Novice needs help!
 

Hi all, I'm new to quilting and new to this forum:) Please can I pick your brains. I have pieced together a quilt for my teenage son made out of denim pieces. They are all irregular shapes and odd bits of old jeans etc. I have put a border around it and am backing it onto plain denim. Hopefully you can see in the attached pic. My problem is that I am not sure how to do the quilting. My preference would be to stitch around the individual pieces and then do some sort of zigzag around the border but it will look really odd on the back. Does it matter? Does anyone have a better suggestion? Thanks!

That must be a heavy quilt with the denim. Great look for a boy though. I would mark a simple crosshatch or something similar.

I think that crosshatching or going around the squares would be wonderful and no it won't look wierd on the back

I would do an overall swirl with stars in blue (or variegated blue) thread.

Yes I agree....it is going to be very very heavy.....are you sure you want a demin backing ????????
you are going to have to use a large needle, maybe even a 100 or 120, and really take your time quilting as
your machine will be going thru two layers of demin and I am assuming batting....you will really need to
use a walking foot for sure......
If it was me, I would use a blue print cotton backing, maybe like a plaid rather than demin....just a suggestion.

To line denim with denim is going to make a very thick and very heavy quilt. Lift it, isn't it very heavy already? You might want to check and make sure your repairman (or any repairman) thinks your machine is up to this kind of work. If you haven't put the backing on you might want to reconsider and put a thinner, but still stong fabric on the back.

You will get a very heavy and warm quilt with 2 layers of denim and batting, but it will wear like iron and be a great gift for anyone. I think you could do just about any type of quilting and have it look good, with the possible exceptions of flowers since it is for a guy. Straight lines will be ok, whether in crosshatching or just along the seams and would be easier since there will be many thicker seams to cross. Make sure you use a thread designed for denim, as it will be stronger.

Man, I would LOVE to have a heavy quilt like that on cold nights. I get too hot to quilt something that heavy though. LOL

I agree that stitching around the squares or crosshatching would be fine, and it'll look great on the back, too. Just make sure you have sturdy thread and the right needle. Also be sure you are sitting at the right height and plan to take breaks because shoving that baby around under your needle is going to be a work out.

Welcome to the QB, and congrats on your quilt! It looks fantastic!

I love heavy covers. They feel so nice when it is cold outside. If you have a vintage, or heavy duty machine you should be fine. Even my little singer , which is neithr vintage nor heavy duty, can do it but you have to go slow. Walking foot would be great if you have one, if not JoAnns sells no name ones and they are affordable. Good luck, your son is a very lucky guy to get such a nice quilt. A word of advice, use a strong thread.