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Monday, 4 March 2013

All the gear, no idea

Back when I was young and hip (all right, just young) we used to go on a group skiing holiday every year.  It was a real motley crew - various friends of friends - and one of our group always had all the latest stuff - titanium skis, heated boots, de-misting goggles.  However, whilst the rest of our group went merrily sailing down black runs, he usually skied with me on the nice gentle blue runs in what we termed "Remedial Ski School".  One of his mates dubbed him "All the gear, no idea".

I am the equivalent of "All the gear, no idea" in the world of machine quilting.  Take a look:

Supreme slider - check
supreme slider quilt FMQ



















Bobbin washers - check
magic genie bobbin washers FMQ quilt



















Craftsy online class with Leah Day - check
craftsy online course FMQ beginner leah day












Multitude of FMQ books - check
FMQ beginner book quilt















300 pages of quilt doodles - check
FMQ beginner quilt doodles paper















Hideous fabric from remnant shop to be sacrificed in inaugural FMQ attempt - check.
FMQ practise fabric















Have I tried it out?  No.

Too scared.
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17 comments:

  1. Kelly4 March 2013 at 14:14

    Keep your feed dogs up and get on with it, what have you got to lose? X

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  2. Catherine4 March 2013 at 14:28

    Ha ha great comparison. Jus at go for it and see what happens!

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  3. Celtic Thistle4 March 2013 at 15:00

    Grab a glass of wine (or your favourite tipple) slap on some uplifting music, get those gloves on and go for it! Your first attempt will be absolutely awful but who cares. Rome wasn't built in a day so your FMQ'ing will not be Leah Day perfect first time around either, but it will never improve if you don't try it.

    I tell myself all of the above every time too :)

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  4. Nicole4 March 2013 at 17:06

    You just need to relax. And keep practicing! Remember to breathe and not hunch your shoulders. And smile.

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  5. Di4 March 2013 at 17:40

    Have a glass of wine and go for it! Di x

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  6. Pippa Parsons5 March 2013 at 00:18

    play some loud music, I quilt to abba :) and just go for it, your doodles are gorgeous, I am hopeless at drawing them, what's the worst that's going to happen, your gonna have a piece of fabric with thread on....

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  7. Charlotte5 March 2013 at 01:15

    don't be such a big girl's blouse!!!! ;-)

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  8. Sarah5 March 2013 at 02:19

    You will be fine! Have a glass of wine, or a cup of tea or whatever floats your boat. Take a deep breath and go for it. Don't expect perfection right off - my first few attempts were a disaster! Also you might need to tweak your machine here and there (my machine constantly skipped stiches at the top of loops, turns out it just couldn't handle FMQ with that particular thread) but you will get better with practise and before you know it you will be ready to try on a real live quilt (that was my truly scary moment).

    Good luck!

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  9. Joanne5 March 2013 at 04:08

    I love your analogy!!
    And, I have never seen the first two of your kit!! Off to google...
    I second Fiona, large glass of something and go for it!!! And as its a remnant you wont have to unpick it if you don't like it!!

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  10. moira5 March 2013 at 06:04

    let's do it together! how are you fixed for tonight?

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  11. Anonymous5 March 2013 at 12:22

    Oh, you really made me laugh. Just go for it! Even if it's like sliding down the bunny slope at first, you will soon be much more accomplished. And I'm betting that you'll have fun! Good luck.
    Debbie R.

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    Replies
    1. Gertie Pye5 March 2013 at 14:45

      Thank you Debbie - I think I just need to bite the bullet and get on with it! If I could get some time where I wasn't being pestered by children and/or work, I will definitely face my fears of irretrievably messing up my machine's tension and join the FMQ club x

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  12. Run Quilt Knit Write5 March 2013 at 12:55

    I think you might actually be pleasantly surprised - it's nowhere near as hard as you'd think. Start with a nice simple stipple and give yourself time and you'll do just fine!

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  13. Two Wednesdays5 March 2013 at 13:48

    I don't have all the gear but I am with you on the rest! I am so scared of any machine quilting that it is stopping me from sewing at the moment - if I finish another quilt top I am really going to have quilt one of them aren't I? I'm going to get Leah Day's course and then try her quilt as you go - it's got to be less scary than wrestling a big quilt.I hope...

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  14. Chris Dodsley @made by ChrissieD5 March 2013 at 20:42

    Have you made your appointment with the chiropractor yet? Don't get started until you have! Hopefully you're much more relaxed and laid back about life than it turns out I am - I'm having my shoulders surgically removed from my earlobes next week ;)

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  15. Sarah Lou10 March 2013 at 13:03

    Haha! Just do it - I tried it for the first time this week, wasn't as hard as I was expected. Flipping hurt my back though!

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  16. Lucy10 March 2013 at 20:37

    Have to laugh! I have the gear, motivation and cofidence that I will quilt all of my quilts with my sewing machine, but seem to lack the skill. Leah is great, but still have all those big loops on the back when I machine quilt.

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