Free Motion Quilting

I was wondering who likes to do free motion quilting?

I just found this link for free pattern ideas for free motion quilting

http://www.meliscellaneous.com/misc/...ng_Designs.pdf

I'm trying to learn. Does that count.

Have you bought any books on Free Motion Quilting and if so name of books and author. This way we can all learn together. Have fun!

Yes I have it is Heirloom Machine Quilting By Harriet Hargrave

I have never tried it . At the moment happy with SID :thumbup:

Crafty have you tried it yet ? Any luck with it ?

I want to learn just have gotten up the courage to try. It is very intimidating to me. I don't want to ruin a quilt if I can't do it correctly.

I have enjoyed watching Leah Day's video tutorials online. She is a very fluent free motion quilter. Check out her link.

http://freemotionquilting.blogspot.com/

Thanks for the links. I am trying to master my BSR but it's mastering me instead. I know I'll love it once I get the hang of it but wowsters, I can control my little hand quilting needle much better!

I am still learning. I tend to stress out while I'm machine quilting. The first 2 quilts I did on the machine kept puckering and folding on the back. Ugh, it made me nuts. Now, I stop every few stitches and feel the back to make sure. I like the control of hand quilting, but I like the stippling effect of machine quilting.

Hey Beachbound, you're right down the street from me...I'm in Snellville GA. Hi!!

I love to FMQ! I checked out Robbie Fanning's book, Diane Gaudyinski's first and second books and Harriet's. All so very helpful. I just practiced on the quilts I was doing. Finally I took a class from Diane Gaudyinski and learned so, so much. She is such a delightful lady and very helpful and encouraging. I have also taken trapunto by machine and a background pattern class from Elizabeth Spannring. She is a hoot, too. I am going to check out that link because I am always looking for hints.

Oh, I almost forgot about the video by Barbara Barber on FMQ on your home machine. She had some great tips. Having a machine that makes it easy is the key. One of the selling points I used on DH to get him to buy me the Bernina was the Stitch Regulator. It looked like the panacea. NOT! He got so irritated at me for not using it! The stops and starts were just too uneven for me. I do better without it. I guess if I never had to start after stoppping it would be great.

Boy do I hear you on this. I have only done a few FMQ pieces. I ended up making practice sandwiches which measured about 18" x 12". Granted it is much easier to move around a practice piece then a bigger piece but it really does help to give you the confidence to put an actual quilt in. I have not tried to FMQ anything bigger then about 60" x 60" and never will because I have a long arm coming.

Meandering Magic by Suzanne Earley
More Meandering Magic by Suzanne Earley

website: http://shop.knotsandbolts.com/

I think I will make small samples and to practice on them first before going to a quilt

I am making some placemats, coasters and potholders to practice on.

Ditto, great book! Even had an opportunity to take one of her classes which was really good!! And, yes, I like to FMQ. Sometimes I can't wait to finish a top so I can tackle the quilting part.

I just found this video to watch by Diane Gaudynski

http://www.hgtv.com/videos/freemotio...sics/9605.html

I just made some placemats, coasters and will start to practice on them

another video to watch

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...1313378451452#

cool video to watch and she makes it look so easy, I guess we need to practice, practice, practice

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...47981844930848

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.

more

more

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

Polly that's the place I am now too. And like you I don't use the walking foot either--sometimes think it obstructs my vision when sewing.

Pat Sloan's bubbles free motion video

http://www.blip.tv/file/493254

kwiltkrazy--pics are still downloading but I've seen enough so far to say WOW! And we are Doll quilt swap partners--lucky me. Love the way you've used the insulbrite and can now use these for potholders. This will make a good hands on activity for our quilt guild. (I'm on the program committee so am always looking for ideas.) Gladie
PS Your doll quilt is still a WIP--have most of the piecing done.
PSS I hope you don't mind--I just saved your pics to share with the QG committee members. G

Exactly RST. Try daystyledesigns.com. I just love her stuff, she got me going.

Gladie, yours is also a WIP, still trying to get my nephew's grad quilt done. Just the binding now. YAHOO!

kwiltkrazy -- I get her RSS on my google reader for a daily fix/inspiration, though I must admit that I pretty much do my own thing. It's still fun to see what someone else comes up with and see how they do it.

I have "Free-Motion Quilting Made Easy" by Eva Larkin. So far, it still isn't easy but I keep practicing. Haven't been brave enough to try it on an actual quilt yet--still using practice squares. Maybe someday......
BTW-several of you Ga. gals are waaaay up the road from me! jan

I like to fmq but I am not very good yet. It takes practice, practice and more practice,

Free motion as with the dog feet down. I've had no luck, can't keep even stitches. Good luck to you