I need help and advice
 

This quilt top has me stalled out. Original plan was to make a queen size, but then I decided to make one twin size and the other full size to fit beds in the grandchildren's guest room. After getting this one all sewn together I thought it would be a great opportunity to practice my FMQ (which I have never done more than a few practice blocks). I've now broken it down into 3 units so I can quilt it in sections on my domestic machine. But what to do? The pattern is so very busy and my FMQ talents are limited. Do you think I should try to outline the stars and just fill in with meandering. What I have done so far doesn't seem to set off the stars at all and it is "puttsy" to try and quilt all the little spaces around them; my stitch consistency has much to be desired, but it is just practicing and the GC certainly won't be critiquing it. I'm almost ready to go back to straight, diagonal stitches, but that doesn't help me to learn FMQ or perfect any technique. Any advice is appreciated - would darker bobbin thread help?

I wouldn't change a thing! First of all you have done a great job in selecting fabrics with good contrast. The stars pop just fine and don't need quilting to enhance them other than what you have shown (the simple echo inside the star and the meander right up to the seam line). The only thing I can think of that might emphasize the stars more is to SITD around them. IMHO the effort taken to do so would not result in a payout significant enough to bother.

Do not switch to a dark bobbin thread. Every wobble and mistake will scream like a beacon at you.

Keep going with what you are doing. You are 2nd guessing what are obviously great quilting instincts.

I agree with feline! I think most quilts need just simple quilting to allow the pattern and piecing to shine. We really just need to quilt it to hold the layers together. Beautiful top, keep up the good work!

You're doing great! I like what you have so far and would really encourage you to keep going. It gets better the more you do it, and everyone has to start somewhere. After it's washed, you'll just see the beautiful texture with your wonderful piecing. I love how your quilt top looks.

Since you asked for ideas, I drew these out really quickly for it. Way faster to do by hand than on the computer! You could obviously repeat these designs in the colored parts or mix and match them depending on how you're feeling. I love continuous line designs so that I don't have to break thread, and you could easily travel in the ditch to get to the next star and into the center of the star.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]610569[/ATTACH]
1) really simple, straight dot to dot quilting, just echoing the shape of the diamonds
2) still dot to dot but with an arc instead of straight for a different look (one of my diamonds, I arc'd too much so just a nice gentle curve would do well here, I think!)
3) simple curl inside the diamond for a curvy radiant design
4) fern leaf shape? You can draw the stem up the center of the diamond and then do some skinny wavy leaves which is nice since they're intended to be irregularly wavy, and travel along the stem as needed to get back to the center
5) 3 layered oval/leaf-ish shapes. I did the bottom two first then traveled up the center to angle the last point into the point of the diamond

I think any of these would fit inside the echo stitching you've already done if you're feeling brave enough to try. We're all learning together :)

I was thinking you had already done all the meandering but in re-reading, you haven't! So, instead of having to travel in the ditch to get between stars, you can simply meander on over to the next one :) Easy! Can't wait to see it when you're done.

So glad you asked this question of this particular quilt! I'm just delving into machine quilting myself because I have a 2 color hunter's star that I need to get done quickly. I'm working on another now to try to hone the skill of simple straight line quilting so I can (hopefully) move onto the hunter's star next.

And Sephie - your suggestion #1 is exactly what I'm planning to do for mine in opposing thread colors. That you for the visual!

I think you're doing a fine job with your meander.

Do you have speed control on your machine? I find one of the best tips for FMQ and getting good curves is to find the right combination of speed of hands and foot control and then set the speed control on your machine to that speed and press the foot control all the way down while moving your hands at the desired speed.

Watson

Another thought, but one that doesn't have anything to do with the quilting design: do you have Machingers gloves? I've tried other cheaper solutions (garden gloves, etc) in the past but I was able to find Machingers pretty cheaply on Amazon before and I will never go back. They fit snugly and grip really well and I absolutely love them. Your LQS will likely carry them too if you want to just go pick up a pair.

If you're finding it difficult to move the quilt through your machine and you don't have the machine inset into a table, I used to use books or small boxes placed around my sewing machine to make a faux extension for my machine until I made a foam insulation topper for my table. Books/boxes are easily moved when you're done, and having a level surface will significantly reduce drag which makes for much easier FMQ. As Watson said, finding the right combination of speed between hands and foot control is important. I actually find it much easier to make smoother curves when my foot is stitching faster! :D

Carol, your quilt is beautiful! I do think you have a good plan there; I can't think of anything that would be less puttsy than the meander.

I agree with Feline, also, and Sephie's suggestions for machingers and supporting the weight of the quilt. Super helpful. Your pictures show a good start, I think. At some point, to feel comfortable with FMQ, you just have bite the bullet and keep going. I am sure that by the time you finish, you will like it much more. Another thing I have to keep in mind myself, is that when it is done and you are not sitting with your nose within inches of the stitching, it will look better. You have the perfect project to work on your skills. Hang in there!

Your quilt is beautiful. I find it amazing when I show my quilts to my family and friends and they do not even look at the quilting itself but they see the whole quilt (colors, pattern etc...) You are looking at your quilting with a "magnifying glass" others will not. I would just go ahead and practice all you want. there were excellent suggestion given above.

What I use is 2 pieces of "non-adhesive shelf and drawer liner" that I cut about the size of my hand... because I did not know if I would like or even be able to quilt a big quilt with my DSM and I did not want to invest in gloves that I might use once only.... that is what I still use

https://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/sto...n-stone/127376

I use garden gloves with little rubber dots on them. !.00 - 2.00 sometimes cheaper. They work very well for me. I have FMQed over 300 or so quilts.

Your quilt is beautiful, FMQ is great. Just relax or it will show in the quilting. Washing and drying the quilt when finished hides a multitude of things.

I think you are off to a great start---your quilting looks much nicer than my first attempt at fmq. After my 3rd or 4th quilt, I remember how confused my mother was when she saw how excited I was when my machine quilting had reached mediocre, lol. I think when I reach "not bad", I will literally do a happy dance!

Keep up the great work!

Bravo to you, you're doing a great job of it....goodness, you should see some of the meandering attempts I've done on my quilts! I like the idea of doing a simple pattern inside your starts and then using your meander to head on over to the next star...I hate having to stop and start and will always choose the easy continuous option! Your quilt is lovely, your colours and fabric patterns terrific and your quilts will look fab once they are done. And you'll like them more and more as time goes on because they are a story to your own quilting journey and they will make you smile when reflecting about them.

I use also. I have some other gloves specifically for quilting, but prefer the garden gloves

They way we learn is by practicing. What better way than on quilts that you know will be loved and used without criticism. One of the biggest problems quilters have is that we are too hard on ourselves. The quilts are lovely and will be appreciated!

Thank you ladies for the good feedback. I will definitely use some of the designs, get some garden gloves at least and adjust my speed control. I feel very encouraged by all the comments. One question I have now probably shows how naive I am about FMQ since I was switching between my 1/4 inch pressure foot (to outline the stars) and the fmq foot to do the meander. Do most of you use the fmq foot to do straight stitching or SITD?

I almost always use my FMQ foot to do straight stitching unless all of the straight stitching is going in 1 direction (rarely) because I hate having to turn my quilt inside my 6.5in throat a million times. Since your lines are so short, I would just use the FMQ foot for that and try to stop on the points to readjust your hand position. It can be difficult to keep the line straight(er) if you stop in the middle of a line. Once it's quilted, the shrinkage will hide any minor bobbles anyway.

What is a 1/4 in pressure foot? I always use my walking foot when doing the straight lines in one direction. Recently, since I got a ruler foot, I've been loving to use a ruler to do straight lines because it's so much faster! I'm a daredevil with speed :D

Sephie, the 1/4 pressure foot is just my guide to sew the correct distance from the seam line. I sew on a Pfaff machine that has the IDT (integrated duel feed), so it doesn't require another walking foot. I'm trying to do the outlining with the fmq foot and not too accurate at this point
Thank you for all the good suggestions!

Ahhh just a 1/4in quilting foot then. I didn't know if the "pressure" part meant it had some kind of cool adjustable spring where you could control pressure or something. I hear the IDT is pretty great! Don't stress about accuracy and stitch length too much right now. You're doing really well and I'm sure the quilt will be beautiful once it's completed - it's already beautiful so your quilting will simply add to it's appeal :)

Your quilt is lovely. Did you hand cut the pieces or do them on an Accuquilt? I just bought the die for Hunter's Star and am anxious to try it.

Marcia

Marcia, I cut them by hand. The fabrics are those that I had originally chosen to do Bonnie Hunter's Mystery, but then I was going to be gone the entire time the clues came out, so I decided to use them in her version of Hunter's Star with the string blocks. I've been following all the posting of Good Fortune and really like your's and especially like your Allietair quilt. That one is so striking. I envy you a bit for getting in on her class with Smith Mountain. That is one that I've got on my bucket list too. I've noticed all the helpful hints you have given so many of us on this site and really appreciate your helpfulness. I'm struggling with this quilt yet, but learned that it is probably because my meandering is too "tight". It would have been done by now if I didn't make them so close together.

I think you are on the right track with the designs you have chosen. Just keep practicing. Gloves will help a lot. I use Machingers... snug fitting and lightweight so my hands stay cool.

That's a very pretty quilt! I couldn't bring myself to practice on it but I admire your bravery......and your FMQ looks fine!

I love your beautiful quilt. I would leave it as is.

I think your fmq looks fine. Keep going.
I try to relax, try singing while fmq.
Do it for 15 minutes at a time.
I draw the fmq on paper before I start, it helps.
Good luck.
Annette