I want to learn to do free motion quilting on my Singer 401, and don't have a clue where to start. Someone offered advice a couple years ago, and I got as far as buying the right foot, and tried for about 30 minutes, and didn't have much luck. Life got in the way and I didn't try again. Now, I am really eager to learn, but can't even remember how to set up the machine, much less the rest of it. I would appreciate any help/advice anyone has to offer. Thanks

I don't have a 401, but I do FMQ on a 15-91. It is basically the same for me tween that machine and my 3.5yr old Pfaff. Get your FMQ or darning foot in place, set your stitch length to 0, and drop your feed dogs. It take practice. I have done 12" square muslin quilt "sandwiches" with a different colored thread in the bobbin than in the needle.
Practice what speed works for you. Some people like to go fast, some not so fast- you are moving the quilt so you determine the stitch length. Move to fast and your stitches are long, move to slow and they get very short. It may also need some tension adjusting. That is why the two different colors of thread.
Get some sandwiches made up, put some music on, and go with the flow!

Thank you so much Launie. This is really good information. I am about to make the sandwich, and set up the machine to try and get started. I think using two different threads for practice is a great idea. I'm not expecting miracles, but I am sure going to give it a try. It is something I have wanted to do for a long time. I'll report back if and when I accomplish anything. Thanks again!

As the old saying goes, "practice makes perfect".... I am getting better but still have struggles now and again....

it takes practice=practice=practice...all the bells & whistles in the world will not (make you) free motion quilt well- the only thing that will---is practice

I always suggest that when you are just starting out learning FMQ to start with small projects. Use 10-12 inch squares and make potholders. As you feel more comfortable, do placemats, then tablerunners. Right now, my comfort zone is a 36" wall hanging and baby quilts.

Launie, I did everything as you suggested and I am really busy trying. The machine is doing it's job, but me, not so much. I am bound to get better at it, because it can't get any worse ! There is no where to go but up :)

I hope I can get comfortable enough to do some potholders and placemats, because I have some cut out and ready to go. Right now, it looks like that is a long way off. I don't even know what kind of design I am supposed to be making. Consequently, my FMQ looks like a bunch of fingers :)

Just get comfortable moving the fabric around. Make straight lines, wavy lines, squiggles. Make "z"s. Go forward and backward and side to side. Make circles, squares, and whatever other shapes you want. It's all a learning experience. You are only limited by your experience and your fear. I know. You're sitting and staring at that quilt sandwich thinking "What do I do now?" aren't you. Well, quit thinking and just sew!

You'll do great.

You are on the right track and like the other posters say, and practice, practice, practice!!!!

I am sure I will have to practice a lot because so far, my FMQ looks like it was done by someone who was intoxicated :)

I have found some tools that really help. Quilter's gloves with the little gripper dots, extension table and the Supreme Slider really help me. Practice, Practice , Practice............Key words. Don't give up, it will get easier and you will love it. :thumbup:

On the 401A to free motion, you can not lower the feed dogs, instead you use the lever on the front right bed of the machine to RAISE the throat plate above the dogs. It will say "Throat Plate Position" use the UP position. If I am doing a meander stitch, I used the #3 red lever setting, put on a darning foot and go. I keep like a scrap sandwich close by and start each session by doing a run or so on it. Just to get the hands and a good flow going. I think puzzle pieces, dog bones, waves, comma strokes, waves with circles in them like a scroll, just anything, the quilt police does not know where I live...
so I do what I want.
Many of my practice pieces wind up as potholders in my kitchen... another thing if you want a more designed look, use a pencil and paper and draw what you want it to look like, then practice on that paper with just your needle and no thread in machine..
Now I can never duplicate what I draw so I make a copy and if I like it have been known to make several and use them on my small projects, then tear off.. what ever works for you... don't be afraid to experiment...

I recently heard that it takes an average of 12 hours of practice.

Thanks tnjacke for the information and encouragement. I need all I can get! I like all your ideas and am eager to try a pattern on paper. I had not thought of that.

At this point, I hope 12 hours is all it takes! I did however feel a tiny bit of progress after one hour, so maybe there is hope :)

i have a 401 and it is machine i do all of my sewing on but i do free motion quilting on my 15-91 i set all of machines up for certain things so i go from machine to machine depending on what i am doing but I cant see any reason why a 401 wouldnt do what you want that is my favorite machine i have two of them drop the feed and put a darning foot on and go for it practice is the best advise happy sewing

Don't you just love the 401? I love mine, but wasn't sure if I could FMQ on it. I know now you can, but I have a lot of practicing to do before I feel accomplished enough to actually quilt something. I will start with a potholder after I get enough practice.

I am still working on FMQ on my 401, but one thing I do also is to adjust the pressure on the pressure foot so I can move the material around more freely.

I am still working on FMQ on my 401, but one thing I do also is to adjust the pressure on the pressure foot so I can move the material around more freely.[/quote]

Thanks for the tip!

Hi. I am a newbie but have been reading the board for about a year. I also wanted to learn FNQ but every time I tried I would tighten up like a spring on a over wound clock. I saw a cd in a catalog by Judy Hansen. Free-Motion Machine Quilting Class for newbies. I didn't order it because I live about 25 miles from her shop. I went up there and bought it. (about $26 to $28 with Flordia tax. I watched the cd and then went to my sewing machine and did what she said. It wasn't perfect but it better than I have ever done before. I have only done SIAD or straight stitching on quilts. She has a web site - Quilt Shop of Deland.com. and I think you can order it from the web site. :)

if you put a block of wood next to the pedal so that you can "floor it" and only be going half speed THEN you only have moving the fabric as a variable. Also try writing your name every once in a while you will SEE your progress. Have fun, IMO FMQ is the greatest

This is great advice!!

Does the 401 have a vertical or horizontal bobbin? I've read that it is easier to free motion quilt on a machine with a vertical bobbin because of how the thread has to make the trip around the hook to make each individual stitch.

Here is an awesome video showing how Tsunami survivors are making Laga purses (to earn money) free motion quilting them on treadle machines!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tcy2dse68M

Towards the end of the video you can see the beautiful purses that they design with their FMQ

Does the 401 have a vertical or horizontal bobbin? I've read that it is easier to free motion quilt on a machine with a vertical bobbin because of how the thread has to make the trip around the hook to make each individual stitch.

Here is an awesome video showing how Tsunami survivors are making Laga purses (to earn money) free motion quilting them on treadle machines!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tcy2dse68M

It has a horizontal bobbin. Thanks for the video link. That is some really special work, and to think it is on a treadle machine! The purses are beautiful. I wish I had that much talent.

Towards the end of the video you can see the beautiful purses that they design with their FMQ[/quote]

Good idea! That's a new one for me. Thanks for the tip.

I have a Singer 401 and haven't had any luck FMQ on it. I use my 15-91's, 201-2-s, Necchi Bu Supernova. I have a Singer 404 which free motions really well, also...don't know why I can't get the 401 to work. Maybe others on the Board has had luck with the 401 and can give us some advice.

[quote=tnjacke]On the 401A to free motion, you can not lower the feed dogs, instead you use the lever on the front right bed of the machine to RAISE the throat plate above the dogs. It will say "Throat Plate Position" use the UP position. If I am doing a meander stitch, I used the #3 red lever setting, put on a darning foot and go.

401A QUESTION: Do you mean you can proceed to fmq with the throat plate in the UP position? and the throat plate doesn't wobble or tilt back & forth?
I've done fmq on my 401A (which I love) but I put cardstock over the feed dogs since they can't be lowered......
Thanks for the info you've already supplied; hope my question is clear because I don't like having to tape cardstock over the feed dogs and use the hole cut in it to stitch through.

[quote=postal packin' mama]Yes, the 400's and 500's have a lever on the right side that raises the needle plate above the feed dogs...instead of lowering the feed dogs, you raise the needle plate.

I'm still at the chicken feet stage on my FMQ on my 401. It's a nice machine, but I've found my Featherweight (which has the vertical bobbin) to do a better job.

I'm really interested to read about all of these issues because it was my intent to use my Featherweight for piecing and my 401 for FMQ, instead of the other way around, so I could take advantage of all of the built in stitches.

Where do you adjust the pressure on the pressure foot? Mine seems to be set way down and it would be helpful to adjust it back. I've read the manual that came with the machine, but I don't remember anything about the pressure foot regulation.

Every bit of info helps me do a better job on FMQ on that machine!

Yes, On the 401 A, the throat plate or needle plate raises to just above the feed dogs.. by using the UP position it is still locked on the machine, you have to move the lever all the way left to unlock the plate.. I have been sewing on the 401A since 1960 or 1961 when I got my first one, I now have a second one for back up.
I have never had to adjust the pressure foot pressure for FMQ as my free motion foot does NOT touch the fabric, it is like 1/8 above the fabric so it does not interfere with the moving of the material.
I actually have 6 Singer Machines in all. Treadle, featherweight from 1952 ( my 11th birthday present) 2 of 401A, ( free motion on it) Singer Golden Touch & Sew 750, Singer Confidence Quilter 7469 (which I use daily now) I also have my Bernina 1630 which I loved for Heirloom sewing.

Yes, On the 401 A, the throat plate or needle plate raises to just above the feed dogs.. by using the UP position it is still locked on the machine, you have to move the lever all the way left to unlock the plate.. I have been sewing on the 401A since 1960 or 1961 when I got my first one, I now have a second one for back up.
I have never had to adjust the pressure foot pressure for FMQ as my free motion foot does NOT touch the fabric, it is like 1/8 above the fabric so it does not interfere with the moving of the material.
I actually have 6 Singer Machines in all. Treadle, featherweight from 1952 ( my 11th birthday present) 2 of 401A, ( free motion on it) Singer Golden Touch & Sew 750, Singer Confidence Quilter 7469 (which I use daily now) I also have my Bernina 1630 which I loved for Heirloom sewing.

If you have the manual for 401A.. go to page 24 and you will find the pressure adjustments. If not, facing the machine, look at the top back, about even with the thread guide you see a round button thingie.. this is the pressure screw. to decrease presure turn upward, to increase turn it down... Hope this helps.

I really like your idea of making potholders out of the squares you practice on. Thanks!

LOL! You made me chuckle!! :D