Four FMQ Fundamental Skills

March 9, 2021

Today’s Topic:  Four FMQ Fundamental Skills

Welcome to Week One of 2021 Better Machine Quilt-a-long based on my book 25 Days to Better Machine Quilting.

Sign up for emails of the class HERE.

Join the private Quilting with LKQ Facebook Group HERE

Good Morning, Quilters!

Today is the second installment in our 2021 Quilt-A-Long to all become better machine quilters.

A Few Housekeeping Notes:

Because my family keeps me quite busy, I may not always have a post ready first thing in the morning, and sometimes not at all. However,   I will try to post most weekdays-with Saturdays reserved for Art Appreciation and Sundays for Silent Sunday photography. Please be patient if my blog post schedule is erratic at times.

Our Quilt-a-long is FREE.  To receive the daily lesson-in the form of an email blog post, sign up here.

You don’t need my books, but most quilters found the class more enjoyable to have all three books. 25 Days teaches you how to quilt, and Free Motion Machine Quilting and More Free Motion Machine Quilting give you ideas of what to quilt.

The 2021 Quilt-a-long and the 2020 quilt-a-long are accessible in the top bar of my website home page under “QAL”.  I will keep both sets of lessons active until September, 2021.  At that time, all of the lessons will be removed.

This is not a video-based class.  I will post  videos occasionally and will link to them from the email post.

Please respect my copyright policy. My copyright policy is considered generous by most standards, however almost every week I see my photos and my writing used without my permission–often with the copyright stamp removed from my photos!

That’s enough dusting for the day–lets’ get to quilting!!!

The Four Skills of Free Motion Quilting

Free motion quilting can be broken down into four skills:

  1. Machine Knowledge
  2. Understanding Materials
  3. Understanding Design Principles
  4. Skill–Mechanics of Quilting
The Fear of Quilting

Many quilters have a fear of free motion quilting based on a few unsuccessful attempts.  They often think their early trials were a failure because  (they fear) they don’t have the coordination to move the quilt under the needle.

Fear not!

More often than not, their frustrated efforts were as much due to a lack of knowledge as they were of lack of skill.

Again–this is good news!

This Course Takes Away Fear

This class (and my book, 25 Days to Better Machine Quilting) are designed to give you the knowledge required to avoid disappointing results.  We will learn how to set up the machine to create beautiful and balanced quilting stitches.  As we progress we will learn how batting, thread and motifs work together to create the quilting look we are trying to achieve. Finally, we will use motifs in a way to enhance quilt blocks using design principles.

At the same time, we will learn techniques to make the mechanical skill of quilting easier.  The projects will give you ample opportunity to practice the skill.

By the end of this class, you will be a better quilter-both in knowledge and in skill.  And most importantly–you will be ready to turn your quilt tops into quilted heirlooms!

Machine Set-up

This week, we started the process of understanding  quilt materials while creating several quick, quilt sandwiches.  For example, we learned to avoid painted backing fabrics, and the benefit of using cotton batting.

Today, read the 12-Step Machine Set up for Free Motion Quilting.and get your machine ready for free motion quilting.  I recommend that you mark the relevant pages in your sewing machine manual for quick reference.

While 12 Steps seems like a lot–all of the steps are designed to make quilting easier or the stitches pretty.  With a little practice and organization, you should be able to set up your machine in less than five minutes.

Slow and Steady!

I know you’d like to jump in and get quilting! Once you’ve created the quick quilt sandwich and reviewed the set-up,  don’t wait for me!

Start quilting!

Whenever the inspiration strikes, quilt!

What about YOU?

Are YOU ready to quilt?

Is YOUR machine cleaned and oiled?

Which of the Four Fundamental Skills are the most challenging for YOU?

We’d LOVE to hear!

Your Fearless Quilter,

Lori the Lionhearted

 

 

 

PS…All tutorials, images and information are the property of Lori Kennedy Quilts and are intended for personal use only.  Feel free to re-blog, pin or share with attribution to LKQ.  For all other purposes, please contact me at Lori@LoriKennedyQuilts.com.  Thank you!

Visit my Etsy shop: LoriKennedyShop for all of my books!  They are ALL bestsellers!

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