Did I quilt enough?
 

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Be kind. This is my first one. I know the result is a little bit dorky, but I like it. Had never machine quilted anything before and I don't know how to post pictures. I made a king sized quilt the first time which wasn't a good idea and didn't learn about battings and things like I should have first. My question is this. These are 10 inch blocks. I think I used the batting that is 2 to 4 inches to quilt. If there is SID around each block and FMQ around each applique is that enough quilting. If it isn't can you please give me some suggestions. I afraid to wash this. Thank you.

I love the coffee cups! I'm really new to quilting too so not sure if its enough, but wanted to tell you I really love it!

I only see the SID or echo quilting around the mugs. if you FMQ around them in each block, yes that should be enough. or you could do straight lines about one or two inches apart on either side of the block seams going each direction on the quilt.

What a darling quilt! Did you check your batting instructions? The packaging will tell you how many inches of open space you can have. I always tend to overquilt myself.

I am nowhere near the expert, but it looks to me like there are still some areas that need quilting. If there isn't enough, the batting may get pulled/shred....specially in the wash. You could do more of the echo quilting, or just a stipple in a shade of thread that won't show as much. I prefer more quilting, but not too much that it distracts the eye from the pattern of the quilt. And definitely not so much as to make the quilt stiff.

if that is dorky, I'm a huge dork. I love that. nativetexan had a good idea.

I only outlined the mugs with FMQ, no stippling and the 10 inch blocks have stitch in the ditch you can't see. Is that enough. So far I seem to have a few yeses and one no.

I would do some additional quilting in all the blocks, but that's me.

How much time and effort did you put in to that beautiful top? I'm going to vote no. The "look" of the quilt is less important than the requirements of your batting. You said " I think I used the batting that is 2 to 4 inches to quilt." the batting package would say 2 or 4 not 2 to 4. If you don't have the package the batting came in, and/or don't know what you used (so you can look it up), you really want to err on the side of more quilting than less. If you don't have enough quilting for that type of batting it will shift. You don't even have to wash it for your quilt to be ruined. Just using it will cause the batting to bunch up. So if you really think the batting you used said 2", then your quilting should be no more than 2" apart in BOTH directions. You will need to do some cross hatching or meandering or something.
BTW, it would be kind of unusual for you to be using a type of batt that would require quilting that close. I would really look around and see if you can find the packaging or the reciept to tell you what kind you used.

the quilt is darling. if your batting instructions say more is needed, you can do additional echo quilting around the center design.

Cute quilt. I would echo quilt around the cups a few times.

I went back to the store and at the other battings from the shelf I took mine from because I had thrown the package away. Being a newbie I didn't learn battings were all different until I had finished putting the binding on this one and then looked for other people that shared my interests on line. Yes, Iv' learned this all backwards the hard way. The other packages on that shelf said quilt 2 to 4 inches. I'm still in the practicing stage of stippling and not very confident about it. Someone else had the idea of doing some straight line stitching in the gaps. If I did this about 1 inch to 1 1/2 inch inside the blocks on all sides how would that do?

Is echo quilting what I already did when I outlined it?

Yes just go around each applique a few more times. You might have to do something in the corners then.

I would continue the echo quilting around the cups a few more times. It will stabilize yhe batting more and help the cups ”pop” a bit. Really cute quilt.

Both vertically and horizontally that would make another square inside each block, but around the applique? That would work?

Sorry about all the questions guys. I really don't want this one to fall apart, but I'm afraid I'll ruin it it I try stippling.

I think your open areas are a bit wide open. That being said, if they are less that 4 inches, you should be covered. Any thing MORE than 4 inches needs more quilting. I just doodled a bit (and luckily for my customers, I'm a MUCH better quilter than artist!)..how about something over the intersection of the blocks? The circles and arcs would be a bit harder. but a Diamond is straight and you could use a walking foot.

The corners is mainly where you circled and those all have stitch in the ditch. All the seams do. Do I still need more there? I'm thinking of doing additional straight stitch quilting and inch from all seams on all sides. What do you think?

If you're not sure you could do the echo quilting or stippling, you could use 2" blue painters tape and run it along side your seams, on each side. Then follow along side the tape to make straight horizontal and vertical lines. It would create a sort of frame around each cup.

Love your quilt!! Can't see the actual quilting in the picture (old lady) but if you are witin the guidelines for the Batting you used, you should be fine!

I think Iv' decided to do something like that. The vertical and horizontal lines that is.

I just discovered something else really dumb. Where the cup is outlined inside all of that is a 5 inch gap. Not sure what to do there.

If the batting said 2 to 4 inches, I would try for 2 inches just to be on the safe side. When I was new, I didn't pay any attention to how far apart the quilting should be and now after a few washings the batting has bunched up. I think you should err on the side of caution and with echo quilting around the cups, or echo quilt a few times around the background squares. That would be the easiest. Another easy fix is straight lines like the rays of the sun from the cups to the edge of the block about 1 inch apart. Your quilt is very pretty and all the different cups make it very nice. Good job.
Sue

I love your quilt! I would add vertical and horizontal straight lines along the edges of each block, maybe using invisible thread so as not to compete with your fabrics.

I like the idea of the circles at the corners. If you make a large circle then a smaller circle inside it they will look like coffee saucers and everyone will think you planned it that way.

Even though you have done stitch in the ditch along the seams the reason for doing the corners is to catch the batting between the cups. I think if you get the larger areas stabilized your should be OK under the cups. Very cute quilt. You are quite talented.

OOhh. I like the rays of the sun idea.

Thank you.

Congrats on a fun first quilt! This is a great pattern for scraps. I'd suggest doing straight lines of quilting, both horizontal and vertical to help fill in the spaces. Use a lighter colored thread to help blend more. Great job!

You have a fabulous quilt for a newbie!
Yes, when you go around an applique, that's echo quilting. You can echo as many times as you want.
If you're pretty sure about the batting info (2 to 4) then I would make the assumption that 4" would make the quilt secure enough. Again, this means that you need to have a line of quilting no more than 4" apart in any direction. So take a tape measure and measure from your echo quilting to the sitd around the squares. If it's 4" or less, then that area is OK.
but it has to be 4" in ALL directions, so from the cup handle to the edge of the block might be ok (horizontal) but if you measure vertically, next to the cup, you have 10" or so with no quilting, which is not. So you need something across this area to secure it.
I would make a paper mock up of a block. Sketch the cup and steam echo stitching. Use a sharpie for this, then doodle a bit with a pencil and measure to see what the unstitched areas are. Erase and try a different idea. Your additional lines are good, and I would also try connecting the mid point of each side and connect them. that will give you a diamond, then maybe echo this.
I would do a heart inside the cups.

I would stick with the straight lines, an inch or two from your stitch in the ditch lines. Each current stitch in the ditch would have a stitch on each side of it. I would think that would do fine. Not too sure about the inside of your cups, if that is five inches. Maybe echo stitching there too?

YOur quilt is beautiful. I love it!!

Dina

Did you say that the area inside ythe cup is 5"? You mayneed to add more quilting. You could do a large meandering through out the quilt. Maybe just large stitching that goes from one square to another and thru the cups. This is usually not easily seen and shgould add stability of the batting.

How about a quick stitch in the ditch? That should do it. And those coffee cups are adorable! Where did you get the pattern?

I agree with nativetexan. This will frame each block and give it a little more stability in case of washing. BTW, it is adorable! Good job.

I would probably do another 2-3 echos around each cup just to be safe. I think it is darling!! good job!

Speaking as The Expert in Dorkdom ( just ask my kids), I think that is one very nice quilt! I would echo quilt about an inch from what you already did so well on.

Your quilt is precious. If you know that you have quilted at least 2-4 inches apart, then it's fine. From what I can tell, quilting magazines promote quilting all over the quilt, but that has not always been the way it's been done. I do not like to see quilting overdone, it distracts from the fabric and the pattern. I have seen quilts that I actually can't tell the pattern because they have been quilted so heavily. None of my vintage quilts have this done on them. It is your choice what you want to do, but if you follow the batting directions, you will be fine.

I would just be sure I quiltied enough according to batting instructions. Your quilt is really great!!!!!

It is an applique from a McCalls Apron pattern.

I agree. With the straight lines I am still left with a few open spots and I'm going to get brave and try a squiggly here and there. And small free motion squiggly or back and forth inside the cup handle should take care of it the five inch problem without having to stitch over the applique. The echo I did around the applique I found extremely hard to do and had to rip out stitches and try again a few times. Just don't want to do that again right now.

Thank you to everyone for helping me learn how to quilt. I guess if you have to ask, "have I quilted enough?" you probably haven't.

I love it too! Anyone would! It could be either coffee or hot chocolate, etc. The others have given great advice about the quilting, so I'll refrain from my two cents.

Your quilt is just darling...it makes me want to grab a cup of coffee:thumbup:! Great ideas on this thread, and I learned a lot. Whatever you decide to do, it will be just fine! Enjoy your quilt, smile.