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Quilting: Free Motion Quilting sample
2 kudoz

Free Motion Quilting sample

2nd attempt with Darning Foot

With Walking Foot
1st attempt with Darning Foot
2nd attempt with Darning Foot

Learn It

This project was made as part of a Craftsy course:
Machine Quilting: Free-Motion & More »
Difficulty:

Category: Quilting

Type of item: Functional

For: Other

Style: Whimsical

Materials

Cotton, batting and quilting thread

What was your inspiration?

My Walking and Darning Feet, Wendy and all my fellow Crafsty friends.

What are you most proud of?

My Walking Foot sample:) I am pleased with how I feel more confident using it and trying lots of different patterns.

Okay.... on my second attempt it is a bit easier but still finding it very difficult!

What advice would you give someone starting this project?

What advice would I give??? It is me that needs the advice and help ;)

This is my first attempt at using the Darning Foot and trying to fmq.... all I can say is.... you won't have to look too close to see how awful my control of the stitching is!
When Wendy said to practice, practice, practice... I think for me it will take forever to master this!
How have you all mastered this so quickly and so well?!?!

 

24 comments

Add your comment:

Klg727 on craftsy.com
Klg727
Feb 16, 2013    Flag as inappropriate
I'm going to aim for my practice block to look as good as yours!
desna on craftsy.com
desna
Feb 16, 2013   Flag as inappropriate
Thanks but don't look too closely ;) I think we need to be practising everyday but its annoying only having one machine and having to change the foot each time, that's my excuse.
Wendy Butler Berns on craftsy.com
Wendy Butler Berns
Craftsy Instructor
Feb 13, 2013    Flag as inappropriate
good to keep playing with those sample pieces... keep working on listening to the hum of the machine... watching what your hands are doing with the foot speed... our goal is to get a consistent stitch length... but sure takes a lot of practice pieces.... charge ahead... and thanks for sharing.
desna on craftsy.com
desna
Feb 13, 2013   Flag as inappropriate
Thanks Wendy for the advice, much needed. I will be going over your class again and again...
ZaZa Manaf on craftsy.com
ZaZa Manaf
Feb 07, 2013    Flag as inappropriate
oh i forgot to ask...do you have to transfer the design to the quilt first?? sorry if this sounds silly :(
desna on craftsy.com
desna
Feb 08, 2013   Flag as inappropriate
Hey ZaZa, I think the walking foot is much easier as it is controlled and great for straight quilting as well as slight curved stitching. Wendy's class is brilliant for fmq and if you take her class she will show you how to count stitches in the ditch for evenly spaced columns between stitch lines (hope that makes sense) In these examples above I have not used stencils (haha that probably is obvious;) I just went for it. Hope this helps:)
Wendy Butler Berns on craftsy.com
Wendy Butler Berns
Feb 13, 2013   Flag as inappropriate
You do not have to transfer the design to the quilt top... what we are working on is unmarked designs... so we are the designer... it takes a lot of practice for sure!
ZaZa Manaf on craftsy.com
ZaZa Manaf
Feb 07, 2013    Flag as inappropriate
Hi Desna, is it much easier using the walking foot? The darning foot comes with the machine aye?? I m going to try the walking foot soon..all the best to you..show us more FMQ when u are getting much better..:)
ngcorliss on craftsy.com
ngcorliss
Feb 05, 2013    Flag as inappropriate
Be brave and prosper!! Good job!
desna on craftsy.com
desna
Feb 06, 2013   Flag as inappropriate
Thank you, that is a lovely reminder:)
WasaNewbieJean on craftsy.com
WasaNewbieJean
Jan 29, 2013    Flag as inappropriate
You go girl! Very inspiring!
desna on craftsy.com
desna
Jan 29, 2013   Flag as inappropriate
Thanks Jean, I have been watching Cindy on the Design Quilting and Oh boy do I have a long way to go... but it good to be challenged!
Di4N4 on craftsy.com
Di4N4
Jan 28, 2013    Flag as inappropriate
Oh Desna! Good for YOU!! I have not attempted anything like this! Leaves?! Flowers!! That's very brave! You are going to be great at this, with your adventuresome spirit! This makes me want to pull out my practice squares and try again soon. Thanks for sharing!
desna on craftsy.com
desna
Jan 28, 2013   Flag as inappropriate
Thanks Di. I got over excited and had a go at them all. 'Jack of all trades and master at none' springs to mind!!!! But I have got the fmq bug now and its practise, practise, practise for me:)
Lisa Gardner on craftsy.com
Lisa Gardner
Jan 27, 2013    Flag as inappropriate
Wow, so impressed. I have to practice mine! Yours looks amazing.
desna on craftsy.com
desna
Jan 28, 2013   Flag as inappropriate
Thanks Lisa and the word is practise and practise some more... it is fun and exciting but scary too!
Pam NZ on craftsy.com
Pam NZ
Jan 27, 2013    Flag as inappropriate
And she's off and FMQ'g... look at you go! Great start Desna! I'm petrified of leaves & feathers... haven't even attempted them yet but look at you! You sure got up a great rhythm with your loops... nothing shabby about them! No broken needles? Well you're just not trying hard enough then LOL coz, like QuiltDude, I've had a few ;-) Keep going & don't forget to breathe!
desna on craftsy.com
desna
Jan 28, 2013   Flag as inappropriate
Haha Pam I got over excited when I got going and just had to try everything I had seen in Wendy's class. I now realise I need to practise each one separately to try to perfect them. And I did forget to breathe on occasions:) This is fun if not a little daunting and scary!
Darns on craftsy.com
Darns
Jan 27, 2013    Flag as inappropriate
Desna, my first attempts looked exactly like yours! Big stitches, little stitches, jerky lines, etc. Quilt Dude is so right - practice every day even if only for 10-15 minutes. Use either the Machinger gloves or rubberized shelf liner pad to keep a good grip on fabric (but not a death grip!). I have a stack of practice pieces about 12 in. high that I keep just to remind myself where I started. Try to find that sweet spot of motor speed-hand movement that feels right & aim for that. I reduced the motor speed to about 1/3 so that my foot wouldn't outrace my hands. Keep quilting, girl! It does get better!
desna on craftsy.com
desna
Jan 28, 2013   Flag as inappropriate
Thanks Darns for the much needed advice. I can only aspire to quilt like you... I see you only started last February so that gives me some incentive to keep going:) Now that I have started I am determined to get better!
QuiltDude on craftsy.com
QuiltDude
Jan 26, 2013    Flag as inappropriate
Welcome to the world of FMQ! Desna this a great first attempt and don't be discouraged if you don't feel your fmq is where you want it to be right now. Mine was way, way worse when I started. I broke needles, thread issues galore, just a mess. The solution? Practice, practice, practice. I saw sooo many tutorials even before I got the nerve to sit at my machine. I practiced every day for weeks, even if for 10 minutes at a time. Before you know it, you'll be wanting to make a quilt just so you can quilt it free motion. Keep up the good work! Oh, and try not to break your needle, it's an awful sound and worse feeling. :-) :-) :-)
desna on craftsy.com
desna
Jan 26, 2013   Flag as inappropriate
Thanks QuiltDude I have long admired your work:) Thanks for the encouragment too. I have been watching so many tutorials and joined some crafsty classes and felt I was ready to tackle it.... that is... until I actually did tackle it ha! I have a quilt all ready sandwiched waiting for me to fmq it but I think much more practice is needed. No needles broken as yet!!!
Morag2504 on craftsy.com
Morag2504
Jan 26, 2013    Flag as inappropriate
Well done you!
desna on craftsy.com
desna
Jan 26, 2013   Flag as inappropriate
Thanks Morag... I took a look at your fabulous fmq and look forward in anticipation to improving to your level. Thanks for the inspiration:)

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