mtkoldra

last night I was FMQ a table runner (for next Christmas) and as I was quilting it, the whole experience felt different, the stitches were more even and then I realize that I was quilting without lowering the feet or changing stitch length to zero. Not sure that I can do it when quilting a full size quilt.
Anyone had that experience?

ManiacQuilter2

I hate to say this, but I NEVER lower my feed dogs. I use to quilt professionally for others on my Bernina 1530 and never had a problem. Still piecing on my baby. Probably have quilted at least 500 quilts when I was quilting for others.

QuiltnNan

but you use the fmq foot and set stitch length to zero, right?

Jeanne S

My dealer told me not to lower the feed dogs on my Juki, but just set the stitch length to zero and use the FMQ foot.

notmorecraft

I don't lower feed dogs and I don't adjust stitch length and FMQ on my Juki no problems.

nannyrick

My Juki dealer told me "always lower the feed dogs". He went into a very long dissertation
about this (too long to repeat). Don't understand why it can go either way.

tessagin

Since I have only done straight line, I never lowered the feed dogs and that was on my Singer 2662. Didn't do it on my 401 either. Like I said though only straight line.

Stitchnripper

I have tried it both ways and like it better when the feed dogs are up and stitch length set to zero. I do use a FMQ foot. I have several. I do this on the machines that I FMQ on. My favorite with the best stitch is my dinky mechanical Brother, bought at Costco about 13 years ago. It has a small throat so I don't FMQ giant quilts on it, but, I do like it best. I have several vintage machines that I use somethings (301, 15)

Jingle

I use to set stitch length to zero and lower feed dogs to do FMQ.
Now I don't. Works well. I have a 9" throat Juki TL98QE.
The important thing is to oil the race after every bobbin change.