SheriR

Free motion disaster?
Utter fail at free motion?
NOBODY TOLD ME I NEEDED MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF NEEDLES?
My niece will never know???

It started as a super cute baby quilt for her sixth baby. I'll be going by her place on my way to help DG move to Florida and then continue to Orlando for a Medical conference for DH...

I've had the top pieced since July, but we were in the middle of moving and it had to be set aside.

My big plan was stitch in the ditch the center. (Worked nicely) Stitch 1/4 inside every outside block. (Easy Peasy)
Free motion the pink camo.................DISASTER
Applique tiny dragon flies in the center.... FAIL

I would go into details, but I'm just so tired LOL.... And were leaving in the morning and I haven't finished packing my machine... But the short of it is... I broke over a dozen needles. I Have NEVER done this before but was determined to teach myself on this quilt top. I seriously have one needle left. And it's in the machine. I showed it to DEAR hubby and he thinks it looks great. I told him about breaking so many needles and he said... "Maybe you need some different attachment." "No...I have all the right equipment." I told him. You see, I've been planning this project for some time. It's totally me. So... look at it from what? 25 yards away going 25 miles per hour on your ...whatever you ride.... and it looks really good. Just don't stop and stare, and DO NOT look at the back closely.... And don't tell my niece it's horrid...I don't think she'll know...

SheriR

OMGOSH I really shouldn't even post it. It's horrid

miss_ticky2

You've done a nice job of it. It takes a bit of practice to not pull the fabric so that you break needles...maybe slow down a little on your next one. Keep trying, you'll get there :)

ploverwi2

Don't be so hard on yourself. It looks just fine. I am just starting to get mine to look really nice. I was moving the fabric too fast and would break needles. You can learn a lot from Leah Day's website, about free motion quilting. She also shows you how to adapt your darning foot. So it all works so much better. I did that to mine, and it made it so much easier to do the free motion. I try to keep the foot speed a bit faster and move the fabric a bit slower, and it turns out awesome. Don't give up. You will have it perfected in no time at all.

lisalisa

I agree with the above posts. It's natural to want to move your hands fast because the machine is moving so fast. Adapting to it is a lot like rubbing your belly and patting your head, but as they say, practice makes perfect. You'll get it eventually if you don't give up.

SheriR

You are all really too sweet. I did watch leah's tutorial and many others. I'm sure my problem is I just jumped in and started on a real top. I was just in a hurry to finish it. I'll probably look at it in the morning and at least unpick the center square while we drive to Orlando. It's a 16 hour trip I think lol.

carolaug

looks good to me...did you wash and dry it yet?I find once I do it looks 100 times better. I pulls in the stitches and hids any errors.

bluteddi

she will see the bright cheery colors and the love her auntie gives her everytime she cuddles up in it....

Rhaorth

I like it, it is not horrid at all

I have not even attempted fmq and at this point, am probably going to knot my quilt when the time comes.

I think she will see it, love it and not consider it horrid at all.
(I would not unpick it)

katier825

Don't be so hard on yourself. It's fine! It's the speed you move the quilt that does it. It takes time to get the rhythm down. The more you practice, the less needles you will break. I don't break them very often, but still do on occasion. Once it's washed, you'll hardly see what you now perceive as imperfections.

I found that when I first started out, there were shape I was pretty good at (loops, swirls), so I stuck with those to build my confidence. It took many quilts before I could do a decent stipple. I still don't like to do stipples though. I have a hard time keeping them consistent in size. It also took a while before I could stay on the lines to follow a pattern. That is easier now too.

It's good that you tried. So many people are dying to try it, but afraid to. The worst is over, now you can relax and keep practicing!