Lots of practice with freemotion quilting this week. :) I looked online at some of the many quilting patterns you can buy, for ideas, then tried to draw some of my own. I actually drew one out on paper, and tried to stitch over it, but... it was a real booger to try to peel the paper out of the little stars and loops and swirls. Guess I taught myself a lesson THERE!
I need to pay attention to which way the stars are going, and try to remember to cross the last line at the top of my stars, so they 'close'. I'd maybe do better if I marked the fabric first, instead of just winging it and stitching away, but... this was so much FUN! I might not like it so much if I were drawing it on with chalk, or those blue water erase markers, and then trying to follow my lines.
Hitting needle down before I started sewing did seem to help, thanks! I was surprised at how much bobbin thread this used - two whole bobbins for a practice piece of fabric that's about 20 x 25. I don't think my bobbins are wound as tight by my Janome as they were by my Kenmore. Any one else notice this? If I wind bobbins for my Janome on my Kenmore will they be too tight?
16 comments:
Jane - your free motion quilting is looking great - well done! It is so much more fun than following lines. As for bobbin thread I always use Bottom Line from Superior threads (they're in the US - check them out on Google) - it's finer so you can get more on your bobbin and it's lint free so doesn't clog up the underside of your machine anything like as quickly - had it recommended by a cyber friend over here and wouldn't use anything else now - try it and see what you think :o)
I am nto sure about the bobbins... because I had 1 machine that could wind and stop when full and another that could not, so I wanted to try to stop the 1 style with the 2 machine - did not work...
Wow, your FMQ is looking great! So glad you are sharing photos of it--it is helping me get ideas! I am trying to learn it too. About interchanging bobbins--it wouldn't work on any of my machines. But let us know what you find out.
You are getting really good at this. Gives me hope! I think just winging it is better. It looks looser and freer even if some of the star points don't cross. Once you start following lines you lose the spontinaity. (However you spell that word).
Wow, you're doing so well!!
I haven't had much luck winding bobbins on on machine and using it on another...though the readi-wound bobbins that they gave me when I bought my last viking work great! I've just started running off a half a dozen before I start big projects...a bit brain numbing but it beats losing the rhythm...
Sio
OOh yor free motion is looking so good. ! I am jealous. mine is horrible. so horrible that I won't try it again :-(
Looking good. Keep up the practice. YOu will be an expert in no time.
Don't know about using the bobbins on another machine. You will use a lot of bobbin thread. I always start by winding 3 bobbins to have ready before I start quilting, so I don't have to un-sting my thread and do the bobbin when I run out. I use the same thread as the top as opten as I can because I don't like surprised if the tension goofs a bit and shows.
It's easier to just stitch than it is to follow a line and I think it's smoother to just go. Yours is looking really good. You stitches seem even and that's what you want. It's just practice that makes it better.
You sure you just started with this technique because it looks like you are a natural!
I know that my Viking does not wind as much thread since the mother board was replaced so currently I get more thread on my Jem bobbins than I do on the Viking which I use for most everything. Seems like I am constantly winding bobbins
free motion quilting just really uses lots more bobbin thread-I like either the prewound bobbins or use bottom line thread as someone else said-and I always wind a lot of bobbins-hate running out in the middle of quilting! You are doing great-I did not like trying to follow lines drawn nor on paper either...winging it works best for me too.
You are getting sooo much better at the free motion...and so quickly!
I don't have a Kenmore or a Janome, but I'd be really surprised is you can wind one's bobbins on the other.
I did notice that when I bought the new Pfaff, the bobbins hold MUCH less thread than my old Viking. Amazing the amount less...kind of bugs me, but what can do you?
I see so much more flow in your curving shapes on this practice piece...way to go Jane!
My bobbins are not interchangeable either. And I like Bottom Line thread too...and I agree with Finn, my Pfaff holds a lot less thread. On a good note though--your FMQ is looking great! And don't worry about all your stars not crossing--your brain sees the star and doesn't notice it not being closed. Kind of like that email that went around with the letters in the words all mixed up but we still knew what it said. Amazing little thing our brain is!
Jane wow I love the stars. Very clever of you!
hmmm I have big problems with my Janome winding on bobbins. If I let it go to where the auto-stop is supposed to cut in, the thread goes all crazy and pulls the bobbin thread off the bobbin and I have to unwind the whole thing and start again! It drives me crazy. So I only wind my bobbins to 90% full (or thereabouts). Maybe it's a Janome problem? Hmmm, that wasn't much help was it!
Oh I think it looks wonderful! Exactly the stars and loops I was thinking of! It is wonderful! I've been putting thinner thread in my bobbins and that helps. Use either an Aurofil 50 wt or a Metler 60 wt. That will put a lot more thread on the bobbin.
Loops and stars are one of my favorite freemotion designs to quilt. Perfect for this quilt too.
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