Starting Free Motion/Scared to death...
10-23-2020, 05:31 AM
#11
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 2,867
Draw your pattern repeatedly - I use a dry erase board - to increase muscle memory, Set the machine the way you want it, put on your favorite music and gloves, take a deep breath, exhale and FMQ. Start simple - large meandering or loops and enjoy yourself.
10-23-2020, 05:47 AM
#12
Power Poster
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Southern USA
Posts: 15,912
Nothing to be scared of. I use to do a lot of free motion machine quilting but found using a ruler to follow is so much easier. I started with using a walking foot and straight edge ruler. Now I am comfortable with the quilting rulers making intricate designs. It's faster and looks much better then my free hand quilting.
10-23-2020, 06:51 AM
#13
Super Member
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Sunny Florida
Posts: 4,422
1,2,3, Jump!
It's ok to experience some hesitation. Don't let it keep you from the adventure of trying new techniques. Think of the fun you will have looking back on your samples down the line.
Remember, everyone starts somewhere!
It's ok to experience some hesitation. Don't let it keep you from the adventure of trying new techniques. Think of the fun you will have looking back on your samples down the line.
Remember, everyone starts somewhere!
10-24-2020, 02:44 AM
#15
Super Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Boothbay Maine
Posts: 9,518
I’m not great at feathers either sewingpup...I have taken every FMQ feathers class I can think of but my brain just doesn’t work that way. Luckily I have several other designs that are similar to feathers without having to back track or have perfect plumes. You quickly learn what you can and cannot do well...LOL
10-24-2020, 03:24 AM
#16
Super Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Central NM
Posts: 1,576
Since I'm starting this new adventure, I need to change my sewing room dynamics. To the right of my sewing table I have 20x40 computer table where I have a collection of storage containers for sewing notions. "Beverage-of-the-hour" sits there, along with a small TV perched on cookbooks. (DH hasn't missed these.) So moved those around to make room for my lap top. Took the sewing machine out of the "well" in the table, put the insert in so I have a place to practice drawing while watching YOU Tube videos.
OMG, this is so nice. DH says he misses me since I'm no longer at the computer which used to be in a corner of the living room. He has to walk further to give me updates from Internet. He also said I will probably come out of my "retreat" only when hungry, thirsty, or need the bathroom....and he may be right!!!
Not sure if this will help the learning curve but worth a try.
OMG, this is so nice. DH says he misses me since I'm no longer at the computer which used to be in a corner of the living room. He has to walk further to give me updates from Internet. He also said I will probably come out of my "retreat" only when hungry, thirsty, or need the bathroom....and he may be right!!!
Not sure if this will help the learning curve but worth a try.
10-24-2020, 06:09 AM
#18
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Waterford Michigan
Posts: 7,241
FMQ will become very relaxing with practice. I started with stippling and have moved onward to motifs. I carefully outline what I want to do and things just fall into place as I go along. I am still at the deep breath and get things rolling phase of ruler quilting. I know your feeling and anticipation all to well.
10-24-2020, 08:50 AM
#20
Super Member
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 4,348
What's the worst that can happen? It's just fabric and it's likely a good idea to use cheaper fabric to start out with.
I try to make my quilt practice sandwiches (I usually use about a fat quarter ), ideally out of one side light and one side dark and use a light thread. That way you can see on the dark side how your stitches look and on the light side how it would look with matching thread on an actual quilt.
I always suggest you begin with a box, like you have and start with one motif and really nail it. Mark your sandwich into 4 boxes. It might be meandering or my favourite, paisleys, or loops like making a big lower case e and then a small lower case e, or anything you think feels natural to you. Some people draw it out, I can't draw worth spit, so that doesn't help me, but it might you.
If your machine has a speed control, find out what is a good speed that your hands can move comfortably with and then set the speed control to that. Then, you can push the pedal all the way down while you FMQ and only concentrate on your hand movement and the machine will keep the same speed for you.
While I was learning to meander the best advice I got was that if I got stuck about where to go next, I should stitch balloon capital letters like T and H until I got going on my own again.
Above all, don't be afraid to stop and think about where you are going next if you need to. Those people you see in the videos have been doing this a long time so they have a lot of muscle memory and experience....it will take some time to figure out how to get into and out of corners etc.
Also, once one sandwich is done, you can just baste another piece of fabric on top and use it again one more time, although you won't be able to see your stitches on the back, but you save a bit of batting and backing.
Leah Day is great for watching her do the same pattern over and over. Check out her Paisley pattern. You might like it and it teaches you a lot of techniques in one go and is a great filler.
Watson
I try to make my quilt practice sandwiches (I usually use about a fat quarter ), ideally out of one side light and one side dark and use a light thread. That way you can see on the dark side how your stitches look and on the light side how it would look with matching thread on an actual quilt.
I always suggest you begin with a box, like you have and start with one motif and really nail it. Mark your sandwich into 4 boxes. It might be meandering or my favourite, paisleys, or loops like making a big lower case e and then a small lower case e, or anything you think feels natural to you. Some people draw it out, I can't draw worth spit, so that doesn't help me, but it might you.
If your machine has a speed control, find out what is a good speed that your hands can move comfortably with and then set the speed control to that. Then, you can push the pedal all the way down while you FMQ and only concentrate on your hand movement and the machine will keep the same speed for you.
While I was learning to meander the best advice I got was that if I got stuck about where to go next, I should stitch balloon capital letters like T and H until I got going on my own again.
Above all, don't be afraid to stop and think about where you are going next if you need to. Those people you see in the videos have been doing this a long time so they have a lot of muscle memory and experience....it will take some time to figure out how to get into and out of corners etc.
Also, once one sandwich is done, you can just baste another piece of fabric on top and use it again one more time, although you won't be able to see your stitches on the back, but you save a bit of batting and backing.
Leah Day is great for watching her do the same pattern over and over. Check out her Paisley pattern. You might like it and it teaches you a lot of techniques in one go and is a great filler.
Watson
Last edited by Watson; 10-24-2020 at 08:52 AM.
