Viking Fabric Mover w/ Stitch Regulator

[Karen W.]

Just bought the Viking Fabric Mover w/ Stitch Regulator this past week after having fun with one at Sew Sunsational. I finally got up my nerve to "play" at free motioning this morning. I can see where this is going to require lots of practice, practice, practice! I'm laughing through my tears at my stippling, but I'll get the hang of it. I don't know why I let myself get talked into buying accessories that I probably don't need...I'm such an easy sell. ops:

Does anyone else have this toy? Any hints would be most welcome!

[Karen W.]

I have Bernina's BSR and had the same reaction -- I will need time to practice. I agree it is lots of fun and I can't wait to try it on a table runner -- or something else that is small and manageable!

[Karen W.]

Sewso, Can I ask you how much you paid for the Viking Fabric Mover w/Stitch regulator? I just watched the demo online but they don't tell you how much it cost. It looks like a great tool.
Thanks

[Karen W.]

barb, let me begin by saying that this is not a cheap toy! The fabric mover w/stitch regulator sells for around (gulp!) $1000. ops: I paid a class price of $800, still way too much, IMHO. I just haven't found the time to practice yet, so therefore can't justify the expense yet. I hope to get the hang of it one day. When Sue Hausman for Viking says there's no "learning curve", that must make me a moron! There are lots of neat projects on the DVD that make it look so easy a child could do. The fabric mover will be on demo tomorrow at a local quilt show which I'm looking forward to. I would like to be able to give a positive report...there is lots of negativity on this product, me included in another post. I want to like it, since I love my Viking. Hope they didn't make a mistake with this one! Don't let me discourage you dear, if you're interested. It's one of those "practice makes perfect" kind of thing.
As far as the expense goes, it's way more than I could afford, but I really did get caught up in the action of the thing in class, and was having so much fun, not looking for perfection, that I figured I was worth it!

[Karen W.]

Sewso, thanks for the info. Wow i was thinking maybe around 4 or 5 hundred :roll: I might have to just wish. $1000.00 is just a bit too much :shock: .

[Karen W.]

The thing I had the hardest time with using the Fabric Mover was getting started - I kept wanting to move the fabric. Finally I learned that I have to move the platform and don't need to grip the fabric like I do with regular free motion. I don't own one but I had to learn it to demo it and it took a little getting used to but it is a good tool. The Bernina one, since it uses a laser, doesn't work that well on red fabrics (or so I've been told) and there is no problem with that on the Fabric Mover. They are both kind of contraptions, though, and both pretty expensive. For some of my customers the toss-up was whether to buy the Fabric Mover or the Mega Quilter - both about the same price!

Tama

[Karen W.]

Tama, thanks! I need to get the Fabric Mover from it's hiding place under the bed and practice, practice, practice!!! Since I've got it, I might as well use it, right?! :roll: I did see a magnificent large floral panel the other day at my LQS that would be a fun practice project.

[Diane O.]

I bought the fabric mover for my Pfaff about a year ago, and FINALLY got it out of the box to play with it. I do believe that it will take some practice to get good at it, just like anything else. In the short time I have been playing around with it, I can see where it will be a lot easier to manuver quilts under the needle on the fabric mover as opposed to just the bed of the sewing machine.

The way I justify the cost of it is, I don't have the room to set up a large quilt frame in my house, or the money to get another machine to use with the frame. I also don't have a table top that I could use a table top frame for (like John Flynn's frame), so the fabric mover is the solution that works best for me. It fits on my sewing cabinet when I want to use it, and is easy enough to remove from my machine when I don't need it. It doesn't take up a lot of storage space, I am keeping the box it came in to store it when I'm not using it, and that fits on one of my shelves in my sewing room.

I also don't have unrealistic expectations that the FM is going to make me a better free motion quilter. With or with out the FM, I need to practice free motion quilting to get good at it. Having the FM is just going to make practicing easier.

Diane in Colorado Springs

[Damaris E.]

Hey Sewso!! My fabric mover is still in it's original box!! I am waiting for life to slow down alittle bit (home schooling) and then I am going to practice, PRACTICE, PRACTICE!!

[Sherry B.]

Daw-mare-iss!!! (Ask her to tell you how to really pronounce it LOL) I didn't know you got a fabric mover when you got everything else. I might need to come help you get that stuff out of the box soon!!! Have a great trip to TX - we will all miss you here!!!

[Damaris E.]

I would LOVE to have a friend to play with!!