SueSew

Stand up to quilt? What a great idea! In all the FMQ classes I've been no no one ever suggested that, but it makes perfect sense when you have to move a big quilt! I have a large area around my machine, but sitting down I can't really do much with it, and throwing the quilt over my shoulder and mushing it on my lap/chest only goes so far.

Thanks!

quiltin-nannie

I had the same problem until I bought an oven liner and a pair of garden gloves! I place the oven liner down, mark where my needle will enter and put a quarter inch hole there. I do use a little scotch tape on a couple places to keep it from shifting. My garden gloves help me move the quilt. Problems solved for under $10!

bigsister63

It is very hard to move the bulk of a large quilt as compared to moving a baby or twin quilt. The weight of a large quilt will way it down making it harder to move. Also using pins will add to the weight of the quilt making it hard to move. Actuall I use 505 spraybasting.. I am one who used the foam made into a extension table and really like it. It supports the quilt if you pile it up so quilt does not hang down. Also it is hard work to quilt a large quilt- do not let anyone tell you otherwise.

also it is important to use gloves that have "dots" on them that help you move the quilt. Also make sure you feed dogs are completely down when doing FMQ. As for SID- I use invisibkle thread on the top so my stitches are not easily seen.

Here is the link for the cheap sewing table. note- you can take this down if you want but I have the room to keep it up all the time. It is a great work surface all the time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g14govA4pIM

Prism99

I found that standing up to quilt relieves a lot of stress from my shoulders and back. Had a lot of physical problems when quilting sitting down; tried a back brace, etc. When quilting standing up I found that all of those problems went away, which meant I could quilt for longer periods of time without having to worry about problems the next day.

Doggramma

Yes the gloves work great along with the other tips above. Good luck! There is nothing more frustrating than a quilt that won't go where you want when FMQ'ing

Jingle

To do FMQ, lower the feed dogs, lessen the pressure on the foot, turn all the way up. Wear gloves, I use the garden gloves with the rubber nubs. I use a 2x4' folding table on my left side to hold the excess quilt, to take the drag off it. Make sure you have enough quilt puddles around machine to prevent drag or it getting caught on a corner or something. I do all of this when I quilt.

carolynjo

I put two ironing boards at my DSM. Both have boards on them. One is in front of my machine and the other is at my left hand side, both the height of my sewing machine cabinet. I use Machingers gloves as well.

BillieJean

You can use car wax on the table to make it slide easier...


QUOTE=romille;6621786]I am still pretty new at quilting, so I could use your help figuring out what I am doing wrong.

I have a twin sized quilt that I am trying to quilt, but am having a heck of a time getting the quilt to move well. This is the largest quilt I have ever done. I did two quilts on my old machine, and didn't have this issue, although those were crib and lap sized. The first quilt was stitch in the ditch, the second was a meander.

I did two crib quilts on my new machine as well, one in the hoop and one with just straight lines. I was excited to quilt this one, but I am just having trouble getting it to move. I tried in the ditch, and am having trouble keeping the stitches in the ditch (despite buying the STITD foot) because the quilt just doesn't want to move well. I also tried moving it around free motion, but it is just stubborn.

I had a sew steady table on the old machine, so I thought maybe it would help if I got one for the new one; I ordered the "giant" table, but it didn't come with a polishing kit so it isn't quite as slippery as my last one. I will have to pick up something to make it slippery-er soon.

My new machine is taller... maybe that is part of the problem? I don't have a proper sewing table, so I have been camping at the kitchen table... and now that I have replaced my tiny Bernette with a Pffaf Creative Performance things are a bit higher up.

Would rearranging my house to fit a real sewing table help?? I need to do this anyway, I just haven't figured out how I want to redo things to find the room for a proper sewing area. I think I just need a new house!

Should I get one of those slippery mats like the Supreme Slider?[/QUOTE]

klgls

The Supreme Slider and Machingers Gloves really made a difference in my FMQ - so much easier. I "puddle" too and make sure the quilt is supported and not hanging off anywhere.

tessagin

never heard of an oven liner! I use a shower curtain liner and I puddle.