I traced a pattern on my block. I have my darning foot on my machine. I did not drop the feed dogs. I quilted the pattern going slowly with both hands feeding the material. It isn't FMQ, is it just machine quilting?

When I tried to FMQ using the darning foot I got bird's nests all over the back so that is when I put the feed dogs back up.

This is not an important question, but I'd like to know what to call what I'm doing. Whatever it is I like it.

Hi Betty, I call it FMQ. I always leave my feed dogs up. I like the control it gives me. If you aren't just sewing a straight seam, then it is FMQ. I like using the darning foot, too. I am still learning but will jump in and try one of my big quilts in next few weeks.

In a way you did do free motion quilting.

On many machines you can raise the prssure thing on top of the machine - this is what makes the presser foot hold firm. Feeddogs do not have to be done for FMQ. i did a whole baby quilt never realized I had not dropped the feeddogs, all was fine.

Maybe you could call your Design Guided Free Motion?
Julie

A number of folks FMQ with the feed dogs engaged. If you are moving the fabric in all directions, (up down left right) that is what is usually called free motion quilting. But if you are happy with the results, then who cares what it's called!

it is suggested that when you leave feed dogs up then stitch length dialed down to 0 so they won't move against the hand motion

Seems like you were free motion quilting to me since you were guiding where the fabric was going.

Hi Holice! :D

I FMQ with the feed dogs up or down, which ever works better for that project :D:D:D

i've done it with them up (in a class! ) and with them down. moving the quilt yourself is FMQ.

What type of sewing machine are you using?

I'd say since you were following a pattern you drew on the top - that is machine quilting. Free Motion is free - no pattern.

I could be wrong!