I have been practicing my FMQ and decided to give it a shot with silk thread. This is an example with the YLI thread, but I also used Kimono in my Horizon and both worked beautifully. Then put in some Aurifil at the bottom in a different color just to see side by side any differences. Used the silk in the bobbin as well.

Now here's my dilemma. This is my first quilt - a sampler still not finished b/c I can't decide how to quilt it. I was thinking of ordering some stencils and give hand quilting a go, but now I'm loving the silk. Actually I have two of these samplers. I haven't sandwiched the other one yet - different colors. So, what do you all think? Maybe a little of both. Do hand on one and fmq on the other? Quilting ideas desired.

~ Rose

It is perfectly ok to mix both styles. Just remember that the quilting won't show up as much in the floral fabric. Especially with silk. It will be much more visible in the solid colored fabric. So maybe use the solids to showcase your favorite method.

so i don't understand what the problem is???
you can use silk thread in your machine or for hand quilting either way it works wonderfully- i always use silk thread for hand work-
what is the question? is it just too early for me to understand what you are asking???

Thanks. I hadn't thought about it not showing up in the floral areas.

I was just wondering what you all thought - if I should hand quilt it or machine quilt it? Silk or cotton? These beginner samplers haven't really spoken to me like - put an an all over stitch pattern or stitch just here and there.

I've been practicing both machine and hand quilting and would like to get these done and put to rest. I really enjoy both the hand and machine quilting process and seem to be making tops to just quilt them. There are just so many choices out there with quilt as desired and while I love the quilting and auditioning of styles, I sometimes find it hard to make a decision.

I'm thinking of just machine quilting them in the light areas and putting them to rest.

Do it all. Your quilt, your rules.

O-M-G You are a beginner at FMQ? If only I could do half as well. WOW.

However you quilt it will be good.

Thanks. I'm thinking just a bit of fmq and wrapping them up now. Time to move on.

Thanks. Yup. Just started fmq, hand quilting, machine quilting - all of it. I love it all. I found the secret is to be loose and practice a little everyday. When it's not working I walk away and come back to it.