Free Motion Quilting Questions
 

I'm wanting to try free motion quilting. I signed up for the online course with craftsy.com "Beyond Basic Machine Quilting". I have reviewed parts of this. However, my first question is what tools are a must have for FMQ. Which sewing foot do you use and do you like it? What tips or advise can you offer?

Thanks Everyone
Diane

Check out leah day. She tells u everything abt fmq. You need gloves and glider for sure. A glass of wine is a big help too...lol.

The only must have tool: a sewing machine with a FMQ foot. There are many different kinds of feet you can use, but all of them will work. You just have to find your preference I did find a better sewing machine = better quilting. Sad but true. A very very skilled quilter could probably do well on a cheap machine, but when I upgraded my Kenmore 16221 to a Bernina 430, I was suddenly a better quilter.

The tools I prefer:
-A closed toe (metal) foot if I am doing large scale quilting (because my threads get caught on the open toe foot...) an open toe foot (metal) if I am doing small scale quilting (because I need the visibility). I've had a plastic foot before, but didn't love it, others do. My feet do not hop. I like that.
-Machingers gloves if the quilt is larger than a lap size. Smaller I don't use them because they make my hands sweat, but I need them for traction on larger quilts.
-Gidget table to recess my machine.
-Folding table for "outfeed" behind the machine and ironing board on the left side of me, to help support the quilt's weight.

Another tool I have, but haven't really noticed a difference when I forget to use it
-Supreme Slider (I've even FMQed without it, with the feed dogs up, with a normal stitch length, and everything still turned out okay.)


I do usually put my feed dogs down.



I really love Connecting Threads Essential thread for meandering quilting, as it is thick enough to show. When I do designs that trace over themselves, I use Isacord embroidery thread. It is strong enough to not break, and thin enough to not get ugly when there are many layers of it.


And yes, Leah Day is a genius.

I used Leah day's tutorial to modify a plastic foot and like the results of that. My favorite machine is my 1951 singer 15-91. It does a really nice stitch and is easy for me to speed up and slow down. The machine is in a recessed cabinet so it helps. Otherwise You just need to practice practice practice. It takes time but it's worth it. I am on a limited budget so do not have gloves, bobbin washers or a supreme slider.

Gloves are helpful, but I do not like the Machingers - they make my hands too sweaty, and I have problems picking things up or doing anything else with them on. I prefer the Fons & Porter gloves, which are more like a cloth garden glove and less heavyweight than the Machingers. Actually, you can probably pick up a pair of garden gloves at the Dollar Tree and try those first (smile).

I have the smaller Supreme Slider but don't always use that either. Does your machine have an extension table? I have an acrylic extension table and just buff it with Turtle Wax. That makes the quilt move easier. Learned that trick in a FMQ class at a local quilt shop.

You really just need a decent machine with good tension and a free motion quilting foot, either metal or plastic. Everything else is "gravy"!

I agree. If you don't have money for expensive gloves the gardening gloves with rubber grips on the fingers also work well. The gloves aren't too expensive at JoAnns or Hancocks espeically if you use a coupon. Good luck but Leah's website is the way to go.

All wonderful suggestions and practice, practice, and more practice!! Good luck with it. I think it is fun- by no means any kind of expert.

I have never fmq with the feed dogs up. I use the gloves and the slider, I also bought a oven liner at Walmart that is teflon and it cost about $5 I do use table behind the sewing machine and I have a cabinet I use on the side it all helps and lots of practice. Just don't wait as long as I did to jump in. Do some small items first like table runners baby quilts by the time you get done with a few projects you will have the nerve to do a quilt.

I wouldn't want to FMQ without my gloves (machingers) and my home-made glider. There are quite a few links on the board regarding the supreme glider. Like newbee3, I purchased a non-stick oven liner for my oven from Walmart. I then taped some of that foam cupboard liner to the bottom (I might not have even needed to do that, but it keeps the liner from sliding around on my table). I cut out a hole for my needle. Voila! Bigger than the Supreme Glider (and ALOT cheaper).

Other than that I have my FMQ foot (mine happens to be plastic and closed I believe). And practice sandwich quilts. I always start off practicing a little before I begin my project. :p

Now I seen one picture with some styrafoam built up around the machine. I guess if you do not have a table that the machine can sit down into then it is best to do that?

I have already looked at Leah's video. I also like her site I just didn't think starting out I would need all of the tools recommended. She has the cadillac version but I'm operating on a bicycle budget. LOL

I had planned on trying scrap fabric first but I would like to then try place mats before moving to bigger things. I'm new to quilting and have chosen to hand quilt for the most part. However, I'd like to try this and see what happens. No reason I can't have one I'm hand quilting and have one that I'm working on that's FMQ. Best of both worlds I hope.

Oh and I cant forget the bottle/glass of wine (Thanks if stamper)