the difference if any.

Archa,
I had the same experience. The technical aspects of FMQ came easily. I am still working on learning a pleasing design. For me that is the hard part. I need to doodle on paper more often.

Tammi, I think you started with a decent working machine. Then I think you researched a lot before you started. Some of us just dive in and learn by trial and error. You have used the experience of others to learn. Why not success? I think you are right about sponges taking up too much space - my fingers don't want to be hit by the needle bar screw.

Suzyquilter
 

I've been doing free motion quilting for just a little over ten years, since I first learned to quilt. I've found that it takes practice, practice, practice! the best thing to practice on is a sandwiched piece, simular to the quilt you will be working on. Don't go too fast. A nice steady speed, keeping your speed and movement of fabric together. Also if practicing on a large piece have it supported on tables or something to keep the piece level with your machine. Good luck.

I think you're just a natural - and lucky!

I started FMQ at a charity group sew-in. Nobody told me it was hard so I just started in and had no problems quilting baby quilts on a Janome Gem. Then several years later I took a machine quilting class. So many rules. It took all the fun out of it and robbed me of my confidence. So I'd say if you're happy with your quilting, just keep practicing and enjoying. Before I start quilting on a project I always do a few minutes on a practice piece to get my rhythm going and I also make sure there's plenty of room around my machine to support my quilt project but other than that, no rules.

I also find some days better than others. I used to doodle a lot, maybe that's why this was "easier" than I expected.

Ok,.. then I should stop waiting for the other shoe to drop then and just enjoy? Thanks :)

I did have the needle bar clamp sort of graze me with the sponges. I let out this weird "nnnnaaauughhh!" noise that made DH laugh out loud. I guess in retrospect it was funny. :D

I must say that I an really enjoying that table I modified to fit the machines in at bed level. I think it's made a huge difference. I use the machines on top of a desk at our sewing circle, and I fought a lot more with my quilt last night when I was there than I do at home.

Thanks Sarah! And I love your avatar!

FMQ with rules? That sounds so counter intuitive! after all the F does stand for "free"... which is not the first word I used when I tried free motion embroidery on a slant with a horizontal bobbin way back when. :) I'm glad to hear that I don't necessarily need to change anything at this point (other than a smaller sized needle and more practice time)


So, one thing about practice is that it uses a lot of fabric and batting. What are some of the ways to "Save" fabric or batting? I have some cheapie fabric i picked up but that's not going to last long, what about batting? I could swear I saw someone throwing another layer of fabric on top after they'd practiced all over one sandwich, but I'd think that may cause problems... the threads are harder to pierce or move out of the way, aren't they?

For now, I'm just making draft dodgers and such out of them, but I'm going to run out of doors soon. :)

I have FMQd about 85 or more quilts. The first one I ever did is on our bed now. I can really see my improvement. I'm still not real good at it but it pleases me and that is all I care about. I only give quilts to people I think need a quilt. I don't do any fancy designs, just like to move to suit myself. the hardest part is learning to move the hands according to the speed of the machine. For me going fast and moving fast works best for me.
I'm with your grampa, don't borrow trouble. I set my top tension at 2, I use whichever thread I choose. Lowering the feed dogs makes it easier for me. Stitch length doesn't matter if the feed dogs are lowered. My bobbins are metal as are all the machine parts. Practice is important.

I may see if I can find a show around here just to go and look at what's out there. I don't know if Edmonton has a show? I'm a ways away from wanting people to see my FMQ, and definitely miles away from wanting anyone to see my piecing. LOL!

See, that's a just unfathomable number of quilts for me. This one I'm binding has been a UFO since about November, and it's my first. You'd think I'd have been all over it.

I seem to do better with fast as well. After watching Leah Day's video about the FMQ foot she recommends, (where she talks about slowing it down for newbies) I tried and was able to go slower on the 15 for some reason, and I did enjoy that too. I didn't even mind the warm toes, I am in Central AB in winter after all. :)

I will bind this quilt tonight and make some more sammies to practice on.

Sounds like you were born to be a FMQ and have a natural abilitly to do this. Maybe you have another area that you have to work harder at be perfect. Enjoy your talent and keep going. Wish it was that easy for me.

Binding. That's the one for sure that kicks me in the rear end. I've tried it possibly a half dozen times, and each time thought, "it shouldn't be this hard to follow the line a second time and get it straight, but it is...."

Just finished binding my first quilt tonight, and I'm not sure I made it better with my,...holy cow, what, more than 5 hours of effort? It wasn't that big. Apparently I'm also a very slow binder.

I will set aside some time to practice FMQ the rest of this week and see what progress I can make. For now, my forearms are sore from wrestling a quilt from a cat the whole evening.

I really can't believe I just said that. The quilt inspector was on-site for all of the finishing work. We tried to make her wait but she just wouldn't, so I worked around her.

For me I have found thread tension a problem with all machines. Especially if you use non matching thread. Such as Bottom Line with a different top thread. These problems don't just start at the beginning, they develop! So keep checking your tension, on the bottom of the quilt, and the front. Oil your machine every time you put new thread in your bobbin. ESPECIALLY if you are using Bottom line, embroidery bobbin thread or a thin thread. I keep a cue tip by my machine and dab some sewing machine oil on the cue tip. Then when the bobbin is out I swipe it around the pin that goes through the middle of the bobbin case. I also swipe the back of the area that holds the bobbin case.

If you are sewing for a long time, make sure you check under the throat plate, mine accumulates lint, clean it out, and oil again, moving parts. You don't need lots of oil, just make sure that the cue tip is oiled and it oils the part you want. Keep it away from computer boards. I had a singer that was made in 1971 and used it for many years. However, it was very loud, and the timing would go out while I was quilting.

When you start making mistakes, and you will. Stop get up, take a break. You are tired. You can't expect the machine to work non stop and not make mistakes--and in this case the machine I am talking about is you. If you start having problems with needle breakage take a look at your throat plate. Do you see some little nicks? That comes from pushing your fabric or pulling it too fast for the machine. Ask me how I know? Pam Holland doesn't drop her feed dogs when she free motion quilts. I have tried it, it works, just try what you like, and work from there. Good luck.

Thanks for the tips! I'm a little fanatical about keeping my machines clean, so hopefully I'll avoid that pitfall.

I had wondered if some of the "bobbin threads" would be an issue. I got my hands on a sample of filtec bobbins a while back and really disliked them. The thread kept breaking with regular sewing. I didn't buy any more, and I have 3.5 of them here I will probably never use.

I have no computer boards in any of my machines. Apparently I'm "old school" :)

Thanks for the reminder about breaks. I'm terrible about remembering this. When I FMQ at our sewing circle, I get told to get up and walk and stretch. It doesn't occur to me til I hurt the next day.

If your top and bottom threads are a reasonable match, the crossover between them is less visible. I suspect you are being too hard on yourself and are much more critical than others would be. Since I switched to using Thermore batting, however, the density of that batting tends to reduce the problem. Bed sheets tend to accentuate the problem, in my experience. Good thread and good quality quilting needles do help. After I tried titanium needles, I don't think I will ever go back.

I have only had my Brother1500 for a month but could you tell me what needle brand and types/sizes are working best for you?