How DO you free-motion quilt on a home sewing machine?

[Linda V.]

I have a Baby Lock Esante and EVERY time I try to free-motion quilt my needle breaks!! SO, I have a couple of questions:
1) How do I free-motion quilt on my home sewing machine?? (Are there some special tips or tricks??)
2) Do you HAVE to sew fast??
3) If so, how come?? Why can't you free-motion sew SLOWLY??
I can't control how my pattern gets sewn if I go fast so I HAVE to sew slowly - and then my needle breaks!! SO:
4) Is there a home sewing machine manufactured today that allows one to free-motion sew SLOWLY???
This is REALLY frustrating for me! And besides, I'm going bankrupt buying more needles!!
Thanks for ANY help,
Kip

[Linda V.]

Hi Kip,
I think your needle may be breaking because you could be trying to move the quilt when the needle is in the fabric. I don't have the same kind of machine as you, but that's one thing to look at.

I do my machine quilting slowly. I'm not that experienced at it, but it works with my machine (Pfaff 7570). Try doing small (14" or so) practice squares using a muslin/batting/muslin sandwich. Just doodle around on them to find your rhythm. I do this before I start quilting the real quilt. I think it helps.

I have 4 great books on Machine quilting by these authors:

Diane Gaudynski (Quilt Savvy-Machine Quilting Guidebook , and Guide to Machine Quilting)
Harriet Hargraves (Heirloom Machine Quilting)
Maurine Noble (Machine Quilting Made Easy)

Good luck!

Tani

[Linda V.]

I think fast or slow works, as long as the speed of the needle coordinates/matches the speed with which you move your fabric! I often wish my machine had a speed regulator on the presser foot-- cruise control! I can find a comfortable speed, but holding it steady can be a challenge.
They do say "practice practice practice" but I'm not patient enough for a lot of that, but right now am trying Ricky's machine trapunto with water-soluble thread, and am using that for my practice! Even though this is the "real quilt" my stitches aren't going to totally matter b/c they'll disappear, and by the time I'm done with all of the trapunto, hopefully I'll be much steadier when I get to the "real thread" work! It's so forgiving! Florence

[Linda V.]

I have a Bernina 165 and I do love it although I am still frustrated free motion quilting. This machine has a speed control that alows you to control the speed of the motor but, practice,practice, practice...make sure you have a new needle, matched with your thread and start out slow on a scrap sandwich increasing your speed as you move your fabric under the needle. I try to choose simple patterns to start. Good luck

[Linda V.]

Kip,
I have the cousin to yours, a Brother Inovis and Brother QC and my first experiences I was having the same problem. What kind of needle are you using? My local LQS rep suggested I try using Topstitch needles and so I did as recommended and my problem was solved. As far as even stitches, well that just takes a lot of patience & practice.
..I hope this helps.

Keep on Stitchin'
Linda in SD
PS..try practicing with smaller sandwich pieces in a hoop and then graduate to using the quilting gloves when working on larger projects.
My DGD loved to use the practice pieces to make things for her babies(dollies) when I was finished practicing so they served as dual purposes.

[Linda V.]

On Brother machines and therefore, I presume, on Babylock machines, you need to have a stitch size set, I used stitch size 2 on Brother machines. The instructions given for free motion quilting usually tell you to set te stitch size at 0, this causes the thread to break on modern Brother machines.
Eileen

[Linda V.]

On Brother machines and therefore, I presume, on Babylock machines, you need to have a stitch size set, I used stitch size 2 on Brother machines. The instructions given for free motion quilting usually tell you to set te stitch size at 0, this causes the thread to break on modern Brother machines.
Eileen

Eileen, you're right. I have never changed the stitch length as it is inmaterial when it comes to feed dogs down and free motion quilting. The only thing I have ever adjusted is the tension. Thanks for adding this info I had overlooked. Also when using metallic thread, use the topstitch needle, not mteallic in the brother machines.
Linda in SD

[Linda V.]

Thanks Linda, I never thought about the TYPE of needle. I just use a #14 Universal. For most things that works just fine but maybe that's one of my problems and I'm off to the fabric store to shop for Topstitch Needles. I'm ready to try ANYthing at this point.
Thanks to ALL of you for your help. I had made several mini quilt sandwiches and drawn simple designs on them and that's when all my needles kept breaking on me. I guess it's time to get back to the practicing - and have a goodly supply of needles on hand! And my eye protectors!
Kip

Kip,
I have the cousin to yours, a Brother Inovis and Brother QC and my first experiences I was having the same problem. What kind of needle are you using? My local LQS rep suggested I try using Topstitch needles and so I did as recommended and my problem was solved. As far as even stitches, well that just takes a lot of patience & practice.
..I hope this helps.

Keep on Stitchin'
Linda in SD
PS..try practicing with smaller sandwich pieces in a hoop and then graduate to using the quilting gloves when working on larger projects.
My DGD loved to use the practice pieces to make things for her babies(dollies) when I was finished practicing so they served as dual purposes.

[Linda V.]

I haven't done any major quilting with my Designer SE, but what I have done has worked beautifully with it's Sensor System. I also love the fix stitch and Mr. Scissor Man.

[Lynn K.]

WOW. What great comments. I just had my initial class last week on machine quilting (I'm a hand quilter) and the lesson was: go fast, fast, fast, because if you go slow it won't work. The stitches will be uneven and curves will be sharp and jagged, etc. etc, etc.

I've practiced a little at home but do find it produces alot of TENSION in ME let alone the machine problems some of you spoke of. I know, practice, practice, practice,

But, if one really can go SLOW, that's a new one.............. :roll: :shock:

[Lynn K.]

I have done quite a bit of machine quilting on my Pfaff and my first free motion class said go FAST. What I have learned is to slow it down and be more consistant with stitch length and hand movements. Practice is the only way to get better, but you might as well do that on a quilt. When I am starting a new style, I practice on a scrap sandwich and then keep that right beside my machine as a pattern to refer to. Don't be afraid to try it, it is very creative and a great outlet for your own style. If you are having a spell of broken thread or needles, rethread everything including the bobbin and put in a new needle. Then, slow your hands down and don't pull on the needle with the fabric. Free motion is really fun!

[Lynn K.]

I am astonished that any one can recommend that a new machine quilter must go fast! It is absurd if you have to do something new at a high speed! You do not learn to drive that way and you cannot learn to machine quilt that way. The important thing is that your machine speed and handmovements coordinate. If you move the quilt fast then you will need to speed up your machine. Start with slow flowing movements of your hands and adjust your machine speed to give small consistent stitches. as you near a sharp turn or corner slow down and stop completely. Re-adjust your "brain" to accept movement in a new direction and start slowly, gradually increasing to a comfartable speed and movement of the hands. Stopping at sharp corners prevent thread built up- specially on the back.

[Lynn K.]

I too, was instructed to go faster....what was that teacher thinking???? :?
take a breath, fluff the quilt around your space and practice balancing hand and foot speed. and don't expect to get it perfect for quite some time. you're only working on the space between your hands, so pretend that's all the bigger your project is. then go onto the next project (area).

I tell my beginner buddies to practice on a fabric w/a big floral print, try to follow some of the design lines, you'll get a "feel" for the motion.
I also like to practice with pencil and paper first...if I want to try a different meandering style, I'll doodle with it until I get comfy w/the movement.

remember, this is something you love doing...don't stress over it.

[Lynn K.]

I don't think it's possible to learn home machine free motion quilting by going slow. That way you will learn to be slow. I kept trying to go slow and get even stitches. I was getting frustrated, the needle would break, my stitches were skipping, I couldn't move the fabric smoothly, and my thread would shred. Everyone I've heard talk about machine quilting said to go fast. I put my quilt under the needle and press the pressure foot all the way to the floor and off I went. My stitches were even, no problem with needle, thread or moving the fabric. That is the secret to nice machine quilting, go fast. I use a free motion foot and I leave my feed dogs up most of the time, I don't see the need to lower them.

[Lynn K.]

Perhaps "fast" and "slow" are relative terms! :wink: I certainly wouldn't advocate slow as in "stitch-by-stitch"! I go for a "moderate" pace myself. So long as the movement of the quilt and the speed of the needle coordinate to give you the size stitches you want then you should be ok! Florence