Stippling....
#11
I've accidently left the feed dogs up and it doesn't work well on my machine. It grabs the fabric too much.
Practice a lot! It's the only way. Another thing that helps is to make sure the quilt can move freely. If you need to put another table nearby to support the weight, do so. It helps quite a bit. With practice, you will learn what speed works best for the machine and your hands.
I found it hard to do stippling at first. I'm getting better at it though. I do best with loops, stars, curliques. So that's mostly what I do since it looks the best. After awhile, you will find that the back looks as good as the front. I haven't done a whole lot of FMQ, maybe 6 or so quilts, but am now comfortable flipping my quilt over and quilting from the backside if I need to. For example, to quilt around the designs in the backing fabric.
Practice a lot! It's the only way. Another thing that helps is to make sure the quilt can move freely. If you need to put another table nearby to support the weight, do so. It helps quite a bit. With practice, you will learn what speed works best for the machine and your hands.
I found it hard to do stippling at first. I'm getting better at it though. I do best with loops, stars, curliques. So that's mostly what I do since it looks the best. After awhile, you will find that the back looks as good as the front. I haven't done a whole lot of FMQ, maybe 6 or so quilts, but am now comfortable flipping my quilt over and quilting from the backside if I need to. For example, to quilt around the designs in the backing fabric.
#12
For me the hardest thing to get used to was that I did not have to move in a straight line. Once I got the darning foot and let the thing move freely, it became easier. It does take getting used to though. I have only machine quilted 6 quilts...and this most recent one is tons better!!!
#14
Before stippling, set your machine up for the performance -
1. make sure the feed dog is down (or put your darning plate on)
2. increase the size of the stitches per inch
3. test the tension with a swatch so you can adjust it
4. use a new needle
5. make sure you use quilting thread and that the needle isn't too small for the thread. If it is the thread will keep breaking
6. be patient, be patient, be patient, practice, practice, practice
7. did I say be patient and practice a lot???????
Put a sample together (top fabric, batting, bottom fabric) and take your time. It's a "hands-on" kind of thing you just have to work at. Be patient. You can't rush this process. You will find that in time your technique will get better.
Use a pencil on a piece of paper and stipple with that first. Just get an idea of what you need to do with the pencil. This seems to help lessen the hesitation. Get comfortable with it. Get ideas from magazines or pictures and continue rolling your pencil all over the paper. No need to lift the pencil. After you have some idea of what to do, you won't hesitate when you work on your quilt. There are pencils and stencils to use as a guide if you want a particular design, but that will come in time.
At first I wasn't sure what type of squiggly line to make. I found loops to be easy and large L's too. Those overlap. The other type is what looks like a puzzle piece. No map on that, its basically freestyle.
Good luck and enjoy the stippling technique. You will find your comfort zone in time.
PS: When I get frustrated with it, I resort to my stash of Jack Daniels above the stove. LOL really!
1. make sure the feed dog is down (or put your darning plate on)
2. increase the size of the stitches per inch
3. test the tension with a swatch so you can adjust it
4. use a new needle
5. make sure you use quilting thread and that the needle isn't too small for the thread. If it is the thread will keep breaking
6. be patient, be patient, be patient, practice, practice, practice
7. did I say be patient and practice a lot???????
Put a sample together (top fabric, batting, bottom fabric) and take your time. It's a "hands-on" kind of thing you just have to work at. Be patient. You can't rush this process. You will find that in time your technique will get better.
Use a pencil on a piece of paper and stipple with that first. Just get an idea of what you need to do with the pencil. This seems to help lessen the hesitation. Get comfortable with it. Get ideas from magazines or pictures and continue rolling your pencil all over the paper. No need to lift the pencil. After you have some idea of what to do, you won't hesitate when you work on your quilt. There are pencils and stencils to use as a guide if you want a particular design, but that will come in time.
At first I wasn't sure what type of squiggly line to make. I found loops to be easy and large L's too. Those overlap. The other type is what looks like a puzzle piece. No map on that, its basically freestyle.
Good luck and enjoy the stippling technique. You will find your comfort zone in time.
PS: When I get frustrated with it, I resort to my stash of Jack Daniels above the stove. LOL really!
#15
You can photo copy the stipple template then place the paper on your quilt and sew over the papers, that's what I did to practice, of course then you have to tear away the papers. Now I can stipple t
With the best. Good luck.
With the best. Good luck.
#19
Originally Posted by stichy woman
I forgot to drop my feed dogs one time when I was free motion quilting and found that my stitches improved 100%. No kidding. I still used the darning foot which allowed for plenty of room to freely move the fabric. Not sure why it works, but it really truly does!
#20
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Mesa, Arizona
Posts: 2,201
Originally Posted by Rachel
the first time I did it, I bought a stippling stencil and marked the quilt. It gave me a good idea of the feel of it and turned out great. I'd recommend that until you're more comfortable with it.
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