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meldmac 05-17-2013 08:51 PM

I may be a lost cause
 
So I've given fmq a try and I can't seem to get it right at all. I even tried using a stencil and following the lines with my fmq foot and it went horribly. Just can't seem to get the hang of it. Only tried it for a short time , but I think I may stick to straight line quilting. Is it something that gets easier? Or is it one of those skills that you either have it or you don't?

Jan in VA 05-17-2013 09:04 PM

1 Attachment(s)
Perhaps if you start by looking at straight line quilting with a different eye it will help. There is much more than just stitch in the ditch. I posted this graphic just recently, but I suppose it's worth doing so again. :)

Jan in VA

meldmac 05-17-2013 09:17 PM

Thank you!

Tropical 05-17-2013 09:50 PM

From what I have read, fmq takes lots and lots of practice. I haven't mastered it yet. Of course I haven't spent much time on it either. Every time I try, it gets worse so I have stuck with straight line quilting for the time being. Good luck to you. :):):)

sarahspins 05-17-2013 10:06 PM

Lots of practice, and you DO get better with time... I'm finding that my skill often improves over the course of a quilt :)

DOTTYMO 05-17-2013 10:12 PM

It is also the speed of the machine and the speed of your hands linking together. Remember learning to drive 3 pedals steering wheel and a gear stick and brake . And only 2 hands and 2 feet. It's the sae problem. Keep trying. Personally I like the speed of the machine to be not on full but 1/4 down. I can then manage my hands better.

ranger 05-18-2013 02:41 AM


Originally Posted by Jan in VA (Post 6070486)
Perhaps if you start by looking at straight line quilting with a different eye it will help. There is much more than just stitch in the ditch. I posted this graphic just recently, but I suppose it's worth doing so again. :)

Jan in VA


Thanks Jan. I missed that the first time around.

ckcowl 05-18-2013 03:06 AM

there is a learning curve---and it takes a lot of practice/patience. can you sit down at a piano and after a 'little while' play a concerto? probably not- it takes practice put together practice sandwiches (pot holders/placemats work well) and practice. if you have a stack of practice pieces made up & sitting there- each time you are going to sew either start with a little practice- or end with one---before you know it you will be showing improvement- ready to start on something a little bigger (table runner, baby quilt) a few months down the road you will look at those first pieces and be able to see how far you have come. :thumbup:

mirabelle 05-18-2013 03:12 AM

There are a lot of youtube videos on quilting you could watch and also check out Patsy Thompson's website she has instructional videos and she does all her quilting on a home sewing machine. She has lots of tips but the best advice I can give you is don't beat yourself up about FMQing it takes time and patience and lots of practice. Start by doodling on sketch paper and remember have fun with it.

hopetoquilt 05-18-2013 03:17 AM

Leah day explains how to modify your foot to make it easier. I drop the feed dogs. It is easier to do with a smaller quilt. I would start practice with a doll quilt or mini. The gloves help a lot and there are other devices that can. Help too. It takes several hours of practice before you start to get a rhythm. Look at the complexity of your stencils or markings too. Try to use a very forgiving pattern or stencil.

Tartan 05-18-2013 03:22 AM

It is easier for me to FMQ without trying to follow lines exactly. I use the golden threads or tissue paper if I want a certain design placed just so. It allows you to kind of follow the pattern but you don't have to be too careful because you are going to tear off the paper. If doing feathers I mark the spine and do the rest freehand. It also helps if you can do a certain design following the seams as a guide like orange peel pattern.

ube quilting 05-18-2013 04:27 AM

Are you practicing on an actual quilt or sample sandwiches? Small samples about 15 to 18" square are great to start with. Start on paper and just repeat drawing circles and curves. It is a hand - memory skill which takes practice. No one is born with this skill. It is learned.

Draw lines right on the fabric and work to stay inside the lines just like learning to write when we were kids.

Once you feel okay with how your curves look on paper go to the machine and practice there. SLOW YOUR SPEED DOWN. No need for a heavy foot. As you get comfortable just moving the fabric around start doing loops and smaller curves, waves, figure eights are great for practicing. There are many places to get ideas for quilting patterns to practice on. do a search.

Slow, relax, breath, shoulders down.

Take a few slow small stitches as you start and stop. Just like driving, you don't start out at 60 mph.

Practice doing a straight line and then put a loop it one direction then the opposite.

The one thing I learned is to have paper to practice any design on before going to the machine. Any paper will do even old news paper. It is all to get the hand memory going.

Hope some of this stuff helps you to keep going. I've been there so I understand. It can be discouraging but don't give up.
peace

meldmac 05-18-2013 04:37 AM

You are all great, i think i need gloves as i found moving the fabric around was an issue. Also, when trying to turn it seemed like the needle would jump to a different spot.

also just using some ugly fabric sandwiched into a placemat size to practice on. I would never even think of practicing on actual quilt.

Stitchnripper 05-18-2013 04:39 AM

Yes, it takes lots and lots of practice. And even more practice, but all the practice isn't wasted, because you keep getting better. And more comfortable with it, and learning what techniques work for you. Don't give up!!

ArtsyOne 05-18-2013 05:58 AM

My first effort was just loop-de-loops and then I went to a simple jig-saw meander. After my fourth effort my meanders are starting to look pretty darn good. If you're trying to do feathers then you're way beyond me and should congratulate yourself on having the courage to leap in and try. As every poster before me has said, it just takes practice and pretty soon you'll do great.

quilter2090 05-18-2013 06:14 AM

You have to practice,practice,practice. Think how long it took you to learn to read, ride a bike,drive a car. Everything new requires practice. You should have seen me the first time I learned to drive a manual transmission. Ouch! There were some grinding of gears, let me tell you. But, you should see me now,it has become second nature to me.I don't have to watch the tach to when to shift, I am listening for the change in engine,even while I am driving and talking to someone else. The point is, if you try anything for a short time and quit,how will you ever know if you can do it or not.I guess I am just to stubborn to quit until I have mastered whatever task that is before me. Keep trying!

donnalynett 05-18-2013 09:20 AM

Don't give up......I started two years ago and started with Quilting Made Easy stippling patterns. Once I got that figured out I moved on to circles. Meandering came next. Now I combine the three and will practice something new next. It really does take a lot of practice but don't start out with something difficult or you will get frustrated.

BellaBoo 05-18-2013 11:25 AM

I really like this book: One Line at a Time: 24 Geometric Machine-Quilting Designs Made Easy

The book explains how to use the walking foot to make designs including circles and curves.

twinkie 05-19-2013 03:38 AM

There is a lot of variation from SID. You can also do echo.

Quilts rock 05-19-2013 03:46 AM

I am in the same boat meldmac, I find FMQ soooo hard to do, but like a lot are saying practise makes perfect, grrrrr!

LynnVT 05-19-2013 03:51 AM

Thank you, Jan, this is helpful. I'm working on both fmq and straight lines all the time. I bought the Line Tamer ruler at Four Paws Quilting to use with the Sweet Sixteen and it's really helpful.

maviskw 05-19-2013 04:24 AM


Originally Posted by meldmac (Post 6070725)
You are all great, i think i need gloves as i found moving the fabric around was an issue. Also, when trying to turn it seemed like the needle would jump to a different spot.

My needle used to "jump" also. Then I started looking at the fabric under the needle after I had been working to straighten out the next line to sew. It is usually kind of bunched up. Even if I'm just making a straight seam in my piecing it does that.

Of course the needle is down, so now I leave the needle down and lift the presser foot. It's amazing how much the fabric moves. After the fabric is lying smooth and relaxed, I can start sewing again. No more jumping. Just takes a split second to lift the presser foot and look at the fabric around the needle. Sometimes it just pops back into place.

I couldn't FMQ without gloves. Even the cheapy vinyl gloves work.

klgls 05-19-2013 04:42 AM

I have only FMQ four quilts on my DHM. I was very happy with the first one (after some practicing on sandwiches). The second one - not so hot. I seemed to have gotten worse. But I persisted and on the third one it was much better. I'm very pleased with the fourth quilt. I haven't used gloves yet because I had some of the rubber finger tips already and I put them on my middle fingers and thumbs. I have much better control then. I may get the gloves and try that as my fingers do sweat with the rubber tips - but that also gives me a short break when I'm FMQ to stop and take them off for just a bit. Helps me to relax too. Have fun above all else.

Lisa_wanna_b_quilter 05-19-2013 04:47 AM


Originally Posted by DOTTYMO (Post 6070506)
It is also the speed of the machine and the speed of your hands linking together. Remember learning to drive 3 pedals steering wheel and a gear stick and brake . And only 2 hands and 2 feet. It's the sae problem. Keep trying. Personally I like the speed of the machine to be not on full but 1/4 down. I can then manage my hands better.


This is so true. I couldn't do FMQ at all for the longest time. It just looked BAD, the thread broke, there were knots, etc. Then one day without feeling like I changed anything, I looked OK. I figure if I keep plugging away at OK, it will magically look good one day.

On the other hand, there is no law that quilters must ever use FMQ. Many beautiful quilts are done with designs that can be done with a walking foot.

deedum 05-19-2013 04:58 AM

Thanks Jan, I too missed this chart the first time around. Glad you posted again.

deedum 05-19-2013 05:02 AM

FM is something you got to work at. Then one day it just clicks, you improve more and more. Not something you can learn in an hour. I have people ask me quite often to teach them FM, I tell them it is something you got to have lot's of patience and practice to make it work. You can do it, if you want, just persistence.

SHELTIE'SMAMA 05-19-2013 05:39 AM

Don't feel alone, common subject on the board. What struck me with the listing was 25 replies to 1000+ views. You hit the nail on the head for a large group of people.

katesnanna 05-19-2013 06:56 AM


Originally Posted by Jan in VA (Post 6070486)
Perhaps if you start by looking at straight line quilting with a different eye it will help. There is much more than just stitch in the ditch. I posted this graphic just recently, but I suppose it's worth doing so again. :)

Jan in VA

Thank you, Jan. As always great info.

ShirlinAZ 05-19-2013 07:18 AM

I love fmq, and I hate sitd. I have a Pfaff Quilt Expression 2.0 which sews like an absolute dream and I love the IDT, but I cannot get my stitches to stay in the ditch. With fmq I don't have to worry about that. No, my stitches are not all the same length, but I have decided that they should not be. With shorter stitches I can turn tighter curves and do finer detail, but I don't like really short stitches on wider turns and longer runs of stitches. I still find that I am very satisfied with the overall look.

My fmq is not totally free hand work. I quite often cut templates from free applique or coloring book shapes that I get online. I meander loops or leaves or hearts or whatever and stitch around the template periodically. I gave up trying to stipple as I always worked myself into a corner and had to do a loop or double back to get out of it. A meander with interspersed shapes works well. I put arrowheads, bears, and kokopeli on a western theme quilt and butterflies, daisies, and bees on a garden theme (flowers) quilt.

Don't try to copy others work. Just keep trying and keep practicing until you find what you are comfortable with. Oh, you've also got to be relaxed. Just let your fingers guide the quilt where it "feels" right. Also, don't try to fight the quilt or force it to go somewhere. If a stitch or two take off in the wrong direction just go with it and make a loop or something to bring it back where you wanted it.

quiltnotes 05-19-2013 07:28 AM

Thank you!

happy grandma 05-19-2013 07:49 AM

I am doing fmq for the first time. It is far from perfect but I have decided I am just going to have fun. The one thing I have found is I do a lot better when I breathe. Yes I was finding myself holding my breath and tensing up. Relax, breath and enjoy. I have been promised that it will get better.
And Jan thanks for the straight line ideas. One of them will look perfect in one of my blocks.

Onetomatoplant 05-19-2013 08:41 AM

I'm still very much a beginner FMQer, but make lots of practice sammiches and practice just meandering to work on getting your tension right and just getting a feel for speed, stitch length, etc. Then choose a pattern to sew, and just know that initially, it's going to look bad. If you get frustrated get up and walk around or try another FMQ pattern. I bounce around to different patterns when practicing - it cuts down on the frustration and eventually you realize that each one is improving. Yeah, practice, practice, practice.

It can be fun, I promise!

gramquilter2 05-19-2013 10:18 AM

Leah Day has some good online help, I think she tells you not to drop the feed dogs. Gloves and practice, practice, practice, ask me how I know! No one is a lost cause.

ShirlinAZ 05-19-2013 10:30 AM

I don't use gloves because I can't find any to fit my small hands. I'd sew the loose fingertips into the quilt! I use Quicksort, a lanolin based gel, like tellers use to count money. It works great, keeps my fingers soft, and I don't have to take it off when I take a break.

sewbizgirl 05-19-2013 11:57 AM

The more you do, the better you get. It also takes a cooperative sewing machine... Ones with the bobbin case set vertically work better than those with bobbin cases that are flat (horizontal).

Wanabee Quiltin 05-19-2013 01:54 PM

Don't give up yet. I am pretty bad at it too, but I am better than I was. I believe it takes a great deal of practice and time, which I don't have much of right now. But I do believe the day will come when I won't be embarrassed by my work. Keep working on it, you will do fine in time.

Jingle 05-19-2013 02:13 PM

Just practice a lot, a whole lot. Make up some quilt sandwiches and just do it over and over again.
I wear gloves with rubber nubs. Fabric dries out my hands so much, I can't move the sandwich. Just keep doing it and one day you will see you are pretty good.

suern3 05-19-2013 02:30 PM

I also have followed Leah Day's advice found at daystylequilts.com and on you-tube. Her ideas are the most helpful, I think. Before that started out trying stencils but found them much harder than the actual fmq. I feel it is just a matter of practice and not being too hard on yourself. I find that by the time I finish each quilt, I can see progress. Just hang in there!

IQ2 05-19-2013 02:48 PM

I'm currently taking the Leah Day Craftsy class FMQ Sampler. The best thing I've learned so far is that you should come to a slow stop (with needle down) when you need to readjust your hands or the quilt, and then slowly start up again once you're comfortable...like driving a car...ease up on the gas before you stop and gradually give it gas again when you start. I always thought that once you started free motion you needed to keep moving, and that's how I got myself into the most trouble...pointy curves, giant ("toe-catcher") stitches, etc. (love that class, by the way)

Furball 05-19-2013 03:32 PM

I'm a novice. I started 9 months ago. Initially I practiced 1/2hour a day - treating it like piano practice from childhood. Some days I practiced folowing a line and other on consistent stitch length. Next I used a meander stencil to make several sets of placemats. Then I moved to doing charity quilts. I've done 31 of them so far. Each one is better than the last but far from perfect. I still don't do anything freehand. I mostly use pantographs -- trace them onto Golden Threads, needlepunch the paper, and pounce with iron off chalk onto the quilt. It's addictive.


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