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Posted by sewjournal on July 15th 2010 at 10:27 am
Attempts at free motion quilting
Deborah Louie's example
I recently bought a Janome 3160QDC because it was light enough for me to take to classes. Anyway a couple of weeks ago I had my first ever free-motion quilting lesson on said machine. Deborah Louie was the teacher.
It was fun and a little challenging but I enjoyed it enough to want to try some more, though I haven’t yet.
I thought you might like to see some examples of my first attempts.
My first attempt
As you can see I have somewhat less control over the machine than Deborah has but I’m not unhappy for a first attempt.
Here are some more of my efforts. From left to right Waves, Flowers and Stars and under them are some of Deborah’s examples including some fancy flowers, a variety of spirals and some geometrics:
 Waves |
 Flowers |
 Stars |
 Fancy flowers |
 Spirals |
 Geometrics |
As you can see I have lots of practice ahead of me but it’s great to have some of Deborah’s examples to follow.
Those look great! Not at all like my first attempts. I think I need a class.
Those look great! Not at all like my first attempts. I think I need a class.
Those look great! Not at all like my first attempts. I think I need a class.
You should be VERY proud of those first attempts! Let me make a suggestion, when you are sitting relaxing, take pencil and paper and “doodle” your designs. It helps to train your hand/eye coordination.
Also, to take some of the “pressure” off yourself, buy some cheap muslin and use that rather than expensive quilting material.
This is also a good time to try machine quilting different battings. You’ll quickly find what you like and dislike about each thing… same goes for threads, needles, etc.
Good for you!!!!!
Thanks for all the positive comments. Your suggestion about doodling is a really good one and the teacher actually recommended that too and gave us space in the workbooks to do it. It really does help. Thanks Sylvia
You should be VERY proud of those first attempts! Let me make a suggestion, when you are sitting relaxing, take pencil and paper and “doodle” your designs. It helps to train your hand/eye coordination.
Also, to take some of the “pressure” off yourself, buy some cheap muslin and use that rather than expensive quilting material.
This is also a good time to try machine quilting different battings. You’ll quickly find what you like and dislike about each thing… same goes for threads, needles, etc.
Good for you!!!!!
Thanks for all the positive comments. Your suggestion about doodling is a really good one and the teacher actually recommended that too and gave us space in the workbooks to do it. It really does help. Thanks Sylvia
You should be VERY proud of those first attempts! Let me make a suggestion, when you are sitting relaxing, take pencil and paper and “doodle” your designs. It helps to train your hand/eye coordination.
Also, to take some of the “pressure” off yourself, buy some cheap muslin and use that rather than expensive quilting material.
This is also a good time to try machine quilting different battings. You’ll quickly find what you like and dislike about each thing… same goes for threads, needles, etc.
Good for you!!!!!
Thanks for all the positive comments. Your suggestion about doodling is a really good one and the teacher actually recommended that too and gave us space in the workbooks to do it. It really does help. Thanks Sylvia
Rainydayseamstress and Sylvia are right – your free motion quilting is fantastic for the first time, especially your waves. I can manage stippling and some other designs, but feathers, stars, anything where you have to follow a line EXACTLY are proving too difficult for me. One thing I learned about stippling is to look ahead to where you’ll be quilting and not at the needle. KUDOS to you on a great job!
Thanks for the positive comments, they’ve given me motivation to try some more.
Rainydayseamstress and Sylvia are right – your free motion quilting is fantastic for the first time, especially your waves. I can manage stippling and some other designs, but feathers, stars, anything where you have to follow a line EXACTLY are proving too difficult for me. One thing I learned about stippling is to look ahead to where you’ll be quilting and not at the needle. KUDOS to you on a great job!
Thanks for the positive comments, they’ve given me motivation to try some more.
Rainydayseamstress and Sylvia are right – your free motion quilting is fantastic for the first time, especially your waves. I can manage stippling and some other designs, but feathers, stars, anything where you have to follow a line EXACTLY are proving too difficult for me. One thing I learned about stippling is to look ahead to where you’ll be quilting and not at the needle. KUDOS to you on a great job!
Thanks for the positive comments, they’ve given me motivation to try some more.
Wonderful, Munaiba! I don’t think there is anything you can’t do
Linda
Wow! That’s a great compliment but my problem is whether or not I can do them well! lol And that’s a whole other story.
Wonderful, Munaiba! I don’t think there is anything you can’t do
Linda
Wonderful, Munaiba! I don’t think there is anything you can’t do
Linda
Wow! That’s a great compliment but my problem is whether or not I can do them well! lol And that’s a whole other story.
The waves look lovely!
The waves look lovely!
The waves look lovely!
THis is what I like to see! THe examples are great ideas for me to try. I’d like to get past stippling and stitch in the ditch. Thanks
Shelley, Deborah actually advised us to stabilise the quilt first by stitching in the ditch and then to do the free motion. Hope that helps.
THis is what I like to see! THe examples are great ideas for me to try. I’d like to get past stippling and stitch in the ditch. Thanks
Shelley, Deborah actually advised us to stabilise the quilt first by stitching in the ditch and then to do the free motion. Hope that helps.
THis is what I like to see! THe examples are great ideas for me to try. I’d like to get past stippling and stitch in the ditch. Thanks
Shelley, Deborah actually advised us to stabilise the quilt first by stitching in the ditch and then to do the free motion. Hope that helps.
Ah yes the magic of practice and yours will look as beautiful as hers very quickly your off to a great start.
Isn’t if fun though?
Yes it is fun at the moment when I’m in no danger of ruining a quilt. Not sure how I’ll feel on the real thing though.
Ah yes the magic of practice and yours will look as beautiful as hers very quickly your off to a great start.
Isn’t if fun though?
Yes it is fun at the moment when I’m in no danger of ruining a quilt. Not sure how I’ll feel on the real thing though.
You did terrific. I’ve done that class too and it it seems like parctice is the way to go once you get the basics.
You did terrific. I’ve done that class too and it it seems like parctice is the way to go once you get the basics.
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I want to learn how to do the free motion quilting too. I’m terrified. I think you’re brave and you did a great job!
I want to learn how to do the free motion quilting too. I’m terrified. I think you’re brave and you did a great job!
I want to learn how to do the free motion quilting too. I’m terrified. I think you’re brave and you did a great job!
I’m impressed for the first lesson. I’m so afraid of my sewing machine as far as quilting goes. I need to just do it and practice.
I’m impressed for the first lesson. I’m so afraid of my sewing machine as far as quilting goes. I need to just do it and practice.
I’m impressed for the first lesson. I’m so afraid of my sewing machine as far as quilting goes. I need to just do it and practice.
Yes it is fun at the moment when I’m in no danger of ruining a quilt. Not sure how I’ll feel on the real thing though.