Large stipling ... bad
 

I made a quilt recently that had large appliqued letters on it. I wanted the applique to stand out, and I also wanted to finish the quilt fast - so I opted for a large stipple on the background.

The first time I stippled it was on a 2" border so it was smallish and I took to stippling like a duck to water. Since then I've also done some pieces with micro-stippling and again ... like a duck. It was sooooo easy.

Large stippling kicked my BUTT!! I had more problems moving the quilt around (domestic machine), and I had so many thread breaks because my hand motion was too fast for my machine speed. I just could not get the hang of large stippling to save my life.

One would think by looking at it that large stippling is easier and faster than small or medium stippling ... and perhaps it is on a long arm.

Am I alone in this?

No, you are not alone. I usually quilt my quilts block by block, but I wanted a large allover stipple on my Jewel Box. I had trouble knowing where I was on the quilt and moving it in a smooth fashion. I finally had to mentally do it in large blocks and keep telling myself 'large puzzle pieces' so I wouldn't get myself quilted into a place I couldn't get out.

My theory is we all have a comfort level when it comes to size of stippling -- a point where it "just feels right" and is easy to do. When we alter the size we are less able to get a good result without alot of concentration....kind of like trying to drive a big sedan when you are used to a Mini-Cooper!

I had a hard time doing the same...I had numerous thread breaks. I couldn't handle the large motions without a problem, either. I did change my thread to a 100% cotton from Connecting Threads and the breakage stopped...not sure if it was the thread or me.

This might help - makes sense to me - but I don't know how to FMQ

http://www.quiltingboard.com/tutoria...g-t177072.html

I didn't have a problem with "where" to stipple (ie direction), it was just the mechanics of doing it. The larger pattern requires a larger movement of the quilt which I found difficult to constantly adjust and the larger movement combined with my machine speed was not matched - hence the thread breakage. I did have better luck when I increased my machine speed, but I still had some breaks.

I was also using a lighter weight thread (Aurifil 50 wt). In hindsight I may have better off with a 30 wt. I later discovered a spool of blue variegated 30wt that would have been perfect.

I'll have to do some practicing of larger stippling ... see if I can find a better machine/hand speed combined with a heavier thread that will work.

Have you seen this quilting frame? I ordered one and expect it to arrive next week. I think it looks like a great way to quilt.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbTgcGmQ9PY

Ken sells the quilt frames and here is his information.

http://machine-quilt-frames.blogspot.com/

I have ... I even tried it in Paducah last year. Not sure I liked the feel of moving the machine instead of the quilt. It was different.

I do a fairly large stipple. I pick a size area I'm comfortable working in and go to the bottom. Start back up at the beginning and go ddown, aver and over. I usually divide my quilt into 4ths and do a 1/4 at a time. If I block my quilt so it doesn't fall off dining table, I can go back up, what I call going backwards. Maybe this will help you.