Free Motion Quilt Along #2 - Quilting in Rows 

Your explanations of not only how to work the stippling but what to ask yourself in order to plan was very helpful. It's refreshing to hear concepts with flexibility of approach! What an awesome instructor you are - thank you for sharing your experiences along with the calm guidance.

You've figured out my brain! At least part of it. Your explanation of how go do the stippling in rows makes so much sense to me! I'm even more excited to try this!

Leah, I am really enjoying your videos. You are making me think beyond the box that I have traditionally quilted within. Thank you.

This is the best FM tutorial I have seen so far. I have watched many!

Leah I have to thank you so much for your videos, they have helped me so much. I've made lots of mini practice quilt sandwiches & practiced so much. I finally feel confident enough that I'm quilting my daughter one for her birthday. The freedom I feel now is great :) You're very sweet, pleasant & easy to follow. Keep up the good work.

I have learnt so much from Leah Day. All her videos are a great watch and this one is no exception!!

Thank you for your video series. You have inspired me so much, stippling is always something that I have wanted to do but have felt that I was not good enough. Last night I began stippling my son's quilt and I am so proud of myself. I found that your advise gave the confidance to give it a go. I am so looking forward to watching the rest of your videos.

super job leah..i agree about stippling.. found it too difficult..i'm a loop de loop girl,trying to graduate..i love that so much it's hard to stay focused enough to try your wonderful suggestions.. i'm getting there, i'm lucky enough to have a grace pinnacle frame with a janome 1600 riding on it.. not much room in the sewing room anymore, but it's worth it...:)

I love this video played it and tried to do it it’s so much easier thank you so much

Thank you Leah 🧡

I love your videos and your explanations. This one in particular, with the rows, finally gives me a method I can relate to. Previously I've come across the 'quilting in a defined area' theory but it seemed that everyone just did it randomly within that area and began in the middle! I like 'maps' for my trips, so I don't become confused and go in unintentional 'circles' or cross a path I've already travelled, and the method of 'mapping' you've demonstrated here suits me perfectly. Thank you!!

You are a great teacher. I am taking your Crafty class. I also gave it to my daughter because we did BOMC together last year.

Hi Leah ...thank you so much !! I love your videos. I am learning quilting and your videos help me a lot. I admire the work you do.! My best regards Annabelle.

Another great lesson. Thanks Leah. #1 Stippling pattern, #2 + Stippling stitch order = effective and repeatable FMQ. Good foundation I love it.

Great videos!!! Thanks for sharing, I'm a newer quilter and I'm starting to see that quilt designs are endless thanks to some of your work can't wait to make a master piece like yours.

oh, and to make this video even better, you posted it on my 34th birthday!

You really are simple AMAZING at doing free motion Leah!

Leah, Your quilting is amazing! You make it look so simple that I think even I can do it! For those asking about the marshmallow looking things on the ends of her pins, they are called Pin amours. I believe I have read you can but different items like these in hardware stores. They are like the foam ear plugs so they could also work. Or any foam strip you could cut up into smaller sections. Also if you are free motion quilting, with your feed dogs down, you can use a supreme slider to help your machine glide across the throat plate of your machine. HTH!

Hi Leah your videos have inspired and taught me so much how can I quilt around applique that are large I am not sure I am using your technique of quilting in rows as much as possible and it is great Paulette

@lcvday Thank you, I will try each. I altered a foot like you showed earlier but it still may be too high. You rock! You have given me new energy for quilting again. Keep up the good work.

Thank you for your answer! I will be watching for the bigger quilt tips and hints!!

These are very helpful videos. I just started to quilt - self taught. The first quilt I made and finished in July was a fence rail and I stitched in the ditch. The one I'm working on now is an I Spy disappearing nine patch and I started to stitch in the ditch and didn't like it. So I ripped that all out and decided to hand tye it. My next one will be a baby quilt and then a log cabin quilt and I want to be able to FMQ them both.

I would suggest drawing any shape that you have drawn many times in your life. So flowers, hearts, stars - if any of these shapes are common to you and you draw them often, then you will likely find it easy to quilt. Work with what feels natural, at least at first!

Thank you so much

thanks for these great videos. i made 8 'doll size' quilts for the kids christmas. i got lots of practice machine quilting. id owned a walking foot and never used it before. i dont own the fancy gloves but i can see how those would help. thanks again. waves~~

Hi MrKirby - I'd love to see your progress with free motion quilting! Please feel free to link up with us every Friday on the project. I have a special linking day where you can share a blog post with photos of your work (or flickr photo if you don't have a blog). As for cursive writing, check out the current quilt along we're working on with the quilt Express your Love. I have another tutorial on quilting with words that will be right up your alley.

hello Leah Yes when I free motion quilt I do it in rows it is far easier than meandering everywhere. You can see where you have quilted and where you need to quilt far easier.

loved your video which I found by accident. I will try your techniques.

Great, Leah. Thank you so much. I'll try, sure!

Hi Leah, I wanted to start with thank a great deal for these videos, I been watching your videos and using the information I learn from them for sometime now. I am working on an applique quilt currently and I would love to share pictures with you and the cuminity when I have gotten far along enough with it. I would also like your opinion on fremotion quilting with words in cursive writing? Your videos are full of such wounderful information and inspiration thank you so much again.

great videos!

Love your videos. I have a problem with an older machine I just had in shop for regular maintenance. Haven't used it in years but decided to get it out and put it to use. I like the way it runs so I took a fat quarter, sandwiched it with batting and started practicing free motion. My problem is skipping, mostly when I curve or make circles, even straight lines. It can skip up to half an inch. Very aggravating! Do you think it is my speed, machine speed or is something wrong with machine?

That sounds like a basting issue to me. Try putting more tension in your hands and use your fingers to pull the fabric tighter as you quilt over the quilt.

What advise would you give to get your stippling to sew smoothly? I know which way to move the fabric under the needle but it doesn't look smooth.

Great & intusting video

I just discovered your channel this week. I'm watching with great interest your videos on free motion quilting. I tried this stippling on my own, but couldn't get the hang of it. I didn't realize the thinking behind it. My only hassle is that my machine "runs away with itself" My pedal is so sensitive that it's hard to regulate the pressure. Any hints on how to remedy this? I do great with straight lines with a walking foot. Perhaps I have a subconscious desire to hurry up and get done! LOL Thank you for this good instruction. I will try it to work on it some today and see how it goes.

I'm sort of a beginner quilter. How do you get your quilt to move sooooo smoothly on the sewing machine bed? Love your videos!!!

Nope. I free motion quilt with my feed dogs up and find it gives me better stitch quality and fewer machine issues like thread breaks. It's good to understand that you can free motion with both feed dogs up or down, it really just depends on your machine.

Do you "ALWAYS" have to start in the center of the quilt? I enjoy your video's the soft smoothing voice.

This is the first time I have seen a stopper on the end of a pin. What are they really called I would like to order some. Your videos are awesome Thank you for putting them up!!!!

I've been making quilts for decades, some hand quilted, but most recently, I've been sending them out for machine quilting. Only now, I realized that I do not have to pay someone else to quilt these baby quilts I've made! ...So I'm practicing, and going to do my own quilting on the top I have just completed. My practice is not looking smooth or even yet... Have you covered how to ensure that your stitches are relatively uniform? do you any tips for keeping stitches uniform? Thank you for these great video lessons!

Please can someone tell me if Leah uses her foot pedal while she FMQ? If not, how does she get her machine to slow down when she needs without taking her hands off her projects? Thank you for any help! Leah you are amazing!

you are good !!!

Hi Leah, I'm getting ready to start quilt. do you start from the middle of the quilt and work out to the end of the blanket? working in quarters?

Great video. Thanks. I am assuming that your feed dogs are down?

I see you stitching side to side--how about from top to bottom--is that harder? I'm thinking about a border on a queen size quilt and that is a lot of fabric to move from left to right.

I can not seem to get my switching correct. It always looks like the bottom thread is coming to top. And the switch are large. I have a brother HC 1850 machine. Thank you

WENDY cummings_ my Pfaff Passport, has a button will make it sew on its own- no need for pedal, I find it very useful!

I see you didn’t sew around the edge. Is it something you don’t usually do?

do I HAVE to use a foot pedal to free motion quilt? Once I stopped using one I hate to go back.

What number Janome are you using, the one with the start stop and the metal foot ? does it have the stitch regulator.?

What are those little white things on the end of your pins?

What is your tension set to?

My stippling seems irratic. Not moving smooth in the least. Don't think it's a basting issue.

Why are there marshmallows on your pins? O.o :)