in-the-ditch or all over stipple?
 

Hello,
I'm relatively new to quilting & am looking for some advice on how this project would look better quilted: in-the-ditch or an all over large stipple? Those are the only 2 methods I feel confident enough to try on such a large project. (It is a queen sized quilt).[ATTACH=CONFIG]470772[/ATTACH] Thoughts?

well a stipple is very small and close together free motion quilting, like a very tight meandering stitch. I can't do that myself. Perhaps some curving lines and some straight ones would suffice. Great quilt!!

Stitch in the ditch is very hard for me to keep straight, so I would do a large stipple. Your quilt is very pretty!!

I would do a large stipple also. Faster and always looks pretty!

Good luck!

Awesome quilt! I like to do large stipling...

Large stipple or swirls. I always like to quilt in a way that contrasts with the piecing. Stark line piecing needs curved quilting for me.

Beautiful quilt. What is the name of the pattern please? BrendaK

It is called an urban lattice quilt pattern.

Its a beautiful quilt! As for the quilting... I would not do either I would do a wide echo stitch that runs down the middle of the light strips and then on the batik area would quilt a square on point going contrary to the square of the batiks creating a diamond , I would do this about half way to the center of that batik square.
If I really wanted to keep the darkest sashing from shifting at all I would stitch right down the center of the dark. Sometimes I find the narrowest sashings will shift a bit and not appear to be the straight line they are before quilting. Since its the contrast is so great and draws you eye to that portion... I would stitch that dark sashing.

Thank you for the quick responses. It seems the overall consensus is that I should soften the quilt a bit with the quilting. Looking at some meandering patterns (that is what I was trying to say when I said 'large stipple'). I might try practicing a meandering leaf pattern, since the quilt is meant for a nature loving man & I used all the colors of summer in the outdoors in the quilt. If I don't feel like I can get the hang of it in the next week or so, I'll stick to a more basic meander pattern... I'm a bit nervous though. I've only ever tried the meander on potholders. For bigger projects, I've always stuck to in-the-ditch.

This is what I was thinking too! Stitching down the center of the dark strips and in the white on either side will give a unique cornerstone effect where the lines cross at the block intersections. If one square on point isn't enough quilting for your batting requirements you could echo the shape. For the sashing stitching I would match the threads to the material colors or use monofilament. Your quilt is beautiful!

I like LoriS suggestion of stabilizing by quilting right down the center of the black sashing. I took a Craftsy class where the instructor recommended STD with bottom line thread prior to any decorative quilting. It really works. Your quilt is so striking. Thanks for sharing the pattern name.

Lori S has made an excellent suggestions. I prefer to do quilting that will enhance the piecing of the quilt top. You have made a very beautiful quilt top with the selection of your fabrics. For those who can stitch straight, try an decorative stitch. I love the look of hand quilting and use that as my guide when I machine quilt. I would start by stitching the dark sashing in the ditch first before trying anything else. Be sure you have support (such as a table) right next to your left side so the quilt is supported thru the quilting process. Put an ironing board in front of the machine so that also supports the quilt. when I was taught to machine quilt over two decades ago, I was told to roll up the excess of a quilt and toss it on my left shoulder. THAT DIDN'T WORK FOR ME! Support is extremely important when quilting any quilt.

Welcome from Missouri.

I do a lot of large stipples on my quilts. I love doing it and love the look. Seems faster but, uses more thread. Straight line stitching uses less thread but to me is not as fast and harder to move the quilt around.
Your quilt, your decision.

How about a wavy line cross hatch following each side of the brown sashing so there would be no SITD or stipple which can also be hard to do on a home machine on a big quilt.

DITTO and repeat!

I would stitch in the ditch on the brown and maybe the white then meander/stipple inside of that

This is very interesting to me, as I am making a quilt with 1/2" sashing (sounds weird, I know, but the fabrics are very dainty). How wide is the brown sashing in the picture? If I went down the middle of the 1/2", wouldn't it disappear?

What is an echo stitch?

Thanks,
Charlotte

It is more difficult for a beginner to do in the ditch so that it does not look untidy. You should make sure you have a walking foot on the machine before you start and do not always go in the one direction ( so that you don't distort the quilt). In my opinion, you stand a better chance of success if you do a relatively large stipple using fmq with a hopping foot. All the best.

Beautiful Quilt! Since I never seem to stay in the ditch when I attempt it, I always stipple on large quilts.

Love your quilt! I would suggest an all over meander ( which technically is larger and more open than a stipple) for one thing because turning and turning and turning and turning your quilt to stitch in th ditch is very co besom with a large quilt like yours. Also, I think having some "movement" like a meander will give it on a geometric quilt is very visually interesting. Please show us when it's done!

Stitch in the ditch can be hard on such a large quilt...maybe the large meander is the better idea. Although I do like the idea of SITD for the brown. I agree with someone above who thought the large meander would soften the quilt. Although if the quilt is for a man, maybe that's not necessary. Maybe echo quilting or some other pattern in the white space would be good.

One thing I do when I can't decide is to get a large roll of string from the $ store, and lay the string out in the quilting pattern I'm thinking about. And then step back to see what it looks like. Sometimes the answer is more clear that way.

Good luck deciding! It's a very pretty quilt!

I totally agree with Lori on this one

All over stipple hides more sins! When I try to do anything in a straight line, I get puckers!

beautiful quilt, the recipient is going to love it ... I'm enjoying reading the replies and agree that SITD can be difficult, looking forward to seeing a photo of your finished quilt to see what your decision on the quilting turned out to be

This is a interesting and timely topic for me. I'm wondering if you plan to SITD every seam before doing other quilting. I've heard that one should do that, but I'm not an expert, that's for sure! I've pinned a jelly roll race quilt sandwich and am pondering my next move, having never quilted anything more than a tote bag.

Your quilt top is beautiful! Good luck with the quilting!

You may be new but the quilt looks like it was done by someone who wasn't new to quilting. Beautiful colors and setting.

If it were mine, I would stitch in the ditch on either side of the narrow brown strips, then on the inside of the white sashings. Once that was all done, I'd do my meandering/stippling on the green centers. Or you could leave out the stitch in the ditch along the white sashings, and treat the entire inside block with your meandering/stippling. Very pretty quilt!

Sure....you just added another quilt to my "to do" list. I absolutly love this quilt!! The pattern and the fabrics are perfect together! Love it!!! I would do an overall stipple. It would add some design to the quilt without taking away from the beautiful fabrics and pattern. Great job!

What a beautiful quilt!! Personally, I would do stitch in the ditch, but that is because it is what I am most comfortable with. Whatever you decide, make sure you are comfortable with it. It is a big quilt. You want it to be fun to quilt, not a frustration!

Dina

Charolotte- the sashing is 1 inch wide.

Thanks to everyone who responded! You've given me a lot to think about. My plan of action is to quilt down the center of the brown sashing to help stabilize it. Then I'm going to try an all over meander in thread that matches the muslin. I think my fear was that having the white thread cut through the brown sashing and the greens and yellows would ruin the geometry of the quilt. However, I've been looking at how similar patterned quilts have been done & it looks good, so I'm ready to take the risk. I will post a picture when I'm finished.

Thanks for the encouragement and support!
Krista

Thanks, Krista!

LOVE the quilt. just my colors!

thank you all for your suggestions. I ended up closing and brown along the brown strips to stabalize the quilt. I tried twice to meander quilt, bun in the middle, the weight of the quilt would mess up the tension. After ripping out the quilting twice, I decided to just quilt around each diamond in a bright green thread. It is not exactly how is hoped, but I am still happy with the end result.

I can't get the picture to load, but here is a link to a picture of the finished quilt:
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/193443746469385141/

That's beautiful! Great job.

Looks great! You did a super job

Beautiful quilt and I vote for in the ditch@! Can't wait to see it finished. But all the suggestions like stipple or large meander would definitely be easier. for all kthe reasons everyone else suggested.

PS I've done a few 'stitch all around the ditch' quilting, so I know that what the other responders are saying about SITD is true.