If I stencil a pattern on a quilt can I stitch it using my walking foot? Or do I have to lower the feed dogs and do it that way?

If the curves are gentle enough, you can do it with a walking foot. Or maybe most people can do anything, but I can only do simple things.

If you are not stitching straight lines, I would just drop the feed dogs and use a darning foot instead of the walking foot.

If you are stitching straight lines, then yes, the walking foot and don't drop the feed dogs.

I am so afraid to mess up my quilt. I just want to do a simple stitch on the borders. Yikes!!!

I understand your fear. That's why I don't like to drop the feed dogs and use a darning foot. I'm just not able to move the quilt properly yet. I need all the help those dogs will give me!!

Oh I definitely need those dogs too!!! I know that I should just do it but somehow it has been weeks and I cant seem to get the courage to continue

I know how you feel. I am afraid of ruining a top I spent a lot of time on. So I use a practice square every so often to try free motion quilting... Maybe some day I will get past my fear.

As to quilting your stenciled fabric, is the stencil really complex? If it is, I might hand quilt... (See, I take the easy way out! :lol: :lol: )

I just want to do something simple in the borders but I dont want to do a diagonal or diamond. Any other suggestions? It is a border 4 inches and another border 3 inches. Both borders are together.

I find that using the gloves with the sticky stuff on the palms and fingers help me to move the quilt when I drop the feed dogs.
Some advice says to try to go as fast as you can when you drop the feed dogs, but I find that if I can go slower at a steady pace, I have more luck. If you can, set your machine up to stop with the needle down.
Practice on scrap squares, and you will get the hand of it. Just try to do a small area at a time.
Good luck
Debra in Ontario

I am able to stop the machine with the needle down. I will keep practicing and see what I can do. Thanks for all the help.

There is a very basic continuous diamond stencil that you could do with your walking foot. I don't know how to draw & show it here, but just stitch following the zig & zag all the way down the side closest to your quilt, and then go back to the top & zig & zag all the way down the opposite side, it works great & you don't have to turn your quilt much.

thats a good idea

mema

never a stupid question. Yes you can use your walking foot. Just take it slow. Start small and check your work and if you don't like it you can always take it out. Hope it helps.

There and no stupid questions here. If there were I'm sure I would have been the one asking them. I can't see any reason you couldn't use your walking foot and leave the feed dogs up if there aren't any major curves. The most important thing is have fun doing it.

I've been able to use the walking foot with gentle curves (more like waves) - it helped when I lessened the pressure of my pressure foot from its normal 6 to 3.

I use a walking foot for most of my quilts, unless hand quilted. Just go SLOW and take your time. Gentle curves like a cable can be done. This site may give you some ideas as you what you can do. They also have a lot of continuous patterns which would be pretty easy. Hope this helps.

http://quiltingstencils.com/

I have done a gentle curve on borders using the walking foot, it works great. Keep practicing FM I was soooo afraid till just lately and it has improved greatly. Enough to even give a quilt away.. Good luck

lyn

Well after all the great encouragement I am going to try to do some waves and use the walking foot. At least that is what I am thinking now. LOL!!! I will let everyone know and then post a picture. Thanks for everyone for all your help and encouragement.

yes, have fun