If you’re starting to make your quilty resolutions, I have one thing for your list. I also think it’s the only thing that needs to be on your list! If you’ve been around for a while, you already know what I’m going to say. If you’re new here, there is one part of the process that quilters routinely skip because they don’t think they’re "good enough" or because it’s simply impossible to do with the equipment they have.
That’s right! I’m talking about free motion quilting. Here are the three reasons I believe you should learn FMQ today and one reason you might think you shouldn’t (but are completely wrong about!).
Save Money
Getting a quilt finished by a longarm can cost hundreds of dollars, even if you’re not asking for custom quilting. (And if you’ve seen reels on the 'Gram, you know they’re just pushing a button and walking away!) Learning free motion quilting yourself can save you money on each quilt. How much more would you create if you knew finishing the quilt wouldn’t cost you extra in the end?
Own the Entire Creative Process
This brings me to my second reason for learning FMQ in the new year. Think about the difference in your quilt top before it’s basted and after it’s quilted. Quilting adds so much personality to a quilt. Why would you want to hand that personality off to someone else?
Owning the creative process means you can adapt as you go when inspiration strikes. When I made my niece’s graduation quilt this year, I planned to quilt feathers in every other diagonal column. Once I finished, it looked… well, unfinished. That’s when I decided to revisit those unquilted columns to see what they needed. After spending quite a bit of time examining them, I decided to put the needle down at the top of the column and let the blocks guide me on what they needed.
By the time I finished, I had used over a dozen quilting designs! That change in direction wouldn't have been possible if I had hired out this part of the process. (I also quilted her college motto into the corner of the quilt. Talk about unique!)
Build Self-Confidence
Close your eyes and imagine standing before your guild at show-and-tell. How will it feel when someone exclaims, "Wait! You quilted that yourself?!" I have a "damn right, I did" smile that I save just for these moments.
I’m not saying you need to learn FMQ just for external validation from your quilting peers (though it doesn’t hurt), but boosting your confidence in learning something new and receiving praise for it can unlock your full creative potential. How much are you holding back in other areas of quilting simply because you don’t do or don’t think you can do the actual quilting? Is it influencing the patterns you choose? Does your stash tend to favor one style, color, or value? Do you try different thread weights to see what they can do?
What I’m getting at here is that confidence builds on even tiny existing pieces of confidence. Learn to do one part of something really well, and suddenly, you’re untameable in your pursuit of mastering more parts.
But, I Don't Have a Fancy Machine
So? I’m not trying to be dismissive here, but why does that matter? A small machine that’s clean and stitches well can be just as good as any fancy longarm machine. It also costs a thousand times less! I had a student come to my free motion quilting class with a very entry-level sewing machine, and she knocked it out of the park. If your machine allows you to lower the feed dogs and attach a darning foot, you can quilt your own quilts with free motion quilting.
I also practice what I preach. Bernice and I have seen quilts over 100 inches go under her needle, and I’m so incredibly proud of them when that final stitch is sewn in. So, are you ready to commit to learning free motion quilting in the new year? If so, sign up for my newsletter to be the first to hear about them in January.
