I'm machine quilting a wall hanging (will post a picture when it's done). It's for Halloween and there are pumpkins, cats, etc.

I'm quilting the pumpkins following their natural curve. When I get to the bottom of a pumpkin, I stop and cut the thread and move over to start the next line of stitching.

My question: I have been threading and hiding each end of the thread in the quilt (it is taking lots of time) I don't want the wall hanging to be covered with short little threads......

What do the rest of you, just cut them and leave the ends or what?

Quite often I will meander between items so that I do not have to stop and start a million times.

For a seasonal wall hanging like this, I would probably end with some teeny-tiny machine stitches over previous stitching, cut with just a small end, and pull the top thread through to the backside, and cut close to the quilt there. I would not cut thread between designs; I'd just travel the needle over to the next design and saving cutting the threads until I can do them all at once.

If you want to hide longer threads inside the batting, here is a video about the quickest way to do that:
http://freemotionquilting.blogspot.c...g-threads.html

I agree with Prism99, especially on a wall hanging that isn't going to be handled much... I hate burying those knots if it isn't necessary :wink:

Thank you for your replies. It is just so reassuring when I hear from other quilters and their ideas. (particularly quilters that have far more experience then me!)

I have been meandering around so there aren't as many thread ends to deal with.

And, Prism, what a treat. The site you suggested is wonderful. I love all of the video tutorials. She makes it look soooo easy.

Oh, well, it's like they keep saving----practice, practice, practice, :mrgreen: