Enough quilting to hold it together -
 

Some of the quilting I see on here is awesome! The designs, the accuracy/ intricacy, the density - the quilting is beautiful and does add a lot to the quilts.

So far, my machine quilting consists of stitch in the ditch - which I do well - and straight line stitching on a domestic seeing machine. ( Are there any "wild" sewing machines out there?)

Anyway, I have decided that my "minimalist" quilting will be adequate

And I am telling myself that I want to let the wonderfulness of my piecing be the star of the quilt.

Sounds good to me ! :)

I agree 100%. I think there is quilting for show and quilting for comfort. Light quilting makes a snuggly quilt. Although I do think there is a transition in a quilter. In one stage a quilter focuses on color, 1/4 inch seams and patterns. Then there is another phase, where a quilter focuses on the quilting. I always migrate to color and pattern.

I have to agree with you both. Yes, I'm in awe of the intricate micro-quilting and the perfect feathers, etc. seen at the national quilt shows. I truly appreciate the 400 frazillion hours it took to come up with the perfect design and execute it with no mistakes. But I have to work and clean the house and cook and all that other life stuff and I only have a few hours each week to piece or quilt. So I have to decide what is important to me. I want a pretty quilt that is comfortable to sleep under, and I would like to get a few finished each year. I decided a couple of years ago that the fabric, colors, and pattern were what I love the most. I have a sit-down Tiara machine and am able to get some "good enough" quilting done on the ones I finish, and that is fine with me! The few people I have given quilts to are like me - they pay attention to the color and pattern and not the actual quilting, so it works all around.

Check out Pinterest or any other quilt blogs for "Walking Foot Quilting." You can do a lot of great quilt patterns with it.

I really dislike massive quilting on a quilt. I prefer to see the layout of the pieces which is often hidden by the quilting. I think some quilts are so overly quilted that they could stand up on their own. Just my opinion.

I tend to like fluffier batts and less quilting than is currently popular, but a lot of that is because that is what I am able to do myself. Some times though warm & natural and dense intricate quilting is what I want.

I have to admit that my mind is having a hard time to wrap itself around the 3-D part of the quilt process. I do 2-D just fine. Plus I really can't draw at all which doesn't help. I've seen the difference a talented quilter can make in a lack-luster top but there's that key word "talented".

For the past couple of years I've had access to a friend's long arm but it looks like I will have to find other options. I've been composing a message for Craig's List to see if I can share a home set up with some one some how maybe a couple days a month for a year or so. I understand the cost of the systems and their maintenance and am willing to pay but can't afford the shop rates and scheduling time commitments as well as (of course) my batting, needles, thread, etc. Maybe I can trade house or pet-sitting for someone who travels or assist someone who isn't using their setup because of physical reasons. Looking for something mutually beneficial, of course finding a like-minded person who just loves to quilt and become my life-long devoted quilting partner would be ideal... but heck, I'll just pay for some time on a machine too.

Same thing with paying someone to quilt, what I'm willing to pay for can be done, but it isn't what I want. But, if I can find a quilter who loves the quilting aspect who would be willing to quilt my donation projects that would be great. I can adjust my projects by their pet charity if need be, mostly I like to have projects to keep me busy.

I know there are a lot of quilters in my area lucky enough to have home set-ups and then some of them find they don't enjoy it that much, or justified the cost by the idea of quilting for money and then found they didn't like that aspect of it but with total freedom to do what they want and their own schedule to do it, might be willing to accept some payment less than going rates.

Yep, me too!

I like and usually do just FMQ or a large meander. I don't like all the heavy quilting for my quilts.

I like looking at it.

My favorite part of quilting is the FMQ. That being said, while some dense quilting is done perfectly and is beautiful, I don't aspire to do that. I do practice with a ruler and try different things, and am getting better, but, for me, and this is just my opinion for my quilts, less is more.