I Played at FMQ Today
04-27-2013, 09:34 AM
#11
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Okay, here it is. As I had said, I just did little straight lines and corners to see if I could keep it steady. This is the second one. The first has a million "eyelashes", but this was much better. That is good advice about picking a pattern that will give me a chance to rest my hands. Next time I play with this, I will do that.
04-27-2013, 01:43 PM
#12
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I have found slowing the speed down makes a big difference. When I first started FMQ in December 2012 I lowered my feeddogs and put the stitch length to zero. I have found though that keeping the feeddogs up gives me more control. I also found keeping the stitch length at the normal size helps prevent those kind of jerky, uneven rounded edges.
Are you saying that you FMQ with your feed dogs UP and your stitch length set at 2.5 (or whatever)?? How is that different from regular stitching? I don't get it! Maybe I'm dense............
04-27-2013, 03:16 PM
#13
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In her class on Craftsy, Leah Day recommends leaving the feed dogs up and covering them with a slick surface. She maintains that a lot of sewing machines just seem to stitch better that way.
I can understand why you asked, tho....sounds silly unless they are covered so as to not move the fabric.
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I can understand why you asked, tho....sounds silly unless they are covered so as to not move the fabric.
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04-28-2013, 03:38 AM
#15
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I made two "quilts" of about 12 inches square with as close to solid fabric as I have. Then using a thread that was much darker, I just fiddled around attempting to make the stitches even. My goodness....I applaud anyone who can do that. I kept telling myself I will probably never use it on a real quilt. I just wanted to see how bad it would be. Not too bad, but gee what happens if you are in the middle of one and the phone rings? I did not do too badly when I could just go, but anywhere I stopped and started up again is pretty clear. Oh well, I was just playing.
04-28-2013, 04:23 AM
#16
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The darning foot you should use allows you to move the fabric freely, even though the feed dogs are up. I look a FMQ class and the instructor does some fabulous FMQ and she leaves her feed dogs up - she likes the resistance. However, she did say it was personal preference and that you should try it both ways.
04-28-2013, 05:38 AM
#17
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That confuses me a little too. I leave my feed dogs up, but put my stitch length to 0 so they just go up and down and don't try to move the fabric back. That is what Leah Day recommends with or without a slider. I know she reccomends a slider, but I don't have a slider and this set-up has still worked well for me.
04-28-2013, 06:19 AM
#18
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I highly recommend you watch Leah Days videos on her website: daystyledesigns .com. She's come up with over 350 designs. She also has lots of tips to share that work for her and might for you too. Drawing your design first on paper or a dry erase board before ever touching your sewing machine is the best way to start learning this process. Then make up a FQ or 1/2 yard practice sandwich w/ solid or nearly solid fabric and practice, practice, practice.
04-28-2013, 06:24 AM
#19
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My machine (Husqvarna/Viking) will not let me keep the feed dogs up and fmq even if I put the stitch length at 0. The pressure foot puts too much pressure on the fabric and I can't move it. When Leah Day does this, she's covering her feed dogs with a Supreme Slider, but you could use a paper or index card taped over the feed dogs.
04-28-2013, 06:40 AM
#20
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My machine (Husqvarna/Viking) will not let me keep the feed dogs up and fmq even if I put the stitch length at 0. The pressure foot puts too much pressure on the fabric and I can't move it. When Leah Day does this, she's covering her feed dogs with a Supreme Slider, but you could use a paper or index card taped over the feed dogs.
I'm doing the practice squares every day, too. I have a special quilt to do, but it seems like forever until I'll be good enough to quilt it, and I don't want to go on with another project. Crafsty has a whole free class with Leah Day you can watch, too.
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