quiltjoey

I use my walking foot with the feed dogs up when I do straight stitching to quilt. To do FMQ, I drop the feed dogs, use a slider, and move the material with my hands. There is a kind of rhythm to FMQ. I found I can't pull the material, I just guide it and found it is easier to do at a faster sewing rate than a slow one. It like driving a car in first gear rather than third, if that makes any sense. ( shows my age driving a stick shift vehicle). Also, does you machine have "fm" built in on your computer screen? Just practice, keep your shoulders relaxed and don't give up.

VickyS

Lisa,
Don't be hard on yourself. It takes awhile. I've been doing this steadily for about a year and have the same issues you are having. Only difference? Fewer times and farther apart. Bottom line? Don't sweat the small stuff....it's ALL small stuff.

Do what you can and take it to class. You will be amazed at what folks will bring back. Some will look perfect - generally that's the folks who have sewn a LONG time. Most will look like yours, and some will look WAY WORSE.
(That's usually where I am when I take classes ).

Welcome aboard the Quilting Board. This is a REALLY good group to use to learn and practice with. If you ever have a question, don't be afraid to ask! We have all had those days (and weeks, and YEARS) where stuff just doesn't want to work. Sometimes it is just better to set it aside. You will see when you go to your next class.

Have fun and good luck.

irishrose

I have not tried to do a decorative stitch with my walking foot engaged, but as Tartan said, that may be the problem. Other people have indicated that some machines and some walking feet refuse to anything but forward when working together. Some machines won't zigzag with the walking foot on. Mine will do that.

Remove the walking foot, do your fancy stitch then replace the walking foot and straight stitch. If both of these are successful, then it may be the combination.

sparkys_mom

If she is using a walking foot, then the Supreme Slider would not help as it covers the feed dogs.

coldquilter

Good advice given about but the thing that most stood out to me was that free motion should not have the walking foot on. If you are doing free motion, you will need to get used to feeding the fabric at a steady speed as the feed dogs will be down. If you are using your walking foot, feed dogs should be up and the machine should mostly feed itself and you will just need to "guide" it more than push it.

SunlitenSmiles

ok here is my small piece of advice......purchase a large piece of clear vinyl or clear vinyl 'tablecloth' use tape to attach to the bed of your machine just clear of the needle and spread out over the table, ironing board, dressers, etc. that you have supporting your project.....then the project can move with minimual drag ~ makes everything work better

kwiltkrazy

Don't have much to add to what has already been said, but I don't want you to get discouraged!!!!!! We all have went through what you are going through right now, it is normal, just like when you had to learn to do cursive writing, it takes practice to make it look effortless. Keep up the good work, you were willing to take on the task, it shows you have grit. Keep it up the project will turn out beautiful!!! The key is not to let yourself get too upset, and take it a t small intervals, don't quilt for long periods at a time, atleast not yet. I believe some of the ladies have been right when they tell you that the problem could be the stitch you are using, and the drag your quilt is experiencing. I find it much easier to puddle my quilt, rather than rolling it, this causes less drag. I wish you patience and enjoyment. Would love to see your project when finished.

gardnergal970

I was working with my walking foot this morning and noticed that it tended to slow down if it came to a place where seams met. Only this did I kind of help the foot to keep it moving and the stitching was smaller there.

Shankquilt

Have you checked to make sure the bar that needs to be over the screw (I have a Bernina so I don't know if it is this way on all machines) is attached just right. I am speaking from experience--I sewed something over the weekend with the walking foot and also ripped out and then realized that the bar wasn't exactly on the screw and it didn't sew evenly at all. Took me a second to readjust it and then it sewed beautifully.

jigs1354

HI, If I'm reading you right you are doing some sort of Decorative Stitch & using your walking foot. I do a lot of Dec. Stitching but never using the walking foot. what I do is, do each single block before I put the top together has no batting. inside either, or you can do the Dec. St. on a whole finished top before you make your sandwich. I do this because it's easier & the results are the same, and you aren't sewing over a thickness to make it drag. The top and the final sandwich do this gets quilted at the end anyway. I find this is so much faster & less stress on me & the sewing machine.
Another thing, you can't pull on the quilt under the feed dogs without messing up the stitching. It's just a matter of remembering not to pull it. My way, if you mess up on a single block very badly you can always make another one. Another thing, I've done is get some thin iron on batting, and iron on each block or iron onto the whole top, you are getting the indentations you like around your decorative stitching. I do find that I just don't use that as much either and when I put my quilt on my LR it's beautiful when I'm finished from the all over quilting pattern I've used. Hope this helps & we are all beginners at some point.
jigs1354