I am very happy with the tension, but not so happy about the fact that the fabric is drawing in a lot, and unevenly. Maybe that's something to do with me not pinning enough, or is it something else? If any one can make any suggestions, I'd be very grateful.
I am finding it tricky to work out the relationship between the speed of my hands and my machine to give me decent sized, consistent stitches, but I hope that will come with time. I am also giving myself shoulder ache if I do too much at one time as I guess I'm tensing up too much.
Anyway, without wittering on any more, here is the piece from Lesson 2. The first photo shows the top, and the second shows the bottom. There are good bits and there are bad!
You need a supreme slider and a pair of the gloves like machingets helps a lot. Looking good.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Sioux's advice above. And as far as the puckering it could many different reasons some of which will cure themselves as you get more comfortable with FMQ. For your first lesson you did great! My first practice pieces were so shameful. Hang in there the only place to go is UP!
ReplyDeleteneed the gloves at least , mine is still awful in places but i love it
ReplyDeleteI think it's looking pretty good. Keep it up.
ReplyDeleteCo-ordination between machine speed and stitch length WILL come, I promise. It just takes practice - sorry, but there is no short cut (which is why, years ago, stitch regulators were such a success when they were developed for our longarm machines).
ReplyDeleteI'd say your fabric is drawing up so much because of the density of your stitching, and that's exactly to be expected.
On your next pass you might try stitching a grid of, for example, 8 or 10 inch squares, just freehand it - doesn't have to be perfect. Then do your FM practice in a square. Sort of like imaginary SID around a pieced block (which is what you'll do on a real quilt to get a good, even, result). Those pencil lines you've drawn are a good guide, but they don't hold the fabric in place :-)
Phone me if you want :-)
PS: how's the finger?
can see you are working hard on this Sue, like you I find getting the stitches all the same length a mammoth task at the moment, it just does not happen
ReplyDeleteI think Jayne's advice is great, and yes do get some gloves. If you have some light weight vinyl ones laying around the house they might work too. Are you drawing on paper many times before you go to fabric? That is the train your brain part :-)
ReplyDeleteI tipple while I stipple. No tense muscles here! But I do have to watch out and not add in any additional design features like quilted fingers.
ReplyDelete