Here is my new top just finished today. It will be my second attempt at FMQ on my machine (Janome 6600). Can you give me any ideas for a simple, beginner quilt pattern. I would really appreciate your suggestions. I have done SITD before & would like to try something new, maybe just swirls and some simple stars in the outer borders. Thanks

The pattern is Shadow Star by Karen Combs Studio & was made mainly from scraps.

Wow! I really like star pattern quilts. I have not seen this pattern before and really like it. Great job!

This is a new pattern to me. Love it! I'm no help with the quilting.

Like the pattern, and your choice of colors.

unique pattern! good quilt!

Nice scraps! A beautiful quilt. Well done.

Nice pattern and I love your use of colors. For the quilting, maybe some "petals" in the points of the stars to look something like flowers.
Sue

Awesome quilt! Love that pattern :D:D:D

That's a beautiful quilt!!!! Best stars I've ever seen!

Really like that shadow star effect....you did a great job with colors..

That is PRETTY---I agree with the suggestions for petals....

Wow - that is pretty! Love the design, very dramatic.

Spotted a really neat quilting design recently for stars -
http://wheatridgestudios.blogspot.com/
Scroll down to see the Friendship Star designs.

Great quilt.

This is a beautiful quilt. Sorry I can't help with a FMQ pattern as I am still learning it myself. Leah Day has a website that has a lot of help on it. Please post your finished design.

Beautiful quilt! Love those stars with bright and contrasting colours! Sorry I can't help with the FMQ as I'm still struggling with mine.

*W*O*W* that is simply stunning! What if you 1/4" echo around the stars and maybe some small meandering as a filler. Beautiful quilt, how ever you decide to quilt it, it will only enhance it. I can hardly wait to see it completed.

Beautiful quilt top, love the colors and pattern.

wow that's beautiful !!!! i'll have to remember that pattern.

I am currently taking FMQ classes and there are several things I have learned from this set of classes that I didn't learn from some I took several years ago. The best suggestion is get Harriet Hargrave's book "Heirloom Maching Quilting" and read it. Then practice 15 minutes a day for a week or two. Nothing beats practice. If you bump up against problems, refer to the suggestions that Harriet suggests. I have found that has been the soulution to most of my problems.

How big are the main stars (without the shadow star)? If your batting will allow you to use a distance far enough to STID around the main star - then I would do that. Then echo stich the shadow star. Meander the background of each. Then a vine, leaf, or feather design in the frame.

If the main star is too big and you have to quilt inside it ... STID your pieces in the star (assume they're diamonds?) to meet in the center of the star - but again - just the main star. Treat the shadow star differently.

Don't have any advice on the quilting question. But, that top is awesome. And thank you for giving the name of the pattern and the designer. So often I see quilts on this board that I would love to try, but have no idea of the pattern/designer name. Several months ago there was the suggestion that whenever anyone posts a picture of a quilt they give the pattern/designer name, but I guess that sort of fell through the cracks. Anyway, thanks again, and I love your quilt top.

Beautiful quilt.

Don't have a clue about how to quilt this...but this is an awesome design! Love your fabric choices and your piecing is great! Well done! Looking forward to seeing this again after it's quilted!

Oh, I love that pattern and your colors are stunning! It really pops.

Ditto!

Love the pattern and your colors are gr8 :!:

Really love the stars, never saw that pattern before, would make a nice mans quilt.

No help here either, since I am just learning, but your quilt is very pretty!!

Love your quilt!!!

Gorgeous !!!!

I would do something with curves to be different than the pointed stars. Perhaps just a "squiggly" quilting.

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions and compliments. I will do some practice sandwich blocks & build up my courage before beginning. I really want to learn to FMQ since it is too expensive for me to send quilts out to be done.

Good advice. Thanks.

The blocks are made up of 2" squares (finished size) & HST's. So the center of the main star is 4" sq. plus HST's making the points.

Thanks for that suggestion. Excellent advice. I have ordered the book -- can't wait to get it.
Janet in Ohio

I am still learning FMQ, but what I have learned is that if you are doing it totally free hand smaller curves (less than saucer size) are easier to make look good than larger curves. I started by using a template to chalk a basic design on the quilt and work from that. It helped me keep my proportions and not wander off into never land.

i love your stars!!!!

I would do a simple " swirl or petals" shape in the main star. I would quilt the "shadow" with parallel lines to follow the shape and define it as being in the background. The book in the picture has TONS of the simple, beginning designs you would need. You might want to check the website "Half.com"
That is where I get most of my books - new and used.
Great quilt!

Great job on the quilt top, I like the shadow effect on the stars.

This is a great pattern. Is it your own creation ? Everybody will want it! As for quilting this little gem I would keep it simple In the Ditch around the window panes and echo the inside of stars. I love this creation!