I need your help to learn
 

I need your help to learn.
I am self-taught and learn from books or tutorials that generously share all on the Web.
But there is a lesson that I did not find yet. Learn to "read" a top to find out what type of quilting requires.
That is why I have most of my work unfinished. And it is my intention to finish to be able to move forward.
I wanted to know if it is possible, I publish a photo of my top to complete them (either mini or large) and you give me ideas on how learning to "see" to learn how to do the quilting.
I have a home sewing machine, it is a ELNA Q6600, in which I can make straight quilting or free motion. And I think it's time to learn what my machine is capable of doing... not me! Hahahaha!
To begin show them pictures of my first two works. An Appliqué to machine (with invisible thread) and a Paper Piecing. Both have thousands of errors (seen today with three years of experience), but I'll leave them so to remind me of my early days.
I ask with all my heart each of your comments and to share their knowledge with me!
A big hug to all!

I'm anxious to see the replies. I have a hard time with that sometimes also.

Howdy and welcome, from Texas!

Your work is beautiful! Sorry I can't be of any help with the quilting question; I tend to just quilt to keep it together, rather than do anything fancy.

Those are cute! If they were mine, on the first one with the applique, I'd echo once around the appliques and do a small design in the background to make the appliques pop! Check out Leah Day's website for a multitude of filler designs.

http://www.daystyledesigns.com/365project.htm

On the one with the houses, I'd quilt each area for what it is, grass, sky w/clouds, bricks or such on houses, leaves or branches on the trees, curtains in the windows, smoke from the chimneys, etc.

Have fun!

browse books of quilts, magazines, on line galleries and pay attention to the quilting on all the different quilts you browse- with time you will see how different quilts are quilted & start getting your own ideas on how yours should be- often appliqued quilts are (echo) quilted around the appliques then some background quilting is done- stippling, or cross-hatch- a meandering all over-
you can enhance/embellish the actual appliques- like stitching shingles on a roof, lines of doors/windows- (like embroidering to enhance a design) there are so many options and it really is a personal choice- look through galleries that feature the type of quilts you are making & see how they are quilted- you will be inspired & figure out what you like & don't like :)

If I'm quilting something myself, which is rare, I'm like Neesie - I quilt to keep the layers together.

I really think you quilt something however you want too. I don't think a book is going to tell you how to quilt a quilt. If there was such a thing then every quilt would look the same.

I, too, quilt my own quilts. I tend to keep it simple. On the applique I would do echo quilting around the designs and do a simple vine type quilting with leaves, stars, or hearts in the border.
For the pp one, perhaps, stitch in the ditch around each design or an all over meander. I do like the idea of doing designs to enhance the items, such as roof designs, pine needles etc.

I'm real bad about shadow quilting. That is going around the outside of a block or design about a 1/2 inch from the seam line. Then in the open places I either make my own designs or use a template for a quilting design I think would be pretty or appropriate. Go with your gut. Look at it and feel of it and it will "tell" you what to do.

Both quilts are wonderful. I especially like the little quilt on the second one. For the first I think I would echo quilt around each design about 3 times and then stitch-in-the-ditch on the seam lines. If it still needs some quilting, I would do a small stipple outside the echo stitching.

I would just stitch-in-the-ditch on the second one.

You do great work for such a new quilter.

I agree with this suggestion, but also check out magazine websites like McCall's Quilting or Fons and Porter for quilting examples done on various types of quilts. Many magazines also show how a quilt was quilted and I find that helpful. For books I love the Fons and Porter quilting book or Quilts,Quilts,Quilts. Your quilts are lovely.

I too had that issue (and still do somewhat), and heard about Quilting Makes the Quilt by Lee Cleland and It's Not a Quilt Until It is Quilted by Shirley Thompson.

Leah Day was a fantastic suggestion from someone, and I whole heartedly agree with that!

Also, read comments by some of our members (expecially Charisma), why they quilt as they do. Often the LAer will explain "I wanted to make that pop, so I did this". I have learned alot!

Good luck.

I agree 100%. I think echo quilting would be adorable on the applique quilt (it'd make the appliques really *pop*, I think). And on the 2nd quilt (which is too cute for words... wow! I love it!), I think "realistic" quilting would really accentuate the individual items. I can't wait to see these quilted! They're both darling!

Hello, Neesie!
Thank you very much for your answer!
A big hug!

Hello, Katier825!
Many thanks for your reply!
I know the site read Day and even am a follower of each of their entries.
But when I saw his designs he thought... What can be used.
You gave me the answer: to "fill"!
Thank you also for its proposals for both top, will surely be that'll do!
I hope soon to be able to show thanks!
A strong hug!

I like small stipples around the designs to make them pop. Your quilts are very nicely done!

Hello, ckcowl!
Many thanks for your reply!
It is what I do most of the time: look... look... and I dream of wonderful quilting that I see on the web!
But by addressing me at a top mine is... me nublo and I can't think!
I will follow your advice and try to see more and also put me to do something! : Thumbup:
A strong hug!

Hello, gollytwo!
Many thanks for your reply!
Because I assure you that if in my country there were a person who conducts quilting on outside tops... of insurance would be my first choice!
But there is, only if there are teachers who live to 1200 km in my city and which I almost do not have access, only 1 or 2 times a year. And they give classes, no one has a Long Arm or does other quilteras quilting.
So as I can not access that option, I must learn to see what I do with mine! And its alternative was my first thought... but I want to see if I can try something else!
A strong hug!

Hello, nabobw!
Many thanks for your reply!
I imagined that it was so. No quilting is equal to another despite being equal tops!
But what I needed was a guide to the experts (because they don't have teachers) to give me a path to follow. With this guide I can split and calculation in some years this will only be a good memory.
But at this time I need much help!
A strong hug!

Hello, kateyb!
Many thanks for your reply!
I see that his advice together with those already received. That is what I needed!
A guide! I very much appreciate you the gift of your time and knowledge!
Until I try to do some embellishment!
A strong hug!

Hello, # 1piecemaker!
Many thanks for your reply!
This technique did not! Thank you for sharing your knowledge with me!
And so far... my tops... didn't I speak! I think that after these tips start to understand the concept!
I already have a guide!
A strong hug!

Some quilts speak to me immediately, some take time. For the ones that I need to think about - I lay them out as flat as possible in a conspicuous place (usually my cutting table which is extra large and can be viewed easily from the doorway - and since the door is always open and the sewing room is opposite the bathroom and on the way to the bedroom - I see it several times a day just by walking by). I may look at it for days, in different lights, before I know what to do with it.

I first judge the "open space" if there is any, and decide what size of quilting is needed in that space.
I look at the overall pattern of the quilt ... does it flow in a circular pattern? Striped pattern? Or does it have distinct blocks? This can help me determine what I might use in each area of the quilt.

Are there area's that you want to stand out more? Less? How these are quilted will help determine whether the area becomes a focus or a background.

Some quilting stitches work better to bring an area to the foreground, and some work better to put an area in the background. Meandering and McTavishing are great background stitches that when worked right will make an adjoining area that does not have as much quilting in it stand out.

Picture a plain circle on a square. If you quilted the circle with a spiral and left the background un-quilted ... the circle will look like it is pulling you in to it. If you did a small meander around the circle and left the circle un-quilted - the circle will pop off the quilt like it's almost 3D.

Feathers are a bit different and even though I'd consider most of them on the "heavily quilted" end of the spectrum, they serve a different purpose because they create "direction" or "flow" - they direct the eye in a linear or circular pattern. I've seen them surrounded by heavy quilting and light quilting and they still seem to serve the same purpose - direction.

If you have a PInterest account it's a great idea to start a folder and capture pictures of quilting that show the quilting well, even if the quilting is of poor quality. Study these, collect samples of different stitches, collect samples of different stitch combinations. See how each stitch works with both the overall pieced quilt and with other stitches.

It takes time. It's part of the creative process. VanGogh experimented a lot with light and color ... your pallete is needle and thread but the process is the same. You WILL create some quilts along the way that upon a later more experienced review you will think would have been better if quilted differently. It's all part of the process.

Once of the best quotes I read recently was from a quilter who was interviewed in AQS about her award winning quilt. When asked how long it took to create the quilt she responded (and quote may not be exact but this is the drift) "It took me 15 years to develop the skill base and 1 year to make it".

Sew well said!!!!

Hello, pollyjvan9!
Many thanks for your reply!
And also thank you for your sweet words to my tops and my effort to learn this beautiful hobby despite not having any guide!
Thanks for the tips that will be an invaluable guide to start my quilting in both tops! And there are still many more to finish!
I think everyone is unfinished because it didn't address the time of quilting!
It is that in every top I put much work and greater effort to ensure that each block is beautiful!
And the greatest fear is ruining them with a terrible quilting!
I hope to learn and gain the confidence you need to finish all my tops and!
A strong hug!

Hi, RDM!
Many thanks for your reply!
And also thank you for your sweet words to my tops!
Also by Fons & Porter data (see its website to learn) and someday will try to get the books you recommend me!
My biggest drawback is that I live in another country and do not speak their language (I communicate with the translator), so some things can not understand them by more than
see many videos, or try to read notes in English. The translator helps... but isn't the same!
I hope someday, learn the language because it will help me to further connect with the Patchwork that has become my reason to live!
A strong hug!

Hello, grammatjr!
Many thanks for your reply!
I have located his two books on Amazon to see your purchase soon! Leah Day I'm still always and admire everything you do because all can access free motion!
And Charisma is my Idol! I've seen their pads and I drooled on my keyboard!
Thanks for reminding me!
A strong hug!

Hello, burchquilts!
Many thanks for your reply and for your beautiful words to my tops!
They were my first two works and they are full of errors... but are sweet!
Thanks for your tips that will be a great guide to start! And for teaching me something new: the "realistic" style! I didn't know it was called so!
Today I learned a lot!
A strong hug!

Hello, lfstamper!
Many thanks for your reply and for your beautiful words to my tops!
The small stipples is something that makes my machine by itself! It would be time to learn to do it!
A strong hug!

Hello, DogHouseMom!
Thanks a lot!
By the time to give me this answer so valuable and wonderful!
Really.... I read and read their advice and you once again made me feel better!
I am very anxious and want to "everything" already! Learn how to make the tops and quilting and everything in just 3 years! I am like your phrase... "I am always on the edge"!
I understand that this is also a learning process and that one day I can do it as well as anyone!
I have an account in Pinterest and I have a folder with some quilts that have left me breathless!
Now I must learn to "read" them, to interpret them and know how could I apply each piece or style in the tops that I do.
MANY THANKS!
With all my heart!
And by the way.... If you ever travel to Argentina... I would love to take classes with you!
A strong hug!

WOW! You do wonderful work! :)
Nice job!

HI Gladys,
I am the Uruguayan that is following on your blog. Don't be hard on yourself. Your work is delicate and only you see the mistakes that don't exist.
As for quilting, I have been trying on every quilt top I finish, I do some lapquilts for charity and I try what my imagination drives. I usually look for inspiration in this forum, there are superb LA like "charisma" from who I try to learn.
Just the other day I received a promotion from the web Crafty where they said they had classes for $19.90 USD but what made me think in teh process of my learning "intent" is that the clas was about "negative spaces" what I interpreted as the "backgrounds"
I guess you can go that route. Eco quilting with the shapes you have on the top one sounds attractive, you should draw the lines at the begining. What I don't like about aplique quilts that are quilted is that nobody quilts on top of the applique forms and you end up with a rare looking quilt- of course my perception of the idea. Don't take me wrong, mine is all theoretical because I haven't figure out yet the mistery of quilting.

Keep up with the good work, you are an inspiration, if I go to Bs As to visit familiy, I might pay you a visit, I know you are far south but I would love to do it!

You will find the answer, just keep the quilts desplayed so you have them in your mind and something will come to you.
Let us see what you do.

Love
andrea

Hello, Andrea!
Thanks for your words! And thank you to follow my blog and see my work!
I know that the quilting only needed something: practice, practice, practice!
It should take into account your Council make quilts to give, would get a greater practice and they would also be useful.
We have a hard time getting good fabrics in my country and we don't want to waste them.
But if I do simple blocks, I can use common fabrics!
I am grateful heart this Council! It's a great idea!
And if you are travelling, we can see if we can match in the "big city"! Hahaha!
I have these two armed comforters to begin! I have to do it soon!
A big hug!

I have that same problem, so I started to learn how to use some embroidery to quilt, I hope you and I will learn someday. I see some beautiful work on here and I try to study what others do and then try to repeat it myself.

lovely projects

Thank you very much, Fred!
A hug!