Is there some magic spell or fairy dust that'll help with free motion quilting?
03-12-2011, 05:35 AM
#51
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Illinois & Wisconsin
Posts: 824
tsdelvis! I have a Pfaff Tectronic 2040 and was just "practicing" FMQ. I was told by the woman that I take my Pfaff to for service to put the machine on "slow". I have that button, do you? This has helped me tremendously. As I was FMQing, I remembered someone told me to look ahead of the needled and NOT AT THE NEEDLE. When I did this it was 80% better. Whew! Glad I remembered that. I also learned from a video or someone on the Board to cut out the front of my quilting/darning foot. Mine has red marks on each side so I used a "cut off" tool (for jewelry) and cut out the front. What a difference! Couldn't believe that I could see that much better. Good luck. Let me know if you try these tips and if they work for you as I am a newbie with FMQ too. Yolanda Wood River
03-12-2011, 06:06 AM
#54
Super Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: In Hiding
Posts: 1,210
The Fairy Dust is practice, practice, practice and going slowly at first. Try drawing out a pattern on paper so you get used to free designing. Make practice sandwiches and try different methods. You'll get it in no time!
03-12-2011, 06:29 AM
#58
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: West central Illinois
Posts: 2,919
Originally Posted by kaykwilts
Originally Posted by knlsmith
WINE machinger gloves WINE sharp needle WINE and don't forget to breath. Oh and sometimes WINE. lol Works for me everytime.
03-12-2011, 06:31 AM
#59
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Newberg, OR
Posts: 1,911
Go to Leah Day's website and watch her tutes. If you have a laptop, set it up next to your sewing machine. That's what I did and it helped. I'm not an expert, but I have more confidence than before. If you don't know her site, just search with her name.
03-12-2011, 06:37 AM
#60
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Newberg, OR
Posts: 1,911
Originally Posted by Maia B
It must be "try and cry" FMQ day. I've been making quilts for 20+ years, hand quilting and machine quilting straight lines only. So I have great machines with which to FMQ, I've read some recommended books, and I tried it early this morning. Hundreds of thousands of people do this, right? So no tension problems, no eyelashes, but it was just awful. I think everything is set just fine, because the stitch line is great except that it's jerky, ugly, and inconsistent. I could feel the thread's shame and disappointment at being involved. I can't trace a line, make any attractive shape, nothing nice at all. I sewed out a bobbin's worth on a 12"x 18" piece, which I then took directly to the rabbit cage to die the worst death any quilt can as a peed-upon chew rug. I went back to bed. Later, when I opened my thread drawer, the quilting weight threads were all cowering in fear. Even the piecing thread looked nervous. The worst of the whole story is that I was using the Bernina 440 with BSR, which is supposed to help, right? So I know it takes practice, but I'm pretty discouraged. It's also not AT ALL fun. Which is crazy, too...fabric :) + batting :) + thread :) + Bernina :))) = sad and sore like I did too much yard work.
OMG, I laughed until I cried reading this. You have a future in stand up if the FMQ defeats you.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
debbiemarie
Main
58
01-21-2024 04:52 AM
