Have just finished the top of my rail fence quilt --- pleased as punch as it is my very first attempt - now to the quilting part. What sort of a pattern would be suitable yet easy for a beginner to attempt.

Diagonals across the face of it.

Jan in VA

Either Stitch NEAR a Ditch (just sew straight lines near your seams) or diagonals (Start at one corner and sew to the opposite corner. Use the corners of your blocks as a guide.)

Since it is made up of strips, stitching in the ditch is always the easiest. I am assuming you will be quilting by machine. Another idea is an all-over stipple or meander, but that takes a bit more practice.

I've hear that stitching in the ditch is quite hard to get neat - any tips

I've not done any quilting before so would a bit of practice first presumably would be a good idea

One thing I do is to stitch right outside of the ditch and use a decorative stitch, which because it isn't perfectly straight will help to cover up less than perfect stitches.

If your machine has the capibity to drop the feed dogs, why not try some free motion loops and lines?? Pin or spray baste your 3 layers together, start in the middle and work your way out, sewing with a nice medium speed. RELAX and just go with the flow......I find it fun to practice on a plain sheet of paper to allow the creativity to ''flow''. Think of gentile curves and loops like you are making eeee's or lllll's on the fabric.....have FUN!1

jodi

Instead of stitching in the ditch, you could stitch a straight line down the center of each rail. Masking tape makes a great stitching guide.

Susan

Great tip ---- will certainly try this and will also try the decorative approach - feel nervous but excited - feel I'm almost a quilt maker