Are you looking for Christmas or Hanukkah gift ideas??
Winter projects?
A brand new free motion (long arm) motif to try?
Are you interested in Improv piecing?
Just looking for inspiration?
You’re in luck–because the November issue of American Quilter (featuring a free motion quilt column by Yours Truly) is on newsstands now!
Even better–YOU can WIN a copy today–four lucky winners will receive a signed copy of American Quilter. Â
TO WIN:
Answer this question:  What sewing machine do YOU use for YOUR free motion, long arm, or mid arm quilting?  Make and model….Also, does your machine allow you to drop the feed dogs?  (I’m wondering if I need to do a tutorial on FMQ when you can’t drop your feed dogs…)
Please leave your answer in the comment section. Â Four winners (US and Canada only) will be announced on Monday…
Good luck!
Lori
PS…All images, information and tutorials are the property of Lori Kennedy at The Inbox Jaunt and are intended for personal use only.  Feel free to share with attribution to The Inbox Jaunt.  For all other purposes, please contact me at lckennedy@hotmail.com.  Thanks!
396 comments
Renata
I use a Bernina 830 for FMQ, it drops feed dogs and does so much more!
DenLin56@gmail.com
I use a Brother Novelle 1500S for FMQ and I drop my feed dogs I also you this machine on a 10″ Frame with the feed dogs down but would Love to learn to FMQ with the Feed Dogs Up. Love this sight Lori and I also have issues of your in Quilting Magazines. Thank You for sharing your Talent with us. I’m also a Native of this Beautiful State
Julie
Hi Lori! I have a SINGER Quilting Machine, the SINGER CONFIDENCE, it’s called. Yes, thankfully I can drop the feed dogs! It’s awesome…and I’m learning so much from you…my FMQ skills improve with each day I try one of your designs! THANK YOU so very much for what you do!! I personally appreciate it!
Deb Wolfe
Janome 1600P (short/mid). I also have done some on my regular machine (Janome 4618LE). I can drop the feed dogs on my regular machine, I don’t think they are dropped on the other, but that one is on a frame w/ a stitch regulator.
Nancy Goeben
Good Morning Lori, I use a mid arm. Husqvarna Viking Designer I . Yes, I can lower the feed dogs. I was told you don’t need to drop the feed dogs when using the slider. But I found everything worked better when I did drop them. Thank you for all the tutorials. They sure are very helpful. I have been practicing on paper and I do find you can see it easier in your mind when you begin to stitch it out. I don’t think I will ever be as good as you ,but it is fun trying. I know PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE! Thank You, Nancy
sarahsmema
I have a Babylock Ellisimo that I use for my quilting. and yes the feed dogs drop.
Gloria M
Good Morning, I FMQ on a Baby Lock, model Jane. Yes the feed dogs lower and it does an amazing job of quilting with quite a large neck for a domestic machine. I quilt queen size quilts with ease on it. Sometimes I quilt a little on my antique Featherweight by Singer. Normally, when the feed dogs does not drop, there is an attachment that will cover the feed dogs. Please enter me in your drawing. I adore your blog and I learn so very much from you. Thanks again.
ellenmccaulley
I quilt on my quatro 3. I can drop my feed dogs.
Theresa Hane
I use a Pfaff Quilt Expression 4.0 for free motiion quilting. It does allow me to drop the feed dogs
Gizele Brazeau
I use a Bernina 200/730. It works when I draw
first and develop a bit of momentum.
I really love reading all your blog on art and photographs also.
Judy Spomer
I FMQ on my janome 7700. I find I do better with my feed dogs up.
Anita
I use my almost 50 year old Pfaff (Pfaff 93), and it allows me to drop the feed dogs.
Sylvia
I use a HandiQuilter Sweet Sixteen for my FMQ. There are no feed dogs on this machine. I’ve tried using my Husqvarna Viking Designer I for FMQ with the feed dogs down, but I just can’t seem to get the hang of it. I would be very interested in an article on FMQ with the feed dogs up.
Brenda
Congrats on the article. I quilt on a Juki 98QL with the feed dogs down. I’ve occasionally do a little bit of quilting on my Singer Featherweight 222K, which can also drop its feed dogs, but with such a small arm, it’s only useful for teeny projects.
Maryanne Wilson
Janine New Home memory Craft 6000
Yes it drops feed dogs
But would love article on NOT dropping feed dogs!!! Not all of us have control and those with medical issues would really appreciate it
Cheryl Saunderson
I use a Janome 3160QDC that has the feed dog drop option. I wish I had bought a machine with a larger throat but I manage. Maybe some day. Can I also say that although I will NEVER reach your talent ability, you have surely inspired me!
Susan
I like to use a machine with a vertical bobbin. I have a Viking from the 80s, it’s burgundy and heavy, a6300 series that I only use for free motion. I also use my Singer 301s for small projects. My Janome 6600 has a separate bobbin case for FMQ and lots of different feet but I think it’s hard to see what I am doing. Besides, it has the horizontal bobbin, seems like the eye lashing is worse.
Susan
Oops.fogot to say that I can lower the feed dogs on all my machines, the Viking, Singer 301s and the Janome 6600
J Thompson (jt)
Bernini 630E…and yes, I can drop feed dogs.
Judy Williams
I use a Pfaff Quilt Expression 2048 for machine quilting. It has several features I enjoy and yes it does drop the feed dogs.
Ronda Holt
I use a bernina 780 to do my free motion quilting. I am able to drop the feed dogs on this machine although I do some free motion quilting with the dogs up. I guess it all depends on the degree of a daring mood!
Brooke Witsberger
I use a Singer Quantum Stylist 9600 and the dees dogs do drop, though I sometimes FMQ with them up.
Karen Miller
Congratulations Lori — I can’t wait to see your column. Your tutorials are always so helpful. Thanks! I FMQ on a Janome Horizon 7700. The feed dogs drop but I often just cover them. I also have a Bernina Activa 230 that I FMQ smaller things on. The feed dogs drop on it too. Thanks for the awesome giveaway!
Kay Holm
Hi Lori, Your fmq is beautiful. I attempt to fmq on my Viking Husqvarna Model #1. It is an older model, if I look at the Viking website, it was made sometime in the ’80s I guess. The feed dogs can go down but then it seems to mess up the tension. I usually quilt at 0 stitches per inch with the feed dogs up and a supreme slider over them. This is Leah Day’s method and it seems to work good with my machine, except that I don’t fmq anywhere near the way you two do.
Beverly
I use my Brother Nouvelle 1500 for free motion quilting. And, yes, the feed dogs do drop. I enjoy your tutorials.
Mary Ann Fogleman
I use a Bernina Artista 730 and I can drop the feed dogs. When I first started with free motion, I used the BSR, but now I prefer not using it.
Denise Cornett
I would love to win the magazine….somehow I’ve never seen that one.
Denise Cornett
Somehow the rest of my comment didn’t post. I have a longarm….an APQS Ultimatum II, she is over 20 years old.
Nancy N
I use a Bernina 440QE, and yes, I can drop the feed dogs. Enjoy your tutorials.
Suzanne Dutchess County, NY, USA
For years I used a Janome memorycraft 6500 and still do for some projects. The feed dogs can be dropped. But my main quilting machine is the Handiquilter sweet16 sitdown.
Jean Quick
I use a Bernina 440QE – yes, the feeddogs drop. Love your blog! Have learned soooo much from it! Thank you.
Joy
I have a Bailey Home Quilter which is a midarm, on a Superquiter proflex frame. It has a 15 inch arm. I recently upgraded to a APQS Millennium with a 26 inch arm and love them both. Since they are dedicated quilting machines, neither have feed dogs. Thanks for all the inspiration you provide.
Diane
I use a Singer 9960 Quantum Stylist. The feed dogs do lower.
Barb E
I use a Singer Futura and I can drop my feed dogs but I find that FMQing works better if I go ‘0’ stitches and leave the feed dogs alone. My machine is 4 years old and I have problems with it for sewing but FMQing is great. Keeping my fingers crossed to win the magazine.
Kathy
Bernina 550, used with and without stitch regulator. Does let me lower the feed dogs!
cookinformyboys
I use my Bernina 530 and yes, I can drop the feed dogs.
Kathy Vanacoro
Innova 22″ longarm. Piecing on a Bernina, Pfaff or Janome and all can drop feed dogs for FNQ
Mary M
I do my FMQ on a Janome Memory Craft 6500 with the feed dogs down — when I remember to drop them! I accidentally quilted a large wall hanging with the feed dogs up. It turned out pretty well, considering! Maybe the FMQ (hopping) foot makes as much difference as dropping the feed dogs?
Heather sanders
I am free motion quilting on my Janome 6600. Yes I can drop the feed dogs.
Kathy Vanacoro
Innova 22″, Bernina 1640. Janome 9900 and Pfaff 2140…all feed dogs drop and I stink at FMQ in my domestic machines so I LOVE you FMQ articles and I am PPP
Lynda discenza
Good morning Lori, thank you for giving us the opportunity to win a magazine copy of American quilter by just entering our sewing machine brand! My Pfaff 7570 is just great to do free motion quilting and the feed dogs also lower. Love your messages everyday! Thanks
Lynda
peggynelson851639157
I have a Janome 8900 and, yes, I can drop the feed dogs.
mdlatter
I use a Kenmore Elite Ergo 3. It is an embroidery machine so the feed dogs do go down, but only when you have the embroidery hoop in! The machine will not allow you to sew at any other time. The lovely computer knows you don’t have the hoop connected and it tells you to raise your feed dogs : (
I would love to see how you work with the feed dogs up!
Thank you for the give away!!
Melissa
mdlatter at msn dot com
Charma Harrison
I love free motion more than piecing now and have been using my Elna Excellence 730 with dropped feed dogs. However, I just purchased a Sweet 16, which does not have feed dogs and doesn’t need to be dropped or covered, a few days ago and finished my first project yesterday. What fun! I look forward to each Tuesday and Wednesday so I can practice whatever you have for us. I have learned so much from your tutorials and appreciate that I can just go to my email and have something to work on without having to research things to help me improve.
BARBARA
Congratulations on your published article Lori. Yes, I can drop the feed dogs on the Bernina Artista 730; thank you for your examples.
Connie Dodd
Brother CS6000i – I can drop my feed dogs.
Elizabeth
I quilt on a Bernina 185 home machine but am considering a sitdown longarm. I do drop my feeddogs.
I have used a couple of your wonderful designs on quilts. I love the pinecones and pine boughs.
Thanks for sharing.
Carole Valenzuela
Good Morning! I use the Viking Quilt Designer and it does let me drop the feed dogs.
pamelajeannestudio
I use a longarm: APQS Millennium–no worries about feed dogs!
Shar
I have a Husqvarna Megaquilter and a Pfaff 2058 that I use for fmq. It doesn’t matter if the feed dogs are dropped on the Pfaff and sometimes I remember to drop them and sometimes I do not so it must just be the machine settings. There were articles about this going around several years ago. The Megaquilter has a flat piece that fits over the feed dogs for the fmq setting. This machine has some “get up and go”!
Marcia
I use my Viking Quilt Designer and drop the feed dogs, no long arm for me. Thanks for sharing all your tutorials.
Mary Huey
After 10 years of FMQ on a Brother 1500 with the feed dogs dropped, I stepped up to a APQS George last year (no feed dogs) — love the longer arm and the customized table which minimize the stress on my neck and shoulders.
Jeanne
I used to quilt on my Janome 1600 (yes, I dropped the feed dogs) but now I use my Handi-Quilter Sweet Sixteen. Same principle, but love the extra throat space!! [Everyone needs a Sweet Sixteen!!!] 🙂
Comments are closed.