A question for those of you quilting on a DSM
 

Do any of the rest of you have a "fear" of doing the quilting on your DSM?

It mystifies me that I am plagued with this each time I sandwich a quilt and get ready to do the quilting.

I've been sewing since my early teens and making quilts for about a dozen years. Initially I did it all by hand as I thought that was what you were "supposed to do". But love how much faster it is piecing by machine and even if I have tension problems the quilting itself is much faster as well.

So why do I have this irrational hesitation as if I'm doomed to mess up?

Practice on large squares of felt, you will soon feel more comfortable. At least that worked for me!

Sandwiching the quilt well enough so my quilting doesn't cause pleats, puckers, and toe catchers is my worst fear. I'm reading posts about good quality batting can help keep fabric from slipping while quilting. That could be my problem.

If it is a large quilt or heavy I do the quilting in sections leaving about an inch free on the seam side for joining. The only time I get a big quilt is when I do the seam joining and quilt over in the pattern. I find it mush less stressful than quilting on the whole quilt all the time. My procrastination has reduced since I started doing this.

I don't know. I've not been quilting nearly as long as you & I love the quilting part. One thing that really helps me is marking my entire quilt top before I layer it. That way I have a rough idea of how I'm going to quilt it (no need to stay perfectly on the lines -- they're just there as guidance & come out in the wash). Before I knew I could do that, it was a much bigger struggle to try anything creative & I was constantly unsewing, unsewing, unsewing.

I'm quilting a queen sized Lone Star on my DSM. I heavily starched the backing & starched the top as I pieced it, which helps prevent any puckers or pleats. Then I marked it & pinned, pinned & pinned. I have over 957 2 inch safety pins in it. I use my ironing board to help support it as I go. I'm also doing Machine embroidery on it. The last one I did I messed up one embroidery design & it took me all day to pick it out. I look at mistakes as learning sessions ;). It also proves we are not perfect, nor are our quilts.

I feel the same. My quilt may sit there for a day or 2 all ready to quilt up. I am afraid that what I do to it may not turn out perfectly. I have to just jump in and start.

Mary

I feel the same. I am fmq a queen size DWR on my Janome. I want to get that thing done. (Long story)
I was so afraid of the border. I knew I wanted some feathers and they are not my strong suit. After hours of internet searches and a craftsy class I jumped in. Is it perfect? No way! But it will be just fine. I am my worst critic.
Every quilt is a learning process and I get better each time.

sounds like to me you are afraid of messing up but want you to know fmq is just that free motion nothing else. Just enjoy it