FMQ with a DS
08-17-2011, 11:41 AM
#1
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Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Long Island, New York
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I am preparing to FMQ with my DS and I have been watching Leah Day demos. When I sew/quilt there is always the question of stitch length and how many stitches per inch. Watching Leah Day's demos (she is incredible) I can't figure out how many stitches per inch when FMQ. On the demos the stitch length looks very short and it seems the stitches are packed in.
08-17-2011, 12:18 PM
#3
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Join Date: Jan 2011
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When your FMQ on a domestic machine you don't need to set the stitch length cause you're not using the feed dogs, you're moving the fabroic. How fast you move vs. how fast needle goes will determine that. Hope that makes sense. I set mine on 0.
08-17-2011, 12:21 PM
#4
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Location: Northern Michigan
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stitch length-like everything else is up to you= some people (like those fabulous hand quilters) pack 12-14 stitches per inch-
some people like the stitches to be a bit larger-like 8-10---and then there are some who really like what is called big-stitch quilting where the stitches are like 4 to the inch---
don't stress over how many stitches to the inch---the thing to concentrate on is consistancy---it doesn't matter how many-as long as they are consistantly the same size---you don't want parts to be 12- and other parts to be 6...
even quilting will look great regardless of how many stitches- and i don't know anyone who is going to pull out a tape measure then count them---but they will notice if they are different all over the quilt
some people like the stitches to be a bit larger-like 8-10---and then there are some who really like what is called big-stitch quilting where the stitches are like 4 to the inch---
don't stress over how many stitches to the inch---the thing to concentrate on is consistancy---it doesn't matter how many-as long as they are consistantly the same size---you don't want parts to be 12- and other parts to be 6...
even quilting will look great regardless of how many stitches- and i don't know anyone who is going to pull out a tape measure then count them---but they will notice if they are different all over the quilt
08-17-2011, 12:29 PM
#5
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Location: Ontario, Canada
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Whay ckcowl said, aim for consistant size. The stitches should be a nice length like regular machine sewing with no long "toe catchers". With that being said, if it is your first try, do a few samples until you get the tension and stitch length just right. Then go for it!
08-17-2011, 07:14 PM
#7
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Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 2,943
Zhillslady is right. With FMQ you drop your feed dogs so the stitch length is totally irrelevant and you might as well use '0'. You are what determines the stitch length by how fast you move the quilt and how fast you run your machine.
ali
ali
08-17-2011, 07:35 PM
#8
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Location: Sturbridge, Ma
Posts: 3,992
on my machine the stitch is set at 2.5 While the stitch length is not set for FMQ I strive for about a 3.0 or 3.5
which is the size of the straight stitch.
So do some straight sewing and set the length you like and then strive for that size in FMQ. However, evennesss is as important as length with sharp points and good curves.
which is the size of the straight stitch.
So do some straight sewing and set the length you like and then strive for that size in FMQ. However, evennesss is as important as length with sharp points and good curves.
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