Marking Top For FMQ
Today, 04:00 AM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2023
Location: S. Carolina
Posts: 325
Marking Top For FMQ
Hi all,
I'm sorry if this has been hashed out before. I did do a quick search on the topic, but didn't find anything.
What is your preference for marking a quilt top for FMQ? Do you mark the pattern before or after putting the sandwich together? I was thinking of marking it before I make the sandwich. This will be the first quilt I will attempt on my Grace Mini Frame so I wanted to have it marked versus doing the quilting on the fly. I will be doing a simple meander.
Cheers,
Shari
I'm sorry if this has been hashed out before. I did do a quick search on the topic, but didn't find anything.
What is your preference for marking a quilt top for FMQ? Do you mark the pattern before or after putting the sandwich together? I was thinking of marking it before I make the sandwich. This will be the first quilt I will attempt on my Grace Mini Frame so I wanted to have it marked versus doing the quilting on the fly. I will be doing a simple meander.
Cheers,
Shari
Today, 04:37 AM
#2
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Delaware
Posts: 1,642
sschick, If I am doing a simple meander, I don't mark the quilt at all. I make a small, placemat size sample quilt to practice and get the motion worked out. Once the placemat sample is done I bind and use them for the Senior Center. Once I have done a bit of practice, I move onto the quilt. Mine are certainly not perfect by any means, but the mistakes get lost in the overall quilt. And once washed, even I can't find those slip ups.:-)
I have also used a roll of the examination paper and a stencil to draw the design on the paper. I repeat the width of the quilt as many times as needed to cover the quilt. Pin one paper to the quilt sandwich and quilt the design through the paper. Add a second paper and repeat until the quilt is done. Once done I remove the paper. Honestly this takes as long as the quilting but allows me a fancy design that I could not replicate without having a path to follow. I am not able to follow the pattern exactly and may wander off a bit but once done and the paper is removed you will not be able to tell you veered off line. I have also used a large flower print for the backing and quilted the flowers from the back of the quilt so the design shows on the front. Please allow yourself to relax and enjoy the process. Hopefully this will get you started.
I have also used a roll of the examination paper and a stencil to draw the design on the paper. I repeat the width of the quilt as many times as needed to cover the quilt. Pin one paper to the quilt sandwich and quilt the design through the paper. Add a second paper and repeat until the quilt is done. Once done I remove the paper. Honestly this takes as long as the quilting but allows me a fancy design that I could not replicate without having a path to follow. I am not able to follow the pattern exactly and may wander off a bit but once done and the paper is removed you will not be able to tell you veered off line. I have also used a large flower print for the backing and quilted the flowers from the back of the quilt so the design shows on the front. Please allow yourself to relax and enjoy the process. Hopefully this will get you started.
Today, 05:05 AM
#3
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Peoria, IL -- Midwest Transplant
Posts: 7,286
I'm right in Lena's camp. It takes a bit maybe to get the idea of the meanders and how to not get yourself in a place you can't get out again -- but even if you do, is it really that big of a deal?? For me I find music helps keep my rhythm and keeping my size consistent.
From a practical standpoint, if I'm going to mark, I prefer to do so before sandwiching, I can get a better drawing on small bits of surface with a hard surface than I can with the batting and backing included. If I'm using pounce pads the stencils go on pretty nicely on the sandwich, but can wear off so you have to decide on how to deal with that. But, I also have to deal with vision issues. I've never found the best marking techniques for my typical scrappy style, using lots of small pieces of light and dark or different colors.
So I've also used paper, typically I use parchment paper I get from the dollar store, comes in 1 x 25 foot rolls. The supplier has changed in the last couple of years and/or my move to a different part of the country and I seem to have a bit more issues with the current stuff, but it is pretty darn easy to work with and a nice price. I would buy pantographs and copy them onto the parchment so I could sew through. Yes, time consuming, but that is what it takes for me to get the results I wanted. If you use white thread there is a chance that pencil graphite or sometimes ink can carry through onto the thread and be almost impossible to get out again, would not recommend the pencil/parchment combo on a white on white type project.
Some of the ladies in my sewing group are doing very well with pre-printed designs as well. In general they do not have much experience in machine quilting.
I found in terms of improving my skills I would do a rather basic grid of some technique in the bed/center of the quilt and a more complicated design on the border, If you have a serpentine stitch option on your machine, I really like that for a number of reasons for the grid.
I've tried the using the design on the back and that hasn't worked too well for me, mostly tension issues being more noticeable on the top. But if your stitches are nice and consistent from both sides -- hooray for you! I do recommend a really good sandwich and would probably use spray baste... A lot of stitching tension issues disappear with the first wash but some don't so much, especially small tight arcs for me, I get the eyelash thing.
From a practical standpoint, if I'm going to mark, I prefer to do so before sandwiching, I can get a better drawing on small bits of surface with a hard surface than I can with the batting and backing included. If I'm using pounce pads the stencils go on pretty nicely on the sandwich, but can wear off so you have to decide on how to deal with that. But, I also have to deal with vision issues. I've never found the best marking techniques for my typical scrappy style, using lots of small pieces of light and dark or different colors.
So I've also used paper, typically I use parchment paper I get from the dollar store, comes in 1 x 25 foot rolls. The supplier has changed in the last couple of years and/or my move to a different part of the country and I seem to have a bit more issues with the current stuff, but it is pretty darn easy to work with and a nice price. I would buy pantographs and copy them onto the parchment so I could sew through. Yes, time consuming, but that is what it takes for me to get the results I wanted. If you use white thread there is a chance that pencil graphite or sometimes ink can carry through onto the thread and be almost impossible to get out again, would not recommend the pencil/parchment combo on a white on white type project.
Some of the ladies in my sewing group are doing very well with pre-printed designs as well. In general they do not have much experience in machine quilting.
I found in terms of improving my skills I would do a rather basic grid of some technique in the bed/center of the quilt and a more complicated design on the border, If you have a serpentine stitch option on your machine, I really like that for a number of reasons for the grid.
I've tried the using the design on the back and that hasn't worked too well for me, mostly tension issues being more noticeable on the top. But if your stitches are nice and consistent from both sides -- hooray for you! I do recommend a really good sandwich and would probably use spray baste... A lot of stitching tension issues disappear with the first wash but some don't so much, especially small tight arcs for me, I get the eyelash thing.
Today, 06:08 AM
#4
Super Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Western Washington
Posts: 1,079
Totally agree with Lena1952 and Iceblossom's posts. Get some paper and doodle a meander until you feel comfortable, then do some small practice pieces before moving on to your quilt and you shouldn't need to mark the quilt at all. If you get stuck somewhere it's ok to stitch over design to get out or make a loop and change direction. After the quilt is done and washed no one will ever be able to find it.
I also have used designs printed on foundation paper on top of top and traced my stitching over it which works pretty well for more intricate designs. It does take time to rip the paper off but I do it when watching TV.
I also have used designs printed on foundation paper on top of top and traced my stitching over it which works pretty well for more intricate designs. It does take time to rip the paper off but I do it when watching TV.
