Ok, with support, advice and assistance from two of my online friends - emails from Trudi quilting prolifically (who's quilting is something to see) and Amy AlliKatMom (go here for her tutorial), and after some tim reading Leah Day's blog and watching her Youtube clips, I took my first tentative steps into the scary land of FMQ (free motion quilting for any member of my family reading this). So the idea is (for any member of my family reading this) that, unlike drawing where you move the pencil, in FMQ, the sewing machine needle stays still and you have to sort of doodle by moving the quilt.
I decided I'd just keep on going, however bad it looked (and these are some of the best bits), not stress and curse and unpick, just keep on going. Now, it's not going to win any prizes but, if I walk to the end of the garden, hang it over a fence, walk back to the house, take my glasses off and see how it looks, it's OK so I'm pretty pleased with "OK from a distance without glasses" on my first go. Next quilt, I'll put the glasses on and see how it looks - if it's not too good with mine on, I'll try with Nigel's on because his prescription's different to mine.
looks ok to me. Don't get too stressed out about it and just remember practice makes better. As long as you are happy with it then that's good enough.
ReplyDeleteA tip I read somewhere is to keep doodling on paper the design you want to sew. It helps to make the pattern stick in the brain and that makes it easier to sew on the machine. It does work. Also don't look at the need le when you sew but look where you want the needle to go. That makes life easier aswell.
Love and hugs Gina xxx
The more you do the easier it gets... You just have to keep on quilting your quilts to get better... I found a sketchbook very helpful in working out the movements...
ReplyDeleteI think for a first attempt it is really good and you're being too hard on yourself. Like everything else I'm sure it's all about the practice.
ReplyDeleteI think it is awesome!! You should be happy with it. Oh, wait, I just put my contacts in...JKLOL!!! I have done only a little and this is so much better than what came out of my machine!! Keep up the good work Lynne.
ReplyDeleteIt looking good....and that's with my glasses on. Keep going...you can do it!!!!
ReplyDeleteI think you did good for a first time. It really takes a certain gift to be good at it right off the bat and even that takes lots of practice to get to where some of these ladies are. I think you did awesome and will be doing fab stuff in no time.
ReplyDeleteWow Lynne! You did brilliantly, I'm really impressed, and that's with my glasses on! LOL Keep going :)
ReplyDeletehehe. You won't need Nigel's glasses, silly. You're doing amazing!!!
ReplyDeleteIt looks pretty good to me, Lynne! Love the spider web one.
ReplyDeleteLooks great to me! Way to just keep going without stopping to unpick - "just keep quilting, just keep quilting" [humming that swimming tune from Finding Nemo" here]
ReplyDeleteLooks good to me. I'm yet to try FMQ, but will remember this post when I do :) xx
ReplyDeletelooks fabulous! And you tried it out on Sherbet Pips? You are doubly courageous!!
ReplyDeleteLooks good to me and I don't need glasses! I've only ever tried little bits of FMQ but I have a quilt top and quilt back pieced that just needs to be basted then I plan to destroy it with my attempts at FMQ! =D
ReplyDeleteI think you should be very proud of yourself! It looks great - good enough to almost tempt me to have a go myself (once I've finished knotting my flimsy/eiderdown which is still not finished!!!) Go You xx
ReplyDeleteIt looks very good to me. We are much more critical of own work than others are. Once it's finished and in use, you won't notice the mistakes on the quilting, I know don't with my recently finished quilt and my son certainly doesn't notice on his. Go for it and keep up the good work!
ReplyDeleteLooking really really good - it does improve with practice - and the buzz you get when you can complete something and have the satisfaction of saying to yourself 'I did that'
ReplyDeleteGood effort. Practice practice practice now.
ReplyDeleteCompletely agree with Ethne, it's a real buzz when you can say to yourself, "I did that". Good luck with your FMQ.
ReplyDeleteSMH.
You did a great job! I tried it not too long ago and was amazed at what I could do. Love your blog.
ReplyDeleteCarol
Blimey ... you're doing so blurry well! I had a little go before my machine went *phut* and it looked like a small constipated senile beetle had drunk a pint too many at the pub and then meandered home via several counties ...
ReplyDeleteI have 20/20 vision and they look fine to me!
ReplyDeleteI'm going to practice the cheap way... On Paper with NO thread!! I drew some patterns on scrap paper. The whole punches will give me an idea of how well I'm getting the hang of FMQ before I try on material...it's so expensive.. then I'll start on small projects for bags, totes, etc. :D
Did I miss the Sherbet Pips quilt? Oh...I think I just guessed your MBS secret (I abbreviated so your family won't guess). :) I can't wait to see it!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteHey! That is awesome. Keep it up! It will just keep feeling more natural each time. I am learning too!
ReplyDeleteFrom one who is HOPELESS at FMQ, it looks fantastic to me!! Love the spiral!
ReplyDeleteOh! You're so brave!! I'm totally impressed. I've practiced and practiced but am terrified to try it on a quilt. You've given me the urge to try again though ....
ReplyDeleteGreat job!!! My motto is, don't judge your quilting from 2 inches away, step back 5 feet or so and look at it. :)
ReplyDeleteYou made me smile about the glasses.
ReplyDeleteGood start to my day.
Lovely! Perhaps I should join you - I also follow Leah's FMQ blog. It is just.. I need time, time, time to sit down. And when I find it, I'd rather sew my tops LOL.
ReplyDeleteHey Lynne, you should try looking with your glasses on! It looks pretty darn good to me! :)
ReplyDeleteLooks great, love your different designs - I always find that I never have enough patience to do the practising bit before I start on the real thing!
ReplyDeleteI've got my glasses on and I think your FMQ looks good. I also think you're very brave to be sharing this with us when you think it looks good without your glasses! Love the first one, the pebbly look, particularly, go girl!
ReplyDeleteWay to go on getting started on FMQ! I'm still to chicken to try! It's all up from here, and from the looks of things, the starting point is pretty good.
ReplyDeleteLooks great to me! :)
ReplyDeleteBut that's how I always sew. I didn't know it had a name.
ReplyDeleteYou go girl! You're first try is way better than mine, although the border collie didn't complain when I bestowed him with it!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations for taking the leap of faith into the world of FMQ. I'm not great at it yet but what they say is really true. It just takes a lot of practice, practice, practice.
ReplyDelete