Hand embroidery on a quilt. . . Need some guidance please!!!
 

Okay, here's the story: About 3 weeks ago, we were in Michigan visiting my other half's family. The aunt, who I thought didn't like me, told me that she had a quilt that her mother had made just prior to her death 2 years ago but it wasn't finished. She asked if I could take a look at it and maybe finish it for her. Trying to gain popularity points, I said "Sure!" Well, she brings out a Queen or King sized Double Wedding Ring that is all hand pieced. Her mother hand basted the top, batting and backing together and also has the binding attached to the front. I told the aunt that I would be more than happy to finish it for her. There are 7 siblings and there were 7 quilts. The other 6 siblings all sent theirs out to be long armed at the cost of over $300 each. Now, money isn't an issue with this aunt; she wouldn't have a problem paying for a longarmer to do it. In fact, she is willing to pay me to do it; I told her would would talk about it later! I feel very honored that she has asked me to do this and I have decided to hand quilt this DWR. I just think it deserves handquilting. I have been practicing on samples and I feel I am ready to go. I got a Q snap floor frame, Gutterman hand quilting thread and some thread conditioner. After looking at the quilt, and again trying to gain popularity points, I decided that I would also hand embroider the mother & father's name and wedding date in the center and then put the siblings names and birthdates in other blocks. I've also practiced my hand embroidery and I am ready to go.

Now here is my question: When I am embroidering the names and dates onto the top, do I just go far enough into the quilt to catch the batting or do I go all the way through and out the back? I know with the hand quilting it shows on the back but I don't know about hand embroidery.

I could really use some advice/direction . . . I am chomping at the bit to get started! :shock:

If I were finishing this quilt, I would never embroider on it without consulting the owner. It will cost you a lot of points if she isn't thrilled with any additions to her mother's quilt. Just my thoughts. Good luck with whatever you decide.

Agree with scraphq, if you do go ahead, I would just do the top. Maybe before you quilt it, it will be easier. So glad you are handquilting it, bet it will look lovely!!

If you embroider, be very careful that the embroidery thread is colorfast. Test each color first.

Do you have any idea what batting was used? Some battings can be quite difficult to hand quilt. If this is your very first hand quilting project, I am worried that you may find this a much longer, tougher slog than you are anticipating.

If you do the embroidery, I don't think you'd want the stitches to show on the back. Usually, embroidery would be done on the blocks before they're assembled. I agree that it shouldn't be done at all without checking with the owner, and also sounding out how much she's willing to pay you before you do any of it. She might be thinking she's going to save money by recruiting you.

Ooh, boy - I hope none of those other siblings are inclined to be jealous that you're doing all this work for only one of them! It will be a labor of love, and she'd better appreciate it.

I would not do any embroidery on the quilt it self, but you could make a beautiful embroidered label and add it after the quilting is done.

The Aunt thinks it is a wonderful idea and emailed me all the names and birthdates. As for payment, I told her I wouldn't take payment for it. She started to fuss that's why I told her we would talk about it later! If she persists, I will only charge her for the supplies that I had to purchase re: Q-Snap floor frame ($30 on CL) thread and needles.

Since you really don't want the embroidery stitches to show on the back and trying to hide your stitches in the batting will be very difficult, why not put that information on a label and attach it to the back of the quilt? Do make sure you put the name of piecer of the quilt as well as your name as hand quilter on that label!!! Personally, I think you are crazy to hand quilt something that big, but I am still hand quilting a wall-hanging that I started over 3 years ago!!!

Last Christmas I embroidered all the family names on white snowball blocks. As I didn't want my knots, tails and joinings to show through the white material, I buried them in the batting. I was using Hobbs w&n and it wasn't hard to do. Hint: depending on your colors, use as light an embroidery thread as possible. Even matching your background might work as the names would be there, but not change the original look of the quilt. Post a pic, if you ever get it done!

What a wonderful gift you are giving your aunt and I love the idea of embroidering the names/dates on the blocks. I suggest doing the embroidery just on the quilt top, before you sandwich it. As someone else mentioned, it will hide the knots and it will be so much easier to do a nice job with just one layer of fabric. Without all the bulk of a full quilt you'll be more pleased with the results. I do LOTS of embroidered blocks for quilts and always do them first, then complete the top, sandwich and quilt.

Good luck with this fantastic project. We look forward to seeing it.