Might be a dumb question, but, can this be done on a queen or king size quilt on your home machine? I have never tried FMQ I have always done in the ditch. Does the size of the quilt make it very difficult to move around?

TIA

I don't know about queen or king size, but I am FMQing a twin size for the first time, and it's a whole lot easier than when I did a SITD on a twin size! Course, I'm meandering, which helps because I'm not forced to sew in a specific direction like doing a SITD, so it's easier to puddle the quit and work on the area I want. Wish I had had the courage to try this a long time ago!

Yes it can be done & yes it is more difficult on a bigger quilt. I think if you searched for FMQ on a home machine that something would come up explaining on how to fold or roll your quilt. Good luck & Happy Quilting

Yes, it can be done. I have done KS on a bernina 630. You have to be quite creative on the folding and rolling of what is between the needle and machine. But you can do it.

One thing--the rolled up quilt has to fit under the arm of the machine. Sewing machines have different clearance. Mine is on the small side.

I wouldn't want to try on a large quilt. Of course I don't qualify to answer your question because I do not know how to free motion quilt. I have made many Queen and King size quilts and I can't imagine being able to scoot my needle hither and yon with all that yardage to deal with. Good luck and if you do it please let us know how it worked best for you. /Regards, Dorothy

Thanks all for your prompt answers. Ive been thinking of trying it for a while, but I might start out on a wall hanging or something.

Ill let you nkow how I go when I get around to it :-)

tweetee, check this new post. Looks like your answer is here.
http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-50653-1.htm
Regards and best of luck/Dorothy

I have done this, but instead of doing the entire quilt at once, I have divided it up into long strip sections, if the pattern allows. I then do a longer version of quilt as you go, making sure the batting meets dead center, and the backing is at least one inch larger than the top. I sew the backing pieces right sides together, and then fold them down and top stitch them to the appropriate top portion. This is fun for kids quilts as you can also vary the backing fabric.

It would be a challenge but it can be done. I would start with something smaller to get the feel of it. Oh, and get some quilting gloves. They help a lot.

Dorothy, how have you done the quilting?? Do you send the big ones out or what? Tks

Yes. The largest I have done so far was 104" square. And I did it all free motion. Did I mention that is was my second quilt ever? The first was a crib quilt. Uh huh. Crazy! Just accordian the fabric by pulling it under the needle and into the throat before you start and work your way toward the edge.

From what I have seen and read, you should not roll the quilt but stuff it in and around as you move thru the quilt. I have done two queen size on my domestic machine but I quilted the center section, then add the outter sections and quilted them. Not so much under the needle that way. This makes the back pieced so I can use different matching fabrics on the back for another design. I also spray basted which works wonderfully.

I made a full size quilt and did FMQ on it.

I posted it here: http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-34866-1.htm

WOW that is a gorgeous quilt! And I love the FMQ too.

I just took a FMQ class from Jill Schumacher, who has quilted large quilts on her little Bernina. She recommends "smushing" the quilt rather than rolling it and working on a fist sized area at a time when doing a large quilt. Her work was amazing! My work looked like I had hit the bottle before taking the class! Here is a link to see some of her award winning quilts:
http://www.quiltmakertothequeen.com/QUILTS.HTM

Lilacris, Wow, you are giving me confidence!!! What a beautiful quilt.
I love your baby too :)

Hi there, I am sorry I didn't respond to your question. All I know how to do is straight stitch near the seam lines between the blocks or pick out a design in the quilt and straight stitch around it. I have learned from the Quiltingboard it is called stitch in the ditch but I didn't know that is what I was doing. Before the Quiltingboard I thought stitch in the ditch was only used to top stitch the binding down. /Regards, Dorothy

I have done FMQ on a queen and ONE king on DM. Would depend on the size of your machine throat, I did mine on the Brother 1500, large table around the machine especially to the left and behind. I also like a chair next to me on the left to hold part of the quilt.
I would take blue painters tape and mark off the quilt in 4 or 5 sections and work from the center out. I would attach my binding before I quilted the borders. It was what worked for me. Now I load the frame and away I go...

I'm finishing up the FMQ on a king size quilt. My two tips -- I accordian fold the quilt rather than rolling it. I find that easier to manipulate.
-- I set my machine (Bernina 440) on the dining table, with a large folding table set to my left, and an ironing board next to the table on my right to extend the surface area. You do not want to be fighting with all that weight as you stitch.

Oh-- make it 4 tips.

Use your needle down feature, if you have one. And a teflon sheet is nice too, but I didn't have one until this project was 90 % done, so it's not necessary.

Wind as many bobbins in advance as possible, so you don't have to stop and deal with the bobbin nonsense.

It's definitely do-able -- though challenging. If you do a crib quilt right after, it will feel ridiculously easy ; )

Leah Day at http://www.daystyledesigns.com has some great tuts on this plus many quilting designs to choose from. She has many videos to watch. Never roll your large quilt as it is hard to move around. Also rubber tipped gloves are a must for easy grip. You can also use the rubberized shelf lining cut into hand size squares. It will keep your hands from slipping over the top of the quilt.