A closer matching thread will make all the difference in the world!

Make some practice 'sandwiches' - back/batting/top. Keep the grainline straight between your hands - if you pull on a crossgrain, you'll get puckers and stretch it out of shape. PPP - practice, practice, practice. If funds are a factor, you can use water soluble thread in the bobbin, and when you are done, get the 'sandwich' wet, pull the thread off the top and you're ready to go again when it dries.

Hang in there, and don't forget to BREATHE!!!

When I started FMQ I had to mark my fabric with a pattern and learn to follow it. I am far from perfect now but it did make it easier when I had something to follow.

yes! I have seen meander templates, that's a great idea!

I feel your pain - so many times it just doesn't look right, so I get out the ole ripper. All the suggestions have been spot on - My suggestion is stitch in the ditch - your beautiful quilt has a diagonal "personality" so I would do diagonal stitch in the ditch on this one.
Just my two cents worth.

I have not had much luck with machine quilting. I made myself a couple of sandwiches to practice on tho and with lots of practice, I AM getting better, but only with meandering. I have yet to even try free hand designs. I think the key is practice, practice, practice and do so on scrap fabrics. Your quilt is otherwise very nice and will look beautiful once you get the hang of the machine quilting. You'll feel so good you persevered. Hang in there, it is not easy. Oh yeah, a glass of wine might help. LOL

You can remove the stitcjong with razor blade by JUST touching the stitches, but it is easier to do with small
(28mm or 18mm) rotary cutter. Hold like a spoon and gently touch the threads while pulling the layers apart gentlt!!
Try it with some scrap pieces firdst, A caveat tho: you will have to pick out threads from both sides of your piece as it only cuts not pulls it out as you rip. Good luck and let me know if you perfect the technique.
I have done all my unsewing this way for years and it goes so fast that I do not mind picking off the threads.
It really is a lovely quilt and well worth the time to do over.

I run one of the lint rollers over each piece when I'm done unsewing instead of picking out pieces of thread - works great!

I have been using painters tape that I have in the house from the last time we painted. I actually use painters tape for lots of taping thing. Like for presents. no one ever says anything about my tape jobs. hehe
but the painters tape works great. you wrap it around your hand and pat both sides. picks it up real fast and doesn't make it sticky.

stitch in the ditch around the squares. This will stabilize it for when you do the quilting. the more square quilting design looks better than the other more circular designs. pin and pin as you quilt. Even tho I may have basted the quilt, I still use the long yellow pins in front of the pressure foot to help hole the layers in place.
You might also consider varigated thread. This will give texture rather than new design and will less noticable. It has already been suggested, but it appears that you need more practice to get curves more even and the long lines straighter and more even. ......and go slow. Don't try to be fast. There is more control. And any time you feel you are loosing control of the quilting - such as needing to move hands, stop with needle down and regrip and then begin. Always leave needle down. That way the quilt doesn't shift as you are repositioning. Then when you start up again, let the needle got up and down a couple times in place until you feel you have control and ready to move out.

Thanks to everyone for the great ideas! I am getting ready to do a lot of frogging here pretty soon and intend to now use the skinning method. The tape idea for pulling loose threads is pure genius. HUGS to all.

We Shall Overcome! That is the song running through my head. Trying out my shortarm today for the first time, wanna compare? Pretty! Pretty Ugly, that is!

Love the design of your quilt! Ultimately be happy you go forward and fix so that you're happy with it. I have been quilting for about 6 years, on/off and still consider myself a definite beginner. I love reading magazines and books as they help me learn of new ways to do things. And then discovering this board was wonderful. My first few quilts essentially fell apart :roll: ... wrong batting and tried to tie! :shock: BIG ball of batting at bottom of quilt after washing... it was actually kind of humorous after it sunk in.. After that I stuck to quilting in the ditch and chose appropriate batting for how close/far I'd be quilting. The first few quilts I "meander/stipple" quilted were fine but not great. Certainly didnt have the very geometric roundish shape I see so many do (lots of "oops"... and sharp turns :))... I dont think I'll ever have a long arm and dont think I'll do too much more than I already do (unless there's an easy way for my ADHD brain to do it- lol!).... Was happy with last quilt which I just had fun playing with border.... kind of went to town messing around. Used the darning foot with feed dogs lowered and have been pleased with result. It's FAR from perfect.... since I still havent achieved conquering the sewing of a straight line, it's a bit too poochy in places and should have trimmed the red seem (where meets white border) more so there wasnt such a definite ledge, BUT overall.... I really learned from it, had a great time... think it will stand the test of time and has been keeping us warm. So all good. It's fun for me to try new things with new quilts but often am quilting baby quilts for friends and get scared to do something outside my comfort level. We've been in need of some quilts around our place so have been sewing several for "us" (which is a true first) and just playing... lots of fun. Great book I found..... includes WAY more info than I'll ever use but some really nice ideas: Dancing with Thread by Ann Fahl ... your guide to free-motion quilting. Gives some good ideas on variations on the standard meander/stipple, like trying circles etc. Attaching a pic of this last quilt and did some wavy loops in the red border using King Tuts varigated thread (love that stuff)... Good luck... it's a beautiful quilt!

Leigh

The quilt looks great, but the dark top quilting is throwing it off. I would take out all the top quilting, yes a seam ripper is needed. I'd stick with 1 pattern style instead of a different one on each block and if you can use monofilament thread, then that would be better, by doing that your fabrics and piecing would show up better. Hope that helps! I've ripped many a stitching out myself!
Kind Regards,
MaryAnna

You could do a corner to corner straight stitch. It's easy, goes fast and looks great. Don't forget to pin a lot and then pin some more. I've found that pinning is the secret to smooth quilting. And don't forget your walking foot. The guides help you keep your lines straight. I also do the cross hatch often. It gives it a great look.

I have found that charity quilts are a great place to practice FMQ. The humane society is always glad to receive your gifts...the dogs and kitties are not at all critical, and you are getting some real time experience. Also, to practice on a small item like placemats or tablerunners helps...not so much bulk to deal with! And practice, practice, practice! You'll get better with each project, and try to do some FM every day, even if it is just a few minutes of practice...that is where you will get your rhythm! If you will sandwich up your batting leftovers and stack them up, you will always have a ready supply of practice pieces....and even those little squares are a comfort for a little kitten to keep them off of the grate of their cages! And keep up the good work...you have gotten a lot of good suggestions here....aren't these gals wonderful?!

I applaud your attempt!

and i agree. take it out,and do in the ditch or even a cross hatch.
Practice FMQ on a muslin sandwich..you can draw easy designs,with soft curves on it with a marker, and then try to follow the lines..with a contrasting thread..

this is the kind of project(removing the stitches) that should be done out in the yard..calmly.
if you lived closer, i would help you! Make sure the seam ripper has the smaller head on it..those stitches look tiny!

I guess I am the dissenter here in this group. I agree with everyone else about taking out and all the "tips", they are great...but....you know what??? I think that if you added some more "wonky, childlike quilting" in the rest of the quilt that it would be an adorable quilt!! A child would absolutely love it! Just do the additional quilting in a light gray or white or even invisable thread. This will continue to let you practice, but you will end up with something really cute in the end. Who ever said that all your quilts have to look "adult and perfect"???? There are lots of "styles" out there, lets use them ALL :D

Well, thats my opinion and I'm stickin' to it... :lol: :lol:

Practice, practice, oractice

Guess I'm weird but I kinda like the child-like meandering in the blocks. It has a kind of charm. Unless yuou plan to give it to someone as a gift, I'd keep it just as it is. The only thing I would do is take out stitches in the white area and either stitch in the ditch or echo stitch. You can say you planned it that way. And everytime you look at it you can smile when you compare it to your future attempts. Just my 2-cents.

That's a wonderful option! And sure beats ripping out seams! It all depends on what you were planning to use this quilt for... if it's just for you, or a child, then this is an excellent idea and you'll get more practice time. If you change the color of the thread and add a couple of other colors, it would look like 'abstract art'. There are many solutions!
Kind Regards,
MaryAnna

I have a tool for skinning but don't know what it is called. There is a straight or curved razor on the end of a handle. It works pretty good but don't get distracted or you could lose your top. Hint: aim your razor towards the batting (on an angle) so if you slip or get distracted your blade will go into the batting. I would practice this a little before you try it on a quilt. I have done it many times and so far have not lost any tops or backs. Don't watch TV, listen to an audio book or talk on the phone while doing this. Good luck.

Great idea. I have also read about drawing your design on paper then taking a un-threaded needle and sewing over it. You will be practicing sewing your design this way too. Then you can use a pounce (powder) to mark it on your quilt over the paper you have marked with your needle. I know it sounds confusing but it really isn't. If you don't know what a pounce is look it up on the internet and that will help make it clear for you.

If this is your first quilt that you have quilted I would leave it like it is and keep it as your first quilt... Then as you improve you will see how far you have come...

The colors are pleasing. Whenever I make this kind of mess it is because I got in a hurry. But then the cure takes more time and effort than doing it slowly and correctly. My advice is to put it aside, do something else, practice, practice, and practice some more.Revisit this quilt when you can pretend you bought it at a yard sale and saw its potential. Then you can imagine the inexperienced quilter that you will redeem by doing it beautifully, for her. Happy sewing.

It looks like, to me anyway, that you need to make up some practice sandwiches and do more practicing before tackling your quilt top. Get comfortable with some designs first. It does take practice and more practice. Sometimes it helps to draw your design on paper first or a dry erase board. Just draw it over and over until that design is imprinted on your brain and you can practically do it without thinking. Then when you get to your sewing machine, it'll be way easier and you'll be happy in the end. This of course after you'be ripped out all you did before. Good luck!

Don't be disheartened, I just took out a row I longarmed in, of a very densely quilted pattern. I almost didn't and then decided I would never be happy with it unless I did. I too invited my husband to help, it took a bit of time (3 days) but now that I redid it I LOVE IT. That's how we learn and improve. Best of Luck in whatever you choose to do.

In my first machine quilting class I learned that you need to "stabilize" the quilt with evenly spaced stitching across and down the middle and the edges. Then you keep dividing it up into smaller sections and then it's much easier to look at just that section and do loops or meandering, to me the stippling where you don't cross a line is REALLY hard! It also helps to take a piece of paper and a pen and practice drawing designs in a continuous line as this reinforces the "patern" on you muscles. Most of all, do practice on a scrap sandwich each time before you start to quilt on the "real thing"

Jan

I haven't been doing FMQ very long. What I've found best for me is to trace my design (either from a book, a stencil, whatever) on tissue-type paper. I use Golden Threads that I buy by the roll from my quilt shop. If you're using the design multiple times, trace the design for a block once then cut out enough paper squares for all your blocks. Staple them together at the corners then stitch the pattern on your machine without thread through all the sheets (you can do 10 or more at a time). Take out the staples, pin one pattern on top of your block, then follow the lines with your sewing machine. After you've sewn the pattern, carefully tear off the paper.

Oh the frog stitch is my least favorite. (Rip-it! Rip-it!)
But we all need to do that now and then. Patience is a virtue. And your piecing and fabrics are very nice on that piece, so it would be a crying shame to just ditch it.

You've gotten some really useful tips here. The medium value thread color will be less noticeable--maybe a nice medium grey? The pinning is crucial. But the practice is key. Practice practice practice.


I doodle a lot, even now, and I have been machine quilting for almost 10 years. I doodle on paper, and on dry erase whiteboards and I doodle on fabric with my machine. Just plain old muslin works fine , but it's so boring. So lately I have been using up some stash that I wonder why I bought, and practicing new designs on that. Practice practice practice.

The regualr designs are more difficult, and the random designs are simpler. Here is an interesting blogger who is machine quilting on her domestic machine and trying to come up with a different design every day. She has some beauties that are a nice change from stippling and no harder. Practice practice practice.

Please let us see it after you have reworked it. I'm sure it will be worth your time and trouble. Good luck!

[quote=StitchinJoy]

The regular designs are more difficult, and the random designs are simpler. Here is an interesting blogger who is machine quilting on her domestic machine and trying to come up with a different design every day. She has some beauties that are a nice change from stippling and no harder. Practice practice practice.

quote]

And HERE is the web link: http://www.freemotionquilting.blogspot.com/

A great way to practice machine quilting is to use your scraps and make some lap quilts for nursing homes or small quilts for children in hospitals or foster care. Then you've got a great "canvas" for practicing the quilting and I guarantee no one will refuse your gift because they don't like the quilting!

Jan

You've been given some very great advice which I will take for myself also. I'm a domestic machine quilter (and sometimes hand quilter). I just stick to stitch in the ditch and crosshatching. That little quilt would probably look nice with stitching in the ditch (with white thread, or perhaps the LIGHT blue). And you now what?---- If you don't care to rip and start over, I'd just tie and clip all the loose thread ends, put a binding on there and use the little quilt. There are surely more to come. Each one will improve. Good luck. Never give up.

I just recently got a long arm quilting machine and my first tries were so horrible!! I was trying to do more than my skill and it showed. I see all these videos where they just GO FOR IT and so FAST that I thought that I had to do that too. Heck no... at least not yet. I thought it would be "cheating" to mark my pattern. I also found that I was starting quilting without having a very clear idea of what I was going to do.

My advice is to start simply, plan it out, and mark your pattern.

I, personally haven't tried it yet! Kind of afraid to do it. But when I do... going to take your advise Kathy & think of a jig saw puzzle. Thanks for the tip!

Thank you shibori!!! I too have been trying to quilt with my long arm. I have been cutting out with a seem rapper. I have found a scalpel on line for 5 dollars. I am using an old quilt top that was badly put together. I am not very skillful with the long arm but I am improving. This tool may make it a little easier it is worth a try. you guys are the best. :thumbup:

I want to applaud you for your courage in showing your attempt at quilting! If it were me I'd have been too cowardly. As a matter of fact, I'm too cowardly to even attempt my own machine quilting. If it's a large quilt, I take it to a quilter. If it's not too large, I hand quilt. So, you're doing much better than I am. And this is after at least ten years of quilt making.
Keep on practicing! That's the answer. Nothing as wonderful as lovely quilting comes without a lot of prep and practice. 8-) ;-)

I think all of us have had moments like that. I agree with almost everyone, save the quilt and take the stitching out carefully. It won't really take that long. My suggestion: handquilt it. You will be surprised how easy it is and relaxing. I am big on handquilting.
Good luck - Karin

I feel your pain. I've been trying to FMQ over the past 4-5 quilts. I think I have gotten better over time, however I just finished one that I am really not very happy with the quilting. The quilting I used this time was only meandering. I haven't really done a lot of meandering, but am fairly comfortable doing FMQ (once I get the speeds coordinated). To me the top looks like it was just scribbled on in places. The culprit is definitely the thread color. I matched the thread to one of the color and to the main color on the back, but where the quilting goes through lighter colors is where it looks bad. I am not going to change it though....live and learn. :)

I have had to take all the quilting out of a quilt because it was all wrong. I left it for quite a while before I tackled it. Its quite satisfing doing it because you can start with a blank canvas so to speak and look it over and decide from there. Practice on some scraps with a bit of wadding first thats really helpful

I am so glad that I am not the only one! I was told once to practise "drawing" the quilting meander on paper with a pencil so that the "shape" gets fixed in your brain before you go to the machine to quilt. I find that this works for me (plus a gin and tonic - LARGE!) Really though just get in the zone and practise. Good luck.