Free Motion Quilting for the Nervous and TerrifiedThe following notes are intended as a reference for anyone who wants to try free motion quilting (FMQ) .
They are not exhaustive, and any suggestions for additional explanations or guidance are welcome.
Free motion quilting, like many things in life, gets better with practice.
Do not be disheartened if your first attempts are not perfect.
Before you begin:Make sure you can sit comfortably at a table that is the right height.
If it is too high you will quickly find your arms, neck, and shoulders will ache.
You should have a good light to work in, and sufficient space round the machine to support the weight of the quilt.
Setting up your machine:Refer to the machine manual for set up particular to your machine.
• Drop the feed dogs
• Attach the darning or free motion foot
• Thread top and bobbin with suitable thread, same weight and type in reel and bobbin
• Make sure the eye of the needle is large enough to allow the thread to run easily through it
• If you have one, fit a straight stitch throat plate
• Attach the sewing table to the machine if it is not set into a flat-bed table or cabinet. It is very difficult to do FMQ
without a large, stable, flat area around the needle.
Practice pieces:Make up some practice ‘sandwiches’.
Use 2 pieces of calico or cotton quilting fabric with a layer of wadding between them.
Hold the layers with safety pins or tacking thread.
The sandwich should be about 18 inches square – big enough to be useful, small enough to be easy to move.
Slide the sandwich under the foot and lower the presser foot.
Some machines have a special setting for the darning foot.
Check the machine manual and make sure you have followed any relevant instructions.
Turn the wheel to lower the needle or set the machine to ‘needle down’ and take one stitch.
Lift the needle and bring the bobbin thread to the top and hold both ends out of the way, then drop the needle again.
Place both hands on the fabric (using gloves with gripping finger tips (eg machingers), will help keep the fabric under control).
Begin sewing, sliding the fabric as the machine runs. You are aiming to control the stitch length by moving the fabric and running the machine at a comfortable speed.
If you move the fabric
faster than the machine is going, you will get
long stitches.
If you move the fabric
slower than the machine is going, you will get
short stitches.
You may wish to adjust the speed setting on your machine, if there is one, especially if the foot control is stiff.
To begin with Stitch loops and curves while you get the feel of things.
Sew in all directions; try simple shapes, or write your name.
Let the machine stop, with needle down, and take your foot off the pedal before you lift and re-position your hands and start again.
Take a few minutes to look at what you have done.
You may notice that the top or bottom thread tension needs adjusting.
Most adjustments can be made using the top thread tension setting.
Try tightening or loosening the tension and stitch a few more loops and see if that produces a balanced stitch.
When you get it right, make a note of the settings for future reference – but remember they may still need to be fine-tuned for fabrics with tighter or looser weaves.
You may also find that the bobbin thread has sewn small loops on curves. This is caused by the needle flexing. Try a stronger (not necessarily larger) needle and a straight stitch throat plate, and try not to sew too fast or drag the fabric on tight curves.
Draw a few designs on your practice piece and try following the lines.
You may find it useful to follow the lines a few times with you finger to plan the route.
Do you have to change direction by backtracking?
Will you have to stop and turn the work to see the lines?
Taking a few moments to think about these things makes the actual stitching easier.
Do not sew for too long at a time.
If you find your arms, neck and shoulders ache, take a break (
) and remember to relax and breathe as you sew.
Keep practising:Your first attempts may not please you, but if you do a little practice every day, or as often as you can, you will find you will become more confident and it will become easier.
When you are ready to move on to your first machine-quilted quilt, make a small practice piece with off cuts of the top, backing and wadding and take a minute to check the tension settings and warm up before starting on the ‘real thing’.
Compiled by DOB, edited by Iminei
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