Originally Posted by QM

In hand quilting or quilting on a regular machine, the general rule is inside to outside. on a LA, the general rule is from one corner across and back by rows to the far corner. Like all rules, there are exceptions.

I do quite a bit of FMQ. Sometimes, the quilt seems to call for some non-FMQ gridwork. For example, on the NYB quilt I posted earlier this evening, I think I probably will do SITD along the block edges, then use FMQ within the blocks and on the borders. The advantage to this technique is that large areas are 'controlled' before I begin the FMQ.

Since I often use different colors in quilting different areas, I used to do all of one color, then all of another. This led to some serious difficulties.

BTW, my guild owns a LA, but I am now too disabled to stand and use it, so I generally do all my work on my Janome, even king-sized. Once in a while I have a guild sister do a meander in some parts, leaving the more interesting parts for me.