camillacamilla

I have hand quilted my other quilts, but for my birthday my husband bought me another machine. It has plenty of room under the arm for quilts, so I AM going to learn free motion! I know the key is to practice, practice, practice. My biggest problem right now is my shoulders tensing up. I try doing it to music and that helps some. I have heard the suggestion to try it after a glass of wine- problem is I take medicine that I can not have alcohol with. Any other suggestions to relax and let it flow?

basicfun

Hi CC - what I do is listen to music. I have a little MP3 player, clips on my top, put in the earphones, listen to my favourite music that the kids down loaded for me, and sew away. Not only does it relax me, it blocks any other sounds - I am in my own little world and having fun.

Happy swaying !

sandpat

You might want to doodle with a pencil and paper...a lot...this "practice" helps to coordinate your head and youhands around the design and you get more comfortabe doing it. Thats really all FMQ is...doodling...only you move your paper (the quilt) instead of your pencil (the needle)...see...its easy and relaxing!!

Relax and have fun!!

Suz

And don't forget those gloves with the nubbies on the face. I could not machine quilt without them. Suz

Tink's Mom

I like to keep a "Practice" piece handy...larger than a placemat...in fact, I ususally make 4 of them, and then when they are done, bind them and give them away...

Rose Marie

I found that if you do straight stitch with the walking foot for the inside of the quilt then do a fancy free motion on the border it is great practice.
That way the bulk of the quilt is always to the left of your machine.
Much easier to handle.
The first design I used was a simple leaf continuous line border.
Another is hearts continuous line. Both available at Joanns.
You will have to learn to stretch or subtract from the design to make it fit.
I like the dissapearing ink pen to draw the design on with.
Be sure to use thread that matchs the fabric or invisible thread, that way the design is not real visible for mistakes.
I saw a hint in a book about using a backing fabric that has a big design on it that you can stitch around for free motion from the back of the quilt.
Great idea, now to find just the right fabric.

sewsewquilter

Don't forget to breath. You'll hold your breathe without thinking about it.

quiltbugs

Just don't get TOO relaxed like I did last time....
I was free-motioning, merrily along having a great time-- and ran over my finger. Sewing machine needle went right in my fingernail and came out the side of my finger. Sounds disgusting, I know. It was pretty bad, and I still have a big hole in my fingernail. So, BE CAREFUL!!! :-)

camillacamilla

:shock: Oh no! Did this require a hospital visit or did you just bandage it and keep on quilting?

quiltbugs

camilla...The needle broke, of course, and I kind of yanked out the part that was still in my finger and wrapped the finger up in some gauze and tape. It didn't hurt as bad as it sounds like it would and I kept on quilting. I was fine, but my husband almost had a nervous breakdown. :)