I love FMQ. Checked all the books out of the library before I started and then made some 24" sq block to practice, practice, practice on. I very seldom use the walking foot any more even for stitch in the ditch. I started with simple things, stipple, loop-de-loop, stars and hearts. Anything you can do easily on paper is good to begin with.

I just got a used Bernina to do FMQ. I've done one wall hanging so far, just stippling and love it.

I'm taking some lessons on this particular machine and will be doing lots more with it as time goes on. I would love to do some echo quilting on it, but don't know if I can do it evenly or not. I suppose that takes practice.

I love free motion quilting. I started 6 or 8 years ago. A friend who ran the Community Service group in my quilt guild told me that if I practiced on CS quilt tops and finished them, she's teach me how to do it. I very rarely SID anymore. I do a lot of meandering and am slowly branching out to other things. I find that if I spray with sizing and iron the backing...pull it taut when pin basting, I just don't have a problem with the puckering on the back.

You've got to try it, I did and I love it. Answer to it is to practice, practice, and practice some more.

Here are some of my practice squares, they were made with insulite so they will become potholders.

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Kwiltkrazy,

Thanks for posting your samples, awesome!

I just found this article on free motion quilting

http://haendi.wordpress.com/free-motion-quilting/

FMQ is my favorite part of making a quilt.

While I find the books interesting to glance through, I don't think there is anything to compare to just sitting down and doing it. I made a very simple Chinese coin quilt, and then set to it. My first quilt was not perfect, but it was decent, and each one gets better as I practice and try new things.

To me, it's just like doodling, very relaxing and zen like.

RST