Thanks for the help. I will just practice practice practice!!! :D

I would think leaving the pressure foot UP is what is causing your loops... Good luck!

It seems that it is hard to move the practice fabric around when I leave the pressure foot down. It might be that I am not used to the feel of fmq.

Generally its...feed dogs down (or covered over)...pressure foot down and using the "darning" foot or "hopping" foot....
It does feel strange until you are used to it.

Thanks for all the help. I get alot of good tips from all of you. This is a great place to go for help
Again thanks for all your help Jan

Do you have thin .. very thin... batting in your quilt? Some machines just don't have good space between the foot and the bed of the quilt. I've taught freemotion for over 10 yrs and have seen a lot of machines. I can sit at some where people are having trouble and know that the machine is just not made with enough space.

you might take it into a store or service place with your quilt sandwich and have them try it since they know what it is supposed to feel like. The fabric should FREELY move.. you should not have to pull or tug it at all..when it's not running you should be able to easily move your quilt. I have a few youtube videos showing me quilting.. you can see how easy it should move

could you please pass the u tube that I could visit on to me that would maybe be helpful to me thanks again

you can see one on my website.. then click to see my other youtube videos.. you can tell how I"m moving the fabric and if your fabric is not moving easily then your foot is too low... might have to buy a generic foot that will give you more space

http://patsloan.typepad.com/quilters...sign-wall.html

Thankyou Pat you have been very helpful
Jan

no problem! When I wanted to learn to freemotion yrs ago I found it so frustrating until I realized my machine just was not made for it. Once I upgraded machines all the problems went away! I also was able to take my workshop I taught and put it into a book. I do a LOT of quilts each year so I never get rusty.

i highly recommend that once you correct your tension you keep quilting every week.. even if it's a small thing.. that way your brain learns this new technique!