Good morning!
I am trying to complete some UFO's. This is one from a retreat and I would really appreciate quilting ideas. The blocks are 8 inch squares, with a Christmas theme. I am not very experienced at FMQ, but can try if not too difficult.
Thanks, Barb

I think the easiest thing to FMQ is to just do strings of loops. Since this is a holiday quilt you could do a few loops and then add an ornament every so often so it looks like the ornaments are hanging from the string.

sorry, can't help you... i'm too leery of opening (download)s

I like Rose's idea. Loops are so random no one will know if it was a deliberate loop or not. The only other idea would be circles - but I find they are difficult for me with FMQ.
I hope you post a pic of what you end up doing!!! It is a lovely quilt.

Sorry it is my first picture, so not sure why it requires a download. Will try another quilt photo and see what happens. Thanks for letting me know about the download. And thanks for the ideas. I am going to look into the loops.

Barb

Somehow the download is a PDF. Honestly, I think this would be awesome with feathers in the white areas, but if you aren't comfortable doing FMQ, feathers won't be good as they can be challenging to do. If you are up to sending out, I really think that would compliment the quilting beautifully. Charisma here on the board does amazing feathers free hand.

If you definitely want to do it yourself, then how about replicating some of the shapes of the colors in the white areas? Hmm, that sounds confusing. Give me a minute to play with the picture to give you an idea ...

Here it is as a picture:

This seems like a simple idea. I like it.

But this idea adds some flair and something to the white space.

If you're up for a challenge, try some feathers on a scrap sandwich (that's just two pieces of fabric with batting between, can be 8-12" square or rectangular, what ever you have on hand).

Hooked on Feathers by Sally Terry is an excellent book on doing feathers. JoAnn's carries it, but you can get it online too.
http://www.sallyterry.com/utility/sh.../?objectID=495

I agree with the loops idea, maybe adding a few pairs of mittens like the border as if they were hung there to dry.

Do loops using red or green thread. I think it would give it just the punch it needs.

An all over stipple would be fine too. I just wouldn't quilt it boxy - time to add some curves. I would do a simple stipple if you don't want to send it out.

Thanks for all the ideas. Feathers are out for me!! Not there yet. I like the loops and mittens. Will check my box of stencils and see if I can find anything. Thanks again. Barb

ditto

How about the simple 5 point line stars we all learn to draw in grade school? They are easy to machine quilt with loops from one star to another and stars would fit in with the Christmas theme.

Beautiful

A Christmas coloring book for little tikes will give you plenty of shapes. Or free applique' patterns from the web. Christmas shapes like trees, ornaments, mittens, snowmen are pretty simple. Just string them together with squiggly lines. It will be beautiful.

How about tracing mittens all over it and then fmq them in red? and green? and blue?

I think I would just do a meandering free motion qulting, especially in the white areas. If you feel ambitious, feathers or swirls would be nice too.

Since your border features mittens, how about a mitten in each of the largest blocks, like in the cornerstones, and loops and strings in the white, perhaps with some other simple shapes included. Cookie cutters could give you some outlines, as could the coloring books. Practice on paper first....

I agree with the idea of doing a meandering (loop da loops). Very pretty fabric and design.

This is what I was going to suggest except mix stars and loops on your curvy line. I have done this on a couple of Christmas projects and it is just the right simple touch with lots of straight lines and angles.

That's a very cool quilt. The colors are great, the white will really show the quilting nicely.

I would use a camel colored thread that will read as gold. It's what I used on these two quilts. Camel thread will look good on all the colors in your quilt and won't get lost on any of them. If you choose red or green, the stitching that you do on the same color patches will get lost, look almost invisible, like you missed a spot.

I like to do easy swirls and curls with some of those easy 5-pointed stars, especially on Christmas theme quilts for friends or on Quilts of Valor like these Just be nice and smooth and even in your speed, and have some fun with it.

And please share with us when you've finished. It will be a terrific quilt!

I like the stars idea a lot.

I really like this. Do you have a pattern name??