I generally roll my quilt from both sides to the middle. I will work in that area and moving to the right unrolling the side that is to the right of the needle. When I've finished that side I'll turn it around and work on the side that was to the left of the needle. And sometimes the whole thing has a mind of it's own and I have to just go with the flow.

Lynn, I took a free motion class and learned to make vines and leaves and feathers. I have a charity quilt that I was going to practice my vines and leaves on and it will be an overall design with no sashings etc. so I guess I will start at one side, but do I go in quadrants or up and down until I get to the other side? Judy

Where you begin depends on the design you are doing. If it begins at the outer edge you start there but some continuous designs come in from the middle ie a sashing leave pattern or such. Hard to explain.

I have a question about free motion quilting. Where do you start and in which direction do you go? Do you started in the middle and make your design in a circular pattern or do you start at one edge at the bottom and go up and then back down all across the quilt? Anyone? thanks. Judy in AZ

Pat I love all that's new and out there for us quilters and I happily lap it up. But reading your entry just now gave me a reminder of the joy I experienced when I was first quilting. I felt connected to all the folks in history who crafted lovely works of art with their hands and then the treadle. Nice remembrance for me. Thanks.

I'm still working on my free-motion technique, and it's getting better. I have great speed control, since I'm doing it on treadles, and just move my feet faster or slower as needed, LOL. Also have needle-up or needle-down choice, according to where I stop my feet. I'm finishing up a baby quilt, with an all-over design like philodendron leaves, and feathers on the border. It's not perfect, but sure does look better than my first efforts.

Pat in Rockport, TX

I'm trying to get my son's quilt finished before I change feet and everything so I can practice free motion quilting. I also have the Janome 6600 and I love the speed setting. It allows me so much more control just for piecing.

QuilterLynn wrote: Hello Lynn, I am so happy you enjoy your free motion!! I do a lot of it too, I have the same sewing machine as you and my speed is never on full...always at half the speed or even a bit under. You will have more control if the speed is slow! So enjoy and have fun

Lynn, you have exactly the right idea! Just keep keepin' on......

Did you know Sharon Schamber has about 50 free videos on Utube?

I was watching one last night and she was demo ing something else, but what I noticed was how much she slowed down her DSM at one point to navigate a particular design. I thought to myself, well, hmmmm - why couldn't I just slow down my whole operation while I'm learning? I'm using her red hoop, too, to grip the fabric better, as well as the Super Slider she recommends.

I slowed down my Janome 6600 and WOW! I ended up doing a whole series of small, intricate designs (not perfectly yet) lol but was amazed at how well it worked. I figure I can speed up as I get better control! Exciting!!!

I can imagine that even I could machine quilt after watching that video. My problem is that hand quilting relaxes me so! My friend says she can always tell if I'm quilting when I answer the phone my voice is so calm.

But I also want to learn to master the machine! Tough choices we quilters have!

Lynn

That bunny/pony cracked me up! Great job!

Pony V Sewing machine

I have three girls who each own a sewing machine and four ponies, and im not sure which "hobby" is cheaper! Mind you the sewing machines come in handy when they want to enter fancy dress class at the local shows with the ponies!

PS! ive added some pics of our last effort to my profile.

Hey Bridget I know how it is, I already have to fight w/ CuriousGeorge (age 9) for time on my Bernina... he knows it's mine, but since Dad got it for me, he thinks I should get one for him... AND he wants a pony...