tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5824554059843705380.post3443979822154115341..comments2023-05-02T03:25:38.097-07:00Comments on The Desert Quilter: If I Can Do Free Motion Quilting, You Can Too!Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01805403370463885686noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5824554059843705380.post-43351672651053993572010-08-07T21:01:50.466-07:002010-08-07T21:01:50.466-07:00I can't believe I didn't comment on this. ...I can't believe I didn't comment on this. I had it up and something must have happened, like a power outage or something. Anyway, I love that you've adopted the 'go big' motto. Beautiful work!<br /><br />xo -EElizabethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07980461113595763030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5824554059843705380.post-79929152137920352272010-07-27T15:15:41.722-07:002010-07-27T15:15:41.722-07:00OOoo! girl! you are brave and your feathers are pr...OOoo! girl! you are brave and your feathers are pretty great too. Wendy does some fabulous quilting and it does take practice.Carrie P.https://www.blogger.com/profile/10063988589711911820noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5824554059843705380.post-81897897743045787472010-07-27T11:11:36.840-07:002010-07-27T11:11:36.840-07:00Ahh I am just starting to CONSIDER fmq! I am nerv...Ahh I am just starting to CONSIDER fmq! I am nervous, thanks for your post I will definitely be refering to it!Quiltstoryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11204377745261551448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5824554059843705380.post-21987283129592983252010-07-27T08:34:10.578-07:002010-07-27T08:34:10.578-07:00Michelle, I'm neither a beginner nor an expert...Michelle, I'm neither a beginner nor an expert, but I think you've hit the nail squarely on the head with your observations. Your feathers look wonderful, especially for a beginner! As for seeing the quilting on the pansy fabric, if you can't see it, neither can anyone else. ;) <br /><br />I was always told to hold my pedal "to the metal" and move my hands slowly when doing FMQ. Baloney. Going more slowly, whether you're a newbie or not, gives more control and is -- IMHO -- less stressful, since you don't have to think so far ahead. You have *time* to decide what direction to go next.<br /><br />Another suggestion I'd make is to try to use a machine with the needle-down feature; it just makes life so much easier. After stopping for a break, be sure to check that there isn't any drag on the quilt; that can happen without realizing and will mess up what you're doing. I also like to take one stitch in place before continuing. That way, if the stitch is going to go in some wild direction (there's that drag again), it's easy to back the needle out and try again. <br /><br />You're doing a beautiful job -- keep it up!Sandyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08667715646074106309noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5824554059843705380.post-73664709319117714712010-07-27T03:40:49.526-07:002010-07-27T03:40:49.526-07:00How wonderful, I am still loathe to quilt any of m...How wonderful, I am still loathe to quilt any of my quilts as I don't want to have to unpick it all. However I think I might just try doing some sample pieces to get started. Your post has been very inspiring, thank you.Marghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09659940271976716013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5824554059843705380.post-44886550762802914212010-07-26T20:15:24.779-07:002010-07-26T20:15:24.779-07:00Michelle, you are doing so well! I am inspired by...Michelle, you are doing so well! I am inspired by this and motivated to spend some time learning as well. Of course, I've got to check a few things off the list first, but this is going ON the list! Thanks for your thoughts as you work on your pansy quilt. I can see how that pansy fabric would be confusing too.Paulettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06181665241824945247noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5824554059843705380.post-72003688999781837372010-07-26T19:53:36.382-07:002010-07-26T19:53:36.382-07:00Lovely finish, Michelle. I totally agree with you...Lovely finish, Michelle. I totally agree with you.... with free-motion quilting, so many of the "mistakes" will eventually be covered by the overall look of the quilting that span the entire quilt! :)<br /><br />So proud of you.... and you ought to be so proud of yourself for taking the plunge!!<br /><br />Happy Quilting, and keep quilting. :)Ivory Springhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06912738976411473827noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5824554059843705380.post-27950309686997532932010-07-26T10:29:57.219-07:002010-07-26T10:29:57.219-07:00I love that new word - "craptastic"! I ...I love that new word - "craptastic"! I can totally relate! I wonder if putting some kind of tearaway on top of your pansy squares that could be removed after you do your FMQ would help with the perception problem? I agree that sometimes it's hard to see where you've already quilted, and while you couldn't do it all over a quilt, you might could do it in small areas where you want the quilting to be spot on.....<br /><br />I've been doing a good bit of large stippling on my quilts lately and I enjoy doing it - haven't really tried symmetrical designs. I did try out Oh! Fransson's lovely mod flowers, and that's a really easy design to FMQ, much easier than it looks - and it covers a large space!! I can't wait to try it out on a quilt...<br /><br />Thanks for a great post!Sarah Craighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18393284767325742399noreply@blogger.com