CHATTERBOX QUILTS’ BLOG

Helping Quilters Learn and Improve

Quilting, Free Motion Quilting Kim Jamieson-Hirst Quilting, Free Motion Quilting Kim Jamieson-Hirst

Conquer Your Fear of Free Motion Quilting

Change that thought of “I’m afraid to try free motion quilting” to “I’m excited to learn free motion quilting”. Changing your approach to free motion quilting you will result in early successes and will build you confidence in your abilities. The more confident you get the more creative you (and daring!) you can be with your projects.

One of the common things I hear from quilters is that they are afraid to learn free motion quilting. While it is not uncommon to have a feeling of uncertainty when trying something new, I believe that without the right attitude it will be really difficult to be successful. If you’re afraid to free motion quilt and can’t get past that feeling of fear, you won’t even try free motion quilting – and you’ll have a lot of unfinished quilt tops hanging around in your studio! There are 3 basics reasons why quilters say they are afraid to learn free motion quilting:

1.     I won’t be good at it right away

2.     My results won’t be as good as someone else’s

3.     I’m afraid I’ll ruin my quilt


Don’t Be Afraid!

 
 

I won’t be good at it right away

I know that many of us think that we should be good right away at whatever we are learning. But that isn’t true. When you’re learning, you’re starting from scratch. As a beginner, you’re not expected to know anything about what you are learning, but, with practice, you will improve.

Remember when you first learned to ride a bike – you probably had a few spills, right? What about when you first learned to cook – I’ll bet there were a few culinary disasters. Do you remember when you first learned to quilt? I’ll bet your first project wasn’t without a few mishaps.

Think back again to that first quilt you made – you didn’t know anything about quilting, but you learned and improved. It’s the same with free motion quilting. It’s a new technique that you are going to learn and you aren’t expected to know anything about it before you start learning it.

My results won’t be as good as someone else’s

I’m sure you’ve heard the expression, “Comparison is the thief of joy”, well this is so true in quilting. When you are first learning to free motion quilt, your results won’t be great and you might feel frustrated. That’s okay. Recognize your feelings, but don’t let it stop you from continuing on.

What you don’t want to do is compare your first efforts with those of quilters who have been free motion quilting for years. It’s just not a fair comparison. Everyone starts at the same place – at the beginning. I guarantee you that everyone’s first projects looked a lot like yours will – not great – but with practice they improved – and you will too!

The only comparison you should be making is comparing your results today with your previous results. As you practice, you will get better and keeping that first project close by will show you just how far you have come!

 Remember, practice makes improvement, not perfection, and you should always be striving to improve with each project you quilt.

 I’m afraid I’ll ruin my quilt

Let’s face it, when you are first starting out free motion quilting your efforts aren’t going to be pretty, so don’t expect them to be. I’m going to be brutally honest here: your first free motion quilting project will not be pretty, as a matter of fact, it will be downright ugly. Bad tension, uneven stitches, big gaps in the quilting lines. It is likely that the end result of your first attempts will be more suitable for use as a “dog blanket” than a wall hanging. Let’s just acknowledge this right now and make sure we are managing our expectations.

Don’t start with a “good” quilt top as your first project. You don’t need that added pressure of worrying that your skill level isn’t “good enough” for a major project. I find a good place to start is with a panel. Panels are inexpensive and you can use the lines in the design as your quilting lines. You don’t have to think of a quilt motif, just stitch on some or all of the lines on the panel.


Get Set for Success - Take Action!

Change Your Thoughts

I want you to change that thought of “I’m afraid to try free motion quilting” to “I’m excited to learn free motion quilting”. You change your mind about things every day and you can certainly change how you think about free motion quilting. It’s not written in stone anywhere – it’s all just in your mind and you can change that! Keep a few things in mind as you start your free motion quilting journey.

Everyone who free motion quilts started in the same place you are now – at the beginning. Don’t expect your beginning efforts to look amazing – they won’t. Do expect that each time you free motion quilt you will get better because you will. Everyone has to learn to walk before they can run and this is true of free motion quilting as well.

Don’t compare your free motion quilting with anyone else’s. A lot of quilters will compare their beginning efforts to someone else’s quilting and feel discouraged. Quilters like Angela Walters have been doing this for years and for hours every day. Of course she’s good! You can admire her work, but don’t feel discouraged if you aren’t at her level – yet! Keep practicing and who knows, one day you might be the quilter that everyone else is admiring.

Tools

I believe that using the right tools having your quilting area set up properly will make your free motion quilting easier and give you a better chance of a successful outcome.

The most important tool is your sewing machine. Free motion quilting is different than normal sewing and if your sewing machine is not set up properly then your experience will be frustrating and ultimately unsuccessful. You will need to have the proper needle, needle plate and darning foot set-up in your machine. You will also need to have the feed dogs down and to set the speed control to a comfortable speed for you (if your machine has that option). Your machine should be threaded with the top thread and you should have some bobbins pre-wound with the bottom thread. I hate having to stop my quilting to wind more bobbins

Set-up

The set-up of your quilting area will have a big impact as well. It is important to have a way to support your quilt as it moves through your machine. Your sewing table is probably adequate for small projects but you may need to set up tables adjacent to your machine to support larger projects. Your sewing surface should be smooth and “slippery” so that the project moves through the sewing machine without a lot of effort. I like to use a sheet that will stick to my machine bed, but has a slippery surface on top which allows the quilt to move around easily on the machine bed.

You also need to set yourself up. Make sure that you can sit comfortably at your machine because free motion quilting can take a long time and will take a toll on your body if you are positioned awkwardly. You will want to use something to allow you to grip the quilt so you can move it around under the needle. Some quilters like to use gloves, such as Machingers or gardening gloves. I find gloves too warm, so I like to use Martelli palm quilting paddles to control my quilt.

Choose the right project

When you are first learning any technique, it’s a good idea to start small. Choose smaller, simpler projects at first, rather than a large quilt. Don’t set yourself up for discouragement and frustration by trying to work on a huge project with a complicated quilt motif that you aren’t comfortable quilting. Start small and gradually work on larger projects as your confidence and skills grow.

Audition

Before I start to quilting my project I like to get the quilt design in my head. Practicing the design before you actually stitch it helps to get it into your head and your hands – muscle memory. I do this in a few different ways. If am unfamiliar with the motif that I am going to be doing I will often draw the design over and over on paper until the motion sticks in my head. If the motif is something I have done before, I will move the quilt sandwich around under the needle of my machine, without stitching, in the motif I want to do. Once I am comfortable with the motion, I begin stitching.

Have a Quilt Plan

Many patterns have detailed instructions on how to make the quilt top but don’t give you suggestions on how to quilt it. Granted, there are endless ways to do this but some guidance other than “quilt as desired” would be helpful. There are an infinite number of ways you can free motion a project so it’s important that you have decided on the quilting design and the motifs that you are going to use before you start stitching. There is nothing more disheartening to discover halfway through your project that your choice of motif is “not working”. Unpicking a quilted project can be a soul destroying task – believe me, I know. 

Practice

I hope that you’re feeling optimistic about learning free motion quilting. It’s a technique like any other in quilting and you will be able to do it, if you practice. But here’s where the tough love comes in. While I’d like to be able to wave a magic wand and you’d instantly be an amazing free motion quilter, the reality is that you do have to be committed to do the work and you do have to practice. Nothing good ever got accomplished without putting in the hard work.


Conclusion

I want you to change that thought of “I’m afraid to try free motion quilting” to “I’m excited to learn free motion quilting”. Changing your approach to free motion quilting will result in early successes and will build you confidence in your abilities. The more confident you get, the more creative (and daring!) you can be with your projects.

Remember, practice makes improvement, not perfection. You should always be striving to improve with each project you quilt. Put in the work and you will be amazed at your results!


Start your learning right now!

Download the free Get Out of the Ditch! guide to learn how to start free motion quilting by clicking here.

Now that you know the reasons you need to learn free motion quilting, check out my course “First Steps Into Free Motion Quilting” by clicking here.

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Quilting, Free Motion Quilting Kim Jamieson-Hirst Quilting, Free Motion Quilting Kim Jamieson-Hirst

You Need to Learn A Step-by-Step Process to be Successful at Free Motion Quilting

The wide range of applications of free motion quilting can complicate the process of learning the technique. The solution to addressing the impact of the endless possibilities with this technique is to develop a step-by-step approach to both learning AND applying the technique.

 
 

Free motion quilting is a very versatile technique which is great because once you learn it you will be able to apply it in simple ways for simple projects or in complex ways that allow you to demonstrate your creativity. While the versatility of the technique is wonderful for someone who is a master, it can be extremely intimidating for someone who is not quite as proficient. It can be like a writer facing a blank page with no idea of what kind of book they want to write: too many choices and no way to decide where to start.

The wide range of applications of free motion quilting also complicates the process of learning the technique. Most people never master all the variations of free motion quilting which means that most quilters continue to learn and improve their free motion quilting technique throughout their lives. If you are not careful about how you approach learning the technique, you can get lost in all the possibilities and not learn the basics. Even worse you may attempt complicated applications without a strong foundation resulting in a failure that discourages you from continuing to learn the technique.

The solution to addressing the impact of the endless possibilities with this technique is to develop a step-by-step approach to both learning AND applying the technique. A step-by-step process will have the following characteristics:

  • It will provide a structure to the decision-making process when applying the technique in new situations (e.g. new type of project) or when learning a new variation (e.g. motifs, designs, etc.) of the technique.

  • It will allow you to learn and apply the technique in small chunks with the opportunity to apply what you know, practice what you don’t, and build on successes as you move forward.

  • Provides ways to start simple at first with your choice of project, motifs, design, and materials and then get fancy when you are more proficient.

  • Provides a way to segmenting the quilting into bite-sized pieces so that you are not overwhelmed by a “blank page”.

  • Encourages you to use the design and fabric choices in the project as inspiration for the choice of motif and how you will apply it.

  • Enables you to consider the purpose of the project (e.g. blanket, wall hanging, table runner, etc.) when deciding how to quilt it.

  • While setbacks are a part of making projects the process should help you to make progress in ways that build confidence and reduce the risk of a morale-destroying failure.

An effective step-by-step approach will help you learn the technique without being overwhelmed by the many variations possible in that technique. It should also provide enough flexibility so that you can express your creativity. The approach doesn’t have to be complicated but it should bring some measure of organization to your learning and your quilting so that you can take advantage of the amazing possibilities available in free motion quilting.


Start your learning right now!

Download the free Get Out of the Ditch! guide to learn how to start free motion quilting by clicking here.

Now that you know the reasons you need to learn free motion quilting, check out my course “First Steps Into Free Motion Quilting” by clicking here.

Kim's signature small.jpg
 

P.S. Do you strive to improve your quilting skills? Do you want to have fun doing it? Do you want to meet other quilters in a supportive, safe environment?  If you answered “yes” to these questions, you need to join The Quilter’s Way. The Quilter’s Way is the only quilting membership site that includes both training and an active, supportive online community. Don’t wait another day! Join now.

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Quilting, Free Motion Quilting Kim Jamieson-Hirst Quilting, Free Motion Quilting Kim Jamieson-Hirst

An online membership is the best way to learn free motion quilting

So many quilters are missing out on a really creative part of the quilting process because they are reluctant to try free motion quilting. While these are all ways to learn free motion quilting, I believe the best way to learn is in an online membership and here is why.

So many quilters are missing out on a really creative part of the quilting process because they are reluctant to try free motion quilting. I believe that all quilters should learn how to free motion quilt, but the question is: what is the best way to learn? Is it in an in-person class? One-on-one teaching? Through a video course? While these are all ways to learn free motion quilting, I believe the best way to learn is in an online membership. I also believe that The Quilter’s Way is the best online membership for people who are on a path to improve their free motion quilting. You probably think that I am biased because I host The Quilter’s Way but let’s explore the pros and cons of ways to learn free motion quilting and you will see why I feel the way I do.


Self-taught

When people first consider learning free motion quilting the “self-taught” path often appears to be the most tempting. Thoughts like “how hard can it be?” and “I just need to watch a few YouTube videos” immediately pop into your head followed by “why should I pay money to be taught something that I can learn for free?”. For some people the self-taught process will work but most quilters don’t get very far down this path before they realize how daunting the task can be.

The huge diversity in the free motion quilting technique will require spending hours browsing through innumerable narrowly focussed videos, blogs, books, etc. which might be okay if you don’t mind wasting time – time that could be spent working on your projects. In addition, without a structure to the learning, quilters often find themselves overwhelmed with the sheer volume of tips, tricks, and advice that is available resulting in them being “stuck” without knowing what the next steps are. There’s no one to encourage you to help you with this and, if you aren’t disciplined, it can be really hard to learn on your own and what journey to follow. How many times have you heard someone say “I found this tip on the internet but I don’t know what to do next”?


In-person Course

Many quilters, who have discovered that being self-taught is not as much fun as they thought, turn to in-person courses. This is where you go to a quilt shop or a show (local or further away) for a course on free motion quilting taught by a real live person who is in the room with you. No technology, just a real live person who teaches you the technique and answers your questions. There are other quilters in the room with you all trying to learn the same technique as you at the same time. What could be better than having access to a real live teacher and a group of quilters that you can make friends with? While I would agree that in-person courses are a good way to learn (I have taken quite a few in my time), there are a number of problems that can be grouped into two categories: convenience and poor access to on-going help.

Let’s start with convenience because it is the most obvious disadvantage with an in-person course. By its nature, you have to adjust your life and learning to the constraints imposed by this type of course. You have to make time in your schedule, travel to the class location, and either bring your own machine or learn to operate the machine that is in the store or at the show. Depending on the flexibility of your lifestyle and your proximity to the class location, these inconveniences may not be a big disadvantage but if you have a busy life this can be a major commitment requiring a lot of adjustments to your schedule.

The other disadvantage, poor access to on-going help, is subtle but in some ways a bigger obstacle to learning. You may be thinking “what do you mean by poor access to on-going help?” when the teacher is right in the room with you. You would be right if you were the only pupil in the room and managed to learn everything so perfectly that you had no problems or questions once you started using the technique in your own studio. Well, that is never going to happen! You will be in a classroom setting with limited interaction with the teacher because he/she has to support the learning of ALL the students in the class whose behaviour can really impact your ability to learn. Who hasn’t been in a class where one student monopolizes the teacher’s attention and slows down the pace of the course until it peters out to an unsatisfactory conclusion? The other major problem is that you do not have access to the teacher (or anyone else) once the class is over. I’m sure that you have found out that the hardest part of acquiring new knowledge is not learning the technique but in applying it in the real world after the class has finished. It’s amazing how many problems or questions pop up afterwards that were never addressed during the class. With the class over, you are now on your own to solve the myriad of problems that you will encounter as you use the technique “for real”.


One-on-one Teaching

The most obvious way to address the disadvantages of in-person classes is to hire your own personal teacher who will provide lessons that match your schedule and is “on call” to help you solve any problems you encounter when using the technique. If you can afford this solution – go for it! For most of the rest of us this is more expensive than we can afford.


Video Courses

Video courses are a great way to learn techniques because of their convenience. Not only can you choose the time, place, and teacher for your lessons, you also set your own pace. This means you can move as fast or as slow through the course, even skipping areas that you are already familiar with or replaying particularly tricky parts of the lessons. Being able to replay a lesson to refresh something that you missed the first time is a big step, unfortunately, it does not solve the problem of lack of access to help completely. Video courses, by their very nature, provide a narrow view of the technique without access to additional information related to the topic. In addition, they may not provide a way to have questions answered by the teacher or anyone else. This disadvantage becomes apparent when you begin using the technique in your own project and find that the course does not address the specific issue you’re having. This is when you miss the ability to ask a question of a real person (especially the teacher).


Online Membership

The final (and best in my opinion) way to learn a quilting technique is to join an online membership. A well-run online membership provides all the conveniences of a video course combined with the ability to get help and support from the teacher and other members. Since the training often includes video courses, you get all the convenience of learning through videos (access to the training at any time and being able to work through it at your own pace) as well as being able to watch the training video when you are actually doing that technique. At the same time you will get access to the host or the teacher in the courses as well as advice and support from other members who will have a wide range of experience with the technique.

There are a couple of disadvantages with an online membership. The first is that although it is fun to interact with the members online it is still not quite the same as interacting with them in person. The other disadvantage is that not all memberships are run the same way. Some memberships are nothing more than a subscription service, similar to Netflix, where your monthly fee just gives you access to content with no support from the teacher or interaction with members. Others are poorly hosted and may be disorganized without any structure to the training or the member interaction. Finally, some memberships just have a “bad vibe” that is not welcoming or suitable for learning and improvement. They are like visiting a poorly hosted Facebook group full of conflict, negativity or trolls. Luckily those type of memberships don’t last long but it is important that you find one the fits your personality and has the environment that suits your learning goals.


The Quilter’s Way

Finally, I want to talk about my membership, The Quilter’s Way. Not only because I host it but also because I want to show how I have considered all the things I have been discussing when designing the membership.

  • The Quilter’s Way is online 24/7 and hosted on an easy-to-use software platform that is accessible via computers, iPad or phones so members can participate anytime from anywhere in the world.

  • There is a structured step-by-step path including training and courses to help quilters make the improvements that they want.

  • Sources of additional material, such as interviews, articles are available outside the formal courses to augment the training.

  • I am accessible to the members via posts, articles, direct messages and emails to ensure that they get the support that they need. As the host I am careful to ensure that the “atmosphere” in the membership is positive, welcoming, supportive and, of course, fun.

  • Interactive live sessions are held using ZOOM (free software) to foster discussion between members and to explore new ideas.

  • The interaction between the members is amazing with lots of people providing advice and support, and many friendships being established between people who would never meet in any other way because they live halfway across the world from each other. Members in The Quilter’s Way are committed to improving their quilting skills.

The only thing that The Quilter’s Way does not provide on a daily basis is live in-person interaction mainly because members live a long way from each other. A number of us have managed to meet up with each other while traveling during our vacations and we have had lots of fun.


Summary

I have summarized the pros and cons of the different ways of learning free motion quilting so that you can see them in a glance. As you may have guessed I am very proud of The Quilter’s Way and this table will reflect my opinion that it is that best way to learn free motion quilting, however the pros and cons are laid out so you can decide for yourself.


Pros & Cons of the different ways to learn free motion quilting

Online Table.png


Start your learning right now!

Download the free Get Out of the Ditch! guide to learn how to start free motion quilting by clicking here.

Check out my course “First Steps Into Free Motion Quilting” by clicking here.

OR

Join The Quilter’s Way by clicking here.

Kim's signature small.jpg
 

P.S. Do you strive to improve your quilting skills? Do you want to have fun doing it? Do you want to meet other quilters in a supportive, safe environment?  If you answered “yes” to these questions, you need to join The Quilter’s Way. The Quilter’s Way is the only quilting membership site that includes both training and an active, supportive online community. Don’t wait another day! Join now.

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Quilting, Free Motion Quilting Kim Jamieson-Hirst Quilting, Free Motion Quilting Kim Jamieson-Hirst

Free motion quilting is a journey that never ends

The free motion quilting journey starts when you decide you want to break free of “the ditch” and do something more creative. Free motion quilting has lot of variations and a huge amount of room for creativity. Striving to master those variations and use them creatively is what motivates most free motion quilters and also what makes it both scary and exciting when you first start.

The free motion quilting journey starts when you decide you want to break free of “the ditch” and do something more creative when it comes to quilting your project. It can feel a little scary because free motion quilting can seem intimidating and overwhelming when you start your first project. Free motion quilting is a technique that has lot of variations and a huge amount of room for creativity. Striving to master those variations and use them creatively is what motivates most free motion quilters and also what makes it both scary and exciting when you first start. At this stage it’s easy to think that it’s all about getting even stitches and learning motifs… but it is so much more!

 
Getting Started - 1.jpeg
 

When you are first learning to free motion quilt, you will be focussed on the mechanics of the technique: learning how to move the quilt, getting even stitches, and creating motifs that look like you want them to. As you become more familiar with the mechanics and build up some “muscle memory”, your results will improve and you’ll start building a repertoire of motifs that you can confidently quilt. You’ll also start to develop a feel for what motifs will work on certain projects and will start making decisions about your projects to provide opportunities for creativity at the quilting stage. At this stage you’ll be comfortable enough that you may even start looking for projects where you can use your free motion quilting knowledge creatively so you can put your own “stamp” on your projects. It’s when they’ve reached this level of confidence and skill that most quilters are ready for the next free motion quilting steps allowing them to unleash their creativity.

 
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The next stage is when you see quilters branching out into variations in free motion quilting. The first one often being ruler quilting. Although ruler quilting is a technique in and of itself, I include it under the umbrella of free motion quilting because it’s done in a very similar way. I think it should become a part of a free motion quilter’s repertoire. Ruler quilting is also a technique that has many variations with a dizzying number of motifs, rulers, and templates. The rulers and templates allow you to create very precise designs which are effective in providing structure to the look of the quilting on your projects. This precision that ruler quilting brings to a quilt design provides a great foundation for the more free-form motifs and can provide a structure for the quilt design that helps the eye move across the quilt easily. The combination of ruler quilting and free motion quilting results in amazing quilt designs.

 
REd Deer ruler - 1.jpeg
 

Another way that quilters at this stage branch out is in their choice of projects. Free motion quilting is such a creative technique that quilters begin to choose projects that showcase their quilting. They start making projects that contain areas of space that they fill up with their favourite motifs and/or ruler quilting in ways that enhance the project but also make the quilting the star. It’s usually at this stage where quilters will start doing whole cloth quilts. They start with a blank canvas and fill it with their quilting to create stunning designs that rely only on the quilting for the effect. You know you have “arrived” if you can pull off a whole cloth quilt with confidence.

 
WHole CLoth 2 - 1.jpeg
 

It’s also at this stage that many quilters seriously start considering learning how to use a long-arm quilting machine. A long-arm machine is not necessary for advanced free motion quilting but, if you can afford it, you’ll be amazed at how many possibilities it will open up for you. First, you’ll be able to quilt your projects much faster than on a domestic sewing machine but you will also be able to create quilting designs that were not possible before. The extra space that you have when you use a long-arm quilting machine allows you to create designs that just don’t “fit” on a domestic machine. Long-arming can be a “game changer” for those who can afford it.

 
Long Arm in action - 1.jpeg
 

The ultimate stage is where the quilter has become so comfortable and confident with their skills that they are willing to experiment in ways that really push their creativity. You’ll see them create projects with designs using trapunto or other 3D effects. You may see them experimenting with different materials such as cork or leather. Most of all you will see them combining their creativity, knowledge, and skill to surprise and inspire other quilters. This stage never really ends because the opportunities for creativity are endless. At this point in their development the quilter is a master of their craft and they are only limited by their imagination. They are a “Ninja Quilter”!

 
Sharon Blackmore of Love Shack Quilts

Sharon Blackmore of Love Shack Quilts

 

If you never start to free motion quilt, just think of the creativity that you’ll never explore!

Don’t miss out: start your own journey by exploring and creating with free motion quilting now!

 
Get Out Of The Ditch-1.jpg
 

Download the free Get Out of the Ditch! guide to learn how to start free motion quilting by clicking here.

Now that you know the reasons you need to learn free motion quilting, check out my course “First Steps Into Free Motion Quilting” by clicking here.

If you already know how to free motion quilt then you may be interested in “3 Ways to Improve Your Free Motion Quilting” by clicking here.

Kim's signature small.jpg
 

P.S. Do you strive to improve your quilting skills? Do you want to have fun doing it? Do you want to meet other quilters in a supportive, safe environment?  If you answered “yes” to these questions, you need to join The Quilter’s Way. The Quilter’s Way is the only quilting membership site that includes both training and an active, supportive online community. Don’t wait another day! Join now.

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Quilting, Free Motion Quilting Kim Jamieson-Hirst Quilting, Free Motion Quilting Kim Jamieson-Hirst

Free Motion Quilting is Easy … if You Practice

Free motion quilting is like making music. You learn the basics (scales) and practice the piece (motif) then one day the rhythm takes over and you are making music on your project. Just as you can’t learn the piano by just reading a book or watching a video, you have to actually practice your free motion quilting to develop the “muscle memory” that you use when working on your project.

You have may have heard me say that free motion quilting is a lot like playing a musical instrument because it involves using your brain and your muscles at the same time. Just as you can’t learn the piano by just reading a book or watching a video, you have to actually practice your free motion quilting to develop the “muscle memory” that you use when working on your project. Quilting is like making music. You learn the basics (scales) and practice the piece (motif) then one day the rhythm takes over and you are making music on your project.

 
 

I am sure that the need to practice is no surprise to you and I am guessing that you may not be looking forward to it especially if you have taken piano lessons in the past (like I have). Practice does not have to consist of the drudgery of constantly repeating the same motions over and over until you thoroughly hate the skill that you are trying to develop. Let’s face it, you are interested in results not repetition. That is why it is not only important to practice but to practice in the right way. When I teach free motion quilting in The Quilter’s Way, I use a step-by-step process that ensures that you get the most “bang for your practice buck” while building confidence and achieving quick results. My process is based on a few important principles:



Build Muscle Memory

How many times have you seen a technique in a book or watched it in a video thinking “how hard can it be?” only to end up completely frustrated when it turned out to be much more difficult in “real life”? There is a lesson in that experience that I “rediscover” more often than I would like to admit. The lesson is that everything is easy until you have to apply it. Without actually “doing the task”, you will not have properly learned it no matter how carefully you studied the book or watched the video. This principle is especially important in free motion quilting where muscle memory is such a big part of the technique. This is why I include practice exercises at key points in my training to make sure that the student has the opportunity to apply what they have been taught and makes sure it is locked into both their brain and their muscles. I also like to include a project of the appropriate level so that the student can apply what they have learned in an actual project that they can be proud of.



Build Confidence

Building confidence is an important part of learning a new technique. It can be extremely demoralizing if you are asked to attempt something that you are not ready for. Repeated failure while trying to learn will make the process so onerous that most people will give up well before they have made any progress. This is why it’s important to practice the right thing at the right time. Small and frequent opportunities to apply what has been learned successfully builds a student’s confidence and generates a momentum that will help the student committed to mastering the technique. When teaching free motion quilting, I use a number of strategies to build a student’s confidence by:

  • Teaching them how to properly set up their sewing machine

  • Choosing the appropriate low risk project and exercises to practice on

  • Providing some “quick wins”

  • Allowing them to work at their own pace



Use Practice Time Wisely

No matter how well an exercise or practice session is designed there can be a tendency to avoid completing them because of “lack of time”.

The hard fact is that without practice there will be no improvement.

Although “lack of time” is often an excuse rather than a fact, the shorter the practice sessions, the more likely the student will take advantage of them. I like to say that if you can spare 15 minutes a day, you have enough time to practice your free motion quilting and improve your skill level. I encourage students to have their sewing machine already set up and some quilt sandwiches available so that they can do some practicing in small chunks of time without wasting that opportunity with having to set up their sewing machine. Multiple short practice sessions are a good way to learn and are often more practical when people have busy lives.

Remember “Practice Makes Progress”. When learning free motion quilting it’s important to focus on progress rather trying to attain perfection.

Download a worksheet so that you can start practicing your loops

Download the free Get Out of the Ditch! guide to learn how to start free motion quilting by clicking here.

If you have struggled (or not attempted) free motion quilting you should check out my course “First Steps Into Free Motion Quilting” by clicking here.

If you already know how to free motion quilt then you may be interested in “3 Ways to Improve Your Free Motion Quilting” by clicking here.


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P.S. Do you strive to improve your quilting skills? Do you want to have fun doing it? Do you want to meet other quilters in a supportive, safe environment?  If you answered “yes” to these questions, you need to join The Quilter’s Way. The Quilter’s Way is the only quilting membership site that includes both training and an active, supportive online community. Don’t wait another day! Join now.

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Welcome! I’m Kim Jamieson-Hirst of Chatterbox Quilts, a YouTube creator and host of The Quilter’s Way. I believe that quilting is more than just a 1/4” seam and that practice makes improvement and you are improving every day!

Contact me at kjh@chatterboxquilts.com.

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Want to improve your quilting and have fun doing it? Join The Quilter's Way, a private online membership site that creates successful quilters.

Check out my favourite books and tools.

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