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Finishing

Free Motion Quilting (FMQ)

Machine quilting with the feed dogs dropped, allowing the quilter to create any design by moving the fabric freely.

Free motion quilting (FMQ) allows the quilter to create any quilting design — feathers, clamshells, loops, spirals, custom motifs — by moving the quilt sandwich freely in all directions under the needle with the feed dogs dropped. A free motion foot (darning foot) is used. Stitch length is controlled entirely by the speed of fabric movement relative to needle speed: slow movement creates short stitches; fast movement creates long stitches. FMQ takes significant practice to master but opens up unlimited design possibilities.

Related Terms

Free Motion Foot (Darning Foot)A presser foot used with dropped feed dogs to allow the quilter to move fabric freely in any direction while machine quilting.StipplingDense free-motion quilting in a random meandering line with no crossing lines, used to fill background areas.Echo QuiltingQuilting lines that run parallel to and outward from the edges of a design, like ripples in water.Walking Foot (Even Feed Foot)A sewing machine presser foot that feeds the top layer of fabric at the same rate as the feed dogs feed the bottom layer.

Practice makes perfect.

NiftyFifty connects quilters from all 50 states through block swaps, bees, and quilt-alongs. Great place to put new techniques to work.

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