blog

Free Motion Quilting – Love It or Hate It?

We Carry
by Sara Snuggerud in Sewing Tips

People either LOVE or HATE free motion quilting. If you are a quilter, piecing the quilt is only half the project. Deciding how to quilt it is the second half of the project. There is no getting around that remaining 50% of the project unless you want a closet full of unfinished quilt tops.

Yes, you can send it off to your favorite long arm quilting expert. But what if you don’t have time or don’t want to spend the money?

We have THREE quilting SOLUTIONS for you!

With technology around us 24/7 there are new solutions for free motion quilting problems popping up every day. The following is a short list of common free motion quilting road blocks in people’s minds:

  • I don’t have time to practice
  • Inconsistent stitch lengths when free motion quilting
  • The quilt is too big for my sewing machine
  • I don’t have a sewing cabinet to support the quilt
  • I really hate free motion quilting

SOLUTION #1 – Bernina Stitch Regulator

Bernina developed the Bernina Stitch Regulator in 2004 and it has continued to lead the quilting world with its ability to assist quilters to perfecting their free motion quilting talents.

I am a perfect example how the Bernina Stitch Regulator helped me master my own style of free motion quilting. For one year, I worked on different quilting projects to help me become a better free motion quilting teacher. It is because of the Bernina Stitch Regulator that I can now say I am a proficient free motion quilter and could tackle any free motion quilting pattern on any quilt big or small.

JOIN ME!

Want to try out a Bernina Stitch Regulator for yourself? Join us for the next FREE “Try Out a Bernina Stitch Regulator” class. Machines, fabric, batting and thread provided! If you already own a Bernina Stitch Regulator, you are welcome to attend this free class as well. Just bring your own machine along with you – we will provide everything else.

 

SOLUTION #2 – Ruler Work Free Motion Quilting

The latest trend for free motion quilting is to using speciality designed rulers to follow with a free motion quilt. This easy to guide style of quilting can put people who HATE free motion at ease. Working around the numerous amount of ruler shapes can create patterns beyond the imagination on any size of quilt.

 

Ruler work requires the purchase of a specially designed ruler work foot. It is like a darning foot but has extra high sides and it measures exactly 1/4″ from the center needle position to the edge of the foot. These precise measuring options offers users a way to perfectly position, stitch and follow any ruler for any design.

Here is a sample of my own ruler work on the Stitching Cosmos quilt.

SOLUTION #3 – Sewing Cabinet

You have probably heard this from us before, but owning a piece of properly designed sewing furniture is the solution to free motion quilting. The sewing machine is at the proper height, the sewing machine is flush to the rest of the table and gravity issues are eliminated by having the project properly supported.

If you already have a newer sewing machine, having a sewing cabinet will greatly enhanced the quilting experience. If you have a 20+ year old sewing machine, we would recommend updating your sewing machine along with getting it its perfect companion furniture piece all at once.

Sewing furniture come in all shapes, sizes, heights and color. Select from standard work spaces to customizing your own space with Koala Sewing Studio options.

Learn to Love Free Motion Quilting

No matter your solution, learning to free motion quilt is a journey. Progress is gained from quilt to quilt and perfected over time.

Want to take free-motion quilting classes online? We recommend checking out Craftsy’s wonderful line up of expert instructions like Angela Walters and Leah Day.