BellaBoo

The easiest for me is figure 8 sideways.

jo ford

I do mostly meandering as I am challenged when trying to follow stencils. If I want to do a special design, I will make that design on paper, place it where I can see it as I sew and practice it until it is in my head. Once I have it in my head, I can do a fairly decent job of the pattern using FMQ.

AmyFreeMotionQuilting

Everybody has their own free motion style, even if they are relatively new to it. Some hate to mark or follow lines, others like the security and guidance of markings. I agree with the many others that a loop-d-loop design is a good one to start with.

However there is more to free motion quilting than an all over design. You didn't say what kind of quilt you are working on. You may want to let the piecing guide your quilting. Gentle curves from corner to corner of your blocks might work well as a beginning design also.

mtkoldra

one think I would add is, go slow until you are comfortable with what you are doing

AlaskaAlice

I practice lots of different ways.. getting an idea in my head by drawing with a pen on paper.. talking to my self etc. has helped me get into the motion. Watching lots of free motion demos on youtube inspired me to try different things..
I do not do as well with straight lines or trying to follow a set pattern. My favorite is a vine with flowers and leaves.
"Yes you can quilt "(I think) on Youtube shows her method of meandering. She uses words to keep her fills and lines going in a flow. I will try to find a link to her site.
Nichole Webb Rivera. Nichole has music playing and I find that helps to make the stitches smooth

kepeters7

What is the difference between "meandering" and "stippling?" I see these two terms used often and am not sure if they are the same thing or different techniques. Thank you.

peacebypiece

Having read all the replys up to now I think maminstl said it all right from the start. I would suggest thinking about the whole process a bit more. You mentioned that you do not follow straight lines well. Curved ones aren't any easier. I like the idea of a loop'd'loop type of meandering. Having music in the bckground also is a good suggestion. That helped me years ago when I was learning how to 'touch type'. Keep in mind that just because you are using a long arm machine/frame does not mean you have to use an allover design that ingnores the pattern of the quilt piecing.
Good luck from another Alice.

Letty

Hi,all these ways of doing free motion quilting seem fine,my problem is getting the stitches even! I know
I should match the speed to movment but just don't seem to get it right. Oh well back to the drawing board.x

ann clare

Holice very helpful. Thanks.

IshtarsMom

I'm totally no help because I'm still trying to come up with a way of controlling the foot pedal so that I don't either take off like a race horse or am left standing at the gate sewing in the same hole over and over...Best I have come up with is a book just a little bit shorter than the pedal and keeping half my foot on the book and half on the pedal..it keeps it going at the same pace while I move the fabric on the top supposedly at the same speed....like driving with a loose steering wheel and no brakes....LOL Long for a new machine that has the needle down position, and speed control till then I just keep hoping it will get better...going to put my practice pieces together in a rag quilt/wall hanging...a good laugh anyway.