That is where I would send you too.

I recently took a class from the book "Machine Quilting Made Easy" by Maureen Noble. We did ALL the exercises in the book. What a difference!

I ordered " Stiples Made Easy" from Keepsake Quilting when I wanted to learn. It is a pattern with adhesive strips on the back. You just roll it out, stick it down and stitch over the pattern. Is a pain in the tush to pick all the paper out of the stitches when done, but I felt it was well worth it.

Practice, practice, practice. I tend to grind m teeth and not breathe! Learn to breathe, take a deep breath!

I bought a book, then another, then it was youtube, then I just started sewing. Made a bunch of square sandwiches and took off. It's getting better as I go along. If it's really going into a quilt, I'll mark with chalk or just meander or stipple or something simple. But, nothing get done till you put your foot on the pedal and start sewing. It's really fun.

You ladies are so amazing so many helpful hints. I feel so lucky to have found this board. Thank you and God Bless all of you.

This has been soooo helpful! My first attempt (last week) at FMQ was a disaster! Although it was just a practice sandwich, I was almost ready to give up. Now I know what I need to do - keep practicing and breathing. Many thanks.

And from one who is just doing this, took a class last week I have to say my shoulders and arms are killing me!! I practice every day, still looks like, well it's not good. thanks for asking the question, I got a lot out of it as well. Good luck and watch your shoulders!! :)

There are so many good hints and suggestions given for FMQ-Thanks! One idea that has improved my abilities is spending lots of time doodling on paper.I learned that even feathers are not really hard by penciling them over and over until my mind remembers the pattern and you've got it! And practice only improves it!! Don't be afraid of FMQ.Try it, it's not just for the young,and it's fun.

Woa, how did you put your Bernina at 1/2 speed? I'm always going to fast on mine (1968 I think) and got excited when I read your post about putting your machine at 1/2 speed. Help, information, appreciatd!
Lee

Actually, the time frame to get comfortable with FMQ and do a nice job is about 20 hrs of practice, over time, doesn't matter, your brain, eyes and hands learn to coordinate. One day you will realize that 'hey, I got it'.

My tip ... practice on a 6inch or 8 inch sandwich using one of Leah Day's designs and then you can even sew them together to create a place mat or wall hanging, whatever you like.

Look at the first link from Leah Day's blog and you can see where her quilting started, and how much she advanced quickly as she worked on her day by day designs. She shows great videos on how she FMQs. Lots of info

http://freemotionquilting.blogspot.c...1_archive.html

http://www.flickr.com/photos/freemotionquilting/page12/

Good luck!

Talked this over with a woman who teaches how to MQ with Janome's. She was very encouraging -- just do it, you'll never get any better without trying!

Her advice to starter:
1. Get some muslin, make some 18" sandwiches, put on various designs -- yours or others. And start.
2. Throw the first one away. (I made mine into a pocket for an ice pack.)
3. Use the second and third, even teh fourth for a pet pads -- donate them if you don't have pets.
4. Do a small project and give it away.
5. By then, you'll feel comfortable trying somethign a bit larger and more technical.

I'm still practicing on give aways, esp. if it's not straight lines or SID. Add these thoughts to the others you see here and have fun!

Have Fun!

What helped me most was learning to machine quilt large quilts in sections. And using Machingers gloves.

Machiners gloves are a must. I have FMQ without them, and my hands cramp up, and I end up grabbing fistfuls of material to move it. With Machiners gloves, the fingers are supported and not so much grabbing.

FMQ is ????

Free Motion Quilting :)

I am in the process of finishing my first FM quilt. I was afraid to start it for over 2 months. I read and read more then I thought and thought about it. Finally I decided it was time to take the next step - and just start quilting. Here's what I learned:

1) Practice every time before you work on your quilt - just to get the feel of it again.

2) Don't be afraid to make a mistake. How else will you learn? No one else will probably notice once it's done.

3) Find the speed that works best for you. As you do different patterns you may need to adjust. (I just make up my own designs.)

4) I read on the QB to raise the feed dogs. The main part of my quilt was done with them lowered. Accidentally I started my last practice piece and didn't lower them and found the stitches were very even.

5) I use a low tension bobbin - makes a BIG difference.

6) A teflon sheet works very well for sliding the quilt.

7) Keep your quilt from pulling down. I will even put it up over my shoulder to make it easier for me as I quilt.

8) The most important thing I learned this evening as I was trying to finish the border - don't get your fingers anywhere near the needle! I ended up with a broken needle in my finger. Ouch!

Have fun. Don't be afraid to do it. Once the quilt's done the little imperfections will disappear.

Oz ... "4) I read on the QB to raise the feed dogs. The main part of my quilt was done with them lowered. Accidentally I started my last practice piece and didn't lower them and found the stitches were very even."

It's ...
Feed dogs up for quilting with your walking foot.

Feed dogs down for FMQ with your darning foot on.

Practice, then practice some more!

Salsa music! Linda Taylor taught me that at the Machine Quilter's Expo. What is the first thing you do when you hear it? Your body loosens up and you start moving. It keeps you from being tense! Honest to goodness, it works! LOL

Ah, but somewhere I read on the Board (or at least thought I did) to leave the feed dogs up for FMQ. Worked like a charm - more even stitches. I couldn't believe it. Most of the quilt I did was FMQ with them down but I like the way the quilt looks where I FMQ with them up. I know it's strange but it really worked. But like I said, I'm just learning.

Greetings Elizabethan, our LQS that I work in, has a Batik Stash Club (Monthly pkg of 6 fat quarters of batiks, $22.50 per month) I call it the BS Club, anyways, we alway put in a coupon or pattern or recipe or something, anyways I put in a suggestion for a "Stippling Cocktail" yes with booze !!! The cocktail seems to take the tension off, you relax a little bit and the FM isn't so intense. (Not too sure if I would recommend stippling and drinking all day long !!!) lol Although I did have a customer say that she took my advice to have a drink while she was stippling, she said it went real well, and after the second bottle (not to sure what size of bottle she was talking about), she just didn't care, and hadn't looked at her work in the morning to see how she had done. LOL...... Oh ya, this could be a mess !!!ha ha Auntie B in Saskatchewan.