Jingle

Beautiful quilt, however you decide to quilt it will only make it better.

QuiltE

You're Welcome Janan! ... now Go For It ... and quilt up a storm, so you can have it finished for your DGD!

quiltingshorttimer

I like this quilt! I also like NativeTx idea on the continuous curves with your walking foot--draw out the basic design and draw it out and you may actually be able to do it without stops and starts. Can a chalk line will rub out easily and also help you be consistent. As for the border--I'd do those wiggly lines you mentioned--maybe one in the white and 2 in the color strips.

zozee

Okay, gotta first say I adore this happy little quilt, from the birds to the colors to the fabrics to the piano keys border. Your little granddaughter is going to love it, love it!

Here's what I'd probably do if it were my quilt. Keep in mind, I don't have a whole lot of experience, but one thing I've learned is that to get better, you have to practice, and it's a lot easier to practice with bravery on a child's quilt. SHe will love you and never even notice the flaws. She will see how cute all your thread drawing is.

My plan as I'm looking at it now:

1. Echo around the birds in such a way that it makes a heart shape (not around the outside of all feathers. That way, a heart will show up in the center of the back. Fun for a child (and adult!) discover . Then straight line around the edges about 1/4 inch in (not in the ditch). Think "box around the heart".

2. Make one big daisy in each big white square. Box it in.

3. Do those crescents from corner to corner (see nativetexan's picture) on just about all your triangles. The curves add a gentle look to the hard lines of squares and triangles.

4. In the border, wiggly lines side to side in each dark fabric. Connected hearts and flowers in the white ones.

I like to practice on paper first, and mark my large designs with Crayola Ultra Washable markers on the quilt before I start.

patsan

It's really nice!

quilterpurpledog

Be brave! Go for it. Several nice ideas have been presented. I think the suggestion for taking a picture, printing several copies and doodling on them is great. Your quilt is beautiful and quilting will enhance it. I personally like the gentle curves in the example above. It is graceful and softens the angles of the piecing. Please show us what you decided to do when you finish the quilting process.

jmoore

Wow, Zozee really posted some great suggestions and I think Nativetexan’s would work wonderfully if you didn’t feel comfortable with some of the FMQ zozee mentioned.

I just wanted to chime in how much I enjoy the pattern and fun fabrics in your quilt and your DGD is sure to love it.

QuiltE

Thanks QuilterPurpleDog!
Sometimes I surprise myself as the doodling helps me figure out a quilting pattern different to what I would have done if I had just started with the machine. And this might be FMQing or straight line or perhaps a combo.

Too, it helps me see the "stitch-route" that I might be able to take, to have the least breaks in thread.

I don't know how many times I have quilted something and part way through have the great aha moment of, "oh darn, if I had gone here and then here and here and ..... I could have done it continuously!" The fewer burials I have to do, the better!

Janan

Thank you all for the wonderful encouragement and suggestions. It makes my heart warm to read your sweet replies. I just happened to find a cardboard insert that came with some sheets of paper I bought. The design on the advertisement had the perfect arch just the size I needed for the quilt squares. I cut it out and plan on using it for a template! Yippee! Where can I find the rub away chalk to draw the design? Can I find it at Walmart? I live in a little town and that's my only choice for local shopping.

I'm excited to start! I needed an idea of what to do on the border stripes, so thank you!

klswift

I like NativeTexan's idea. Whenever I do a very linear quilt, I like to use a curvy quilting line. Doing a bit of a 'circle' allows you to gently go from corner point to next corner point and not worry if they aren't exact. It also allows you to go the length of the top before turning around. Great quilting design for a beginner. For the borders, you could do a bit of something in each strip or just go the length of each border with a couple wavy lines (parallel to the binding). Then, when you feel more confident, add a little something in the center of the larger plain squares. It could be something as simple as a diamond or as fancy as you feel comfortable trying. BTW - It is a wonderful top, I'm sure she will be very happy with it for a very long time!