Hi. I am very new to quilting. So i purchased a charm square pack and am making a table runner. I machine quilted the squares just diagonal stripes, and want to do a pattern on the border. WOW!! The stencil has rounded curves that intersect and when i got finished with it, I was horrified!!! It looks horrible. My question is does anyone have any tips for rounding the curves??

Hi Iocoruner,

I think it would help if we could see a picture of what you are describing. I doubt it is as aweful as you think. We are so critical of our own work. Relax, take your time and enjoy the whole quilting experience.

The awesome people on this board will help you. They will provide tips, examples, links to more help and, above all, encouragement!

Regards, Dianne

Welcome to the board from Southern California!
Do you have a walking foot? It helps. If you are doing free motion it helps to have a consistent speed coming around the curves. You may want to hold your project so that you pivot the project around where you are holding. Does that make sense? Kinda like when you learned to use a protractor to make a circle, the point is held still and you pivot around it. It takes practice. My quilting is not the greatest, it's hard to keep your stitches consistently the same size.
Practice, Practice Practice!!!

someone told me to drop the feed dogs..any thoughts on that?

If you are sewing "free Motion" with an open type foot, yes, drop the feed dogs. If you are using a walking foot you do not drop them.

I would drop your feed dogs and free motion the curves. Make sure your machine is sewing fast enough and don't rush the fabric. Just take you time and it will get easier.

If you want to use your walking foot, you will need to take a few stitches, drop your needle down, turn your piece, take a few stitches, drop your needle down, take a few stitches..... all around the curved designs. Trying to turn your fabric without doing this will probably cause puckers.
This may be an excellent time to drop your feed dogs, get out your darning/FMQ foot and give FMQ a try :D:D:D