Oh wow. Free motion quilting a big quilt is hard work! I have a small machine, no extension table, not set into the table, nothing. The drag as I’m sewing! I also need to get some gloves as I feel totally out of control. As is clearly evident in the above pictures. I seriously nearly didn’t post these pictures but it’s important for me, a perfectionist, to admit to imperfections and not just hide them! Thank goodness for variegated thread to be at its palest when I did the worst row along the top and hide it more on the back though!
Plus, if a block turns out fabulous, you can all cheer along with me, knowing how hard I will have worked for it, haha! And why not rip it out? Because Angela and Leah both say to use it as a learning experience – if I spent all my time ripping out and not quilting, then all I’ll become good at is ripping. So sayeth the queens.
Caz@theaccidentalquilter says
Yay!! These Good Fortune quilts will be death of us. I tried to wrangle mine through my dsm and gave up. Going to repin it to the longarm and finish it off good, when the machine arrives lol!!
Sew Surprising says
I always struggle with having my quilt blocks etc look perfect, but ages ago I read a quote that I grabbed with both hands and recite often. “Nothing is ever perfect, except for God”. If I recall correctly it was an Amish quote. Its now my mantra when something isnt perfect 🙂
Jenelle says
My set-up is the same as yours right now too, but I hope to eventually get an extension table to make things easier. Drag is a drag. 😉 Your sample doesn’t look bad at all! It looks really good! Just remind yourself that each time you practice you’ll get closer to where you’d like your quilting to be. It makes it easier to just let yourself have time to play.
Kristy @ Quiet Play says
I think your FMQ is looking better than mine! Love that you got brave and tried out something new on your GF quilt!
Christine says
Gloves will make a big difference. And I really think homemade things not being perfect adds to the charm. I am serious.
MsMidge says
It’s such hard work, but it will be worth it! I bought myself quilting gloves yesterday – they’ve got to be better than the gardening gloves from coles I’ve been using! lol
Amy, a redeemed sheep says
Get yourself some Machingers gloves. It makes a world of difference. =)
Amy, a redeemed sheep says
Oh, I think your quilting looks great!
audrey says
I know everyone has already chimed in, but gloves really do help a lot! I have a small table too, and the drag is crazy, but having those gloves really do help me to have some semblance of control.
And your pictures look great! I think you’re being much too hard on yourself! 🙂
The Amateur Quilter (Mike Pearson) says
Those 2 know what they are talking about. I hardly ever rip out… even puckers. You really need to get it on a flat surface … extension is awesome. Gloves totally help out too!!!!
Teresa says
Your FMQ looks much better than mine does. With the fabric you used, it hardly shows any problems. Get some Machinger’s gloves. they are awesome. Also, I don’t think I could do any quilting without my extension table.
Carla says
Good for you for persevering! You can do it ; )
Sandra Sews says
Like the others are saying, gloves do help. Also, you can reduce drag by lifting the quilt up. Sometimes an extra chair will already help to lift the weight of the quilt. A friend of mine always put her ironing board (as close in height to the table as possible) to the side of her (making an L-shaped with the table) to reduce the drag of the quilt… And keep practising, it will definitely get better (= my experience…)!!
Gina says
You are awesome for taking the plunge into FMQ; a girl has to start somewhere. I think the scallops look pretty impressive!! Go, Alyce, go!!
Books_Bound says
I took the FMQ plunge on a real quilt last week too, doing a dogwood pattern. Yikes! Everyone says it’s hard work, and I never really believed them… so I hear you! I’m glad you resisted the urge to rip–once it’s washed and all together, no one will notice too much.
And gloves do help, so get yourself a pair while you’re learning. 🙂 I use Machingers, they’re pretty nice and lightweight.
Flying Blind... says
I don’t trust people who can do it, saying don’t worry about it!!!
I do know that once you have finished and given it a wash and crinkle, it will look fabulous xxx
Esther says
I also just started with FMQ and did not have one of thise slippery mats to put underneath the fabric. i came up with a temporary sollution from the kitchen… Yes kitchen! I had one of those reusable silicon mat you put on the cookie sheet of the oven. I cut a little hole in it for the sewing machine needle to go through. Got some painters tape and stuck in down carefully onto the table. It worked perfectly! And the FMQ was much better. In the meanwhile I got myself a new sewing machine with better FMQ setup… And the expensive real FMQ silicon mat is on its way to my house! The cookie-sheet trial worked for as I became more confident in FMQ. You might want to give this a try, just to see if the FMQ improves!
Esther
esthersipatchandquilt AT yahoo DOT com
Ipatchandquilt DOT wordpress DOT com
Lynne Tilley says
I think it looks great! You’re doing it, which is more than I can say. Good for you!
Cassandra says
You can do it! I think it’s good practice and that you’ll just get better with time. 😀 😀
Actually Amy says
I don’t see any of that as a mishap Alyce! It looks great and it is all a learning experience anyway. I have had a few too many quilting mishaps this week. But I will be blogging them next week and showing how I overcame them without unpicking all my work. If I can find a way to not unpick I will 🙂