Originally Posted by
stasher
G'day dpendl,
Congratulations on finishing your first quilt, good job. Do you have a serpentine stitch on your machine? As that is automatic it will leave your hands free to manage the quilt. You could stitch this in one direction, or horizontally and vertically, about a handswidth apart, or random. Otherwise, wavy lines would be my suggestion,random again, then you don't have to stress about equal distances. I have found it useful to do some marking with a Frixion pen. Please post a pic when it's done. Dive in! it will be OK.Cheers from Downunder.
Because some have had "bad" experiences with the Frixion pens, I've stayed away from those for some time and use the Crayola washable markers instead. The down side of both is that you will have to launder the quilt to remove the marks when you are done quilting. Laundering will take the Frixion marks away but apparently that ink is sensitive to temperatures and the marks can return. Not so with the Crayola markers. It is wise to test whatever you use on the fabric before marking your quilt.
As to my suggestion for quilting Doggo. My machine doesn't have a serpentine stitch so I would do straight stitch diagonally both ways making a big x. The example has the diagonal lines but more than necessary for my liking. Since I like a puffy quilt, I use polyester batting and less quilting than is on the picture example.