stitch regulator

[sewingmom]

Ok., I read some about stitch regulators and am confused. Are they just for use with quilt frames? Do you need one or are they just nice to have? I tried some FMQ last year (without lessons or written instructions) and the stitches were not neatly spaced or uniform in length. Where is the best place to get beginners how to info?

[carman]

practice practice and more practice and throw some lessons in would be good too

carman

[sewingmom]

Carmen, do you have a stitch regulator?? What is the trick to adjusting the stitch without one. I am using a Janome Memorycraft 6600.

[carman]

the only stitch regulator i have is ME the trick to stitch length is all in YOUR speed and control, it really is as simple as that. all the free motion quilters on the board will tell you that you HAVE to practice and PLAY PLAY PLAY. i have a Pfaff Creative Vision which i love some people like to have a music beat in the background, some like a glass a wine lol. unless you are a natural and there are a few blessed ones out there, and i am not one of them practice produces confidence, take a look at other quilts people have done and you will see very quickly that their stitches are far from perfect, we are much to hard on ourselves for the smallest of flaws.

carman

[HeyJudee]

Basically I agree with what carman said. I don't have a stitch regulator either, but I do use my speed control on my machine to set the speed to one that I'm comfortable at when doing FMQ. This prevents me from pressing my heavy foot down and going too fast. I will ease off when I want to go slower but basically I set it to a speed that I want to go for the design that I'm doing. And this all takes practice practice practice to get comfortable doing FMQ.

[Skye]

FM quilting is one of those things that practice truly does make you better
There are some good resources available on line.
Craftsy have several FM quilt classess - you have access to the classes forever when you buy them and you can ask the tutors questions . I have a couple of Anne Peterson's.
http://www.craftsy.com/class/The-Craftsy-Block-of-the-Month/50

Leah Day http://freemotionquilting.blogspot.co.nz/*] has heaps of tips and demos - a real time waster.

I cant comment on the stitch regultor as I don't have one.
Be warned FM quilting is addictive

[pinecone]

some people like to have a music beat in the background...

Daisy, Daisy give me your answer do..... and Casey would waltz with a strawberry blonde and the band played on...

my mother played those songs on the organ at the cottage and they somehow work for my timing. I have a visual of me skating in Central Park, gliding and rounding the curves. (I can dream, right??) And practice!!

piney

[bridesmom]

I have thought about getting one, but the $$$ made me sit back and wonder if I really needed one. It is practice and being able to relax when you are FMQ which does take time to get to that point. Leah Day has a great website for learning, with some great tips. http://www.daystyledesigns.com

I do a lot of practice on baby quilts that I make and donate, or smaller pieces, cause FMQ a big quilt is a PITA! Even when you are getting better at it!

[bridesmom]

Piney, I wonder if sometimes when I quilt like a mad woman, if it's because I am playing hard rock n roll in the background!! Maybe I need to switch to something a little less - aggressive???? LOL

[sewingmom]

Thank you all. Hhere I was thinking that I was going to get yo buy an expensive ascessory. Guess I'll practice/practice/practice:).