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Permalink Reply by HeyJudee on May 31, 2009 at 9:10pm

I am able to lower my feed dogs so have room for the quilt to fit under my darning foot. How thick is your plastic piece? There should be enough room to fit the quilt and lower the darning foot. No you don't need to set your stitch length at 0. I usually just leave it at my normal length that I use to do straight stitching. And you will probably have to change your tension. I usually have to tighten my needle tension. But depending on the thread I use, I sometimes have to loosen it (especially if I'm using heavier thread in the bobbin).
Here are some links with instructions and tips on how to do FMQ. Hope they help
http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/machine-quilting-tips-and-tri...
http://www.skunkhillstudio.com/musings/process_fmq.shtml
http://crazymomquilts.blogspot.com/2008/03/free-motion-quilting.html

And here are some videos that may help.
FMQ Videos

Permalink Reply by Maire Machens on June 3, 2009 at 6:56pm

Hi, free motion is very fun but it does take some practice. yes, you do lower the foot and you might need to do some trial & error with the thread tension, don't change the bobbin tension. I have found using a stretch needle (any brand) makes free motion so much easier. Stretch needles have a longer scarf so the thread lies better, less thread breakage & better formed stitches on the bottom.
Maire

Permalink Reply by Thea McCurry on June 9, 2009 at 7:28am

Hi keetch, if you are having trouble moving the fabric under the needle, try cleaning the bed of the machine including the metal plate under the needle. Use a silicone spray from the auto supply store, sparingly, and buff with a paper towel or soft cloth. If the quilt sandwich still won't slide under the needle, try using a self-clinging Teflon sheet on the sewing machine bed.
You must lower the foot in order to engage thread tension in any case. If you don't have enough room under the needle, try using a thinner, cotton batting. Polyester batting is not as flexible as cotton, and the high loft polyester batting is not a good choice for free motion quilting on a home machine.
Also, there is still no substitute for practice.

Permalink Reply by Lynne Demeter on September 2, 2009 at 6:48pm

I won't repeat all the good advice you've received so far. However, keep in mind that the speed you apply to your foot pedal and the speed that you move your fabric will affect your stitch quality. This is truly "a practice make perfect" skill. Make up some 24" X 24" quilt sandwiches. Practice with the thread you intend to use most and experiment with your needles. Use a black Sharpee and write on your sandwiches which needles you used on what so you can refer back. Watch as many online videos as you can, KNOWLEDGE IS POWER! The older machines just had the plastic piece place over feed dogs. You could also buy a new machine!!