How to Quilt "You've Got Mail"?
 

I've just finished piecing Jenny Doan's "You've Got Mail". Any suggestions on how to quilt it? SITD adds nothing. But also doesn't detract. But I'm not very good at it.

It is a twin size for the Hospice House. So it needs to be durable.

I hit this roadblock with every quilt I make.

FMQ has never been a "friend" to me.

I have an embroidery machine. But not sure how that helps.

The quilting is the part of the process I could do without. Probably because I haven't mastered it.
SVAL

Hi. You haven't said what batting you're using - ie: what is the max distance for quilt lines? I always choose W&N that allows for 10". You said you don't like SITD...but how about "inside echoing"....sorry....that's what i call it....like maybe 1/4 - 1/3 inch inside the edges of the envelope and inside the flap ?
I totally agree with you....i have never taken the time to really work on FMQ with my DSM....so straight line things are the way i go....and even though i start thinking about it when i start the quilt, sometimes i'm still puzzling the "how" even when it's been sandwiched.
GOOD LUCK.

I haven't done any FMQ on anything but 2 pillows many years ago. For me to get a quilt under my DSM is hard enough, let along if I'd be doing all that free motion. What I usually do is echo the seams or cross hatching diagonally. I've done some SITD when the fabric lends to the stitches being almost invisible.

Unfortunately the batting I came home with isn't what I intended to buy. It wasn't until I had it all pinned that I realized. It says 3.5 spacing. Thought I was getting the 10".
I started sewing one seam 1/4 inch away with an off white thread. But it just didn't suit me.
So you're suggesting inside the edges of the envelope? Might try that.

Sometimes I won't make a quilt because of "the not knowing how to quilt it" dilemma.

SVAL

I look at FMQ is like driving a stick shift car. For all of you that know how to, remember how you failed to get the clutch down all the way when starting to learn. Same thing. Takes practice of going a certain speed and noticing the movement of which the machine is feeding it thru the needle. All you have to do is match the speed again and move the fabric at the same rate. One day, it is going to make sense. Just remember to NOT look at the needle but look to where you want to guide the quilt. I do like the quilt and they way they quilted it. Good Luck.

Sval, we are our worst critics. You are probably a much better cook than I am. :)

An overall meander would probably work.

How did they quilt the quilt? Is it on the website? Not that i could do it. Probably sent it to a LAQ.

Yes, that would be great. If only.

My girlfriend uses yarn to decide how she quilts. She lays the top on the bed then plays with the yarn and places it on the quilt designing how she's going to do it. She uses inexpensive yarn but it helps her decide how to quilt it. After placing the yarn, she takes photos and uses them as a guide.