lindaschipper

The only tip I have is when stippling/meandering keep silently saying "Round" to make the curves...it's the only way I don't accidently make loops and points.

SusieQOH

FMQ for me has been a major challenge. I always hand quilted but wanted to learn machine quilting and I am. But it's been a really frustrating process.
Many of us are in the same boat. My granddaughter's quilt is still waiting for me to get better at it. I'm not sure if I will have it the way I want it. I don't like using a walking foot but may for her quilt. I find that kind of quilting boring. I love what people do with FMQ.
So, I am going to plug away until I hopefully get better!
Ps. I still love to hand quilt but it takes soooo long!

Also- I send quilts out to be longarmed. I love the way they turn out.

Onebyone

If you quilting isn't as nice as you want then always use thread that blends in with the top. Sew Fine thread is great for this. Select backing that has a busy design. Unless your quilting is the star of the quilt then there is no need for it to stand out.

NoraB

I used a Brother PS1500 for 9 years and there was a learning curve for sure. I purchased a grace frame and put the machine on that. What helped me was I also purchased the pattern boards and used them extensively. I have since upgraded to a Innova and love that. But, if I wasn't able to get the Innova, I'd still be happy with the PS1500 (which I still have and use to piece) and the grace frame (with the pattern boards). If you live near Albuquerque, I'd be willing to see to you. But, it would be toooo expensive to ship everything anywhere! Maybe look in your area. Good luck and don't give up.

littledentist

Wow, I love reading everyone's replies! Sometimes I get so proud of myself and then the quilt gets all bunched up on the right side squishing up against the machine, and my stitches go down the tubes. It's then that I have to grab that whole quilt and Pull! You'd really all be in stitches laughing (no pun intended) if you saw me wrestling with them in person. Like I can be semi decent when I'm on the end of the quilt and everything is under control, and then I really have to either turn the quilt, pull, or grab the quilt and push depending on how much of the quilt is to the right of me. Sometimes I have to cradle half of it in my right arm while I'm pulling the other side through to stitch! Really, I wish you could see this in action. You'd think I was wrestling with an alligator!

juliasb

Have you tried bicycle clips? It sounds like you are using the 1500 brothers on a table not a frame. They might help you to keep things even.

Quilt30

A picture would be useful. It is hard to make suggestions without seeing the problem.

littledentist

Yes, I have no frame, just a table. Just me and my domestic old school style. Is it possible it's time to get a frame? You really can only do so much without a larger area to work with I feel like.

WendyMcD

you all are daring to even try. I did for while one small things like the children's woobies. They are adults now and still covet their woobies which are very loved to the point of falling apart. I was just thinking about making myself one and got stuck at the thought of quilting it. My shoulders are eternally tense due to a med I take. In a few months when I'm done with the treatment I'll go back to it. Keep practicing.

Ellen 1

I say practice, practice, practice!! I quilted hundreds of charity quilts for kids when I first started free motion quilting. The kids do not look at the quilting and say. “Oh my, wonky!!” They do not care, the just love the quilt.

I did not start quilting my own quilt tops until I felt good about my improvement on the charity quilts. The other thing I do before I start a very intense quilting motif, is to quilt it out on a piece of muslin or a charity quilt to see how it will look and how hard it will be or to see if I need to modify my path.

I do not think it matters on what type machine you are using to quilt with, what matters is that you practice and perfect your skills. Enjoy the process!! Hope to see your quilts posted here in the future.