tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302142022228564326.post783353975678583476..comments2023-07-25T11:48:39.285-04:00Comments on The Free Motion Quilting Project: #1 Quilting QuestionLeahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03674869334249298532noreply@blogger.comBlogger82125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302142022228564326.post-20818163611697100162012-01-11T23:03:39.566-05:002012-01-11T23:03:39.566-05:00Hi Leah,
I'm late in getting started with this...Hi Leah,<br />I'm late in getting started with this project (haven't actually started yet) and I think it boils down to: INSPIRATION and FEAR. My #1 question is this: How do you know (or decide) what design you will use to do the quilting? What's your inspiration? I think that it's my FEAR that my quilt will be spoiled by my quilting and that the quilting will spoil the quilt because I don't know how to decide to quilt it -- I lack the INSPIRATION!Laurelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06153589470822024035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302142022228564326.post-72285988452087566032011-12-26T06:37:46.265-05:002011-12-26T06:37:46.265-05:00Hi Leah. Firstly I love what you are doing with th...Hi Leah. Firstly I love what you are doing with the project. I think for me the stumbling block is working out how to work the designs on an actual quilt. The video you did that broke the quilt into quadrants was really good for the lollipop stitch but some of the other designs I can't quite see how to get the same flow. I guess this is also because all of your samples are stitched from one corner in a small square.<br /><br />Also I'm not really that clear on what to do with the dog feeds if you dont have a supreme slide thingie.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302142022228564326.post-71699523410091527132011-12-23T15:08:24.634-05:002011-12-23T15:08:24.634-05:00My most important fmq question is why doesn't ...My most important fmq question is why doesn't my work on larger items look as good as my little samples. I've been a hand-quilter for over 35 years and just started fmq'ing last year when I discovered Leah's blog. I was inspired and felt properly trained from the videos to tackle machine quilting as well and fine as my hand-quilting. I've been practicing drawing the designs and quilting them on samples. However, my first grandchild was born two weeks ago and my attempt at fmq'ing his baby quilt was extremely disappointing. :(kupton52https://www.blogger.com/profile/06144423270354113422noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302142022228564326.post-68269324497276574022011-12-23T00:41:26.167-05:002011-12-23T00:41:26.167-05:00#1 reason would be lack of time. Since there is n...#1 reason would be lack of time. Since there is no lesson that can really fix that...on my test samples so far, my stitches are very uneven and jumpy looking. I also noticed some trouble on a garment I finished recently, my bobbin thread started making loops. I suspect I was going too fast or there's a tension problem (scary) or some other mystery, but I don't know how to start investigating.Mary Bethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00459267597426929473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302142022228564326.post-27105599514241061742011-12-22T04:09:10.820-05:002011-12-22T04:09:10.820-05:00I'm getting comfortable with FMQing (since I h...I'm getting comfortable with FMQing (since I have been going thru and doing the beginning patterns from your site. Where I am blocked now is how to find a way to more easily pin baste the projects so I can quilt. I was using a big table at an adult education classroom - but that class has been closed down so the table is not available to me anymore....June Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04417665719096002149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302142022228564326.post-29145155734245862372011-12-22T00:15:28.472-05:002011-12-22T00:15:28.472-05:00- How do I give myself the gift of time...permissi...- How do I give myself the gift of time...permission to regularly quilt...and truly honor it without feeling 'I should be doing something less selfish'?<br /><br />- How do I get my butt in the chair, and just do it, without overthinking it?<br /><br />Thanks, Leah! You can see I'm in a quilting rut right now ;)<br /><br />Best,<br />JaeJanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03351735470664111985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302142022228564326.post-89970260250925244342011-12-21T12:01:31.749-05:002011-12-21T12:01:31.749-05:00Other than working 40 hours a week and family obli...Other than working 40 hours a week and family obligations? It would be the bobbin - it keeps breaking, jamming the needle and otherwise being frustrating. I have so many ideas in my head, it is difficult not to be able to execute them because the !$#@% machine is not cooperating.zenstitcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13479090924860725024noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302142022228564326.post-14704001042538556472011-12-21T06:59:27.694-05:002011-12-21T06:59:27.694-05:00I would say that deciding what design to FM quilt ...I would say that deciding what design to FM quilt is what keeps me from getting started. Once I decide on a design, I am usually moving along. I seem to have to stare at my quilt for days, weeks, sometimes months before this comes to me. I guess this is the subjective part of quilting. It's so hard to take out the stitches that it is easier not to start!Sewfunhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10208837650642111892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302142022228564326.post-33742456150080782392011-12-20T11:56:45.383-05:002011-12-20T11:56:45.383-05:00Choosing designs that compliment the quilt and mak...Choosing designs that compliment the quilt and make it an even better quilt. Also, finding the time to practice so that I can become a better quilter.Pamelahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00599770908011223454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302142022228564326.post-60849893221476513312011-12-19T21:52:57.760-05:002011-12-19T21:52:57.760-05:00Which design to put where? I am better at choosin...Which design to put where? I am better at choosing designso for around appliqué but I get totally lost on quilting a patchwork pieced top. Can't wait to hear what you have to say to all these questions!-amyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13227795752229563177noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302142022228564326.post-26966706647085024592011-12-19T17:25:59.846-05:002011-12-19T17:25:59.846-05:00Time and Terror. Time - I know practice practice p...Time and Terror. Time - I know practice practice practice is the key but I really only have 1/2 hour in the evening after a long day to practice and by the time I get set up and get in the flow I am running out of time. Doubt you can help with that.<br />Terror - I make really nice tops but am terrified to practice on them and ruin a perfectly good top.<br />So here I am stopped dead in my tracks.Diannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08285581918856735064noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302142022228564326.post-88940542626104357382011-12-19T15:14:40.086-05:002011-12-19T15:14:40.086-05:00How do I find the money, space, and time?!?How do I find the money, space, and time?!?Debrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07673520812782040309noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302142022228564326.post-9658125923742384092011-12-19T15:08:42.739-05:002011-12-19T15:08:42.739-05:00Like so many others - my biggest hold-up is in dec...Like so many others - my biggest hold-up is in deciding what design to use where. My quilts are to be used. I don't want the quilting to be too dense because I want my quilts to be soft and squishy.<br />Thanks for your wonderful site!!Rayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05431754306026373595noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302142022228564326.post-40578077136284882552011-12-19T14:40:12.679-05:002011-12-19T14:40:12.679-05:00Why does my thread shred and break while I'm f...Why does my thread shred and break while I'm free-motion quilting? I have a quality machine (Brother QC-1000), I drop the feed dogs, set the machine (newly cleaned of lint) on quilting, use a fresh needle and quality thread. I use gloves, and support the weight of the quilt. Some of my medium-to-large stippling is fine, but when I try anything detailed or complicated (like pebbles), the thread snaps with regularity, driving me crazy!!!!Sheilahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09119402432840391204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302142022228564326.post-24012607750817036572011-12-19T13:35:41.972-05:002011-12-19T13:35:41.972-05:00Thanks a lot for your inspiring blog. There are ma...Thanks a lot for your inspiring blog. There are many designs I would like to try. <br />What design matches to the quilttop, is the main question.<br />My greatest problem is to quilt an allover design on a large quilttop. Therefore sectionquilting is my favourite at the time.<br />kind regards<br />ClaudiaKaktushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00636948382182811027noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302142022228564326.post-45938101624583601482011-12-19T12:45:23.825-05:002011-12-19T12:45:23.825-05:00Ha ha..you won't believe it..but I'm not F...Ha ha..you won't believe it..but I'm not FMQing yet coz I'm unable to get a FMQ foot here in Chennai (India). Have only been doing some straight line quilting but seem to have trouble with puckers :-(Happy Scrappyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05834743523842538565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302142022228564326.post-64663997542182579112011-12-19T11:38:50.336-05:002011-12-19T11:38:50.336-05:00Thanks to you and a few other wonderful teachers, ...Thanks to you and a few other wonderful teachers, I AM doing my own quilting! Your site is wonderful!! As an "intermediate" quilter, my latest challenge has been what color thread to use! Thread skipping and breaking has been my biggest challenge. Again, you have some great resources there too. Thanks! Here's a link to my method of pin basting in a small house (no floor space) with lots of kids and pets: http://becky-beckysblabber.blogspot.com/2010/11/spare-your-knees-alternative-way-to.html FWIW, I think time is a huge issue for most people. I'd love to see some designs that are fast and big, and easy to do on a typical home machine.Beckyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14436825220887971278noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302142022228564326.post-21718335805400685752011-12-19T11:08:18.222-05:002011-12-19T11:08:18.222-05:00Getting the basting done...... in such a way as no...Getting the basting done...... in such a way as not to labor over whether or not the back is getting tucks as I quilt the front.....???Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302142022228564326.post-24409808770126803172011-12-19T10:33:54.221-05:002011-12-19T10:33:54.221-05:00I have a really hard time with the tension adjustm...I have a really hard time with the tension adjustment on my machine. If it's too low, I get the loose threads on the bottom, but when I increase it to eliminate that, my thread tends to break very often because of the high tension. Tips on how to even that out would be greatly appreciated!MChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09873866161092464816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302142022228564326.post-59939057850845163272011-12-19T10:17:43.932-05:002011-12-19T10:17:43.932-05:00The number one reason why I'm not free motion ...The number one reason why I'm not free motion quilting right now is "Why is the timing off in my machine? And why did the darn thing have to break right as I was ready to do the quilting? And right before Christmas after I spent money I might have had to fix it on presents?" Um I guess that is three questions...<br /><br />Seriously, I think my biggest problem is managing all the bulk of the quilt in the small space that is my sewing area. Oh, and actually trying to decide what sort of design to quilt on the blanket.Mrsblockohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14433636824635089491noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302142022228564326.post-2635653698899774082011-12-19T10:02:16.868-05:002011-12-19T10:02:16.868-05:00Where do I start!?! That's usually my big que...Where do I start!?! That's usually my big question when I look at one of the many big quilt tops waiting to be quilted.Marie Joergerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12669721616399000774noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302142022228564326.post-77524576548950700232011-12-19T09:48:58.708-05:002011-12-19T09:48:58.708-05:00My biggest question on free motion quilting is how...My biggest question on free motion quilting is how do I get the tension balanced when I'm using a very thin thread in the bobbin??Linda E in NMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08277899483441687088noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302142022228564326.post-35269932174070093732011-12-19T09:28:04.650-05:002011-12-19T09:28:04.650-05:00the biggest thing keeping me from starting is a re...the biggest thing keeping me from starting is a really simple question: How do you start? ie what do you do with the thread, how do you lock the stitches, what is this burying the thread thing? See - all to do with starting and stopping. And how do you pick a design? And. . . That's why I'm going the FMQ challenge in 2012. I'm going to learn this and I'm going to start and then I can try some of these wonderful designs you've posted.Dawnmarie's Lifehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06033691473942743491noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302142022228564326.post-47869061088784989762011-12-19T08:55:44.902-05:002011-12-19T08:55:44.902-05:00I stare at the top, like a blank canvas. I love d...I stare at the top, like a blank canvas. I love dense quilting, but not all quilts want that. They refuse tot ell me what they DO want, so I fold them up and put them in a pile waiting or inspiration to strike....Martha Lorshbaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12437163467971865026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302142022228564326.post-77116712170394966232011-12-19T08:46:27.859-05:002011-12-19T08:46:27.859-05:00Leah, I've been following your blog for some t...Leah, I've been following your blog for some time now and I've even gotten your books and I keep saying I'm going to start practicing but I keep putting it off. My most pressing question is not really something that somebody else can answer. How can I put away my fear of messing up something and just try it?Jonihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08013864207435469279noreply@blogger.com