fayzer

Don't give up. I paint and draw and my FMQ looks like heck. No amount of practice has helped. I have been working on my DGD's queen size quilt today. Nothing but problems. Thread fraying, needles breaking. Finally stopped and am drinking a mango margarita. Maybe things won't look so bad when I go back to work on it. My biggest problem is the small harp on my Bernina. Unfortunately, I cannot buy a new, bigger machine.

Glassquilt

You can doodle with your machine as well. Old needle, picture on paper - trace picture.
Remember that you're not getting graded on staying with the lines. :)

Connie in CO

I agree with the ladies,it is fun you get better with practice.....

Pat P

I have an old roll of white paper and I sit down and practice doing diferent designs, vines and leaves, hearts and twirls, did an abstract one, trying to do no two quilts in the same design. Need to practice feathers. Use to fmq in the round and round, but when I did 4 king-size quilts I mask taped across the center, started in the center went back and forth till that half was done. Turned the quilt around and did the other end. Will probably quilt fmq this way from now on. I usually tape my design paper to the wall and repeat to myself what I did. The knack of doing a quilt half at a time is to repeat the design in the same size and dimension as the first half.

fayzer

I can draw myself silly with flowers, vines, feathers.......anything on paper. But when I carefully put my quilt onto the machine, with plenty of support to hold the weight, I still only have about 5-6" of FMQ area and it drives me insane. I cannot afford to send a quilt out to a long armer. I'll just keep struggling along until I finish. I have fabric for 4 more quilts. I think I will quit buying fabric. If I finish these five, I will be lucky.

Carole Angel

That's a stupid poster. I can draw, sketch and paint but my FMQ looks like my cat did it after spending lots of quality time with her catnip. It is all practice, practice, practice. Just because you can't draw doesn't mean you can't learn how to FMQ. Just keep at it and it will come.

katiebear1

That's what srencils are for :-)

Ed

:thumbup:

Mitch's mom

She didn't come across as condescending or mean spirited in her post. I believe she was only pointing out that a person isn't going to magically become Michelangelo in front of a sewing machine without practice.

I realized, from her post, that I can't draw with a crayon so what in the world would made me think I could do it with a electric machine and a needle going at 1000 stitches per minute?! The ability to draw has to make the flow easier, my brain doesn't work that way. I've said before "My brain creates a masterpiece, my hands make a mess."

Sadiemae

If you are this frustrated, I would suggest you purchase a couple of stencils of designs that you want to learn. Practice with them enough and you will develop muscle memory. You can purchase stipple and meander patterns, as well as anything you probably ever dreamed of. I just don't enjoy following a line, so I practice A LOT!

Here are some free pantographs that you can practice with. Just print them with your printer.
http://www.urbanelementz.com/shop/category/free-stuff/