Hi, I'm still fairly new to quilting, and a while ago I wrote here about what a hard time I had learning to FMQ. Since I had such trouble maneuvering the quilt in my throat space, I got the idea to turn the machine by 90 degrees so the space left and right of the needle would be completely free to move the quilt. In addition to that, I made a construction out of foamboard to bring the area around the machine up to the same height. The block is covered with a transparent laminate which makes the fabric glide really easy. I'm telling you, I've been quilting happily ever since! Here are some pictures

That looks like it would be much easier. Thanks for sharing.

Thank you for posting these pictures of your new set up. I've heard some positive things from other quilters who have done the same thing. I would love to see a picture of you actually using your machine this way. Would you consider posting such a picture?

How far from the edge of your new surface is the needle of the machine? Are you sitting or perhaps standing to quilt now? Sorry, but I'm having a hard time visualizing just how this works for you. The edge of the needle looks pretty far away to me, although it may not be. Would love to hear more about how this is done. Are you quilting from one long side to the other and then unrolling the bulk, or??

Thanks so much,

Quilters are so smart:>

I just went downstairs to measure the space from needle to edge of foam block, it's 12 inches. I can still see well this way. Can't take a picture of myself right now, have to wait for my husband. So far I've only been making baby quilts up to 42 inches square. What I usually do, I start somewhere close to the middle and quilt from left to right and back to left etc. Every couple of inches I roll up the quilt more. I hadn't yet gotten into the habit of quilting the traditional way, so for me it was easy to take on this method, it may not be so for someone who's been quilting the other way for years. But I encourage everyone to give it a try. No more cramped up right shoulder and arm for me!

Oh, and I sit while quilting, I just put a cushion on my chair to raise my height.

What a great idea! I'm going to try it.

What a great idea. Glad you are happier.

Sounds like you have come up with a novel new method that works! Congratulations!

Hummm, I never would have thought to do it this way. Good idea!

Was the clear laminate you used like Plexiglas? Or? The pictures really helped me. I have never thought about turning the machine perpendicular to where I sit to sew...thought I had to face the front of the machine! LOL glad you are happy with your set up...Happy quilting!

The laminate came on a roll in the shelf liner section of Walmart. It has an adhesive on the back and I just rolled it around to block to hold it together and to get that smooth surface. Had thought about getting that teflon thing (SuperGlider?), but this is a lot cheaper and bigger.

I love your idea!!!! Thank you for sharing it with us :D:D:D

I would love to see your pic's of how you use it too. That looks so interesting. I have my machine sitting on a conference table, using an extension. I would love to cut a hole in it to recess my machine, but I'm at a loss as how to do it. I'm a fair carpenter, but I would need visual step by step directions! I have raised my sewing chair, but then have a hard time operating the foot pedal. You ladies are so great!

My table does not have adjustable height legs but if I knew where to buy them reasonably, I would replace them. I'm too afraid to cut the legs off, as I'm sure I would ruin the table.

I guess if you would like to build something around your machine rather than cutting a hole in your table you could go with a foam block like I did. If you cannot reach the foot pedal anymore, put it on a sturdy box or something else high and big enough to accomodate both the pedal and your foot.

Thanks so very much!! That gives me a better idea now. Okay, so you do work left to right. Thanks for explaining some of this to me, it really helps. I'm totally new to FMQ, so naturally had a few questions. I really appreciate you replying. I'm sure that will help others, too. I could certainly do with less shoulder and neck pain while sewing, too!

This looks like a great idea. I quilt on my glass topped dining table, I need to get some foam like yours to make it as high as my machine. Thanks for the idea.

Very creative, I can see that it probably does make moving the quilt easier and therefore less tiring. I always found trying to fight with a quilt to feed it through the throat area actully wore me out.

What a great set up. I can see why it would be easier.

Thanks for sharing your technique....sometimes we "forget" that we don't have to do things the set way, so we do need a jolt to the "creative thinking" part of our brains from time to time.

Oh,l love that last picture, looks like you found the grooooove......... :-D Keep on quilting!

Great idea! Is the foamboard brown? i have seen it in white and green. my machine is to heavey to move from table to table. it is in a sewing table now.

HOW CLEVER YOU ARE. THANKS FOR THE GREAT NEW WAY TO DO IT.

What a cool setup! This is a great way to think outside of the box!!

Thanks for sharing.

Great idea!! That is about the same placement of the machine as if it was on a quilting frame. I think it would be tons easier that way!!

Your photos have helped me so much. Thank-you. I haven't started to learn free motion quilting yet so I will be able to learn 'your way' without un-learning my old habits.
With your permission please, I am going to make copies of your photos for a job aid on my pc. Will that be okay? I love the knowledge shared on the quiltingboard. Thank-you.

Newbie1001, Thanks for sharing your wonderful idea and your pictures! I'm off to rearrange my sewing room!

Aren't you smart! Thanks for sharing.

I bought the foamboard at the Home Depot, it is pink, meant for insulation.

I have no problem with you copying my pictures. I'm so glad there seem to be many of you out there who this might help. I got a lot of help here on the forum, and still do, just by reading the posts. Great place to learn.

Newbie1001, you are one inventive cookie!!

You are a really smart quilter. I have been trying to learn FMQ, too. I bought a Brother sewing machine because it talked about drop feed for FMQ & the price was in my budget. The machine is a good machine but the work space is only about 5 1/2 inches from the needle. Being new to quilting I just didn't think about the throat size of a machine. Live & learn. I make bed quilts and it has been a struggle. I think that I'm going to try this...if I can make the space in the spare bedroom.

What a good idea. I really think I might try this too. My sewing machine sits on an old dining room table all the time, so I have the space to turn my machine 90 degrees and do this. Thanks for the pics. too.

cool idea, thanks for sharing, I would love see pictures of you quilting using your cool technique, thanks again

Great idea! I think I'll try it too! I am always amazed at all the info here. Thank you

Newbie, do you quilt from left to right or which direction do you start your FMQ? I have a quilt that I started quilting a design on and have had so much trouble, finally decided to have a LAQ to do the job. I haven't taken the quilt to one yet, and just might try this first. I really wanted to do it myself. Thanks for the info. Gerbie

I do not really have a set order yet, but I start somewhere in the middle to make sure the layers of fabric are secured there and then expand to the outsides, going left to right and back, not necessarily across the whole width, but kind of like in sections. I haven't quilted any designs yet other than some curvy things in the sashing and borders which I then do in a complete line from left to right. There is a similar topic in the Main section that talks about this way of quilting, there must be a lot of people out there doing this. I just started the whole quilting thing like half a year ago. And I haven't yet quilted anything bigger than 42" square or so.

Newbie ... your quilting idea is so awesome, it should be patented. In three years someone is going to bring this to Market, mark my words.
I have done FMQ for some time and have not had a problem quilting as big as 72" square. But I am not comfortable doing a pattern - I do lots of meandering (puzzle pieces). But I have quilted two double/queen size quilts in two pieces. The toughest part is when the two pieces are sewn together and I have to do the last row of quilting in the center. It can be done. It can be beautiful.

Great idea! The Handi Quilter HQ16 Sit Down model is designed exactly like that. This machine has a 16" throat to work with.

Something to consider doing when making a larger quilt than a crib size, is to make it in sections. This must be planned out before you sew the top together, because you might decide to have sections that aren't just the whole thing divided into four equal sized/shaped parts. You also must not quilt within 1" of the cut edges. When done quilting all the sections, you sew just the top edges together, trim batting so will butt up together, flip it over and hand sew the backing seam together. See the book " Machine Quilting in Sections" by Marti Michell. I'm in the middle of one of these right now and each of my four sections are very different shapes, but managable for FMQ w/ my home machine. I still like the idea of turning the machine 90 degrees, tho, and am going to try that on this one.