Thanks for all of the info. I wonder how long it takes to get any good at this. I could revert to hand quilting them, but the whole idea, for me, was to (once in a while) get one done a bit quicker. :roll:

I think you are trying two different ways to machine quilt :wink:

Straight line and curves, leave the feed dogs up and you shouldn't have to pull the sandwich thru , also you can use a regular presser foot or the walking foot

FMQ you drop the feed dogs and use the Darning foot and then you move the fabric to match the speed of the needle

For me, the easiest way to machine quilt is to use a walking foot and make gently curving lines. A lot of people use a walking foot to stitch-in-the-ditch, but I find it makes me too anxious because it's hard to make it perfect enough to satisfy me! With curving lines, nobody knows if I'm a little off.

Free motion machine quilting takes some practice for most people. It's good to practice on utility quilts first (baby quilts are very good for this because babies don't care how perfect the quilting is!). It's important to spend this kind of practice time before trying to do it on a large important quilt.

In my opinion, it's well worth the investment to purchase a walking foot for your machine so you can machine quilt at least some of your quilts. It helps get them done, finished, and out of the way so you can start new quilts. :-D Free motion quilting is very popular, but it's not the only way to machine quilt!

Thanks to everyone. I am going to take the plastic cover off and see if there is any difference.

....a few minutes later. That makes a BIG difference. It still looks like a kid did it, but at least it is closer to the lines.

I want to thank you so much!!!

Oh, and Prism, I like what you said about babies don't care what it looks like. Made me smile. see..... :lol:

The darning foot on my machine doesnt have any spring. It is small and round,also called embroidery foot.

Thanks. I will look at them again.

This is what I was taught:
Walking foot = straight line or gentle curve sewing
Darning or jumping foot = free motion quilting

Harriet Hargrave wrote a very good book on heirloom quilting that covers the basics, including FMQ. When I took her class, if a mchine didn't have a "drop feed dog" switch or cover plate, she recommended punching a small hole in the middle of a business card, positioning the card with hole under the needle and taping it down with painter's tape. The card covers the feed dogs and the single hole helps prevent the fabric from getting squished down into the hole as the foot jumps.

Best of luck! It takes some practice but FMQ can be fun.

Did you lower the pressure on the foot? It's easy to forget that step! :-D

Sounds like you are on your way now. I'm glad you got so much help here. Aren't they a great group.