free motion quilting
 

I am working up courage to free motion quilt a small quilt but I'm not sure what or how to do it. Is there a tutorial that I watch to see how to do it. I only have a regular sewing machine, no long arm. any help would be appreciated.

I just took a class and learned soooo much. From free motion to using rulers. Check out craftsy but if you can take a class it is totally worth it

Search fmq on YouTube and also Leah day on YouTube and her blog. Lots of free help there. Good luck!

Fmq is have a go. Trial and error. I do think watching videos and going to a class are the best way. Classes are awesome as you begin the day terrified and end laughing.

Youtube is helpful...and just practice....i used quite a few test "sandwiches" until i got the look i wanted for my quilt...most of all enjoy!

Put together practice pieces and practice before you do your quilt. There are lots of tutorials, videos to watch. Practice on small pieces first. Placemats are a good size. You need a ( hopping foot) sometimes called a darning foot, sometimes it's good to just draw some easy, flowing lines on a practice piece and practice following the lines. As you become comfortable manipulating the fabric you can do more designs. Start drawing on paper to ( set) the design in your brain. Don't expect perfection from the start, it takes practice.

Yes, watch some Leah Day videos for confidence and then just practice. You get better the more you do.

Start simple..... I started with stipling because that really doesn't have a very large chance for error. I agree practicing by drawing your design on paper can help.

One thing is don't try to move too fast. And realize that it just takes practice. No one was perfect their first few times (or even more)!

It does take some practice to FMQ. Try making a small sample marking curling lines. You want to have a speed that you can feel and know at that speed the machine would normally move the fabric. You need to train your eye to look forward to where the next couple of stitches will be. I am sure there are plenty of U-tube videos to watch.

Here's a Missouri Star Quilt (MSQ) tutorial. Runs about 23 minutes.

http://quiltingtutorials.com/all/beg...hine-quilting/

This 4-part tutorial by Heather Thomas helped me a lot:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLWFmOForjU

Also, Leah Day's videos are fantastic. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFcI...1F4B76430BB141

For paid online classes, I've found the following sites helpful:
iQuilt (coupon code "1995" gives you the class for $19.95 + 20% off if you're an AQS member) - Cindy Seitz-Krug
https://www.iquilt.com/course/successful-machine-quilting-basic-beyond/

National Quilters Circle (new members get their first year for just $10, no commitment required)
Some classes on NQC are free, others are part of paid annual subscription, plus they sell other in-depth video tutorials. I've tried all 3 components & have found them all to be wonderful.
http://www.nationalquilterscircle.com/

CreativeBug.com (first 14 days are free + you get 1 free class for life, $7/month after that) -- Sue Nickels
https://www.creativebug.com/classser...uilting-basics

All great suggestions so far. For me, it takes a lot of practice, and, I can feel the "sweet spot" when my machine and my hands are in sync. I'm not always there, but, with practice, it gets better. Don't forget to practice!!!!!

PS. I do all my FMQ on a basic mechanical Brother machine. A plastic wonder, but, it is great.

Oh, also, it makes it a LOT easier in the beginning if you mark out your design (and pick a big one to start with -- maybe a 1.5-2.5" meander). I personally love the Crayola Ultra Clean crayons & markers, but you can use the more expensive marking tools found in quilt shops/craft stores if you prefer. Also, 50wt cotton thread that matches the background will help hide any minor stitching goofs. I only pull out stitching if the stitches didn't form properly; it means imperfect quilts, but more time to actually practice my FMQ skills.

Leah Day is wonderful for teaching FMQ. I also took a Craftsy class which was really helpful. I am not at home, but when I am I will look up the name of the instructor because she was great.
For me doing FMQ is just practicing over and over on a quilt sandwich (or 6 ) to do different shapes, meandering and then get so I can go from one to the other. Use contrasting thread. I also find that if I draw lines on my practice piece and then attempt to keep my shapes between the lines it helps me with my sizing. As an example I will draw two lines 1 inch apart and do circles between them or start the lines one incha apart and make them widen so my circles (or whatever) have to get bigger too. Another practice thing is to draw a 4 inch square and fill it with pebbles.
Remember to draw up your bobbin thread before you start and try to get it out of the way.
Using gloves makes a big difference, as mentioned and I always snip the end off the index finger so I can still thread the needle etc.
Have fun and just get started. You will do great!

Watson

Leah Day has many you-tube videos and her website also has so much free, helpful information. She gives info you need from step one. I would never have been able to FMQ without her instructions. Whatever you decide to do, I hope you will look at some of the resources that have been mentioned here before you jump in. Other wise , I'm afraid you will just end up frustrated and thinking you can't do it. You can FMQ with the right instructions.

I had the pleasure of taking a class with Leah Day last spring and she is terrific... she takes such a laid back approach to FMQ. She had us come to class with a dozen 10-12 inch sandwich blocks made up of solid fabric colors (so we could see our stitches) and we practiced different FMQ patterns in each block. From time to time I still practice using the same block ideas just to keep my skills up. Angela Walters is also a good instructor and she too, has a Craftsy class.

So far I can only do meander, I like the way the quilts look when done. I am practicing for other patterns. I think I am going to make all my sandwiches the same size out of cute material and bind them for placemats! I make enough practice pieces....should get some use out of them!

There are tutorials all over you tube, etc. Leah Day has a whole site on it, from beginning to end. She also sells books, cd, etc on it. Not sure where you live but you could possibly find classes on it too.

When I started FMQ, I just did stippling. After many many many years, I have 'advanced' to doing loops and swirls....will push myself to do feathers next. It is absolutely a practice practice practice slow slow slow process for me. I have had good results. So, don't be 'fraidy-cat. watch some videos and practice small. You will get it!

My experience and advice is going to disagree with some of the poster's above -- use the approach that works for you.

I don't use a lot of small sandwiches to practice. I do use them for trying out a new thread, evaluating a batting, or problem solving machine issues, but the actual learning is best done on a real quilt. I heard an instructor comment that learning to free motion on a little quilt sandwich is like learning to dance in a closet. you may be able to manage a few steps, but you really aren't getting the hand of it until you get out there and possess the floor. So when I was learning, I made a couple of quick, easy quilt tops out of charm squares or layer cakes. The fabric was pretty and busy and blended together well, which took the pressure off my quilting, as mistakes would blend in, and I could use a single color of thread. Then I just quilted those tops. Lots of breaks to relax and stretch. Lots of pushing through the parts I didn't like. But no ripping or un-sewing. Just keep going and see what works and what doesn't. I gave those quilts away, and while I don't love looking at them now (cringe a bit) the recipients love them and see nothing wrong with them.

I do not mark a design to follow. For me, that causes a lot of stress to try to stay on or near the line, and my stitching looks cramped and forced. Instead, I look at the overall quilt and think about a basic idea of how I would like to quilt reasonable sections of it. I may even sketch out a basic motif and variations on said motif. But then I just have at it and use the piecing as landmarks but otherwise free form it. My resulting quilting is much more fluid, smooth, organic and interesting.

I think the key pieces are support for the bulk of your project. For me, that means I lower my ironing board to be same level as my sewing machine table and place that to my left. I have a small folding table and some plastic bins I put on the other side of the machine (behind it) to take the weight of the quilt on that side.

I use needle down on my machine so that when I stop for a moment, I don't have the whole thing slide or pull.

I like using a grippy glove to help with keeping a secure hold on the quilt. I also do like using a mat to make the quilt glide more readily, specially when using a flannel backing.

I like using a finer bobbin thread for two reasons -- fewer bobbin changes and the quilting shows up beautifully as a textured pattern on the back, but without showing every wobbled stitch or backtrack. So my current favorite is Bottom line thread, but there are others. The spool may seem pricey, but look at how many yards are on the thing -- by the yard it's a great deal.

I always start a new quilt with a new needle. For some reason, FMQ wears my needles out (probably because you're not only putting a lot of stitches down, but there is also multi-directional pull or stress on the needle).

Have fun with it. I find FMQ to be the most enjoyable aspect of quilting. It wasn't for the first 2 or 3 quilts I did, but I now find it to be a great place to experience that enviable state of mind called "flow" -- where you are engaging brain and body completely but at an intuitive level very close to meditation. It's very much what my son describes feeling when he plays improvisational jazz, or some artists experience as they paint.

I agree with the teacher who told RST that free motion on a small sandwich is like dancing in a closet. I took several classes to learn fmq - only problem was instructors never mentioned how different it would be to transition to a large quilt. It takes lots of practice and patience. Don't give up, it gets better. I'm not great but improving.

I am really liking this guy--Rob Arpell--he works with Jenny Doan of Missouri Star Quilts--he has added a couple of follow--ups he explains what he is doing, offers suggestions, and demonstrates each step. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFbw1LAPZjg He offers the advice he got from Angela Walters to look at one block at a time instead of being overwhelmed by the huge quilt.

I want to learn free motion, but am intimidated by it. Because I don't think I do it very well, I generally just go back to straight line quilting. I am determined to just go for it now and at least give it a try on the next couple of quilts. Most of my quilts go to charity so it should be a good place to start. I also need to take the time to practice, practice, practice!!

my favorite FM site is http://theinboxjaunt.com/ She has lots of tutorials and breaks designs down into easy to follow shapes. She is very encouraging!

I have been "practicing" FMQ designs on paper for a while. By repeating the pattern with pencil (or pen) on paper you develop muscle memory. I recently did my first feather on a table runner and I was AMAZED how much my feather looked like the ones I have been drawing for a while. There are great designs out there. I agree that Leah Day has some great tutorials.

For me, the loops was my first pattern, followed by loops with hearts - or loops with leaves - or loops with stars, or......

Just start doodling on a drawing pad and see what you come up with. HAVE FUNNNNNN!!!

I am beginning my journey to learn free motion quilting and it's hard getting started. I've looked at some good books, watched videos and taken a class. Still freezing up! Argh! So I am grateful I'm not alone in this. I see such beautifully stitched quilts and am encouraged by the helpfulness of folks here. Thanks. I keep going back to "Theinboxjaunt.com" she is taking me through the process slowly and I appreciate the pace. Hang in there.