Christmas in October block Swap

[OHhappychicks]

Kat!! I just read the sign on your avatar!!!

Hilarious!!!!

Great Pics Rosie!!!!

 

[fenrosie]

Mug Ruggers, please can you PM me your addresses , if your not going to make it don't be embarrassed , just let me know and I can take you out of the circle, it's not a problem.

 

[Kassaundra]

Mug Ruggers, please can you PM me your addresses , if your not going to make it don't be embarrassed , just let me know and I can take you out of the circle, it's not a problem.

Sent mine, mine is basically ready

 

[RustyHen]

Sent my address. My mug rug is done

 

[Kassaundra]

Just finished the binding so now 100% ready to go.

 

[OHhappychicks]

Ok. My mug rug top is finished!!!

Now I have a question or two on the next step. I have cut a piece for the backing. I've made it so I can fold it over the edges to create the binding. As I've never machine quilted before, (just a little hand quilting), I'm guessing I pin the sandwich together, quilt, then sew the binding over the edges. that sounds like common sense to me, but just to make sure, Is this correct? And should I use quilting thread to machine quilt with, or is it ok to use just all-purpose thread? I really want to fmq it, but I'm still a little "jerky" with it. I think some of it may be my machine, as when I move fabric, it seems to grab, so I have to give it a little tug, then I get a big stitch. If I keep trying fmq, I may have to invest in the slick mat that you put under the fabric to keep it moving smoothly. I really like fmq, so I just might have to get one. I think I'm going to make more mug rugs for gifts this year.

 

[Lacy Blues]

Maybe your trouble with stitching and having to pull it through and suddenly getting a big stitch is either your tension or the length you have your stitches set at?

 

[OHhappychicks]

Maybe your trouble with stitching and having to pull it through and suddenly getting a big stitch is either your tension or the length you have your stitches set at?

I guess it could be the tension. I've worked and worked on it, and it looks good. Now that I'm thinking about it, it does seem to be tight sometimes like when I make a loop. They don't come out smoothly. I have stitch length on 0. I even put a new 90/14 needle in, but it didn't make any difference, so I put in an 80/12 and it seemed to help some. Thanks for the advice. I will keep working on it cause I really want to get good at it. But probably not on this mug rug.

 

[Lacy Blues]

You need to set your stitch length at 2 or 3, not zero. Zero will keep it from going anywhere and that's the problem you're having, correct?

 

[OHhappychicks]

You need to set your stitch length at 2 or 3, not zero. Zero will keep it from going anywhere and that's the problem you're having, correct?






Oh! It was my understanding that in fmq, you guide the fabric under the fmq foot to make the stitches. The feed dogs down and stitch set at 0. From all the videos I've watched, that is how I understood it to be. Adjusting to the speed of the machine, you guide the fabric to get the correct stitch length. Is this not correct? I can fmq straight stitch and make loops on a practice pieced that I've sandwiched together like the piece I will be quilting. I just need to get used to the speed of my machine and guiding the fabric at the same time. I found that when I switched to trying to sew an applique using fm stitching, that is when I was having issues with it pulling. I probably need to adjust the tension to accommodate the difference in thickness. I'm going to try to work on it. I will try it using a longer stitch. That might work with my machine better. I just hadn't thought of it. Thanks Lacy Blues!