Learn Free-Motion Quilting Tips for Beginners

Free Motion Quilting For Beginners by Molly Hanson as seen on Sewing With Nancy Zieman

Learn Free-Motion Quilting Tips for Beginners

Free Motion Quilting For Beginners by Molly Hanson as seen on Sewing With Nancy Zieman
Curious about learning how to free-motion quilt, but haven’t had the courage to try? Gain quilting confidence with help from my guest, Molly Hanson. According to Molly, quilters at any skill level should give this quilting style a try.  Molly Hanson, who taught herself free-motion quilting early in her sewing career, shares methods from her new book on this week’s Sewing With Nancy. Molly’s goal is to instill confidence in new quilters.
Free-Motion Quilting for Beginners is this week’s online Sewing With Nancy feature. Watching Molly free-motion quilt is the best way to learn her techniques. Watch online, on Public TV, or on DVD.
Free Motion Quilting For Beginners by Molly Hanson as seen on Sewing With Nancy Zieman

Stippling

The most common free-motion quilting technique is stippling. Its versatility, light texture, and ability to blend and not compete with the piecing make it a favorite among quilters. If you’ve been hesitant to learn this technique, fear not! Learn and use Molly’s muscle memory technique to master this first of many free-motion quilting options.
Free Motion Quilting For Beginners by Molly Hanson as seen on Sewing With Nancy Zieman

Loop de Loops and Handwriting

What free-motion design should I stitch first? Where should I start? These are questions that you might ask. Molly’s answer is, “Start by stitching your name or a favorite word!” The basic loop de loop design—just like cursive—allows you the freedom to incorporate words into free-motion quilting designs.
Free Motion Quilting For Beginners by Molly Hanson as seen on Sewing With Nancy ZiemanFree Motion Quilting For Beginners by Molly Hanson as seen on Sewing With Nancy Zieman

Pebbles and Chains

Pebbles and Chains consist of a space filled with as many touching circles as possible. Pebbles can fit just about anywhere. Even a single row of pebbles, called a chain of pearls, can be beautiful in small spaces.
Free Motion Quilting For Beginners by Molly Hanson as seen on Sewing With Nancy Zieman

10 Free-Motion Quilting Techniques, Plus 15 Projects

In Molly’s book, Free-Motion Quilting for Beginners, learn how to:

  • Set up your machine for free-motion quilting, no technique is left out
  • Begin by learning how to quilt your name, because soon you’ll be signing unique works of art
  • Master all the fundamentals of free-motion quilting by working on manageable fat-quarter-sized fabric pieces
  • Confidently stitch 10 different quilting designs, including stippling variations, pebbles, square meander, swirls, and woodgrain
  • Take your skill to new heights as you quilt 15 practical projects to enhance your daily life, such as a table-top organizer, table runner, tote bag, weekender bag, and laptop sleeve

Free Motion Quilting For Beginners by Molly Hanson as seen on Sewing With Nancy Zieman

Watch Free-Motion Quilting for Beginners (Part One and Part Two) on Sewing With Nancy online.


Nancy Zieman's Giveaway Winner
The random winner of a copy of The Absolute Easiest Way to Sew book, is Patti K. Her comment was: This sounds like a great book!! I learn so much from Nancy every time I watch one of her programs. Thanks for making them available to us.

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105 Comments

  • Mary Beth Ticknor
    June 16, 2016

    My favorite FMQ stitch is stippling because I am a beginner

  • kate
    June 16, 2016

    I tried free motion once and only once! It was a disaster to say the least! For me anyway I have to be in the right frame of mind to do anything, my mind was definitely not there! I need this book badly!

  • Glenice Jones
    June 16, 2016

    I am just learning free-motion quilting and to date, I think pebbles are my favourite – that is the shape that looks the best anyway.

  • Anja @ Anja Quilts
    June 16, 2016

    I love stipple and loops. I’m working on trying new motifs.

  • Judy G
    June 16, 2016

    I’d like to say that “pebbles” is my favorite free-motion style, but I have to admit that I fall into the “those who think they can’t” category. My previous attempts at free-motion have been dismal failures. Boy, do I ever need this book!

  • Carol Campbell
    June 16, 2016

    I’ve been working on free motion quilting for several years…on practice pieces! This book teaches me to stipple? Sign me up!

  • diane c
    June 16, 2016

    I think this book will help me expand my free motion quilting. I have one design I use on all my projects. Maybe with this book I will learn something that would expand my horizon in the area.

  • Beverly
    June 16, 2016

    I have never done free-motion quilting but am ready to take the plunge, especially if I am the winner of this lovely book. I have a quilt that is almost ready to have the quilting done on it. I need to know how to quilt it on my machine instead of the long armers’ machine. Thanks Nancy.

  • Susan Spiers
    June 16, 2016

    Love the loop de loops & handwriting-just beautiful! I am just begining & need a lot more practice on stippling-still have a long way to go. Great book!

  • Kimberly Hubbard
    June 16, 2016

    My quilts are all lacking because I only do stitch in the ditch. I am excited about learning to stipple and other free motion quilting designs. It will take my quilts to the next level. Thank you!

  • Lorraine
    June 16, 2016

    I’ve always loved the look of “feathers ” stitched into borders and try as I might, they never quite seem to be done in graceful curves. Then again my attempts at stippling have also not passed inspection! HELP!

  • Carol
    June 16, 2016

    I love pebbles! Maybe because I have always been a rock collector.

  • Cind Teta
    June 16, 2016

    I love the loop de loop combined with cursive writing.
    Thank you for the tutorial!

  • Ruth
    June 16, 2016

    I like stippling so far. It is easy to learn and very forgiving.

  • Liz Fergus
    June 16, 2016

    Stipple for sure! I have always loved it – large, medium or small. I have not been able to conquer free motion quilting but it is high on my bucket list.

  • Judy Abbott
    June 16, 2016

    I love feathers, but am pretty incompetent in quilting them.

  • Cyndi
    June 16, 2016

    I have tried free motion without much success. My friends tell me it is a matter of practicing. This book looks like it might help. Thank you for the give away.

  • Victoria Anderson
    June 16, 2016

    I have always done stipulated but now want to try something harder. Think this book would be great…love Nancy’s shows

  • Glynn Martin
    June 16, 2016

    I “love” the ‘loops de loops’! The idea of including words like “love” is great.

  • Jeaneleigh Clark
    June 16, 2016

    I have been wanting to learn how to sew free motion since I like to try new things. I am 70 and have a serger, a sewing and embroidery machine and a heavy duty sewing machine. I like to sew for my children and grandchildren and I do a lot of mending for everybody. Its nice to stay busy. Thanks a lot.

  • Becky
    June 16, 2016

    I like pebbles and loops and leaves. Still lack confidence. Would love to learn more motifs and consistency!

  • Pat Lambert
    June 16, 2016

    I love the look of woodgrain.

  • Susie-Q
    June 16, 2016

    I love feathers but can’t get it right. I’ve tried stippling and it didn’t work out right, either.

  • Kitty
    June 16, 2016

    I am a beginner with quilting and my goal is to learn how to free motion my quilts. I would like to do everything myself on my machine. I know, big goal!

  • Patsy M
    June 16, 2016

    I love “loop de loops”, adding words to that is the neatest idea!

  • Patsy M
    June 16, 2016

    I love “loop de loops”. I am beginning to learn free-motion quilting, so this book will be a great help to me.

  • Ruth Hurley
    June 16, 2016

    I have tried following several different instructors and videos and would love to learn stippling.

  • Lettie
    June 16, 2016

    I loved both the chain of pearls and the loop de loop with the important word emphasized! Great ideas I will try next!

  • Ruth Hurley
    June 16, 2016

    Love to learn stippling

  • Joyce Jensen
    June 16, 2016

    I like the Loop de Loops and Handwriting. It would be fun to really personalize the free motion quilting with this design.

  • Tina
    June 16, 2016

    Love the idea of handwriting. So cute.

  • Phyllis Brkaw
    June 16, 2016

    I like loop loop. I need practice to make even stitches.

  • Carol w
    June 16, 2016

    Love the pebbles, just such a soothing look!

  • Candice
    June 16, 2016

    It all looks intimidating! I’m new to this, and did a bit of free motion with the lessons for my machine. I love the idea of the loops with special words added in. After that, perhaps learning the feathers – I always think that looks so neat.

  • Susan Lord
    June 16, 2016

    I love pebbles and stippling. I only wish I could do them well. It seems it will be a long learning curve to do free motion quilting.

  • Mary S
    June 16, 2016

    Trying to decide what to do with a quilt I’ve made for my granddaughter. One of these should work especially if I practice. Thanks for all the ideas.

  • Monika
    June 16, 2016

    I’m still learning so I don’t have a favorite free motion quilting yet. I will need lots of practice and help!

  • Eliza Mancini
    June 16, 2016

    my favorite ids loops and hand writing. I have always wanted to use free motion but was intimidated by the process.

  • Pat D
    June 16, 2016

    I like the look of the pebbles and the stippling.

  • Teresa
    June 16, 2016

    I like the loop de loops. Easiest for me and my old Necchi (which I LOVE). I have been trying to make leaves also… that’s been fun.

  • Janetta Dobler
    June 16, 2016

    I have not been brave enough to try FMQ yet, but I love the look of feathers and stippling!! This would be a great resource book in my collection!! God Bless You!!
    [email protected]

  • Mary B
    June 16, 2016

    Stripping, though itmay not be fancy I’d equate it to trying to sew without a sewing machine its just a must have in machine quilting. I’d love to win this book!! I continue to try my hand at fmq as the cost of long arm services are so expensive. This would be an invaluable resource as I continue to learn. Thx for thechance to win!

  • Carolyn
    June 16, 2016

    would love to use this book to venture into machine quilting.

  • Starla
    June 16, 2016

    I’m a beginner! I could use all the help I can get!

  • Molly Hanson
    June 16, 2016

    I am so glad to see my book being featured on your blog again Nancy, and to all the beginners out there I hope my book can be a great help to you!

  • Wanda Frenzel
    June 16, 2016

    YES !! I am just barely past straight-line stitching, so would LOVE this book…especially the loops & writing …so cool !!!

  • Donna N.
    June 16, 2016

    I need help expanding beyond stippling. This book sounds like it will help me do just that!

  • Nancy G
    June 16, 2016

    I’m new to FMQ and have been experimenting with my HQ Sweet Sixteen. So far I’ve just done the swirls but would love to learn more! This book looks PERFECT!

  • Kristin F
    June 16, 2016

    I’m still learning!

  • Brenda Ackerman
    June 16, 2016

    I really enjoy Stippling. It just seems to flow so nicely but, I would like to start moving into other designs and this book would be a spectacular amount of help! Thank you for the opportunity to win this great prize!

  • Lynn Again
    June 16, 2016

    Love FMQ! There are so many beautiful patterns to use for making quilts it’s hard to pick a favorite. Stippling is such a Zen activity and has great results but I need to move on to other patterns! This book is for me!

  • Linda Weatherwax
    June 16, 2016

    I made my first quilt (king size) as I was recovering from back surgery. In it I did 64 free motion butterflies, the first time I did free motion. The first looked rather sad but I soon got the hang of it. And the quilt turned out great. I’d love the book to expand my ideas.

  • Kathy
    June 16, 2016

    I have three quilt tops just sitting around waiting for me to work up the nerve to give free motion quilting a try. Your “loop de loop” sure looks like fun. I really do need to just jump in there. kathleendotlutzatcomcastdotnet

  • Martha Hood
    June 16, 2016

    Love the looks of the pebbles and would love learning the lines and sewing the names and the like – thanks for all the videos and blogs- thanks for the chance to get this book-

  • Pat
    June 16, 2016

    I’ve always been afraid to try free motion quilting but this book makes it look possible. Thanks for the chance to win a copy.

  • Lynne Hoyt
    June 16, 2016

    I have tried free motion techniques but have never been comfortable with them. Hopefully this book will get me into a comfort zone!

  • Joyce
    June 16, 2016

    Love the look of the pebbles and pebbles and chains! I’d love to win that book and thanks for the opportunity.

  • Kaye M.
    June 16, 2016

    I have done free motion quilting but haven’t done enough to feel comfortable with it. I like the loop de loop and handwriting design. It would be fun to hide special words in the quilting when it is a gift for a loved one.

  • Shirley
    June 16, 2016

    Love pebbles – don’t know about the chains…

  • Naomi
    June 16, 2016

    I would love to learn pebble and circle free motion quilting

  • Jan N.
    June 16, 2016

    I would love to learn how to FMQ. This book looks like it will be a great tool to teach me. Pebble FMQ is my favorite.

  • Betty Harden
    June 16, 2016

    I have a Baby Lock Tiara and have never used it as I do not know how. This looks like a good book for me. Got my fingers crossed. Thanks for the opportunity to maybe win this little jewel

  • Debbie
    June 16, 2016

    Stippling for me is my favorite free-motion style. It looks like it would look good on so many quilts. I really could get a lot of use from this book.

  • Elizabeth Lewis
    June 16, 2016

    Free-motion quilting is a skill I want to learn. Pebbles and chains is my new favorite as it is so easy to change the pattern proportions according to the piece you are working on.

  • ROBIN, TX
    June 16, 2016

    Loops with handwriting.

  • Deborah Whaley
    June 16, 2016

    I really like the loop de loop.

  • Mary
    June 16, 2016

    I love all types of free motion quilting. When I look at all the beautiful quilting done on quilts I say to myself, “I wish I could do that”. I sure could use some help as my previous attempts haven’t turned out too well.

  • Mary Roberts
    June 16, 2016

    Hearts and loops are what I began with and because I’ve practiced those the most I feel I’m good at them. Expanding my repertoire would be great !

  • Teri Ralph
    June 16, 2016

    I love the look of the chain of pearls and pebbles. I believe this book would help me get past the doodling on paper to actually FMQ on fabric!

  • BevM
    June 16, 2016

    The only way that I have quilted is with stitch-in-the-ditch or straight lines. I should try to do free motion.

  • Marcia
    June 16, 2016

    I love the cursive writing of words intermingled with the loop design. What a great way to intrigue people to use cursive writing in a creative and unique way.

  • callie
    June 16, 2016

    After 30 + years of sewing. I am still trying to master “free motion” quilting. I saved a few “experiments” with definitely show the need of much more help. So this book is positively a “need”.

  • Diane
    June 16, 2016

    I have done some stippling, but mostly I stitch in the ditch and then use my embroidery machine to put quilt designs in the blocks. Would like to be more creative with my quilting. This book looks like it has lots of good information.

  • Kathleen Swinkowski
    June 16, 2016

    Have only attempted stippling so far.
    Would love to win the book and hopefully add to my free motion skills

  • Kim Harrington
    June 16, 2016

    I really love the pebbles and chain of pearls!

  • Joyce
    June 16, 2016

    Love stippling, but would really like to try the loopdy loop with writing.

  • Michelle Hall
    June 16, 2016

    I have barely tried stippling but I do like the look of the loop de loop especially with the additional of workds

  • Sandy Block
    June 16, 2016

    I am ready to go beyond loop de loops. This book looks to have lots of good tips to help me!

  • Sharon Jones
    June 16, 2016

    It is between pebbles and stippling. Cannit decide which one I would like to learn first.
    Thank you for the chance to win a wonderful resource.

  • Jan
    June 17, 2016

    Any technique that I could master would be my favorite! I can’t relax, find myself holding my breath until I stop the machine, shoulders oh so tense. Is there any hope for me? Thank you for all the helpful tips you share.

  • Chris
    June 17, 2016

    She makes everything look so easy. I love the pebbles.

  • Rosalind Gutierrez
    June 17, 2016

    Great idea to include words with Free Motion Loops.

  • Rosalind Gutierrez
    June 17, 2016

    The FMQ guide would be very helpful and I really like the idea of including words with loops.

  • Linda Sheets
    June 17, 2016

    I love the loop d loop, with the words, looks so easy and the results are amazing.. She makes it look so easy and then you feel confident in doing it. Can’t wait to try this. Thanks for the share

  • Jeanne
    June 17, 2016

    Free Motion Quilting for Beginners looks like a fantastic resource and I can’t wait to watch this series. I would love to add free motion skills to my quilting and embellishing and this looks like a great way to learn techniques in an organized manner.

  • Alice Newman
    June 17, 2016

    I love FMQ and appreciated the very clear demo on pebbles.

  • Lillian K
    June 17, 2016

    I like stippling & loops, since I am able to be successful with the methods. However, I want to learn some other FMQ designs.

  • Anne Z
    June 17, 2016

    Ii would love to learn pebbles and circles.

  • Kimberley Martin
    June 18, 2016

    I like the flow of the loops. I never thought about quilting my name. I want to try that!

  • Vicky DeReign
    June 18, 2016

    My go to is a stipple or meander. I would love to do pebbles.

  • Judy M
    June 18, 2016

    What a nice learning video, 90 degrees, now I know why my shoulders were uncomfortable. I think I like the pebbles to try, always thought I could not cross the streams, thanks for the help.

  • Karen
    June 18, 2016

    I love writing on quilts, either personal things, like memories of my mom on lap quilts of her shirts, or once I copied quotes from famous love poems for a wedding present quilt. I am self taught and would love to read the book and then pass it on to others in my Guild. Thank you Nancy for all of your videos and helpful ideas, I appreciate them.

  • Suzanne. Tetreault
    June 18, 2016

    Îm partial to thé peebles and chains .

  • Melody Lutz
    June 18, 2016

    Pebbles! Such great dimension.

  • Mary
    June 19, 2016

    I would love to learn how to do the pebbles successfully!

  • Linda Davidson
    June 19, 2016

    I can do loops because they are very forgiving, but like others, I want to learn other patterns. I also need to take the time to practice them!

  • Cecilia
    June 19, 2016

    This book is absolutely awesome, I really want to learn to machine quilt, I seem to like the loops de loop design and signing of your name or other messages would be so personal. I have bought a quilt foot and have only used it one time, need to practice more, but this book would be great for a beginner,

  • Quiltalong
    June 20, 2016

    I am so excited!!!! Pebbles! What a wonderful demo and I am so very excited to see all of the great tips provided on this video.
    I am truly encouraged. Thank you.

  • Nancy
    June 20, 2016

    I have to say I LOVE the pebbles look the best. I need to practice doing these on a small project as soon as I get my 2 quilt tops finish. thanks for the chance to win a great book..

  • Karen
    June 21, 2016

    Loop de loops is my favorite. It is so forgiving and easy to sew.

  • Sandra Collin
    June 21, 2016

    My favorite is the string of pearls. I have quilted for about 3 years and have not mastered the free quilting technique. I think this book just might be the answer.

  • Tammy
    June 23, 2016

    I am going to try the woodgrain. I am currently stitching in the ditch a queen-sized quilt on my machine. First time to do this on the machine. I want to learn to do more free-motion quilting, but I will do it on something small. Working with the large quilt is a challenge.

  • Cynthia
    June 24, 2016

    I love the paisley design so beatiful. I hope to be able to do someday

  • Karen Talley
    July 9, 2016

    My favorite is paisleys, because of the great instruction and encouragement Nancy provides, I can now produce a decent paisley design that I am not ashamed to provide to Mito Quilts charity! Thank you Nacy for years of teaching and confidence building blocks (pun intended)!

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