Hand Quilting - where do you get your ideas?
 

I am hand quilting a kaleidoscope quilt. Below is the pattern. I've quilted the "light" curved areas simply by stitching 1/4" from the seam. I need to select a quilting pattern for:

a) the "star" part of the kaleidoscope
b) the three borders -- 1", 2.5" and 3.5"

I just feel rather stuck about what to do and wonder where people turn to for ideas on hand-quilting patterns to put in such places. I have a few books, and I've perused google images but not seeming to find inspiration.

What's your favorite source for finding hand quilting patterns to use? (I suppose it doesn't have to be *hand* quilting patterns, does it?)

Thanks!
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Here are some detail shots; hopefully you can see the hand quilting done so far.
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I use stencils when I hand quilt, transferrring the design to fabric using regular chalk.It wears off fairly easily, so I work an area at a time. Most of my stencils came from http://quiltingstencils.com/viewallblocks.aspx

I kind of let the quilt tell me what needs to be quilted to make the patchwork stand out. I try to avoid quilting through multiple thicknesses of fabric. So pressing seams to one side and quilting in the ditch on the main patchwork areas works well for me or quilting 1/4 in. away from seams. The main place I use stencil type designs are in the open spaces, such as borders or larger filler type background pieces. For ideas you can like my quilting page on facebook and see how I've handquilted many quilts. facebook page: Thimble and Thread By the way, your top is beautiful. I hope you post a finished picture.

Pat, that's juts what I was looking for. Thank you. (But my pocket book does NOT! ;-)

Martha, thanks-- that's typically how I feel about it as well; it just wasn't speaking to me clearly enough! ;-)

I would outline all the different pieces - it's pretty by the way.

I also let the piece speak to me. I will say that sometimes if there are lots of circles/round pieces, I may use a stencil that has straight or angular lines and visa versa.

The narrow purple border, I might do X's in it - or I have a Bishop Fan w/ a rope border that would work perfectly for that - treating the outer 2 borders as one.

I am doing a Cars quilt for a little boy, so no curved lines in that stitching.

Jillane, the quilt top is GORGEOUS. I'm not sure your quilting is going to show much (the more solid the fabric the more the quilting will show and the more patterns you have, the less you will see...I have the same problem with my machine quilting). Contrasting thread helps. I find patterns EVERYWHERE. I am forever taking pictures of carpets, leaves and when we have traveled to Las Vegas, my family has to take me by the arm so I dont' run into people. I am too busy taking pictures of the carpet, the ceiling and one time the wall of the elevator! Don't forget to post a picture when its done. We want show and tell!

Here's what I'm thinking of doing for the 1" border:

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Here's what I'm thinking of doing on the "stars" of the kaleidoscope" (but on point):

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And here's what I found when I went searching for Bishop's Fan after reading Becca's suggestion that I may use some piece of for the wider outer borders (I had also thought possibly of "combining" the quilting across those two borders; not yet sure):

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I also found these fun ones:

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and
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the last of which I probably won't use on this quilt, but I bought for future use.

For the outer most border, I think I will do the bishop's fan, if that's what it's called. I really like the tutorial Bonnie at Quiltville offers:
http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2010/...s-on-fans.html

Love your designs! I have some of those stencils and was amazed at how many times I use them over and over..For the cost they were a great investment