Free motion quilting instructions

Can I Free Motion Quilt on a Regular Sewing Machine? By National Quilters Circle

Yes

https://www.nationalquilterscircle.com/article/can-i-free-motion-quilt-on-a-regular-sewing-machine/

How to Stitch the Perfect Stitch Length for Quilting
JULY 28, 2020
Today’s Topic: How to Stitch the Perfect Stitch Length for Quilting

https://lorikennedyquilts.com/how-to-stitch-the-perfect-stitch-length-for-quilting/

You can do embroidery or you can do free motion. If you're quilting a quilt sandwich (fabric, batting, backing fabric), you probably want to do free motion quilting. Embroidery would work better on fabric (with a stabilizer) but without the batting and backing fabric.

For free motion, you want a free motion foot--your machine's manufacturer probably provided one in the accessory kit (called a darning foot) or there are many generic free motion feet available for purchase (ie Big Foot quilting foot...). The BIG difference with a darning foot or free motion foot is that the shank is shorter than other presser feet because there needs to extra space between the presser foot and the needle plate so the quilter can easily manipulate the fabric. Usually, free motion quilters will drop the feed dogs to avoid feed dog interference with the fabric's movement, however, some quilters don't drop the feed dogs--just whatever works best for you and your machine. In addition, I use a Supreme Slider on the sewing machine surface--a silicone mat that provides a slick surface to help the fabric move.

There are a lot of web sites and video tutorials on free motion quilting. Take some time to watch them and then practice, practice, practice! It's an acquired skill so the more you practice, the better you will be.

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Free motion is similar on most machines.

Install a brand new sharp needle (embroidery, top stitch, microtex, or universal) of the size that is compatible with the thread weight and fabric.

Drop the feed dogs. If you machine doesn't have the capability, there should be a feed dog cover in your accessory kit that needs to be covered,. This prevents the feed dogs from interfering with your manual maneuvering of the fabric.

Install a darning foot or free motion foot.

Test your stitch and adjust the tension so the threads meet in the middle of the fabric.

Then, it is a matter of practice, practice, practice...

Learn How to Free Motion Quilt Stippling

Free Motion Quilting Tutorial for Beginners Suzy Quilts

https://wpt.org/SewingWithNancy/Video/free-motion-quilting-beginners-part-1

How to Free Motion Quilt on Regular Sewing Machine

lots more web sites available...

This is free motion quilting. There are a ton of web sites and videos available. You'll need a darning or free motion quilting foot for your machine. Drop the feed dogs. If you are certain you want to do free motion quilting, a Supreme Slider helps you move the fabric.
https://www.amazon.com/Supreme-Slider-Motion-Machine-Quilting/dp/B007XGITA2

Learn How to Free Motion Quilt Stippling

How to Free Motion Quilt on Regular Sewing Machine

Free Motion Quilting for Beginners 10 Tips

Free Motion Quilting Beginner Tutorial 1 of 4

#26 is an embroidery foot. Why are you using an embroidery foot for free motion quilting? A #24 free motion embroidery foot will work but not the #26. Try using a darning foot that is just a smidgen shorter so there is space between it and the needleplate for you to freely move the fabric. (Adding a Supreme Slider sheet to the work surface of your machine helps make the fabric glide much smoother.) A standard presser foot is made to press the fabric against the feed dogs so the feed dogs will move the fabric. When free motion quilting, you would drop the feed dogs and move the material with your hands.

Depends which model Bernina you have (new or old style presser feet), which will work on your machine. There are also many generic darning/FMQ feet available that will work on your machine.

12 BERNINA presser feet Darning foot 9 (old style)

Quilting foot 29C (new style)

Bernina 530 53 Free Motion Quilting

Top 5 Tips for Successful Free Motion Quilting WeAllSew BERNINA USAs blog...

Seven Steps to Free Motion Quilting

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On page 35 of your manual (see link below), there are instructions for darning. It looks like your machine needs to have the darning plate installed over the feed dogs before you can perform darning or free motion quilting. If you do not have the darning plate, then you will need to get one.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=8&ved=0CFAQFjAH&url=http%3A%2F%2Fecx.images-amazon.com%2Fimages%2FI%2FB1dzfyluFLS.pdf&ei=jkMpVYmGFsWzoQTryICoCA&usg=AFQjCNEBTgKmXv2EyHiiw-px33CFogPHXA&bvm=bv.90491159,d.cGU

See page 5 of the Owner's Manual:

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0ahUKEwi1_ObI8K_KAhVQ7GMKHTNECVsQFggdMAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fjanome.com%2Fsiteassets%2Fsupport%2Fmanuals%2Feconomy-models%2Finst-book-7318-english.pdf&usg=AFQjCNETNSS3UbZEcBkH9FIWGMpqxsnDNw&cad=rja


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Which model are you using? Creative 4.5?, On the newer machines it drops automatically once the embroidery attachment is hooked up. On older Creatives v2.x there is a slide lever in front of the presser foot on the front.

I'm assuming your machine has a little plate you put over the feed dogs rather than a knob which disengages the feed dogs from moving to do free motion embroidery or something.

If this is the case there probably isn't enough room for your quilt sandwich under the foot.

You could try using a free motion embroidery foot rather than the regular foot with the feed dogs up and see if that allows you sufficient movement.

It would look like this:



It may take some practice still to get a smooth stipple if that is the effect you are going for.

You may find some other ideas on quilting websites to get around this problem or in a Yahoo group for quilters. I've only ever quilted in straight stitch using my walking foot so it feeds the quilt smoothly for me, never tried FMQ.

You need to be using a free motion foot or a darning foot, the regular presser foot is not for free motion.