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
Sue ptacek
I sew in a 30 year old Bernina 1130! It works like a charm! Yup, the feed dogs drop. But I am a bit limited as to how large a quilt I can stuff under it!
Jo Anne Ortega
Handi Quilter Sweet 16 sit down.
kay
I use a Bernina 440QE without stitch regulator. Feed dogs drop, although I sometimes drop them for FMQ, and sometimes don’t.
Claudia
I have used my Janome 6600 with a 9 inch throat space for 8 years now and yes the feed dogs drop. Last year my hubby bought me the Janome Horizon 8900 with the 11.5 throat space and I love it. Yes the feed dogs drop. I have quilted many many quilts over the years and have just gotten over the intimidation of free motion quilting over these past two years and am now free to move on with some of your great motiffs. Love my Janome machines……Claudia.
Denise Cabral
I have a Babylock Symphony machine and I can drop the feed dogs. I use it for piecing and free motion quilting. I have a trustitch stitch regulator for it and I love it!
Michelle Wise
I actually have a long arm. Queen Quilter 18 by Tin Lizzie
Karen
I use my Bernina QE 440
Phyllis
Sew with Singer Creative Touch 1036 and have a cover plate for the feed dogs for free motion quilting.
Bev
I have a Bernina 640 & a Brother Novelle 1500S that I use for free motion quiltiing. They both drop the feed dogs.
Pat Harkins
I am just starting free motion. I have used my Pfaff 5.0. I want to try it on my Singer Featherweight. The feeddogs drop on my Pfaff but not on the Featherweight. Your tutorials are marvelous.
Julia
I started and learned to FMQ on an Elna Quilters Dream which does have feed dogs that drop, but recently got a Handiquilter Sweet Sixteen- no stitch regulator. I love it ! No more wrangling the huge quilts through a tiny little space!
gina
I use a Janome 6600 and I can drop the feed dogs. Your step by step tutorials are what finally gave me my aha moment. Thank you.
Lynne
I am quilting with a Janome MC6600P and it does allow feed dogs to be lowered.
I’m very new to free motion quilting and look forward to your column. I’ve learned so much – thank you!
Carol Ethington
I quilt on a Proto longarm, and piece on a Viking, old Bernina, or Featherweight.
Kris B
I have borrowered a Viking quilt machine it sews wonderful. Wish it was mine, someday.
GrrannyH
I, too, have a Bernina 1130. However, I have been using my Singer Patchwork 7285Q for FMQ and with the walking foot. I cannot drop the feed dogs; instead, it comes with a little plastic shield to cover the feed dogs. This way I can have it set up on 2 card tables with a large uncluttered work area for machine quilting and use my Bernina for all my other sewing and piecing.
Just a note: Leah Day suggests NOT lowering the feed dogs but turning the stitch length to 0 and covering the dogs. I read somewhere else that you can use a business card to cover the dogs, just be sure to cut out a spot for the needle to stitch.
Leah also suggests modifying the darning foot so that it doesn’t smash the quilt flat. If you are interested, you can read her blog about this: http://freemotionquilting.blogspot.com/2011/05/to-drop-or-not-drop-that-is-question.html
Suzi
I use a Husqvarna Megaquilter. I can’t drop the feed dogs but it has a plate that covers them. I would like a tutorial on fmq with the feeddogs up. Thank you!
Deborah
I use my old trusty Bernina 1230 which allows me to lower the feed dogs. She is a real work horse.
Victoria Miner
My machine is a Bernina 440 QE. The feed dogs drop, and the machine has a stitch regulator. I do all my free motion quilting on this machine.
claire
I have a mid-arm Pfaff, but I really can’t seem to get the feel for how to use it.
CJ Reed
I have a Bernina 550 QE and I gave my sister a 440QE both have stitch regulator and can drop feed dogs.
Judy
I FMQ on a Viking Designer Deluxe and the feed dogs do drop.
SewCalGal
Yeah. I’m so happy to see you published in American Quilter. I definitely want to get a copy.
I do free-motion quilting with a Bernina 730, where I can lower my feed dogs. Would love a mid-arm or longarm, but do not have the room (or money).
SewCalGal
http://www.sewcalgal.blogspot.com
Mary Lou
My go to machine for FMQ is a Baby Lock Esante and yes I drop my feet dogs.
Joni Keskey
I do everything on a Bernina 750 because it’s the only machine I have and, yes, I use the stitch regulator with the feed dogs dropped.
Nancy Berkman
Lori, I quilt on a Singer 31-15 treadle (“Arnie”). The 31-15 is an industrial machine that was used for lightweight sewing (the fact that it’s industrial means that it pretty much lasts forever, not that it’s for sewing canvas or other heavy materials). As an industrial, he has a wider harp space. The feed dogs do not drop, and I removed them for quilting before I knew that many machines will quilt fine with feed dogs up. Arnie’s a little persnickity at times, but so am I.
Marlene
I quilt on a BabyLock Tiara with no stitch regulator and I love it!! Right now I’m working on a 120″ square quiil – that’s 10 feet!!! But it’s a lot easier on the Tiara than on a DSM!!
Kathlyn
Janome 6600 – it drops the feed dogs. I have read that when using a Teflon slider under the quilt while sewing, it might not be necessary to drop the dogs, depending on type of machine – Leah Day free motions this way.
Kyle
I use a Bernina 1230 to do my quilting. The feed dogs drop.
mwj
Good morning!
I use a Janome 7700 and really enjoy it. It does let me drop the feed dogs.
Love the site Lori! Many thanks!!
Tina G
For FM, I use a BabyLock Quilters Choice Pro. It is a straight stitch only machine that drops the feed dogs. I also use it on a Grace Start Right (original) frame for all over pantograph quilting. I also use my Janome 9700 for small projects like mug rugs, but it doesn’t stitch as fast as the BL.
Carol Mendes
I fmq on my 26″ Innova longarm with lightning stitch. I piece on my 1904 singer red eye, 1954 221 singer featherweight, or ellisimo. I enjoy your daily inspirational posts and quilting techniques.
rileysquilts
I have aBrother PQ1500S and I can drop my feed dogs… But sometimes I don’t bother. It will do great quilting either way!
Terry
I use a Janome MC6500P for fmq and it does let me drop the feed dogs.
Dolores
I have a Husqvarna Designer 1 and a Brother (from the last century) that I use for FMQ. The feed dogs drop on both of them. Your tutorials are so well done, that I amaze myself sometimes when I follow your instructions. Thank you! Thank you! Dolores
Cory
Lori, I used to FMQ on a Bernina 1020 and I can drop the feed dogs on it. In fact, that is the only thing I used that machine for. It is such a workhorse of a machine. I have recently upgraded to an HQ Sweet Sixteen and I am loving it. The additional space and the ruler work I am able to do that I struggled with on the Bernina. Thank you for the chance to win a copy of the great magazine with your wonderful and informative article in it. Take care and God bless, Cory
Cindy Schultz
Lori, to start off with I love your blog. I try to free motion quilt on a Bernina 830 and yes the feed dogs do drop. I love how you break down all of your designs. I am still fairly new at FMQ and not very confident.
I have been practicing more and love trying your designs. Thank you s much!
Margaret Dobson
I FMQ using my Janome Horizon 7700. Have FMQ various sized quilts. This machine has 11″ of throat space. Sometimes I drop the feed dogs and sometimes I forget. I use the Supreme slider and have purchased the feet suggested on Amy’s Quilting blog which allows me to use quilting rulers with this machine–Janome Free Motion Frame Quilting Feet Set for 1600P, Part No. 767-434-005.
Judy Symalla
I use a Bernina virtuosa 150 and yes I can drop the feed dogs.
Linda
Gammal classic, and bernina 730. Feed dogs do lower.
Anne Gilmore
To do free motion quilting I use my Brother 1500 and the feed dogs can be dropped using it. I love reading all of your posts, you have given us such valuable information to help make free motion quilting easier for us to learn and make awesome quilts, thank you so much. I have shared your blog with many of my friends.
Helen
I use a Janome 7700 for all my free motion quilting. I don’t drop the feed dogs bot set my stitch length to zero and cover the feed dogs with a Supreme Slider. That works for me, and I don’t get tension issues.
Aggie Bollhorn
I use a Pfaff Quilt Expressions 4.0 and I can drop the feed dogs.
Jenn Davis
Janome 7700. My feed dogs drop!
kiska
I would love to win a copy! I am new to quilting and use my White sewing machine to do this. I have to put a plate over the feed dogs but I still need a lot of practice before I would even consider myself slightly good at this.
katharine jenkins
I use my Bernina 180 and my feed dogs drop. Don’t have much time for free motion quilting, but your blog has given me so much inspiration.
Thanks
June
I use a Bernina 820 on a Bernina frame with Quilt Motion for my large quilts. If I want to do fine detail work like scrolls, feathers and spirals I use my Bernina 710 Which has a 11.5″ throat . Both machines drop the feed dogs.
Nancy A
I use a Nolting FunQuilter and love it! Thanks for the chance to win and for all your great tips!
Brenda
I free motion on my much loved Bernina 440. Yes, the feed dogs drop.
Pam Jo
I have a Bernina 750 and the feed dogs drop. I am thinking about getting a long arm machine though. A friend of mine bought one a few months ago. I went to her house last weekend and played with hers – it was so much fun!
Margaret Graham
My favorite machine is a Bernina 830 Record which does allow lowering the feed dogs. I also have a Bernina 440 QE and can lower the feed dogs on it also.
Ann D
I sew on a Viking Sapphire 830 and the feed dogs can be lowered. I can’t say that I do FMQ much but I am loving your tutorials and am storing up inspiration. Thanks for having this giveaway.
Jacque T
I have a Brother Laura Ashley Edition machine and my feed dogs do drop. I am hoping to improve and grow with my fmq skills. Thank you for all that you share!! 🙂
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