I finally bought a foot and have been trying to teach myself to do FMQ. I don't really meander well. I had a bit of trouble with the top thread breaking and the foot got stuck at a few of the intersections. I suppose that's because these are crazy blocks and the interstections are a bit thick.

I think I will get this eventually, but I may have to quilt every scrap I have first!

Looks like you are getting the hang of it! I feel like a failure at FMQ. Mine looks okay on the front but the back is HORRIBLE!!! I have tried changing the tension, needle and bobbin with no luck. Some where I read that there is a bobbin holder for Janome's that is just for FMQ. I am going to ask the dealer where I bought my machine if they recommend it.

I had many tension problems, too. I just have a Wal-mart cheapie machine, so no bobbin holder. I ended up with the tension set almost as high as it would go. I just kept upping it until I got it to look decent on the back.

You are doing far better than I can. My mind just does not register the idea of random meandering. Keep up the practice.

Looks good. Just takes pratice. I was making my stitch length too short & then I realized to make it look like hand quilted I had to lengthen it. Don't under stand about the bottom thread because you will be sewing along & it screws up then corrects its self. You don't know till you look on the back side.

Looks great...keep your stich length high..your tension even..make sure your feed is down..and keep as even a speed as you possibly can, I also found that if you go to slow it turns out uneven on the back. I love doing FMQ, took me a bit of time to get it down to an art :)

I actually read in a few different places (can't remember now, somewhere in a Google searching frenzy) that some machines do better holding their tension settings when the feed dogs are left up. I can't say for sure that I know that to be a fact but when I was FMQ'ing on my little Brother machine, I left the feed dogs up.

You're off to a good start! I'm one that wants to get the hang of things right away. Practice annoys me but in the case of FMQ'ing, it really does just take a bunch of practice. :)

Hi Lisa - first off I have to say that looks pretty darn good to me - certainly miles better than my early efforts! Just wondered if you had the quilting gloves? They made a big difference to me - I have the Machingers and they're so fine, I can even thread the needle while wearing them. :-D

I bought a feed dog cover and have been trying to FMQ but it just is so hard to get the fabric to move! I have to pull it. What is the secret to moving the fabric easier. Any suggestions? Here is a pic of the foot I am useing. I know someone can help, please!

Looking good. Just keep practicing!!!