quiltmom04

I've found that even though I stop with the needle down, I have to start up v-e-r-y slowly, or if I've moved the fabric AT ALL it will make a long stitch when i start ip again. I hand turn the wheel to get the needle up, check to make sure the fabric hasn't pulled it out of place, and THEN start sewing again.

maviskw

I had to think about this for a while. Having the fabric move when the needle was down was a puzzle. Then I tried lifting the presser foot with the needle still down when I'm ready to go again. You'd be surprised at how much the fabric moves and relaxes, and the needle moves, too. It surprised me the first time I saw my needle bent over, and when I lifted the presser foot, it went back into position.

This happens to me when sewing regular seams, also. When I have everything straightened out to sew the next few inches, the fabric is crunched up under the needle. Just lifting the presser foot with the needle still down holding the fabric where it belongs, allows it to relax into the correct position.

littlebitoheaven

Everything that you are experiencing, so have I. But time and practice has helped me tremendously. The art of practicing is the key. I remember 25 years ago when I started crocheting, someone told me that you should crochet for a few minutes, take it out and start again because whenever you start a project, you are not relaxed but after a few minutes you begin to relax and all is well.

I believe that my saving grace was to slow down. I was trying to fmq faster than my hands and brain could comprehend. (I always start out too fast.) After I get myself relaxed and I slow down everything falls into place. As my husband would say to me, "You are not killing snakes!" I still have a problem with "shifting". Conquering this problem is, again, to think about what you are doing when you are doing it and double check that the needle will reinsert where you want it to. As far as different length stitches, that still plagues me, however, when I slow down it gets much better. I have to tell myself (every time I start fmq) not to think about the WHOLE project, not to fuss about how much more there is to do - I have to just concentrate on the small section that I am working on and eventually, it will be the last section.

"Gloves or not to gloves" that is the question. I started out with store bought quilting gloves, but did not like having to remove them and put them back on. In a online class that I took from Craftsy, I learned to use small squares (3") of the rubbery stuff you use under rugs. I keep a whole box of them next to my machine. They work beautifully. All you need is a little grip.

The Craftsy class that I took is called, "Quilting Big Projects on a Small Machine". It is a great class and you can refer to it, literally, forever. Once you buy it, it is yours to keep using. You can ask the teacher questions and she gets right back to you. I learned so much from this class that it shocked me as I must have 8 or 10 FMQ books. I followed her directions and sailed through a double-size quilt like a breeze. Perfect? No! But I have so much more confidence now that I look forward to the process of FMQ and love to know that, "I can do it!". Good luck. Let us know how you manage after all of the Boards great tips. Yolanda Wood River

borntoquilt

[QUOTE=Quilts rock;5998460]QuiltE, I did have my needle down and it still jumped to the right- sheesh! I am thinking of just hand stitching my border or just doing some straight lines.....boring, I do that all the time!![/QUOT Do you have a setting on your machine for TIE OFF OPTIONS (tie off beginning, tie off end, thread snips) ? My PFAFF has this setting, when "ON" my needle pops up and jumps to the right.

dcamarote

I have finally realized that while I love sewing and quilting, FMQ is NOT for me. I feel a lot better about it now that I have recognized my limitations. I love to quilt but I stick to straight lines and decorative stitches. If it doesn't work for you, give it up. We don't all have the same capabilities. Good luck.

carolstickelmaier

Dog Paddling....I now realize that is something I do. Next time I FM I will try to remember that tip. Hopefully I too will do better. I guess I just get into too much of a hurry, although when I am "in the groove" I tend to not want to stop and readjust. Bad Habit! I know that the bigger the quilt the better the stitching is by time I am done, so practice is the rule! Thanks for the tip Holice. I have learned so much with this post.

redbreast

I think we have all been there so don't feel so bad! I have learned FMQ so many times you would not believe. But I finally feel pretty good about my effort. The one thing to remember is every time you start you pretty much have to pratice again.I am hoping that will improve but so far, I have my little practice piece right by the machine. Keep trying--it is really a lot of fun once you catch on. Betsy

BillieJean

just remember there are no *Quilt police* thank goodness or I would be in jail....I am still learning. I give away alot of my stuff I make well not alot I really mean everything I make....so my friends really don't say anything about the quilting on them.... keep it up you are doing better then you think we are always harder on ourselves....GOOD LUCK.

brenwalt

I gave up with the practice blocks and jumped in "headfirst" into 58 x 58 quilts, from there, went to 118 x 118 and am doing them ever since. Yes, I still have a slight issue with uniform stitch length, but it is the "practice that makes perfect." - I give all my quilts away anyway and the recipients love them. None of them are machine quilters, so they don't even think to examine the stitching under a microscope. Just have fun. I do machine quilting because I have many quilts to make and if I wait to hand quilt them all, I won't live long enough!!

nlpakk

I know exactly what you mean, I have had the same problems and I get so frustrated! I usually do practice before I actually get to the quilt itself but it doesn't seem to help much. Maybe someday I will get the hang of it.