Is there some magic spell or fairy dust that'll help with free motion quilting?
#51
tsdelvis! I have a Pfaff Tectronic 2040 and was just "practicing" FMQ. I was told by the woman that I take my Pfaff to for service to put the machine on "slow". I have that button, do you? This has helped me tremendously. As I was FMQing, I remembered someone told me to look ahead of the needled and NOT AT THE NEEDLE. When I did this it was 80% better. Whew! Glad I remembered that. I also learned from a video or someone on the Board to cut out the front of my quilting/darning foot. Mine has red marks on each side so I used a "cut off" tool (for jewelry) and cut out the front. What a difference! Couldn't believe that I could see that much better. Good luck. Let me know if you try these tips and if they work for you as I am a newbie with FMQ too. Yolanda Wood River
#54
The Fairy Dust is practice, practice, practice and going slowly at first. Try drawing out a pattern on paper so you get used to free designing. Make practice sandwiches and try different methods. You'll get it in no time!
#58
Originally Posted by kaykwilts
Originally Posted by knlsmith
WINE machinger gloves WINE sharp needle WINE and don't forget to breath. Oh and sometimes WINE. lol Works for me everytime.
#59
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Newberg, OR
Posts: 1,911
Go to Leah Day's website and watch her tutes. If you have a laptop, set it up next to your sewing machine. That's what I did and it helped. I'm not an expert, but I have more confidence than before. If you don't know her site, just search with her name.
#60
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Newberg, OR
Posts: 1,911
Originally Posted by Maia B
It must be "try and cry" FMQ day. I've been making quilts for 20+ years, hand quilting and machine quilting straight lines only. So I have great machines with which to FMQ, I've read some recommended books, and I tried it early this morning. Hundreds of thousands of people do this, right? So no tension problems, no eyelashes, but it was just awful. I think everything is set just fine, because the stitch line is great except that it's jerky, ugly, and inconsistent. I could feel the thread's shame and disappointment at being involved. I can't trace a line, make any attractive shape, nothing nice at all. I sewed out a bobbin's worth on a 12"x 18" piece, which I then took directly to the rabbit cage to die the worst death any quilt can as a peed-upon chew rug. I went back to bed. Later, when I opened my thread drawer, the quilting weight threads were all cowering in fear. Even the piecing thread looked nervous. The worst of the whole story is that I was using the Bernina 440 with BSR, which is supposed to help, right? So I know it takes practice, but I'm pretty discouraged. It's also not AT ALL fun. Which is crazy, too...fabric :) + batting :) + thread :) + Bernina :))) = sad and sore like I did too much yard work.
OMG, I laughed until I cried reading this. You have a future in stand up if the FMQ defeats you.
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debbiemarie
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01-21-2024 04:52 AM