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
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.
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!!
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.
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.
Mary Lou
My go to machine for FMQ is a Baby Lock Esante and yes I drop my feet dogs.
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
Judy
I FMQ on a Viking Designer Deluxe and the feed dogs do drop.
CJ Reed
I have a Bernina 550 QE and I gave my sister a 440QE both have stitch regulator and can drop feed dogs.
claire
I have a mid-arm Pfaff, but I really can’t seem to get the feel for how to use it.
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.
Deborah
I use my old trusty Bernina 1230 which allows me to lower the feed dogs. She is a real work horse.
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!
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
Kris B
I have borrowered a Viking quilt machine it sews wonderful. Wish it was mine, someday.
Carol Ethington
I quilt on a Proto longarm, and piece on a Viking, old Bernina, or Featherweight.
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!
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.
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!
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.
Bev
I have a Bernina 640 & a Brother Novelle 1500S that I use for free motion quiltiing. They both drop the feed dogs.
Phyllis
Sew with Singer Creative Touch 1036 and have a cover plate for the feed dogs for free motion quilting.
Karen
I use my Bernina QE 440
Michelle Wise
I actually have a long arm. Queen Quilter 18 by Tin Lizzie
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!
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.
Jo Anne Ortega
Handi Quilter Sweet 16 sit down.
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!
MissQuiltingB
I quilt on a Bernina 155 Virtuosa, you can drop the feed dogs down, but I quilt with them up.. To quilt, I put my stitch length to zero and the feed dogs are never an issue. I love your blog and try to never miss a post. Thank you for this awesome offer. You share so much with all of us.
Peggy in AZ
I use a Juki TL 2010 Q. It is a mid arm machine. I purchased it after taking a class with Cindy Needham. Leah Day just switched back to this machine because she had back and shoulder issues with her other machine. Feed dogs up or down. Thanks for all your inspiration!
Peggy St George
I use APQS George, a long arm in a sit down set up.
Donna W
My FMQ is done on a Bernina 820. And, the feed dogs do drop. I love my Bernina!
Cathy Wilson
I use a Janome 8900 that can drop it’s dogs. I took a beginner FMQ class last month & told the instructor about your site. I love everything you do!
Bonnie
I would love to win an issue of American Quilter. I free motion quilt on a Janome 6600 and yes, the feed dogs drop.
Ceil
I use a Juki 2010Q. It allows me to drop my feed dogs and also the speed which I find helpful. Thank you for your tutorials.
Jane @ Handiworking
I’m using a 1969 Bernina 707. I can drop the feed dogs and have attempted FMQ with terrible results. I need some tips for FMQ on this beautiful old beast because she does everything else pretty well. Your FMQ is beautiful!
Karin
I have a very basic machine – Viking Emerald 116. I can drop the feed dogs but I generally don’t, I just set my stitch length to zero and it works great.
Karen Hutchings
Good morning Lori. I have a Viking Designer I that I use for everything, from sewing, mending, and of course free motion quilting. Yes the feed dogs do drop down and I use a slider as well. Since it is also an embroidery machine I some times use quilting designs that I’ve purchased to do the quilting, but not that often. I haven’t gotten to your level of FMQ but I keep trying. Thank you so much for your tutorials, its fun to try new ones.
Karen
Donna Sofokles
I FMQ on a Husquevarna Viking Platinum 750 model. I lower the feed dogs and use a single hole throat plate. I wish you had a book of your designs but a magazine with them would be almost as good.
Debbie
I have a Juki 2010 Q. It has the ability to drop the feed dogs for fmq. I love this machine as you can easily change top and bottom tensions to accommodate different thread weights. Always forms a perfect stitch. It is a mid-arm machine..:-)
Vickie Morgan
Mine is a Janome 8900. I love you quilting tutorials. You’ve helped me get past the anxiety of free motion.
dandish074
Good morning! Congrats on the article! I use a Janome Horizon 7700 for my FMQ. Her feed dogs do drop, and she’s wonderful. Thanks for all your inspiration, and the chance to get this magazine.
Alison Uhrbach
I use a Janome Memorycraft 4800. I have really found your blog helpful! I am able to drop my feeddogs.
Betsy Beech
I use my Janome QS60 (my store’s special model of Memory Craft 6300) for all of my quilting. It does have a feed dog drop.
Ana Kempfer
I quilt on a Viking Platinum 16 sit-down free-motion quilter as well as a Viking Designer Diamond which allows feed dogs down.
Pat Skinner
I could never master the Free Motion on my Pfaff.. always a tension problem. I now have a 2006 Gammill Classic Plus and love it…
Kathy
HQ Avante
Darlene Price
I have a Brother Simplicity. I can drop the feed dogs BUT my FMQ is better when I don’t. I use a Janome open toe foot that doesn’t bounce. I also lessen the pressure of the foot so it moves freely.This machine has a speed regulator so at least I don’t have to coordinate my foot and my hands and my speed is consistent. It took me lots of fiddling to come up with this “recipe.” Until I did, I seriously considered buying a different machine. I’m glad I hung in there.
Lori, Thank You for your tutorials. They are wonderful. I’ve enjoyed learning from you. I’m pretty new to quilting. I think picking “what to quilt” on a particular quilt is the hardest.
I think I will buy the issue of the magazine to read on my flight to Houston for the International Quilt Festival. My first.
Lori E
Hi Lori,
I have a Pfaff Creative Sensation and am able to drop the feed dogs for fmq. Am just learning this technique and finding your blog a great resource. Thanks so much!
Susan Ulrich
I quilt on a Husqvarna Opal and I drop the feed dogs. I have also just acquired a Bailey Home Quilter on a grace pinnacle frame. This Bailey is meant for quilting. It has a 17″ throat and doesn’t even have feed dogs.
jerrilmadsen
Lori you are fantastic. I love your tutorials. I have a Janome 8900. With drop feed dogs . I live north of Grand Rapids, mn. I also wanted to send you a picture of my fmq I just did with your flower and leaf design. I dont know how. Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with all of us. It is invaluable.
Thanks,
Jerril in Minnesota
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