Most quilting and most art is done by ordinary people with busy lives. Masterpieces are painted by people who work full time jobs. Quilts are stitched in snippets of time. Most artists and quilters don’t have the luxury of long periods of uninterrupted time for their creative lives—therefore that time has to be highly organized!
With that in mind, we are working to establish a Rock Solid Routine for Free Motion Quilting to minimize wasted creative time.
HUNTING
Last week, we found our sewing machine manuals (for some this was a hunting expedition…) and marked several pages pertinent to free motion quilting…
GATHERING
This week, we’re gathering all our supplies in one place.
This small step can make a big difference in productivity.
First–Make the list.
I recommend you make a copy of the list in your best hand-writing on a heavy piece of paper or stationery.
The List should remain in the box with the supplies for ready reference.
SUPPLY LIST FOR FREE MOTION QUILTING
- Brush for cleaning sewing machine
- Oil
- Single Hold throat plate
- Darning foot (I like Bernina’s #24 Offset darning foot)
- Needles (If you don’t have a favorite–start with Topstitch 90 Needles and adjust if necessary.)
- Supreme Slider (If there is just one thing you treat yourself to for FMQ-this is what I recommend.)
- Painter’s Tape (Optional–when the Supreme Slider is linty–it moves. I tape mine down because I don’t clean it as regularly as recommended.)
- Snips
- Tweezers (NEVER forget your tweezers–Read Inattentive Quilting: A Cautionary Tale and Learn from my Injury
- Hoop
- Gloves–(Most people like these, but I never use them.)
- Sewing Machine Manual
- Thread–(I often use Sulky or Robison-Anton 40 wt Rayon on top and Aurifil 50 wt in the bobbin.)
A Single Hole throat plate is optional, but it helps with stitch formation.
Supreme Slider by LaPeirre Studio–A teflon sheet that allows a quilt to slide more readily while quilting.
Most people like gloves for free motion quilting. (I never use gloves.) However, I often use this hoop by Husqvarna--see My Secret Weapon for Free Motion Quilting
Once you’ve collected everything, find a pretty box or basket in which to store everything.
Don’t forget to put your handwritten Supply List inside…
(If you are sewing on a long arm machine, you may have to adjust this list a bit–but the concept is the same.)
NEXT WEEK:
Build a Rock Solid Routine: Get Ready to Sew and…
A CHALLENGE!
Don’t miss it!
Happy (Organized) Stitching,
Lori
PS…All tutorials, information and images are the property of Lori Kennedy at The Inbox Jaunt and are intended for personal use only. Feel free to re-blog, Pin, share with attribution to The Inbox Jaunt. For all other purposes, please contact me at lckennedy@hotmail.com. Thanks!
30 comments
Deidre
I just love your blog and have learnt sooo much – thank you Lori – I am a “newbe” trying to overcome the fear of starting FMQ – this is really excellent to get me going and creating the believe that I can do it too…. I am a doodler so that is a good start….will follow this tutorial and make it happen….
Mads
Lori, I love your blog! And this post could have not come at a better time. I am just drawing up a list of quilting stuff my son should get for me from the USA – I am in India. I was wondering if the small sized hoop is not cumbersome to remove and refix, on a larger quilt especially? You do very intricate quilting, but would this work for larger motifs?
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The hoop sits on top of the quilt and has a little rubber underneath. When you apply a little downward pressure it grips. It is not a two piece ring like a hand embroidery hoop.
lmenslow
Lori, thank you for your tips and tutorials. I’m getting my box together for my old Bernina 930. The single hole throat plate is not obtainable and FYI the Husqvarna grip is not available at Joann online. It is on ebay and sewing parts online. Both charge a whopping $72.99! I haven’t started fmq yet but I have completed fm embroidery on my machine.
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I paid $50 several years ago. I bought it in store from Jo Ann’s. I will try to contact them directly–see what they say
GrrannyH
There is a similar product for $20
Fabric Glide http://www.quiltinaday.com/shoponline/notion/23882
also at http://www.brewersewing.com/BQSS_Consumer/2011_search3_detail.asp?item=TGQ005&search=
I am seriously thinking abut trying one of these!
Teri
Lori,
This is great. It is a good list and a good reminder for those of us who cannot get in our “studios” everyday that if we are organized, it is much easier to practice when we only have 15 minutes. I often spend my15 minutes looking for one of the items on the list.
If you have not figured out which daughter to give your appliqué to, think sisters!
Sharon - IN
Thank you for this new series! I’ve got everything together in a set of drawers next to my sewing machine. But alas, I recently sewed through my Supreme Slider and it is no longer usable. I did buy a teflon oven liner, so will see how it works. I just don’t take enough time to practice, so I’m looking forward to what you have planned next!
Dione
Likewise, also very interested in an alternative to the Supreme Slider. I never FMQ without mine anymore because it does such a wonderful job of reducing drag, but it looks just like Lori’s (!) and clearly has a limited lifespan.
Lori Kennedy
Sharon, Please update us on the oven liner…I have sewn through my Supreme Slider too! That’s why I always tape it down-even when it’s clean and sticky. Too expensive to replace!
Denise
I use a Sew Slip instead of a Supreme Slider. It is half the price. The regular size Sew Slip is the same size as the Queen size Supreme slider. I rinse it under running water when it gets to linty to stick.
http://www.sewslip.com/
Diana
Quick question. I have not been changing my plate when going from piecing to free motion quilting. Is this necessary? My plate has a curved slot opening. Thanks
Lori Kennedy
You might get slightly better stitch formation with a single hole throat plate–give it a try and see if you think it makes a difference. And let us know…
Marianne
Thank you for this tutorial, I’m putting together my box right away. I’m really looking to next week’s tutorial too!
June
I no longer use Machinger gloves. My favorite glove is Grabaroos. They fit nice and snug. I can even pull up my Bottom Line bobbin thread with them on. You can find them at quilt shows. Some quilt shops carry them.
GrrannyH
I read on a website that you can use a Teflon oven liner instead of the Supreme slider. It is much less expensive and bigger, but you do have to use tape to make it stick, and you do have to cut your own needle hole.
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Have you tried it yet?
GrrannyH
Not yet — but here is a link: http://forum.missouriquiltco.com/look-what-i-found-quilting-links-resources/11169-teflon-oven-liners-awesome-fmq.html
Shelor
Got it all together, follow you religiously, love all your wonderful tutorials, just gotta do it!
Caroline Sullivan
I have everything on your list. Check, Check, Check, etc. My sewing machine, Elna 7300, manual is becoming a bit tattered from use. I am going to take it work and bind it on the plastic spiral binding machine.
sullivancj
I hope Caroline Sullivan sees this HI GIRL! I have everything on that list too, but I do it on my long arm. I didn’t realize that you were doing most of this work on your reg sewing machine. that makes it even more awesome!
treadlemusic
Excellent advice/suggestions from everyone!!!! The biggest hurdle, I have found, is just “doing it”!!! Even 15 minutes DAILY can make a world of difference….but that’s info/advice for a future post, hmmmmm?????
rosemarazzle
Rosemary b here:
Good list. I also have a supply of spare filled bobbins.
I use medical latex gloves. I can remove them when I am done and reuse them easily. they work inside out as well. When your hands get sweaty, it is time to get up and stretch your whole body- all of your beautiful joints and muscles so you can live to be 91 and still move around. 😀
ADRIENNE DOLD
Good reminder to get up and stretch. I use gardening gloves with rubber dots on them.
utahoosier
Like Lori, I don’t often use gloves, but when I do, that’s exactly the kind I use. I get them at All A Dollar and when I feel they are “worn out” then it’s just a dollar for another pair.
Linda Swanekamp
Forget the pretty box, I use clear boxes so I can easily find and put away items. Maybe it is just me, but I also need a seam ripper. I do use gloves, gives me accurate movement. I use Glide thread. It is made in the USA, reasonable price, great company, strong, great colors. I also have those round donut type rings for bobbins that are close by so I can wind or use them easily. Lots of times, when it is time to quilt, I will wind extra bobbins to kind of decompress, so I am ready for the next time.
Marly
Thank you Lori for the tip about the Husquarna grip; I’d never seen it before, and it looks like the perfect solution for people with small hands! I’ve found that gloves are comfortable, although mine don’t fit so snugly that they take ages to pull off, with the added advantage that they keep my hands warm!
Barbara Allen
In addition to doing FMQ on my domestic, I also have a long-arm for my bigger projects, and I made myself a lap apron with tall,narrow pockets to store long-arm-specific things like short stitch in the ditch ruler, oil bottle, presser foot screwdriver, long tweezers, snips, etc. It saves me so much time now that my immediate needs tools are with me all the time. I also stick a self-threading needle in the apron because I prefer to tie off ends instead of stitching the start/stop points; having the needle this handy allows me to tie off as I go (probably not everybody’s choice but it works for me).
Vikki
Do you have any you tube videos of you FMQ? I’d love to see you in action.
Jane from MA
I am one who uses my bsr foot for any FMQ – BUT I need my machingers. Actually, I use my very closely fitted machingers also for any hand sewing and embroidery – They protect the fabric, protect my fingers, and give a good grip to the needle. Thank you for all you give to us in information, ideas and graphics.
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