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
Carol Hungerford
My workhorse is my Janome 6500. I use it for everything and am totally satisfied with it.
Carol Hungerford
What I forgot to add was: the Janome 6500 does allow me to drop the feed dogs. But …. I choose to NOT drop them. My tension is so much better when they are up.
Terrie
I have a Bernina 880, yes the feed dogs do drop.
Diane G
I sew on a Bernina 830. I have the BSR but, I just can’t seem to get use to it. I need to practice more. I would like to learn ruler work but, they do not have the walking foot for the Bernina machines. Thanks for all your great information.
Gloria Chandler
I have a Bernina 820. I can drop feed dog.
terri414cb
I use a Janome DC3018. My sewing machine allows me to drop the feed dogs.
Teresa Rempel
I use a Janome Memorycraft 4000, the feed dogs lower, and an APQS Lucy.
Love your step by step tutorials. You’ve got a wonderful design sense !
julesmctool
I use my Babylock Innovis it has a very small throat but I still love it. And yes you can drop the feed dogs. P.S. I could use some inspiration!
Marianne
For free motion quilting I use a Viking 1+. Yes, I drop the feed dogs. I like the results. I also use a Bernina 440 QE, both without and sometimes with the stitch regulator. Although I’ve used the Bernina 440 QE with the feed dog up, I prefer to drop the feed dogs.
Pamela
I also use a Viking-but an old model–a Lily. I drop the feed dogs, use a free motion slider, and practice, practice, practice. I find a great way to learn the correct stitch length is to stitch in the ditch. I also do my decorative stitching of the binding using free-motion.
Quilting Tangent
I have a Singer 7258. Yes feed dogs can be dropped. Seems to do free motion better with them raised.
Louise Haddon
My main machine is a Viking but I also have a Juki that I prefer to FMQ on. Both machines I can drop the feed dogs.
I love that you share all your talents with us!
sunnysewsit
I use a Bernina 830E (the new model, not the original 830) which I purchased used about five years ago, and yes I can drop my feed dogs! I do not use the Bernina stitch regulator, however, as I like to control my own destiny!
Linda Swanekamp
I use a Singer 301 with dropped feed dogs. For large quilts, I use a 17″ Bailey Home Quilter on a table. If I had room, I would have a long arm. I keep running around my house with a measuring tape, but the results are always the same- not enough space!
bev
I have a Janome Memory Craft 4900 QC and allows to lower the feed dogs
Dee
I sew on Baby Lock Cresendo and Melody. Yes the feed dogs drop and just learning to use free motion. I can use all the help / suggestions you have. I have a stitch regulator for my Cresendo but haven’t had time to use it yet. I tell myself I can do that but intimidated by doing free motion.
julie714
Hi Lori, For me FMQ with my Molly she is my Pffaf quilters expression 4.0 with one simple flick of a stitch the dogs are down so the action can begin! Hopefully in the near future I will be able to afford to purchase a HQ Sweet Sixteen so my true quilting can begin. I have tried many of your simplle designs but I still require lots of practise before I can every consider to be a reasonable free motion quilter. I will be quilting a wall hanging using some very simple straight stitch designs on my wall hanging. Hopefully when it is finished I will show you.
Julie
My machine is a Pfaff 2170. It does great FMQ. I also have a mid-arm: Handi-Quilter 16.
Gloria Roman
I have been using a Janome 6600 and yes I drop the feed dogs. It has performed quite well for many years. I recently have purchase a Bernina 820 and am excited to get started with the larger space. Love your tutorials!
Charmaine
Hello from sunny California,
I’m just new to FMQ and enjoy your
Information. I piece and quilt on
My Bernina 180 and dogs drop. I
Bought a Bernina 830 to quilt with
Because of the larger throat space.
I’m so intimidated by the machine I’ve
Hardly used it. I’m a topper anyway.
When I get a top done, in my mind it’s
Finished and I run off to do another
So don’t get to the quilting stage too
Often. Thank you for your great tips
And inspiration.
Monique Parreira
A short arm: an old Bernina,1630….but I love the lady! The feed dogs do drop but I prefer to do all my free-motion quilting with them UP! I find it helps me pace myself better and keep more even stitches.
Leila Hudson
Monique, I have the Bernina, 1630 that I purchased brand new back in the 90s. I wanted to try out embroidery… ha! ha! Well, that never happened. It has been collecting dust for years. I have several other machines that I use regularly. Was saving the bernina for that specialty work….. I am glad I found special use for it. Free Motion Embroidery!
I am going to take a free-motion quilt class and wondered if the bernina would be a good choice to use. Found your comment after I google searched and was excited to see that. Thanks! Oh, what foot did you use.
patricia inslerman
I sew and quilt with the Bernina 440QE. I put the feed dogs down when I quilt.
sullivancj
I learned to FMQ on my Pfaff 2141, eventually went to a Pfaff midarm, Now I have a Nolting 16 long arm (not very long) I’m cramped for space.
C.J.
I have a Bernina 440 for FMQ. I can drop the feed dogs.
Thanks for the great blog!!!!
Linda Costello
I have a Babylock Crown Jewel long arm which I absolutely LOVE.
Susan Crawford
I use a Brother CS 6000i and the feed dogs do drop. Thank you for all the inspiration you give us.
Susan Ketcham
I use my Arista 185 and the feed dogs are down.
denisezapf
I do everything on my Singer 9970. The feed dogs drop, and I do a lot of FMQ. Not all of it is good, but I’m improving. I have tested fancier domestic machines and decided I’d rather spend my money on an Innova sit-down long arm machine. But that’s for the future. For now, my Singer and I are humming along.
Karen A
I quilt on an Elna Excellence 740. It has 11 inches of space and the feed dogs drop. Also has a great even feed foot.
Julie Zeigler
I usually use my Viking Emerald 122 by Husqvarna. It does drop the feed dogs and now that I have a walking foot for it, we get along much better! I need to practice my for more often before I really love that aspect of quilting!
Kathryn Mudrovich
I am a beginner in fmq, with only 2 full size quilts and a few small lap size quilts completed in fmq to date. I use my Viking Ruby Deluxe and my Viking Designer 1 with the feed dogs down.
JoAnn Strollo
I am learning FMQ on my Brother Innovis QC1000. The feed dogs go down when I quilt. I am lucky to have a friend with an Innova 18″ long arm which I am also learning how to use.
Debby Chastain
Thank you for your tutorials! I use a Janome 6600 to piece and quilt and yes, the feed dogs will lower.
Marsha
I use a Janome QC 6260 and yes the feed dogs drop.
Jim Dahlberg
I use a Nolting longarm 18″.
LINDA
HI, I sew on a Bernina 210 and do fmqing with feed dogs down/no BSR and do fairly well. Have wanted an upgrade to BSR machine but many have persuaded me otherwise.Thanks for your Blog !
Carolyn Hock
I FMQ on my Bernina 730 with the feed dogs down. I love my machine and can quilt anything up to a twin size. Larger quilts I send to a fabulous long armer! I read your blog every morning and have enjoyed trying many of your ideas. LOVE all of the fall patterns!
Barbara Pena
I began sewing this year. I use an Elna 860 for everything. It does have the drop feed dog feature.
Helen
My only machine, which I do enjoy using, is a Husqvarna Sapphire. The feed dogs do drop.
Thanks for all of your inspirational posts!
Sharon
Bernina 180 embroidery machine or a bernina 240. I m getting ready to take a class on feathers with Betty New. So excited Love to do feathers just need to practice and I don’t think you can take to many classes. Love your e mails.
Sue
I have a Tin Lizzie Ram for my long arm quilting and a Janome 1600P DB that I have yet to use for free motion quilting. But after seeing all the wonderful quilting you are doing I am so inspired to try it. Maybe when things slow down after the holidays I will try my hand at it. I have so many great patterns to try thanks to you. You are a great inspiration to all of us! Looking forward to some great projects to help get me through a long cold winter.
mlmasters2014
I use the Juki 2010Q. Yes, I can drop the feed dogs and having alot of fun learning as I just bought my machine this past March.
Jane Brown
I FMQ on a Bernina 180, feed dogs down. There are a few instances when I left the feed dogs up w stitch length 0, but generally I have them down.
Crabby Maudie
I use a Husqvarna Megaquilter for my FMQ work. I cannot drop the feed dogs. There are definitely times when I wish I could. I have to cover the feed dogs with a plate. This can limit which presser feet I can use.
annieofbluegables
How fun. I’d love to see this. Congratulations on being featured in this fun magazine!
I use my domestic machine, an old Viking 980, and the feed dogs do drop. I love this machine so much that I bought another for backup in case this one needs to go to the shop for repairs. But if I could afford it I think I’d get the Sweet 16 by handi quilter.
Suzanna Trail
I use a Pfaff Creative Vision model. Yes, I can lower my feed dogs I love my machine
Laura Phipps
I use a Bernina 880. I am able to drop my feed dogs. I am learning to quilt now and love Lori’s tutorials!!
Laurie Hahn
My Janome 6600 is fantastic for free-motion. Once the feed dogs are dropped, I put the needle down and off I go! I have the speed adjusted and do NOT use the foot pedal, just the on/off switch.
Wendy M
I sew and quilt on a Bernina 440QE and the feed dogs do drop down. Thank you for your awesome tutorials on free motion quilting! I am still trying to improve my skills and you give wonderful tips and techniques.
Roz
The little FMQ I do is on a Bernina 440 QE with feed dogs down.
Marianne Viner
I have just purchase a HQ Sweet 16 sit-down long arm machine to quilt throw size and larger quilts and am learning how to use it. Love the increased visibility I have!!
I have previously/primarily used a Janome 7700 Horizon and love that for the small projects but I feel like I am constantly wrestling when quilting a throw size on this machine. It does allow me to drop feed dogs, but I have mistakenly quilted with feed dogs up and the stitch quality and tension is still wonderful. My Janome dealer tells me it does not hurt the machine if I leave the dogs up.
Kim
I use a Pfaff Quilt Expression 4.0. The feed dogs drop easily!
Jeannine Stoddard
I have a Bernina 630, & recently got a Juki TL-2010Q. The feed dogs drop on both, & I use both of them for quilting
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