Help - FMQ Warm Wishes
 

I am just finishing the piecing of a Warm Wishes Quilt. The main block is pale teal with snowmen. I am completely stumped on what to use as a motif for FMQ. It would have to be really simple as I really can't seem to get the hang of FMQ no matter how much I practice. I have many UFOs waiting to be quilted, but because I am so awful at FMQ, they remain undone. As this quilt is just for me, I would like to try yet again to FMQ.

Any suggestions/tips would be appreciated.

Thanks

I am still a beginner at FMQ but I found a few things that help. If I am quilting on my domestic machine I often draw my pattern on freezer paper, iron it lightly to the area I want to quilt and then just sew on the lines. When done with each section I carefully ( so not to pull stitches) remove the paper then go on to the next section. Works great for me as my freehand is terrible still. If I am using my frame which has a mega quilter on it, I am so much better at just meandering or pantographs which I trace out on paper. To get patterns for quilting I often trace coloring pages. You could do a search for free snowman coloring pages and maybe find one to trace and use. Good luck.

Thank you so much - I never would have thought of using freezer paper ! I will definitely give this a try as nothing seems to register with me in FMQ - even classes haven't helped. Love the colouring book idea and am going to search right now.

Again, my thanks.

Kathie

Also, there is a yellow paper that is in a roll that is made just for quilting. I can't remember the name of it but many quilt shops carry it. It is about the weight of tissue paper. Good luck in your efforts.

The paper is by Golden Threads.... called Golden Threads quilting paper. You can get it from their website. Great stuff... use it all the time. Check out their website and I believe they have a video. I mark my pattern on my quilt before FMQ or use the paper... Helps a great deal

I use freezer paper too. For removing, I use a paint brush with water to soften the paper then gently peel away. It helps not tear the threads. Check out Leah Day FMQ ideas too. She is amazing.

I prefer to use the tissue paper you use for gift wrapping. It's much easier to see through to trace the design and much easier to tear away once you've sewn through it. You can get bundles of it for $1 at the dollar store.

I use tissue paper need to be gental with it , but it comes off easy.

Thank you.

Thank you for the info !

Kathie

Thank you.

Thank you for the info.

Thank you for the paper removal tip. I have watched some Leah Day tutorials - I am envious of her talent. I just can't get control of my movements for some reason.

Thank you for the tip !

I use freezer paper too. For removing, I use a paint brush with water to soften the paper then gently peel away. It helps not tear the threads. Check out Leah Day FMQ ideas too. She is amazing.

Would a washable stabilizer work? I thought of penciling the pattern on it then tacking it to the project. That way I could just throw it in the washer and not worry about bits and pieces of paper or pulled threads.

I use the sticky siran wrap. It adhears to the quilt really easy, and is easy to peal away.

I use freezer paper too. For removing, I use a paint brush with water to soften the paper then gently peel away. It helps not tear the threads. Check out Leah Day FMQ ideas too. She is amazing.

I'm also a struggling FMQ-er. One of the things that I can do pretty well, consistantly, is loops and curves and that ususally looks good as a background motif. On the LA I can do meandering well, but have trouble on my DSM. I'll keep plugging away at it and hoping that one of these days, it just clicks.

This was not my suggestion, I read it in another thread: For people that like to use tissue paper, use old telephone books. I thought it was a great idea.

I use Golden Threads paper all the time. I get it at my LQS. I also use stencils (www.quiltingstencils.com). They are inexpensive and have hundreds of designs. I either use a stencil to trace my design on the paper or trace a picture I might see in a book. Then pin the design on your quilt and start stitching. If your design is simple, try stacking sheets of Golden Threads paper under your traced design, then remove the thread from your machine, lower the feed dogs and stitch the design through all the layers of paper. You can stack 10 or more sheets and probably have enough to cover your quilt.

Great tip - thank you.

I bought a roll of "table paper" from the Dr.'s office. It was pretty inexpensive and I've had it for quite a while. It works great, especially for borders. You just roll out to the length you need, cut it, measure the width you need, cut it, draw your design on it, spray the back of the paper with 505, stick it on and sew away. When you're done, just peel it off. Easy peasy lemon squeezy.

WOW....some great tips here.....thanks for all of them...I learn something new and useful everytime I check QB

I am going to be working on my FMQ so all these tips are really helpful. Thanks everyone!