Originally Posted by
Buckeye Rose
I will be quilting on my 6600, so the bulk is definitely something to keep in mind as this quilt is close to 100 inches square. What kind of pattern do you use when quilting the star? With all the puckered places, I don't really think SITD around each diamond piece is the best way to go. Do you think an all over pattern , like a panto, would work? I would prefer to have it long armed, but with the size it would cost me a fortune, so I will get this thing done one way or another.
See if your library can get you a book about quilting in sections, like Divide and Conquer: Quilt it your way by Nancy Smith and Lynda Milligan. They have a technique where you cut the batting into sections (I think they do three) so when you quilt in the center you only have the bulk of the top and backing to deal with on the sides. You put your section of batting in only when you are ready to quilt the area.
As for quilting, I did my lone star by hand and did have the aforementioned "cupping" in the very center portion of the star. I quilted a 1/4" away from every seam so every diamond had a smaller diamond quilted within it. Here is a link to pictures I posted of it.
http://www.quiltingboard.com/picture...lt-t22341.html The quilt did quilt flat for me.
I see no reason why you couldn't do the same only do continuous curves in each diamond instead. I think it is more forgiving than SITD. In the big background areas you can do any FMQ design you are comfortable with.