hand quilting or machine quilting
 

While at an estate sale I found and purchased a Dresden Plate quilt top. I do not know who made it and I was unable to gather any information on the quilter. The Dresden Plates have been hand sewn onto a muslin top. I would like to finish this quilt but my quilting circle of friends are split on whether it should be hand quilted or machine quilted. Other than binding I have not hand quilted anything. I guess I am looking for advice and opinions before I make my decision. I appreciate any help, advice or thoughts on this subject. Thank You

It is yours to do with as you wish.

If the piecing is nicely done and the applque work is also nice.
, my vote is for hand quilting.

I would do whichever you do the best at. If you are better and more comfortable machine quilting, that is the way to go. Even if hand quilting would be world's better, why torture yourself??

It would have to be a really outstanding treasure for me to hand quilt it, even if it was hand appliqued. Could you post a photo?

Do whatever you like best, because then it will get finished. But if it has been done by hand so far, that would be my preference. Can you tell if the fabric is old? I'm just wondering how it would hold up with machine quilting. Just thinking...it will be beautiful no matter which way you finish it. :-)

My preference would be to hand quilt, but YOU need to do whatever makes YOU happy in working on it!

If you are after speed machine quilt. If you are following the way it was started hand quilt. I have heard on this site people who leave hand quilting until the weather is cold as the quilt keeps you warm.
May we see a picture ?

I am making a Dresden plate quilt and machine quilting it. I stopped hand quilting about 11 or 12 years ago. I would not go backwards. Hand quilting can be beautiful and I appreciate all the work. Just not for me anymore.

I've made a number of fabulous hand appliqued quilts---machine quilted them--and sold them for a lot of $$...I've made a few small quilts and hand quilted them- for me I do what I want at the moment---and size matters- I am willing to hand quilt a small project on occasion- but when it comes to large quilts I machine quilt them because I am WAY too impatient to spend a year or more quilting a quilt...when I could have a couple dozen done in the same time. either way is fine- do what you want- it's yours...and machine quilting does not take away from the quality of the quilt (even if there are still people out there who feel differently- both techniques are acceptable)

No matter which one you decide it will be better than letting in lay about unfinished. Someone put a lot of work into that quilt and for some reason never got to finish it. Hand quilt it, machine quilt it, tie it. Any of the above would be a favor to the original quilter so her work can be enjoyed.

If it were me, it would get machine quilted. At the rate I could hand quilt it, the poor thing would end up half finished at my estate sale!

I've inherited two quilt tops. One is a whole cloth with a beautiful embroideried center. The other is state flowers. Only because they were hand done is the reason I'm finishing them with hand quilting. For me, it just seemed fitting.

HOWEVER, you need to do what feels right for you. These quilts need to be completed and used.

Would love to see a picture of your quilt top.

I LOVE hand quilting with pearle cotton. It goes very fast and looks so pretty with the contrasting thread. See the Craftsy video by Sarah Fielke if you need instruction.