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-   -   I'm new and I am trying free motion quilting... with problems... (https://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1/im-new-i-am-trying-free-motion-quilting-problems-t54209.html)

TerryQuilter 07-14-2010 02:51 PM

You will find it hard to to FMQ with a walking foot, they are mostly for straight stitching, stitch-in-the-ditch, etc.

Evie 07-14-2010 03:59 PM

Elayne, I have a Singer Quantum LE. According to the manual I don't even need a darning foot for free motion embroidery or quilting (or darning, for that matter). I've tried it and it works; I like it because I can clearly see where the needle is and where it's going. However, I did buy a darning foot from this site http://www.sewingshop.com/ and it works well on my machine but I cannot cover the feed dogs when using the foot! I wind up with a big mess (bird's nest?) and it doesn't work. It does work well without covering the feed dogs. Does anyone out there know why that would be? And the foot is not supposed to press down on the quilt sandwich.

weezie 07-14-2010 04:03 PM


Originally Posted by Kat B
Okay, I'm having problems understanding how to pull the bobbin thread up. Can someone help explain it to me?
Thanks in advance.

On your very first stitch, put your needle completely down and bring it back up again. (Use the hand wheel if you have no "needle up/needle down" feature on your machine.) Your needle will bring a loop of bobbin thread up slightly; this is where you need to take something sharp & pointy (I use a wooden skewer) to stick into the loop and pull the bobbin thread tail all the way through to where you can grasp both top & bottom threads. While you are holding them firmly, you need to put 2 or 3 stitches right on that spot; those stitches should secure your threads enough so you can snip off the thread ends either at the fabric or very close to it. Now you are ready to FMQ.

jgriinke 07-14-2010 04:40 PM

Ok, I think you have the wrong foot on that machine. The foot that you have is for the Featherweight antique machine. I'm sure that is your problem.
Check on Nancy's Notions for a generic foot for your machine. I think that site even has a guide so you know if your machine is high or low shank.
I have a Featherweight and that foot that you are trying to use on a different Singer. Order a different foot and even though it takes a while to get the hang of FMQ, it's worth the time it takes to learn.
First - you need the correct foot for your machine, then go from there.

Kat B 07-14-2010 05:10 PM

Weezie,
Thank you. Is the presser foot down or up when I make that first stitch?
Thanks again.

weezie 07-14-2010 06:35 PM


Originally Posted by Kat B
Weezie,
Thank you. Is the presser foot down or up when I make that first stitch?
Thanks again.

Probably up is best, because all you're doing is bringing up the bobbin thread. Of course the foot has to be down when you do your securing stitches.

rahaube 07-14-2010 06:37 PM

Since you have a generic darning foot and it sits about 1/4 inch above your fabric it is likely either that you are not lowering the presser foot (unlikely) or you have a short shank foot on a long shank machine. In other words, it is likely that the foot you have is not the appropriate foot for your machine. When the presser foot is down, the foot should sit on the fabric.

rahaube 07-14-2010 06:43 PM


Originally Posted by Sadheart
I am new to Free Motion Quilting also. There is a thread talking about it . The ladies were talking of using a "walking foot" Now I am not sure what the difference is but am to understand that it keeps the fabrics from slipping as you sew.
I will be posting my efforts tomorrow to show what happens using a regular sewing foot. I love the front. Ha ha But the back *blinks* O my
O well lessons learned. Will be a while before I can get me
a "walking foot"
Try practicing with a regular foot if you do not have a
walking foot.
Happy sewing.
Hello and welcome from Utah * waves *

A walking foot is very different from a darning or quilting foot. It is very good for stitch in the ditch and other straight line quilting but not for free motion quilting. A walking foot helps to fee the top fabric through the machine a the same pace the feed dogs feed the bottom fabric through. The feed dogs are lowered in free motion quilting so that you can move the fabric in all directions with your hands.
Sandra


bev graham 07-14-2010 07:12 PM

I have problems also trying to stipple, I have a janome but no regulator stitch on my machine, and that is important, I have tried and tried to machine quilt, and always give up and back to hand quilting,,,hope someone can help you, and then maybe it will help me also,,,good luck

Pat G 07-14-2010 07:18 PM


Originally Posted by twinstitches
Hello Everybody!

I am very new to free motion quilting and very interested. It looks beautiful and like a very fun art I'd like to try. I've research, watched, read, etc, etc but I am stuck. I finally got my embroidery foot but I can't seem to make things work. I have a Singer Ingenuity 7436 and I got my darning foot on Ebay. I found out from Singer they don't make a darning foot for my machine so I had to get a generic one. Even though the one I got said it was for my machine I think it's wrong. Here is what is happening...

I drop my feed dogs, set my stitch length to zero, start the first stitch, pull up my bobbin thread and hold it, then I try to make a few stitches and nothing takes. The machine acts like there is no fabric there, no stitches are formed. My machine does a great job of punching holes through my fabric sandwich but not a single stitch catches the bobbin thread. I have tried different threads, changed my tension, and used different needles. I am working with a 100% cotton fabric sandwich (cotton-batting-cotton), not on any projects. I though I should practice first before I try to make something.

I have done a bit more research today and I think I know the problem but I wanted to ask you ladies first. My embroidery/darning foot sits about 1/4" above my fabric and does not have a spring that goes up and down. Could this be my problem??? It seams the foot stays 1/4" above the fabric the whole time I am trying to sew. This in turn makes my fabric come up a little while I am trying to sew. Where does your darning foot sit while you are sewing/stippling???

Thank You!
Elayne

Are you putting the foot down before sewing? It was an easy step for me to remember. I finally got my bugs worked out Sunday & was so proud of myself.


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