I bought some backing that has the machine quilting pattern already on it to try my hand at MQ on my domestic machine.
Problem is I can't find out how to use it. My question:

What foot do I use??? Walking or darning??

I bought the Supreme Slider, gloves, basting spray, anything I can think of to help.

I've been a real chicken about trying it. Thanks for any help!
Sue

if the design has curves and twirls, you need to use the darning foot and make sure you drop your feed dogs. The walking foot is only good for straight lines or shallow curves.

I've seen the fabric you're talking about but never used it. I suggest that you test a piece of fabric to make sure the design marks come off..wash it, etc. before you go thru the work of doing a whole quilt.

Could you post a pick of the fabric. I've never seen it but it sound like a great learning tool. If it's a meandering pattern use your darning foot and drop the feed dogs. I think you're going to do great. Keep us posted.

What fabric is it. Size, pattern etc.
Benartex has printed a 108" wide fabric of a meandering feather design. It is blue printing in a wash out ink and should wash out. There is another that is more like a panel with various designs on it. The one I have is NOT printed in wash out ink. I use the Benartex in my machine quilting class and is successful in helping to follow lines.

We need more information to know which it is.

It's Benartex, good weight. Let me get pics

That's a pretty pattern, but too hard for me. My walking foot would never make curves that sharp --- at least not with me driving it!

Let us know how it turns out.

If it was me, I would use my walking foot as I have not tried free motion quilting yet. I use my walking foot to go around all kind of tight curves as I use it to stitch around flower applique. You just have to use the needle down & lift the presser foot to adjust the fabric when making turns or tight curves.

How big is the quilt you are doing? If it is quite small, you might be able to do that pattern with a walking foot, but it would involve far more manipulation of the quilt than I would want to do. If it's larger than a twin, I would definitely do free motion.

I personally am not a fan of that fabric except as a tool to learn how to free motion. The problem I see is that since you are working from the back, your quilting does not relate to the pieced work of the quilt top (unless you have been very clever and very fussy about lining everything up). I like to see the quilting stitch design relate to the top -- not just be a design that is plonked down.

What I would probably do with that fabric is make a whole cloth sandwich in pretty fabric, and use the project to perfect my free motion skills, then do a quilt top (with the top upwards) with free motion design similar to the curves and swoops I had learned from the practice work.

RST

The quilt is about 60 X 70

Yes, that fabric is wash out. It was designed with the intention to quilt from the back which some may not be able to do successfully. As stated, it is great for practice free motion quilting. I use it in my machine quilting classes so students can practice following the lines in free motion.

Thank you for the information on these quilt backs :D
I think these would be awesome for quite a few quilt patterns :D:D:D

I appreciate the knowledge everyone!! Will keep you posted.

I agree!!!! and It really does work great with small projects, but is meant to be used with the darning foot for all the swirly design's.

I would worry about how the top would look if I quilt from the back.

I have some to practice FMQ, but was planning on just doing a whole cloth quilt with it.

Hmmmm........ I bought an obscene amount of yardage when Fabric.com had a special on Amazon but the price was wrong and I got it for 7.98 a yard and it's about 110 inches wide!!

Don't be afraid of Free Motion Quilting. Once you get started, it's like doodling on paper - only on fabric.
Make yourself some 12" squares of two layers of fabric with some sort of batting inbetween - even an old towel or flannel sheet will do.
Lower your feed dogs, put on your darning foot, pressure foot DOWN, and put the pedal to the metal and go!
You'll be shakey at first, but put your palms down on either side of the needle and slide it around. In no time, you can write your name even!
The key for me, is to have the speed fast enough. You don't want the fabric to pull on the needle as you slide it around.
Just go for it. Save your fancy fabric for after you've done some practicing on scraps.
You may have to adjust your tension if the top thread gets pulled to the back.

The main reason you'd quilt from the back is so you can concentrate on the free motion design and not get distracted by the pattern of the top. Often if freemotion quilting a top that has a specific pattern or a regular design in the piecing, you inevitably start following the pattern in the fabric and your FMQ suffers because of it.
If your tension is correct, you shouldn't be able to notice if it was quilted from the back or the front.
It also allows you to use thicker threads in your bobbin - the ones that break all the time when they go through the tension discs and the needle. Sometimes they work better when they're in the bobbin, so Upside-down quilting is the way to get the nice thread on the top!
There is no wrong way to quilt - just design opportunities!