No matter how much I practice, it ain't working. My stitches are too big. I am on a Designer 1. I installed the FMQ foot correctly, it works fine. I just don't. I have the feed dog down, a straight stitch, etc. I think everything is set up right, I just can't get the size of the sttiches to stay even. What can I do? Is there someone who can give me a basic lesson on how to using my machine? I am trying to finish a quilt by Monday. I have most of it done using SID along the seam lines. Now I am trying to FMQ the border and I am pulling my hair (what is left) out. Please, somebody!!!

If your stitches are too big, you may be moving the fabric too fast. Try slowing down just a bit, and it may also help give you more control to help with even stitches~ :)

Could you do a grid of straight stitching in your border? It might reflect the SID work you have already done.

Getting the stitches to be even takes a lot of patience, and practise. Try slowing your speed down a bit to med-high.
Start with straight lines until you get that stitch even
Then try gentle curves. Most of us have a tendency to speed up going around in circles or arcs just because it feels smoother that way. Listen to the sound of your machine - if it stays the same when you're stitching. Then you've be able to catch things like speeding up/slowing down.
All you have to do is make sure the speed of the machine remains constant, and you take the time to move the fabric at a consistent speed.

That will help me, too. thanks

go to you tube and watch some of these videos....maybe you can get some pointers =) I want to eventually get to free motion but I'm not there yet. I do like watching though...

Quilting and Crafting with Leah Day
lcvday's Channel

You will find your rhythm of how fast to make the machine go vs how fast to move the fabric :D:D:D

Hello I find using a test piece is a good way to pratice doing this. I had a problem close to what u did I set my machine on the lowest speed and slowed down when moving the fabric around. In the guild I was in they said pratice is the only way to get better at FMQ. ( sorry)

practice, practice, practice and before you work on a actual quilt, warm up on a scrap

Are you using the "R" foot or a spring type darning foot?
I have a Sapphire 875 and find that the spring darning foot works so much better for me. The Machinger quilters gloves are a huge help too. I take the sm/med. size.
http://www.softexpressions.com/softw...Gloves.php#mac
I set the tension lower too and it seems to help. Slow down and remember to breathe and relax. This is supposed to be fun.
Sharon W.

My one success was by using an embroidery hoop. Had to move it often but it helped me have more control.

Of course now my machine wont stitch at all trying to FM!!

Have you threatened to replace it with a more co-operative machine? :lol:

I'm taking notes here! I have to sew 7 strips together and 2 borders then I'm ready to sandwich and quilt. Can't say I can't wait, but I do have to get it done!!

This one of my favorite FMQ videos for the beginner:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39I5A...os=81riuZPj3q8

Put some music on,relax,Breathe!

On the designer 1, you have to select the "V" stitch menu and the straight stitch in there before you free motion quilt. However, I believe your problem is that you need to slow down the speed of the machine and the speed of your movement of the fabric. We tend to try and keep up with the sound of the machine and high speed sounds fast. Also, practice, practice, practice. No one starts to FMQ like an expert. It takes time.

I have a Viking, also, and only recently begun FMQ. You are doing everything right, except you need to slow the speed to the lowest setting. I stenciled a large meander on my first project and followed it at slow speed. I looks pretty awful if you get up close and really look. The second project I turned the speed up one notch and just went at it. It's much easier to just meander without following a line. By the time I was done with the second project I was free-motioning holly leaves and holly berries!!! You can do it!!

On the Designer 1 after you decrease your speed setting, use the stop/start button. That gives you a continous consistent speed and you don't have to use the foot pedal. You can consentrate on your design and move smoothly.

I'm really not one to ask for advice as I don't have the hang for this either but I've been told to start on a practice piece to get the rhythm of it. One of my friends--a seasoned quilter--said she had more control of stitch length and liked her finished product better if she did not drop the feed dogs.

I have a saphire and put the speed to the lowest, use the start/stop button(you can stop it by putting your foot on the peddle). I found it easier that way so I didn't have to think about what my foot was doing and what my hands were doing. this really helped but then I'm one of those that can't pat her head and rub her stomach at the same time. practice practice helps as well. good luck.

If your machine has a speed control try setting it to slow or medium.

My suggestion is not to stress out too much about the evenness of your stitches. For me, anyway, it seems to work to concentrate on the pattern, and eventually I get into a rhythm, and the stitch length starts to take care of itself. I also feel that if you use too slow a speed on the machine, things get worse. You have to find your own "sweet spot", where the speed of the machine and the speed at which you move the fabric are in synch.

I don't know what kind of machine you are using, but if it's one that tells you to lower your feed dogs, try leaving them up & free motion! I seem to have more control this way, & get smaller stitches... Lots of practice helps too, good luck!

Well I FMQ the border on my latest quilt yesterday. I cussed and fussed, but I finally got around the way around the darn thing. It doesn't look to bad as long you don't look too closely. Now I am fighting with the binding. Somewhere I READ TO CUT A STRIP 2 1/4" wide, fold it, and then sew it to the front and flip to the back. When I tried that there wasn't enough to turn over. I opened it back up. Now I am stitch it on open, then fold it over, pin and hand stitch to the back. Why do the corners have to be mitered. I used to do it all the time without and it worked fine. Whoever came up with that idiotic idea? It will get done by Monday, hook or crook.

Thank you all for the tips on how to FMQ. I have oracticed and practiced and I guess I just need more of it. Now that I am done with this quilt, I'll spend some time on finessing that.

I have been trying to learn to FMQ... I have vision problems.. and find it difficult to keep track of things that move. I buy sheets at the Goodwill store , cut them in to large sqaures to practice on.... so far.. I'm still practicing.. I've about come to the conclusion.... I am destined to remain a straight stitch quilter... sigh... but I LOVE FMQ.... I'll keep working on it... but it's not looking good for FMQ to be in my future.....

I feel ur pain.....

I had some fabric "books" in my stash(that you cut and put together with batting in between the pages)-- little bible story books for children. I assembled those and used the pages to practice different machine quilting techniques-- stipple, meandering, waves, swirls, flowers, etc. Another idea is potholders... or little quilts.

Is your FMF a darning foot ? I guess I dont have a FMF. I always practice before I start on a quilt. I have put together some placemats and practice by doing one every time I haven't done and FM for a bit. My practice makes for give aways when I get a set. I find that it is small enough to move around comfortably and I can get into a rythm by the time I have done one.

http://patchwork-of-mini-grey.blogsp...nd-tricks.html

Suggestions here, feed dogs are down, when you stop your machine the needle should be down in the fabric before moving the quilt. Practice slowly, be sure there are no threads caught in the bobbin and the machine is threaded properly.

This link has some good points including thread type, needles and suggestions for how to. Don't get frustrated, just keep practicing it will come.

DianneRab

I am learning too. I found that it is the timing between the needle speed and your hand moving speed. Not sure if I would tackle a quilt until I get my timing right. I am told we need practice practice practice.
;-) Linda

I have this machine and absolutely love it! I was told to set machine for Q foot (but use hopping foot or r foot) Lower the feed dogs and set machine speed to med and use the button to start and stop instead of the foot petal and that way you only have to worry about movine the fabric and not the foot pedal

Mariposa has the right answer, I found out very quickly that trying to go too fast makes the stitches too long.

When I first tried to learn FMQ I had the same problem with controlling the stitches. Then I found out the Quilt Police had no way of knowing what I was doing, so I started to "cheat" -- kept the feed dogs up all the time. It made such a difference and I had no problem with stitch length. When the feed dogs are up, you can't move the fabric as quickly, so you get a lot more control. When I had the feed dogs down I would try to move it just a little and it would move a few inches. I have been quilting with the feed dogs up for about 10 years now, and have never even broken a needle. Good luck!

This is what I have done, I set it to the medium speed, so no matter how hard I press the foot, it stays at the constant speed. It makes my moving around easier. And I am still doing stippling, and just lazy hearts or circles or flowers, not sure enough of myself to tackle the feathers that are so beautifully done by others.

If your machine has 1/2 speed control. Use it. It will make a world of difference.

I have a Designer I On the screen press SET
the screen will come up with options to turn on or off.
at the bottom press the MORE button I think twice
and you will find one of the options to turn on free
motion or turn it off. Press on. Make sure feed dogs
are down. that is all you do and I found that I do
better if i go slow. Because if I go too fast the thread
breaks. You do not have to mess with the stitch
length or anythings else.
Hope this helps. If all else fails.....look at the manual.
I ended up having to do that.

Problem with feed dogs up is that you cannot manuever side to side like you would want. :-)

I also have a designer 1 & I just finished a king quilt & most of it was fmq. I went out & bought a fab u motion & boy it did a wonderful job this was my first time using it I di pratice & It says to also put the pressure on 0 I will post pictures soon. I am very please with it . no sore neck & you dont need gloves. if you want more information email me at [email protected] shrabar

Sounds like you want it to happen too quickly. It won't get good on your first quilt. I continue to improve after doing a few hundred charity ones before I tackled some of mine. Even now, when my quilting is pretty good, I still get out the practice sandwich and play with the stitching until I get 'freed up' and into the rhythm. Just try a simple meandering or swirly stitch first - ones that don't have to be balanced. They look the best, as you can't "spot the mistake".

run the machine at medium speed and move your fabric slower and at the same pace. also use a size 90-14 quilting needle. Make up a 12" sq. to practice on and don't look at your needle look at where your going to sew. hang in there it will happen.