I took a free motion quilting class 4 yrs ago while I was pregnant with my son. I think that I had a machine that I could not drop the feed dogs. Not sure... I've since moved on to a "real" machine :-D

So... the first picture is my attempt at FMQ - possibly with the feed dogs up (which would explain how very bad it is!)

The next pictures are within the last month. I was dragging my feet FMQ'ing my DD's quilt b/c of fear. What if it comes out cruddy? Then I told myself that she don't care what the quilting looks like - I just need to do it. So I did!

Looking good! I can see a lot of improvement! Wish I wa that confident and good!

Learning a new skill usually takes practice. You are right to jump in there and see where it takes you. I don't you'll ever be sorry! Everything I learn seems to be when I'm in a hurry on deadline and am forced to go for it!

Wow! That's an enormous improvement. Wish I could do FMQ on mine.

:thumbup:

looks great!

I'm often amazed at people thinking their FMQ'ing looks so bad, when I think it is wonderful!

A friend, who is taking her fourth class, is doing wonderful, but finds fault. I guess there are rules about how it's done, like leaving a space between continual stitches, where the stitches start and end, etc.

I think, "Hey, it's free motion! Be free with it!"

Can see lots of improvement....way to go!!

You are really doing great! Good luck!

Great job on quilting.

Good job. Lots of improvement.

You're doing great!!

Practice and a good machine do help a lot. You can always put a credit card with the needle hole cut in over the feed dogs when your feed dogs do not go down. You should be very proud of how far you have come.

thinking the same thing :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

WOW> WOW & WOW! :D

We are all our own worst critics and we should cut it out!
If we were all perfect the first time we did anything there would be no joy in learning and progressing. Come on girls ease on up on your bad selves! :D

We are all our own worst critics and we should cut it out!
If we were all perfect the first time we did anything there would be no joy in learning and progressing. Come on girls ease on up on your bad selves! :D

This may give me the incentive to try!

Keep it up.

Wow, love the way you quilted those flowers! You did a great job!

Wow, huge improvement in four years....just practice. The first time I took free motion class, all I could do was laugh..cause I was SOOOOO bad. Now, not so much. Keep up the great work.

Good job.

Good looking FMQ!! Good for you...perseverance and practice will get you where you want to be.

Guess I should take my own advice....I don't spend much time practicing so usually do the same pattern over and over.

OP (original poster) here. Just to be clear... I took a FM class 4 yrs ago while I was pregnant. Then I had my son, put the house on the market, sold it, moved, and then moved again. I started sewing again just this last January after a 4 1/2 yr break. I was not practicing FM during that 4 yrs. I don't want anyone to think that that is the improvement after 4 yrs of practice :D That would scare me away from trying. The feathers that I posted are about after a month (on and off) of practice.

I agree!

Oh, I forgot to mention, or ask, "who describes what FMQ looks like?"

You did well. Ahhh FMQ..............I'm always practising.
Carol

Great improvement! Which means practice practice practice really works!!

Looks good to me. Congratulations on doing it.

practice make perfect! Your doing great don't give up!!