FMQ Set Up For Less Than $100
11-11-2014, 04:51 PM
#1
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Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Yakima, WA
Posts: 2,439
FMQ Set Up For Less Than $100
I got this idea from a gal who had posted a FMQ set-up on You Tube she had created to make it easier to FMQ using her domestic machine. I tweeked it a bit and this is what I came up with. Plenty of pictures are included.
I bought a piece of foam plastic board at a width that matched the height of my sewing machine bed. I had a sewing table with an extension and cut the foam board the length and width (plus 5" explanation below) of that table.
I measured the length of the foam board and at the center, I measured in several inches and cut out an insert for my sewing machine. My FMQ machine is a Brother PQ1500. My dealer had a Sweet 16 so I measured the distance between the needle of the Sweet 16 and the edge of the table and that's how many inches I allowed before I cut out the insert for my machine.
My machine has a side loading bobbin so my machine is mounted in the foam board so the bobbin is facing me for easy access.
I then put a vinyl sheet over the foam board, partially cutting out the area around the machine bed and then sliding the vinyl over the machine bed. I cut a circle out where the needle is located. I kept the front piece that I had cut out of the foam board and put it in back in front of the bobbin area.
Now, in that extra 5" I had allowed in the width of the foam board, I dug a hole to insert the machine cords so they are not flopping around on the table.
The quilt on the table is a double size quilt.
I also included a picture of these Schmetz needles that I didn't know existed until recently. They are for high speed sewing and I seem to have less drag when I'm using them.
I bought a piece of foam plastic board at a width that matched the height of my sewing machine bed. I had a sewing table with an extension and cut the foam board the length and width (plus 5" explanation below) of that table.
I measured the length of the foam board and at the center, I measured in several inches and cut out an insert for my sewing machine. My FMQ machine is a Brother PQ1500. My dealer had a Sweet 16 so I measured the distance between the needle of the Sweet 16 and the edge of the table and that's how many inches I allowed before I cut out the insert for my machine.
My machine has a side loading bobbin so my machine is mounted in the foam board so the bobbin is facing me for easy access.
I then put a vinyl sheet over the foam board, partially cutting out the area around the machine bed and then sliding the vinyl over the machine bed. I cut a circle out where the needle is located. I kept the front piece that I had cut out of the foam board and put it in back in front of the bobbin area.
Now, in that extra 5" I had allowed in the width of the foam board, I dug a hole to insert the machine cords so they are not flopping around on the table.
The quilt on the table is a double size quilt.
I also included a picture of these Schmetz needles that I didn't know existed until recently. They are for high speed sewing and I seem to have less drag when I'm using them.
11-12-2014, 12:45 AM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 488
Nice Job!!!! Info and Pictures were great also. I have the same machine. I started quilting---Standing. I have tried seating down. I still perfer standing to quilt. Looks like you have everthing together and it's working for you. Tinker
11-12-2014, 05:49 AM
#9
Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Delphi, Indiana
Posts: 190
I have the same machine, and before I got my Gracie frame, I turned the machine 90 degrees like that on a smaller table, then used 2 TV trays on either side to hold the bulk of the quilt. It's easier pushing the fabric forward into the throat than it is with the throat on the right as when sewing regularly. imo
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