Innov8R

I found some wonderful stencils to use. I am learning FMQ and I want to concentrate on the actual sewing. The stencils help me manage my space separately, so I can focus on what I am doing without having to stop and see what my overall space management should be. I suggest that you get a dark background quilt project and pounce to lightly mark what you want. I found that what had terrified me was suddenly wonderfully addictive when I tried pounce and stencils. I used a little soft brush to remove the excess pounce when I finished and was very pleased with my victory over fear of FMQ.

Becky's Crafts

I occassionally will make copies of a design I want to use and pin it to the area to be quilted. That way I don't have to worry about marks on the quilt and when I'm done, I just peel off the paper.

citruscountyquilter

I use parchment paper - the kind you use in baking- to trace a design on. I then pin it on the quilt and stitch over the design. The parchment paper rips off easily and is less expensive than the golden threads paper you can get for that purpose. I do sections that are roughly the width of the paper and length wise about that so I have either a square or rectangle. A few safety pins around the edge hold it in place.

MarleneC

I was watching a Craftsy class today about FMQ and an OnPoint class a few days earlier and they give the idea to just do a round circle where you might like a flower or another shape -- don't trace the detail --especially meandering or smaller as it is next to impossible to follow those lines and can cause more of a mess. Just to a few major lines or shapes that give a clue as to where to stitch--that way it is easier to change sizes and shapes.

juliea9967

Whatever you do - do not use Yellow Chalk. I ruined a pretty table runner with this.