Free Motion Machine Embroidery - dwnld

[cinnamama]

Thank you! One question- what is your stitch length?

[ericaeli]

Thank you! One question- what is your stitch length?

It really doesn't matter what your stitch length is. You will be controlling the stitch length by how fast/slow you move the hoop and the machine. Since the feed dogs are disengaged they aren't controlling stitch length. Does that make sense? It is the same with free motion quilting. When I do zig zag free motion I do like to use a wider zig zag.

[cinnamama]

It really doesn't matter what your stitch length is. You will be controlling the stitch length by how fast/slow you move the hoop and the machine. Since the feed dogs are disengaged they aren't controlling stitch length. Does that make sense? It is the same with free motion quilting. When I do zig zag free motion I do like to use a wider zig zag.

Yes! It does make sense. I tried FMQ once on a pot holder and the top came out fine but underneath was terrible. Your tute is inspiring me to try again though - I loved your SNSs!

[ericaeli]

Yes! It does make sense. I tried FMQ once on a pot holder and the top came out fine but underneath was terrible. Your tute is inspiring me to try again though - I loved your SNSs!

Thank you! I hope you will try it. The hoop makes it a lot easier IMO. Here are a couple ideas for your tension issue.

I used to teach free motion quilting and embroidery for a few years, and one of the most common mistakes was forgetting to put the foot down. I know that it seems like a mistake no one would make, but the darning foot looks very similar up vs. down, so people often forget to put it down. If this happens your underside will look bad.

Another thing is that you often have to adjust your tension differently for free motion.

[cinnamama]

Thank you! I hope you will try it. The hoop makes it a lot easier IMO. Here are a couple ideas for your tension issue.

I used to teach free motion quilting and embroidery for a few years, and one of the most common mistakes was forgetting to put the foot down. I know that it seems like a mistake no one would make, but the darning foot looks very similar up vs. down, so people often forget to put it down. If this happens your underside will look bad.

I bet that was it. I have no idea about the tension bit. I can't remember what whether I changed the tension or not. I was using a Bernina and my instructions stress that it is rare to need to adjust the tension... but I don't know if that is really true or not. Anyway, thanks for your help!