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Old 10-10-2012, 05:44 PM
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DogHouseMom
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Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Knot Merrill, Southern Indiana
Posts: 5,781
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Ooooh ... I test drove the Tiara and her cousin the Sweet 16 last week at the quilt show. LOVED them!!! WANT one!! I love the idea of quilting like it's a domestic machine but having all that SPACE.

I see that you got the stitch regulator with it. I tried it, but didn't like it. Just me. I had more confidence by adjusting the speed control on the machine ... I even brought it down to 25% and started micro-stippling SO much fun!!

I can only suggest to keep practicing. Free motion doesn't come over night. Start with patterns where you *know* where you are going ... for example writing your name (because you already have that muscle memory - and a lot of FMQ is about muscle memory). Practice that in several sizes, and other words as well. Then use the empty space between all the words to fill in other patterns - stippling, shells, zig-zag, loop-de-loops - etc. Suggest getting used to free-form patterns first (stippling, loop-de-loops) where the direction doesn't make a difference, then move on to the patterns that are more directional (shells, wavy lines etc).

I've been FMQ'ing for about 5 years - I still consider myself *new* and I STILL practice. I practice before every single quilt using the same thread to get the muscle memory for the pattern and to make sure the tension is correct (and the thread color choice looks good).

Don't touch the quilt until you feel comfortable.

Lastly ... two very simple suggestions ... relax and BREATH. I still catch myself forgetting to breath every now and then (seriously! and from what I understand it's common!)
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