Flexible
I am working hard at staying flexible. This is a goal both in my physical body and throughout my day as plans or ways of being can change. Hence the reason why I have been a yoga practitioner for many years. However, the more complex the world seems to be getting, especially with technology, the more it requires me to be flexible throughout my day.
Audio books are my go to soundtrack almost as soon as I get up through when I am getting ready for bed. Of course, I knew this is how I go about the day, but I didn’t realize how I hadn’t come up with an alternative until my library’s site and with it, my access to the audio books on that site were shut down overnight. I did find something else to listen to, but boy do I miss my access to an instant audio book at the push of a button.
Secret Mission
If you follow my posts, you know that the thread I needed to finish quilting Secret Mission made a very circuitous journey from its distribution center to my home. Fortunately, I always have something else to work on, so I could be flexible on what to do while I waited for the thread. The good news is the thread arrived. I am quilting Secret Mission again.
I feel fortunate that I am comfortable free motion quilting and it is one of my favorite parts of creating a quilt. I know I am not alone. However, I also know that the thought of free motion quilting sends panic into others. Confession, I felt the same way for years. So, I thought I would share a few tips and tricks that have helped me over the years.
One trick is knowing how to set up the machine for free motion quilting. The image below is of my Bernina 990’s computer screen. The yellow icons are the settings I prefer. Your machine may have buttons or different icons. Here are what those settings mean from top to bottom.
Free Motion Quilting Settings
- Needle down position. When the machine stops the needle will down. Thus ensuring you start up exactly where you left off.
- Tension is set 5.0. This is the tension of my upper thread that seems to work best.
- Foot #24 is the open toe hopping foot. The difference between a hopping foot and most other feet is a hopping foot has a spring attached that allows the foot to elevate or hop slightly above the quilt for easy manipulation of the quilt as you FMQ.
- The foot with the arrow pointing down and the number 25 refers to the pressure of the foot against the fabric or quilt when the foot is in the down position. Typically, it is set at 50 for piecing. I like to elevate the foot to 25 for FMQ.
- The rectangle with the needle beside it indicates which stitch plate I have in position. I use the one with a small hole for the needle to go through vs a wide hole that allows the needle to swing from side to side.
- The final icon indicates that I have dropped the feed dogs. This how I move the quilt versus the machine moving the quilt for me.
- One last note, I set my stitch length and width to zero.
There are two other things I have found helpful when FMQ. The first is functional basting. You name it, I have tried it. My preferred method is to baste with a fusible. I use Spunfab to secure the top and backing to my batting. No need to stop and pull out thread or pins. Second, I typically start at, or near the center of the quilt and work my way out. Fabric, even well basted fabric gets stretched slightly. By starting in the center the stretching works outward vs inward. The latter can lead to puckering.
Keeping It Reel
I LOVE my commute. That is a phrase that goes through my head frequently as I head upstairs to my studio. Join me as I do so, by viewing the reel on either Instagram or Facebook
SEDOSO
This week the SEDOSO’s milestone was walking 0.5 miles on a treadmill in 24 minutes under the guidance of his physical therapist.
Rainbow Scrap Challenge
If it is a new month, then it must be a new color for anyone participating in the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. Sometimes when you need a gift the universe responds. This month’s color is orange. I worked ahead and did orange last month. You can see my orange cat block in the upper left corner.
Question of the Week
What does staying flexible mean to you?
I’m linking up to the following posts:
I too am a long term yoga practitioner and value flexibility in my body and mind. The latter is the bigger challenge. Heading back to MA next week, giving me lots of opportunities to practice. So glad to hear about SEDOSOs progress.
Why am I not surprised you do yoga, Sherryl? Admittedly, I was a tad wary when I joined the first class. Yes, flexibility of the mind is the bigger challenge.
SEDOSO is truly making a fantastic recovery. Look at all the milestones he has achieved! Well done!! Kudos to him for all the hard work he has put in to get that far! As far as your question, it means if I run out of a fabric or a thread, I punt and use something else. . .unless. . .I’ve decided I won’t. If a design isn’t working, I’ll change it. I often go with my inner squirrel’s feedback. So the short answer is. . .staying flexible to means being willing to change it up and take a different route. Great tips for the FM quilting in your post. Thank you for sharing!
You are so good to cheer SEDOSO on from the sidelines. I do let him know how you and others follow his progress.
We are a lot a like when it comes to flexibility with projects. Normally, if I run out of fabric, thread or other “necessary” item, I quickly substitute something else I do have. In fact I tried to different threads I thought would work on Secret Mission. Both were a disaster.
Glad you liked my tips. I realize how much I take for granted these days that I was totally clueless when about when I first attempted FMQ. Thought some of the FMQ leery readers might find those useful.
As quilters we usually have one or more projects in the works and that is very helpful when we are waiting for supplies to arrive! I loved seeing your commute to work! But where is all the fabric hiding?
Vicki, I so appreciate your question about where I hide my fabric.Think that might make a good reel. When people who quilt visit me, they are shocked by how little fabric I have. Those that don’t quilt are equally shocked by how much I have. 🙂
I’m happy you enjoyed joining me on my commute.
I loved your commute to work, and the view out the window there, too, Gwyned! What happened to your library? I hope it was just that the site was down and not that they stopped offering the service. Like you, I would have a hard time without my audiobooks and ebooks, too! Staying flexible for me means reminding myself to relax and go with the flow whether that is changing up a quilt project or missing out on sewing time because I need to be somewhere else. I’m not a yoga practitioner, but do other forms of exercise to keep my body flexible. Glad to hear the SEDOSO is being successful with his rehab goals, too!
I’m so happy you enjoyed my commute to work. It was one of the features that sold us on the house when we needed to return to Massachusetts after the SEDOSO retired. My machine faces the palladium window and I can see the backyard when I look up. Natural light and love sense of expansiveness.
The site was down while they did a major overhaul. Fortunately, it came back up last night. Now I am dealing with the normally learning curve and issues of a tech update.
Regular exercise is key to good health and that helps us have the stamina to do what we love.
Being flexible isn’t easy. If something isn’t working I walk away from it and do some other activity so I can mull over what the problem is before I dive into a solution. I suppose I’m just cautious. I have so many pursuits there are many choices to get/achieve a creative high. My newest pursuit is making vinegars. WOW are they fun and so flavourful.
Thumbs up for SEDOSO’s continued progress.
Oh, how wonderful. I think I have only known one other person who had a passion for making vinegars. It was the first time I heard of such a pursuit. I can even imagine thinking about different infusions for your vinegars as a way to be flexible and shift when other things have you stuck.
I try to be flexible. My days and my crafting are definitely flexible, my body not so much. I am working on stretching and making it easier to move lately. I thought about joining a beginners yoga class, but I followed some videos and realized I have a way to go even for a class. I am working on it slowly to reduce the strain on my cranky back. Thanks so much for the free motion tips. I have an old machine that doesn’t have an automatic needle down feature, but I think I will try my hand at it soon anyway.
Yoga is a practice where it is perfectly acceptable, even encouraged, to modify as needed. Not unusual for a teacher to say “only you know your body” or “take breaks as you need”. I joined Peloton during COVID. I love that they have a variety of exercises from strength to Yoga. The Yoga is also broken down by Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced. Even the Beginner is further broken down into classes simply to learn the poses. Personally, I take all levels, but skip or dramatically modify anything that my aging body can’t handle.
Nice to know you found the FMQ tips helpful. One solution to not having a needle up/down function is to manually place the needle down whenever you stop.
Hourray for the thread finally finding the way to your home 😉 Bravo to SEDOSO for his great recovery path, and bravo for the cute orange cat too. Thak you for sharing your FMQ tips (I don’t set the stitch length and width to zero, what a great idea!) and linking up.
I’m not really sure that setting the stitch and width lengths to zero is a necessity, especially if the feed dog is down. It is simply I nice precaution to ascertain only you move the quilt under the needle.
Hi Gwyned, I love your orange cat – it’s so cute! Thanks so much for linking up to I Quilted This!
Thank you, Andrée.