I just want some advice.....
 

I am not new to quilting, but still learning the many techniques. Up until January 1, I made small quilts and use the tieing method with yarn through the layers of the quilts. Well I watched a you tube video on stippling from Missouri quilting company, and tried it myself. It turned out better than I thought. I took the advice, that the person on the receiving end will not see your mistakes, and yes there were mistakes.

Here is my question, What do you use as templates for your Machine quilting. I am new to the Machine quilting and I want practice. Do you use powdered chalk and precut templates, or is it free hand? I have noticed the real pretty curves and leaves patterns in many of your quilts. I have only tried the stippling and the straight lines using the quilting guide? Any advice would be helpful.

I love this quilt board because many of you have wonderful advice and do really great work.

Ok, i will quit rambling now. Thanks

It depends what I want to do. For intricate designs, I mark with template and chalk, or a pencil. But if you are doing something that mirrors the block design, sometimes you can use that as a guide and don't need a template. There are lots of freehand options that build on the stippling - hearts, leaves, circles, etc. intermixed into the stipple where ever you want. That's usually done freehand. And then there's things like http://freemotionquilting.blogspot.ca/ where it's all done freehand and very dense quilting. I prefer lighter quilting, so I stick with what I said above.

I only do freehand quilting although sometimes I keep a diagram of the design I am trying to achieve next to me so I can sort of keep my eyes on it as I go. I don't do it very well yet, but they say with practice it will get better.

I have started to do almost all FMQ freehand but will occasionally mark with a blue water soluable marker. The best thing I bought was a dry erase board and can sit for hours just doodling designs with a dry erase marker, wiping it off, and start again. I have a few plastic templates but have hardly used them because I hate to take the time to mark. I also bought a roll of Golden Thread paper which looks promising.

Although I am not super experienced, I do mostly freehand FMQ. I have a fine chaco liner and a disappearing blue pen I use if I want to get something in a particular spot. I sit like sandrab64 described and just doodle beforehand. I have also purchased a pounce but have not gotten the hang of it.

As with many things, practice will improve your skills over time. Master the stippling etc them try a simple design and keep stretching yourself to try bigger and more complex designs.

I recently graduated from stitch in the ditch to meandering FMQ and not only am I enjoying it, but even from the first quilt I did it turned out much better than expected because of the confidence I gained from reading this board. Like you, I want to do the feathers and beautiful patterns on the borders and don't yet have the skill or confidence, but I found a product called Borders Made Easy. It's a long roll of paper with adhesive backing that you stick onto the quilt and just sew right over the pattern and then rip off the paper. There are various designs to choose from and they're quite easy to do.

There are lots of methods, I say try a few and see what works for you, you can use pounce, golden threads paper, frixion pens, generals chalk pencils, They have special pencils and pens on the market, just test on scraps before using it on the real quilt. I would just buy cheap muslin and batting and make practice squares, and try different methods and see what you like best, also some work better for different fabrics, like pounce is not the best for really light quilts, and the frixion pens are not the best for really dark quilts

I just do meandering or large stipple. I don't try any designs, I like doing the FMQ and like the looks.

All the methods mentioned are really great. I also have a tool that is wonderful. It allows me to practice and develope eye had cordination. It is called the Quick trainer they have them for both DSM (home machine) and long arm. It is by La Li La Designs. They are available on La Li La Design web site and also I have seen them on Cozy quilt site. They have really helped me and I have not had to use so much fabric for practice. Good luck and practice, practice, practice!!!! There is also a youtube demo on it.

Lots of ways to do what you want. I would suggest you get some of the Preview Paper from Golden Threads. It is a clear plastic like material with black borders on the sides. You can put it over your quilt and 'preview' different quilting designs before you sew.

I do most all machine quilting on my home sewing machine or my Sweet 16 sit down. Not good, but if I am doing some design that I want to copy over and over I first draw it up on Glad Press and Seal. DON'T USE INK TO DRAW. The wrap will stick to the quilt. Just remove when done. Sometimes if you use ink you will sew the ink into the fabric. Very nearly impossible to get out. Keep tweezers close by for those teny tiny pieces caught under the stitches...Works great, especially for intricate designs. Good luck and keep practicing.

While you said to NOT use ink to draw on the Press N Seal ... you did not tell use what we are supposed to use?
So what might that be?
Please? and Thanks!

Wow! There's some great advise here. Here's my 2 cents worth, so it may not be worth much.

At an art supply store, I bought a sheet of vinyl. I lay it on top of the top and draw with dry erase pens. Don't like it-wipe it off and try again.

There are lots of books with patterns for quilting. They can be photocopied to any size that fits your quilt. Use a light box/table and make the top before it's sandwiched.

There are companies with patterns. My favorite is Digi-tech, on the web. Their service is great. You can order the pattern in the size you want.

There are many companies with stencils for quilting. Golden threads has a pounce powder they claim doesn't rub off, takes a warm iron. Has anyone used it? Whenever I use chalk powder or markers the marks rub off before I get to quilt them.

Terrific thread. Thank you so much. I'm learning so much here -- as I always do on the QB!

This topic was spot on for me. Just like others have said, I was intimidated by the free motion quilting and it kept me from completing any of my quilts. Well I took the plunge about a week ago. I have a Brother 1500 which has no bells or whistles but does have a powerful motor, a dependable stitch and a large throat. I just stippled thinking that I could work on the stitch length without having to worry to much where I was going. What a surprise, as long as I keep my movements smooth most of the other problems I was worried about were insignificant. Don't get me wrong, this is not in the class of the amazing quilts I see on the board but it has opened the door for me and I am no longer so intimidated. Dare I say it? It is also fun! So don't be afraid, try it.

Borders made Easy are nice to begin with, and you can also mark a design on Golden Threads quilting paper. You sew on top and then rip the paper away.

I guess I started backwards. I selected a design appropriate to the fabric (crane shapes on a crane print), cut the crane out of cardboard and stuck it on my quilt with double stick tape. Then I quilted around one, moved the shape to the next spot and quilted around it. Kept doing that until the whole thing was quilted. I have also used tracing paper to put the design I want onto the quilt. Sometimes I draw the design with a #2 pencil. Pounce chalk has not yet worked well for me, although I keep trying with different templates. I have used cookie cutters, plastic templates, and outlines of animals or other things that I find on the internet for my shapes. If the size isn't right I just put it in my picture program and resize it until I am satisfied. I've tried stippling but just can't seem to get the motion down.

Some very good advice here! I have not yet got up the nerve to try FMQ. I like the ideas of the paper patterns.

http://freemotionquilting.blogspot.c...ilt-along.html

This woman has taught me... or should I say is teaching me. She has a class on Craftsy also, but why pay for it when it is all there free.

And Leah Day is friendly.

If you want an exact shape to quilt around, try drawing it on freezer paper. You cut it out and then iron it in place to stitch around it. The freezer paper can be used over and over again before it looses it's shiny side. I've done this so know it works.

Also try looking at Leah Days website: daystyledesigns.com She has hundreds of designs w/ videos showing how to stitch them. These all can be done on a small scale or larger depending on what you want. Practice drawing on paper or a dry erase board. It helps with your muscle memory. I think the fear so many have is they don't know where to go next and are fearful of getting stuck in a corner. Also practice on fq's in a sandwich. Use solid or nearly solid fabric. Practice some more until you feel comfortable with fmq.

I just want some advice
 

I've found that using left over pieces of batting in place of the eraser helps save my money - and you can toss it when finished. Have fun doodling!

I wanted a leaf shape in the boarder of the quilt I made my DFIL. I traced the shape onto freezer paper and ironed it on to please me. Then I just sewed around the shape and on down my boarder to the next one. Wasn't perfect. But then neither was the rest of the quilt. But it was finished with lots of love. And was accepted with just as much love.

advise on FMQ
 

I use a soft lead pencil or have used a water soluble marker. If using ink try it on a scrap piece first. Get into the kids markers and coloring pens and find what will work for you...It also will depend on color of fabric you are quilting. Also have ironed three layers of freezer paper together, drawn design on it and punched holes along the design lines ....... use a chalk pencil to mark holes...Sewing is kind of a connect the dots thing. Works fine if not doing anything too intricate.

I use my daughter who is one fantastic long armer.

Thanks ... though I would have thought that the lead pencil would not show up on the plastic of the PNS.

i do all mine free handed , and the mood i am in at the time of doing FMQ kind of determine my free hand skills !!

I have never heard of the product " borders made easy" This might be what I need. I know i need lots of practice.
Thanks for the Idea.

This is a great idea, preview paper, I will have to try this also. Thanks for all the great ideas.

As always, I have gotten some great advice, Thanks Ladies. I am now ready to try something different, after a trip to Joann's.

I found out last summer when the humidity was high that water soluable ink disappears right before your eyes. Now, I use a heat erasing pen, which disappears when you iron over it or wash your quilt in reasonably hot water.