Starting Free Motion/Scared to death...
 

Found 4 cd with quilting motifs.
Found the book with lots of ideas and step by step instructions...kinda.
Made a sandwich measuring 15*21 and drew 3" squares. Someone on here I think told me this was a good thing to do.
Put gridded paper inside freezer paper to practice with dry erase markers.
Now I just need to put on my life preserver and jump in with both feet.
Am I on the right track? Eventually I will get really brave and FM on the dog quilt. I divided the quilt into squares so should be easier to quilt whenever I get there.

I went through quite a few practice sandwiches before I made a large Scrappy throw size top just for the purpose of learning how to maneuver an actual top on my DSM. I mixed every possible technique on that quilt and my confidence grew. Some things ended up to be so much easier than they appear....for example feathers. Bottom line is everyone starts at zero and with practice everyone improves. You will likely have tension issues and other technical problems along the way. This forum is a great resource, ask for help and you will find loads of helpful advice.

It does take practice but it is also FUN so remember to breathe and enjoy

I try to remember to relax my shoulders often. I have a tendency to stiffen up while quilting.
Also I use a Supreme Slider and gloves. They are necessities for me.
I'm getting better the more I practice. And I have been a lot more during Covid.
You'll do fine. There is certainly a learning curve, hence the practicing is helpful. :)

Sounds like you are on the right track Julie. It does take practice so don’t be too critical of yourself the first couple of times. I do find that doodling does help with muscle memory. Lori Kennedy also has some great FMQ tips. She has been hosting a 25 week FMQ along at lorikennedyquilts.com

Best of luck and remember it’s supposed to be fun.

Good for you. I started with just a practice piece and got the feel of the machine first without trying for any motifs or patterns. For me that was too much pressure in the beginning. Once I got comfortable just swirling around and making sure stitches were
good I learned to meander. Most of my first FMQ projects used that in various sizes - I didn’t mark anything. Now I am more comfortable with other motifs. The best advice is to practice. I don’t think any of us hit a homerun out of the park in the beginning. Watch some Leah Day and Angela Walters videos for inspiration and tips. And practice practice practice. It gets better and easier and is really fun.

JMoore, just got lost on Lori Kennedy's web site. Signed up for her newsletter, too. Funny how when you have a concern, sleep on it, wake up with a fresh brain, and confidence starts to build. So much on the Internet it's easy to get over whelmed. Now I know to what to do, I think. Start small, doodle on paper too, breathe, have lunch, etc.

Dive right in. I made placemats out of my practice fabrics. The best advice I have ever been given is to listen to the rhythm of the machine. Move your hands to the timing of the machine.

And play with machine speed. Try a little faster, then try a little slower. I found I can "dial in" a bit of a sweet spot that is a good speed for me to sync up with the machine.

If you are on FB, "Jeanne's Free Motion Quilting Legacy" group has some great instructional files (and is a fantastic support group).