Tips please for fmq scallops/clam shells

[rubywishes]

I want to do an all over fmq doing scallops or clam shells as they are sometimes referred to. I am having quite a time of trying to keep my curves lovely and sweeping. I have tried free hand-ing them and I have tried following a drawn line, I have tried stitching the rows vertically, I have tried stitching them horizontally but all have been a rather resounding fail. Has anyone any tips for doing these? My mountain of practice sandwiches is becoming alarmingly high!

[BrendaP]

Get some scrap paper and a pencil and draw the shapes you want in a continuous line, then draw the lines umpteen times or more.  That will get your eye accustomed to the way you want the lines to flow.  The theory is that it will then be easier to get the machine to replicate the same lines.

[rubywishes]

Thanks Brenda, been doing that but don't feel it's been making any progress ...haha, got quite a few looks today at work in the staff room at lunch break! Unfortunately I won't have a chance at the machine now till the end of the week so will just keep doodling during my breaks.

[Ploshkin]

Have you tried doing them from different directions?  The very, very few attempts I've had with FMQ I've found I am naturally better in certain directions.  I think with clamshell I would find it more natural to do them upside down and from left to right (so strings of U shapes) whereas with stippling I'm best starting top right and working right to left

[rubywishes]

Yep Ploshie, tried it from all different directions...L-R, R-L, top-bottom, bottom-top........It sounds as though I'm trying all the right things; I guess I've just got to keep at it. I have this quilt just waiting, waiting, waiting to be finished and I think it's even starting to glare at me every time I reach for another practice sandwich instead of it!! 

[Morgan]

Tips in this video tutorial from 1.10 if you want to skip the drawing and template pattern placement - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yd1nwmEa6c8




In the link is a range of quilting design aid templates.  On several of the designs there is a direction of travel which can be helpful when trying to work out where to start.  [size=78%]http://www.sewthankful.com/QuiltingMadeEasy.html[/size]
Also some designs for a longarm pantograph set up but again the pics shows direction of travel to create the pattern - [size=78%]http://www.sewthankful.com/pantograph-patterns-fans-clams-insignias.html[/size]. 

[rubywishes]

Thanks Morgan.

[rubywishes]

  going well you might wonder? Nuh  Where's my walking foot!