stencils and quilting
 

I understand the concept and all and really want to try this but wondering if you use a free motion foot or a walking foot and with feed dogs up or down.
Thanks,
Evelyn

free motion and feed dogs down this way it can slide about
show us what you do. goodluck

And this is with drawing the lines from a stencil? Thanks for your help.

OK, free motion quilting is with the feed dogs down (usually) and a darning foot (has spring on the shaft). I did that on a border with large leaves pattern. worked well since the design was continuous. But not all stencil designs work for FMQing. I've used stencils and then done the designs by regular stitching. sometimes with walking foot.

What nativetexan said. :)

Some stencils are all straight lines - for those I use a walking foot. My machine has one built-in.

For curvy lines, I use the darning foot and do free-motion quilting (FMQ). Personally I do better with the feed dogs left up, but it seems to be something that really varies from person to person. FMQ isn't generally something you want to do for the first time on a quilt that's important; it's a good idea to practice on small quilt sandwiches made from scraps. Make yourself a bunch of potholders. :)

I learned a lot from watching Leah Day videos. She has hundreds of them - literally; she did a new stitch every day for a full year. She has an interesting blog too.

I use my darning foot and drop the feed dogs to FMQ. I do really like using the stencils because I am not talented enough to freehand things. I agree with the others that not all stencils are continuous line, but I do the best I can and stop if I have to and start over in another spot. I am not very good, but practice practice practice.. I get a little better as time goes by good luck

depends on the stencil if it is a crosshatching stencil I use my walking foot with feed dogs up and free motion/dogs down for others, you can also do gentle curves with the walking foot so like I say it really depends on your stencil

Different teachers say different things about the feed dogs up or down. You have to try for yourself and see what you and your machine like best. Most teachers say feed dogs down. I've tried it both ways. Actually had feeddogs up inadvertently last night. It gave me a bit more control. I usually use fd down

Oops above post was for free motion quilting. Feed dogs are always up with a walking foot

fmq is with the feed dogs down and darning foot....straight line quilting is with walking foot and feet dogs up....after marking the line with stencils, I do fmq.....whichever way takes lots of practice...and regardless of what someone tells you, stitching in the ditch is not easy!