choosing fmq design for newbie
04-05-2017, 09:22 AM
#4
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: California
Posts: 1,732
I would advise to not do a lot of stitching on it. Depending on the thread and other factors, if you run your hand over the top of a machine stitched quilt, it can be very rough. I always hand quilt baby quilts because of this.
04-05-2017, 09:32 AM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 594
I love those 30's reproduction fabrics! If you haven't tried FMQ on practice pieces before, I suggest you do this before you try it on your lovely quilt top.
A meander is one of the easiest to start with. Once you get the "flow", loops are easy and graceful, too. Do you have quilting gloves? Machingers or whatever, they are so helpful!
A meander is one of the easiest to start with. Once you get the "flow", loops are easy and graceful, too. Do you have quilting gloves? Machingers or whatever, they are so helpful!
04-05-2017, 09:52 AM
#6
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Missouri
Posts: 351
I love those 30's reproduction fabrics! If you haven't tried FMQ on practice pieces before, I suggest you do this before you try it on your lovely quilt top.
A meander is one of the easiest to start with. Once you get the "flow", loops are easy and graceful, too. Do you have quilting gloves? Machingers or whatever, they are so helpful!
A meander is one of the easiest to start with. Once you get the "flow", loops are easy and graceful, too. Do you have quilting gloves? Machingers or whatever, they are so helpful!
04-05-2017, 10:34 AM
#8
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Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 15,639
Your fabrics are all in a similar value and quite busy so the quilting won't show much. I would recommend loops. If you feel daring you could add shapes along the path such as hearts, or leaves, or stars, using a neutral (beige/tan/taupe) thread.
04-05-2017, 10:53 AM
#9
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Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 26,147
It's not just the stitch design that makes it look good, but also keeping the area you are working on, free and loose. You will need to stop (needle down!) and reposition a lot. Make sure you pull up a bunch of the quilt all around the area you are working on so there is somewhere for your stitching to travel to, without getting in a bind. Plan to stop and reposition often and your quilting will look the smoothest.
04-05-2017, 11:03 AM
#10
Power Poster
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Between the dashes of a tombstone
Posts: 12,716
Yes a meander...then take a deep breath and establish an easy rhythm...jerky rhythm equals jerky stitching... find that sweet spot for sewing machine speed...once I realized I was trying to sew too fast this technique finally started to click. I'm slowly get more comfortable after each project. On this current project, I found myself speeding up as my confidence improved but I couldn't move the fabric fast enough, so I slowed the machine speed down. Good luck...
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