How do the experts make it look so easy? I have to say that I’m not really enjoying this free motion quilting business at all. Probably because I don’t often do it, I always forget exactly how to start. My Bernina machine has one of those BSR feet (stitch regulator) but I still have problems. And I’ve done some unpicking too, so it hasn’t been an easy afternoon sitting at the sewing machine.
I’m not much good a FMQing
Today I’m been trying to quilt vein lines in each of my maple leaf blocks, which just happens to be my UFO number 3. They are going OK, but are not perfect, by any means. I’ve a few more leaves to work on, and I’ll hopefully finish them off tomorrow.
I know, to get really good at a skill, we must practice, practice and practice some more. Perhaps, on reflection, I’m better just quilting with my walking foot. Or maybe I should go somewhere for lessons to see where I’m going wrong?
10 comments:
Patience, you will get there! :)
Good luck with it. I hope you get more comfortable with the process. I know that despite a class I'm not much good. Maybe I need to doe much more practice too.
I am not a lover of FMQ either and also am not that good at it but one of the Patch ladies said today " that time unpicking is less time sewing" she said "just be happy with what we do"
I think she is right, just quilt it and move on as it is your quilt ...
When you finish this quilt and step away from it, I'll bet you'll be surprised to find that the overall effect of your FMQ is better than you thought it was when you were working on it with your nose 6" away from the quilt top! Yes, FMQ is a skill that gets better with practice. Yes, lessons can't hurt. But one of the best things I did for my FMQ skills was to participate in a year-long online FMQ challenge. Every month a different machine quilting expert gave a tutorial and I quilted a fat quarter sized quilt sandwich sample of that technique. It got me to try lots of different tools and techniques and quilting motifs, and by the end of the year I wasn't an expert quilter but I did have a modest assortment of FMQ designs that I could quilt on a real quilt without worrying that I would "ruin it!" Leah Day has some fabulous tutorials on her web site as well.
very timely,its Canada Day,July 1st, this Friday, fireworks and all that,
FMQ on a household machine is doable. Just takes lots of practice. If I can do it, you can too. Or you could head south for a visit and you could try using my quilting frame! LOL
And I was so sure this was in honour of Canada Day. What do you think of us both doing a FMQ course together? Online or in real time? Just a thought, I tried an online one a few years ago, and managed OK, or so I thought, until it came to " FEATHERS", Oh boy, no matter how many blocks I did,a total disaster. Cold up here, fires are lit, hope all is OK with you both. Love those leaves, super colours together.
You have echoed my thoughts on FMQ perfectly. Also have the stitch regulator foot, sometimes it all comes together for me and some times it doesn't, would far sooner work with my walking foot. Cheers Jenny
#1 WINE!! #2 Relax your shoulders. #3 Try to keep your foot and hand speed in sync--that is the hardest part. #4 Look where you want to go, not so much right at the needle.
Those are 4 quick tips off the top of my Canuck head! SO tickled that I came here ON Canada Day, and that you are doing maple leaves :-) :-) As for the veins, the beauty of them is that they do not have to be perfect. You should see if Kathy Sandbach's Show Me How To Machine Quilt book is in your library. It's more than 10 years old I think, but it totally helped me with FMQ. And I wasn't joking about the wine; my very first FMQ class in my LQS, the instructor said that very thing. You need that warm and fuzzy relaxed joints feeling, no lie. Another site I found really helpful is Leah Day's 400+ Free Motion Designs - her videos are great. And you know I'm going to say it, but Angela Walters' classes on Craftsy are worth every single cent.
I have a few tops that have been completed, but then I pause at the quilting stage - perhaps it is fear holding us back that the first stitch will end up badly or worse, it will end in custard!
Post a Comment