I also use gloves when I'm free motion quilting. I don't use quilters gloves, I use just slimple ole garden gloves, with the little hard plastic bumps. I can control my movement with the fabric better, and have a better grip. I don't know why but the fabric moves easier, useing the gloves. (For Me), the bigger the piece is that I'm quilting the slower I set my speed. A smaller piece I can go faster, These are just some things that help me.

Now this idea makes sense.....I never feel like I have complete control because hands can have a hard time griping fabric easly. I'm going to try this!

Just another FYI, I picked up my gloves at the dollar store, and they really work very well. They were 99 cents.

I would suggest you lower your bobbin tension a bit and MAYBE increase your top tension a little (if the bobbin tension adjustment doesn't fix the balance). Also, as already mentioned, irregular speed can cause some of this problem. Another thing to consider is your thread/needle size combo. Smaller combo sizes seem to help relieve some of these problems. For example, I use a size 70/10 Microtex Sharp needle with a size 60 or 70 thread, or a size 60 needle with a size 70 or 100 thread (especially for background fill). These smaller sizes tend to create stitches easier than the larger thread/needle combos. They also reduce the birds nest effects, tiny knots on the back (stitch build-up), allow for tighter fill stitching if you want, and reduce thread pop-ups (dots of bobbin threads showing through on the front like a dotted line or visa versa). The idea of going smaller is usually intimidating to a beginner, but I believe the smaller combos make it easier to achieve consistancy and more importantly confidence as a new free motion quilter (mistakes are much less evident). Ceannastahr mentioned being nervous and she is right; being nervous will cause you to mess up EVERY time. I use these types of combos to teach new FMQs, and their confidence is almost immediately established which allows them to start learning and developing good habits. I hope this helps a little.

Carla that's a great tip I've been using a 100/denim weight. I wondered about the needle. Whether I should get some feed back on the different types and sizes as far as quilting goes. I'm used to sewing apparel or drapes, that kind of thing. My machine does not have an adjustable bobbin tension. Or feed-dogs that lower. It does have an adjustable tension for the presser foot; from really firm to practically no pressure, which makes it possible to free motion. Tho my only attempt at free motion quilting was on a throw-pillow top without batting. I thought for practice I would just give it a backing, which was a piece of sheet. I noticed some of that uneven bottom thing happening. But by time I finished the pc. Only 15 X 12" I thought "well I need more practice but, it doesn't look half bad, Even if I'm not ready to win any quilting contests it looks great on my sofa." :) I used the quilt block of Patrices arrow-head pattern! So I will try a smaller needle on the second one! I think I may even use quilt batting to get a better feel for it.

i just hope i read you correctly and the arrowheads were the top.

hee hee hee :mrgreen:

I do 99% of my quilting with a Schmetz 75/11 quilting needle, and either 40wt or 50wt cotton thread.

Tension should be checked for every project, as different fabrics, battings and threads all change things... sometimes even a color change of the same thread will cause the tension to need to be adjusted!

Make certain you're not moving the fabric too fast, this along with improper tension, can cause loopies on the back.

I found the Schmetz 90 quilting needle worked well for the 40 wt. thread. Of course, that could just be it was easier to thread.

tim in san jose

Rebecca, I am curious as to what you mean by "large type stippling" I am not familiar with that term I was under the impression that stippling meant with multiple needles.

Yes Patrice your arrowheads are the tops. :lol: