I have a Janome 6500 that I am trying to learn to do free motion quilting with. Some stitches are beautiful, some are tiny, some are long. Is there a way to regulate the stitches so they will be more uniform???
Thanks

I've found it is all related to your speed. The faster you go the more even your stitches are.

It all take pratice pratice. You just need to make a sample to pratice on

and more practice. My Janome (a cheap model) has a little knob at the top, where I can slow my speed down. I put it in the center - that way I find a speed I'm comfortable with, and I start practicing...then I slow it down more or speed it up a little more depending on what I'm comfy with. If I put the pedal to the metal and push all the way, my speed can only go as fast as where I've set it to go. So I'm not getting a lot of changes in the speed.

Then, find the best way to move your fabric around on your machine, and practice practice practice......

I'm new at quilting and new at FMQ. I'm loving it and having a blast praciting! :) Good luck. O, and don't forget to practice! ;)

I am by no means an expert and I cannot yet manage a real design, but I find with meandering FMQ that there is a "sweet spot" between the speed of the machine and the movement of my hands. And I know it when I get there, but, can't always maintain it. I'm working on consistency.

I agree. I'm just learning, too, and I'm amazed at how much better I do when I get brave and turn up the speed a bit.

I appreciate your responses. So, am I right in thinking sewing machines don't come with a stitch regulator (once the feed dogs are dropped)--??? It isn't just the Janome???

I'm using the clear darning foot and it hops up and down with each stitch. In your FMQ, does this sound right ??? Kerplunk - kerplunk, kerplunk kerplunk kerpluk . . . . . kerplunk

I think that you can get Pfaffs and a Bernina with a stitch regulator, but I'm finding I'm getting better at regulating my own stitches. Don't use your foot pedal, though! LOL

My machine, a Babylock Quest Plus, does not clunk. In fact, it makes such a soothing sound it makes me sleepy when I am quilting.

My experience is that the speed you move the fabric needs to be consistent with the speed the machine is stitching. If I am stitching at a high speed, then I need to move the fabric faster or else I get very tiny stitches...slow stitches and fast movement leads to long stitches...so, as another poster said, it's practice, practice, practice...

I have also heard that it is good to play music as you practice free motion quilting.