meandering FMQ pattern
#21
Super Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: North Carolina - But otherwise, NOTW
Posts: 7,940
Originally Posted by Rymer
thanks ladies!! I got my quilting foot tonight and I made an attempt....do you have any idea why this is happening? here is a picture of the front and back. any clue? I have a Brother XR52, so I don't lower the feed dogs, I have a plate that covers them.
Edit...OK, so I see you already figured that out!! :lol: :thumbup:
#22
Originally Posted by jljack
Originally Posted by Rymer
thanks ladies!! I got my quilting foot tonight and I made an attempt....do you have any idea why this is happening? here is a picture of the front and back. any clue? I have a Brother XR52, so I don't lower the feed dogs, I have a plate that covers them.
#23
Originally Posted by Jingleberry
.... You must have gloves with little rubber nubs on them, makes it easier to move the fabric, relax and work on your moving with the speed of the machine. You have to work together.
#25
Originally Posted by Rymer
Originally Posted by Stitchnripper
Hi Rymer - I have a brother XR-52 also. I do lots of FMQ on it. I'm not an expert but have had the issue you show on the back. I would rewind a new bobbin, change the needle, rethread, make sure the bobbin case is clean (I recently cleaned mine out using the manual as a guide and it was not hard). I also set the stitch length at 0 and don't use that little plate. I found it caused some drag on the quilt. I use one of those silicone slider things with a hole for the needle that covers the feed dogs but you could use a thick piece of vinyl too. Another thing I learned is to try and find the "sweet spot" where your hands and machine are going at just the right rhythm. I don't always get it, but I know it when I do. I have found this machine not to be fussy on what kind of thread I use. Good luck! Will look forward to more pictures.
The advice everyone gave is good. It takes a lot of practice. I took a class and that was helpful. I practice as often as I can. I keep track of what threads my machine likes (some machines are picky).
Until you feel comfortable doing it, I suggest matching your thread to the fabric. Using cotton batting helps too. Once it's washed, you don't notice the mistakes! That inspires confidence to keep working at it! :)
#26
I just started FMQ last spring. I have great fun with it. I just concentrate on one block at a time and have fun with it. If your machine has a setting so that it always stops with the needle down in the fabric, use that. Then if you stop, the fabric won't move on you. That causes the little "jogs" in the stitching. You also have to discover what speed works for you. I was trying to go too slowly at first and got BIG stitches. It seems the faster the machine goes, the smaller and more consistent the stitch length is. Most of all, just do it....and enjoy!
#27
I still hand quilt but have bought the foot and various gadgets to use with my machine for FMQ. I also found a "stippling" stencil at the quilt store. As a beginner you could make the first rows using the stencil marks and then take off from there. I am working on a baby quilt now and am planning on giving this a whirl. I will keep you posted.
#28
Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Decatur GA
Posts: 28
Go to http://freemotionquilting.blogspot.com/
Lots of tutorials and pictures -- and the superslider and bobbin things that help... great beginner and harder ideas. Put together a charity quilt and practice....
Lots of tutorials and pictures -- and the superslider and bobbin things that help... great beginner and harder ideas. Put together a charity quilt and practice....
#30
Originally Posted by Rymer
thanks ladies!! I got my quilting foot tonight and I made an attempt....do you have any idea why this is happening? here is a picture of the front and back. any clue? I have a Brother XR52, so I don't lower the feed dogs, I have a plate that covers them.
Be sure that you hold both bobbin and needle thread before you start the machine. Usually when I re thread the needle and bobbin it then works ok. Good luck
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