Machine Quilting Quick Tip: Don’t Steer!

32 responses to “Machine Quilting Quick Tip: Don’t Steer!”

1. They forget to breathe!

   1. Uh oh, I think I’m “they!”
      🙂

      1. Me too Beth!

   2. Ohhhh I thought I was the only one.

2. Barb is so right! I once arranged a program for my guild presented by a local yoga teacher. She emphasized the importance of breathing, posture, soft shoulders-arms-hands. And getting up from the machine to stretch now and then. All so important. I bet Lori practices quilt yoga—just look at her lovely results!

   1. agree

3. I keep braking needles!! Also I feel really tense! Need to keep practicing!

4. I clench my teeth, I noticed while FMQ. As to you question if I teach FMQ: I am in a personal dilemma. I have been going to an informal FMQ class at local shop once a month for several years. Almost the same amount of time I have belonged to a small group that meets three or four times a year for an very inexpensive retreat for the weekend. One of the members would teach us how to make purses, totes, bags but she recently moved. I finally gained enough confidence andI thought maybe I could start teaching them some FMQ. However, two of the ladies from the FMQ class have just joined the retreat group, one of which is the FMQ teacher, the other a prolific quilter and FMQer. Now I don’t feel like I should teach because they are there.

   1. Nonsense! If you had the confidence before…go for it! YOU bring YOUR experience and knowledge outside of her class to the lessons. YOUR teacher will likely learn a thing or two from you! And she will be the most sympathetic to the challenges of teaching! Go for it Lorraine!!!!

5. I don’t know how much I rotate the quilt while quilting, but now I know not to do that. These little tricks mount up and help improve the FMQ. Thank you.

6. Maybe I’m dense, but I don’t see why “spinning” the quilt is a problem. Why not lift one’s hands? And why not turn the quilt? Sometimes I’m doing designs that have a definite up and down to them. I find it difficult to do these designs upside down from me, and so I’ll turn the quilt so that I’m working right side up. Why should that be a problem?

   1. Yes! DO re-position the quilt–in any direction that makes quilting easier! BUT….don’t do it WHILE YOU ARE STITCHING!!
      Spinning is when you are rotating the quilt WHILE the machine is running!
      Once you re-position the quilt, add a new “X” and that should remain on top.

      1. Thanks for the clarification.

7. Great post Lori!
   PS. You are always welcome here in Phoenix~& Jan/Feb/March are the best temps we have to offer!

8. Same question as catpatches! Why not? I turn it very carefully making sure not to pull or distort the quilt or put pressure on the needle. Seems to make some of the angles in the motif easier to maneuver! I know it takes more time but I’d rather do that than struggle with an awkward angle. Just curious about the reasons to never “spin”! Thanks

   1. It puts a lot of pressure on the needle, and may cause it to break. And no matter how careful you are, it tends to enlarge that particular needle hole in the fabric as well.

      It’s incredibly freeing once you learn to quilt at all angles and in all directions with out spinning the quilt sandwich around. It’s especially handy when working on the center of a larger quilt.

      1. Thank you! You make another great point!

   2. Yes! DO re-position the quilt–in any direction that makes quilting easier! BUT….don’t do it WHILE YOU ARE STITCHING!!
      Spinning is when you are rotating the quilt WHILE the machine is running!

      Also, you should avoid moving your hands while stitching. While you are moving your hands you have much less control of the quilt and your stitch pattern. Stop for a second, move your hands and begin quilting again.

      Does that make sense???

9. Thanks for the suggestions. I am one who tend to try and turn the quilt.

10. Fantastic suggestions! – and reasoning. I’m a beginner FMQ and that is a great tip. I have struggled with turning the bulk, so I will stop practicing the wrong way immediately. I have a spider web to quilt this week and will try the X technique with that.

11. I once quilted a 90″ X 108″ quilt on my machine with a 7″ throat. I could not spin the quilt. I stitched in the ditch on all the major seams. Then used Liz Porter’s idea of making a snow flake using freezer paper. I used chalk to outline the design then scrunched up the quilt and did the center blocks first. It was very tight and could only quilt a few inches at a time. So it’s well worth it to learn not to spin the quilt. There will be lots of times it just is not feasible to do it.

    1. Sounds beautiful! And a great idea!

12. Thanks so much for this tip. I am a new Free motion quilter and I realize that was exactly what I was doing.

    Betty

13. I have seen a lot of new quilters move their hands while quilting. It’s always good to stop the needle, adjust your hands and start again. It keeps your quilting smoother! Thanks for the great tips you give us!

14. Thanks for the reminder! I’m getting ready to start back from the beginning of the FMQ basics on my new machine and am going to go through your book one…then two…ooo ooo oo-oo-oo, I want to be like-a you-ou-ou…

    Have you ever used the Martelli hoops? If so, I’d like to hear about your experience (or anyone’s). I have a weird uncomfortable need to ‘grip’ something when I’ve tried FMQ and I’m thinking they will be good.

    1. I will do a post on the Martello hoops. I have used several types of hoops in the past, and I was surprised how much I liked the Martello one. I purchased them from BERNINA and had to purchase two in a set–which was pricey. One thing to note–if you are stitching on a small table extension–the hoop won’t fit–it will be off the table. So it’s best for quilters who stitch on a machine that is inset in a cabinet.

15. Valuable information! Thanks so much for sharing with us.

    My personal quilting battle is all in my shoulders. I start out relaxed and ‘low’…but before I realize it – my shoulders are all hunched & bunched up around my ears! It’s AWFUL! I have to consciously make myself relax them. Then I FMQ some more…and they are back up around my ears! I’ve tried raising my chair up – but I’m only 5’ tall, so there is a limit before reaching the foot pedal becomes impossible – and the pedal is already raised up thanks to a banana box! Any advise or remedies for high flying FMQ shoulder syndrome? =)

    Thanks!
    Donna Mc

    1. Donna Mc, I found that putting on a ‘weighted’ strap-thing which caused my shoulders to be gentle pulled back, because the weight sits at my waist on my back, helped my posture and awareness. Then realized I was continuing to wear it when I got up from quilting/sewing and found it also improved my overall posture. For what it’s worth! I think if one had a well fitting (old) vest (or old sweatshirt!) and sewed a horizontal ‘pocket’ at the waist and filled it with poly-pellets it might be a way to also make it work. Just make sure it fit and didn’t choke you! lol

       1. Awesome. I’ll give that a try!
          THank you,
          Donna Mc

       2. Awesome observation! I do not have issues where FMQ is hard on my shoulders, arms, or other body parts, but I am concerned about posture. Posture is so important to both wellbeing and looks. Any help is welcome. I might try this with a vest.

       3. Thank you. I needed that also!

16. I too struggle with the shoulders and forgetting to breathe, but I really have to hold my mouth just so, or it doesn’t work right. No sure if I try to spin or not, will check that next time I try quilting.