How do I quilt a Sunbonnet Sue?
 

My DH went to visit his brother out of state last weekend and came home with a quilt top made by his SIL's grandmother. SIL has had it put away for at least 20 yrs and didn't know what to do with it so of course he volunteered me to finish it for her. I really don't mind and she told me to do whatever I want. It's old but not an antique; I'd say the fabrics look like 70s or 80s and it's huge. It measures 95 by 110. The Sues are all hand appliqued but the blocks are nicely put together by machine with generous 1/4 in seams so I'm not worried about putting it on the LA. Most of these quilts I've seen are cross-hatched but it would take me forever to cross-hatch this thing. Are they ever stippled in the background? Or echo quilted around Sue? The sashings are about 3in wide so I can think of lots of possibilities there but wondering what to do in the blocks.
I didn't mind that DH volunteered my services for the Sunbonnet quilt but then his brother asked him if I could make a quilt out of his ties (he recently retired after 30 years with the same company) and sent him home with a huge bag of them! And he specified how he wants that quilt done. It's doable but I'm a little ticked about that one. Like I need any more projects right now. DH doesn't usually volunteer me for stuff like this so I don't know what got into him.

I'm not sure, but I will be watching. I have a Mario quilt almost done that I have to figure out quilting for.

Dh tries to volunteer me... I've had to learn to take it as a compliment that he thinks I can do anything. But I've also learned to shoot him the look or turn down projects if I don't want to or can't do them.

I have seen Sun Bonnet Sue echo quilted. Gives nice emphasis on her.

Here's one done in echo that looks great:
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb..../mcnhquilt.htm

I just inherited a number of completed (by hand) Sunbonnet Sue blocks. We think it is from my grand mother and think she hand appliqued them years ago, I am in my sixties.I haven't yet decided how to put it together or quilt it, but these blocks are real treasures. Good luck with however you decide to quilt it, I'm sure it will turn out beautifully. With the sunbonnet Sue quilt I did myself, I just outlined the sunbonnet sues and it turned out pretty well.

I agree with the echo quilting. It should make the Sues stand out.

i do like the look of the quilt in the link. but another thought would be to do rays that seem to be from the center behind sue. but this is a lot more starts and stops. i just think this look will make the sues seem 'brighter' and more cheerful. jmho. be sure to post when you're done... would love to see it.

So glad I opened this post 'cuz I've got one to quilt that I made couple of yrs ago and couldn't make a start. Mine has the 3D feet and hands, so I was bumfuzzled about what to do. Now I know I'm going to ''echo'' and it will be my 1st winter project. Thanks for question and suggestions.

i did one for my sister in law and she was here when i did it. we went around
sue bonnet sue and then we had a different color in the bottom bobbin
didnt turn out too bad. she was happy with it. i hope this makes sense

I hate when one of my family volunteers me for something. Even if I can do it maybe I do not want to or it is too time consuming. I do hem things and such as that for family and friends but they know they get it done on my time and not theirs.