I am hand quilting a large bed quilt. The quilting is getting to me like never before. The center is finished - thank God, but I have the nine inch borders yet to do. I plan to do them in just 1 1/2 inch cross hatching. The printed fabric will not be conducive to any special designs. Would it be bad for me to machine quilt the borders since the top is hand quilted? I usually enjoy the hand quilting, but this time it is getting to me. This quilt has just taken too long to complete. My dh says to put it away for a few months and then finish it. Maybe that is the answer. I usually don't like to start a new project before the first is done.

I machine quilted a king size quilt but hand quilted the borders. it's mine, so I did it my way.

I have done that, but felt bad afterwards. When I commit to a hand quilting project, I really try to do it all the same way. I don't think there is anything wrong with machine quilting it, but, I just feel so guilty! Whatever you decide, I am sure it will be ok.

I think the quilt police have taken a holiday -- go ahead and do it that way!!!! I see no problem!

I think your husband is right. Put it away for a while and take it out again when you're not frustrated and with new eyes.

I've done quilting and tying on the same quilt and it came out beautifully. It's yours, make the decision and run with it what ever you decide. Don't second guess yourself after it's done, just enjoy the fact that it's finished. After all, second guessing causes guilt and guilt's just a waste of precious time.

I think the quilt police are snowed in!! I have done this and it turned out alright.

I mix hand quilting, machine quilting, and machine embroidery on my quilts all of the time. Like you said, the hand quilting will not really show in areas anyway.
Machine quilting is no longer thought of as the 'fast way out' and inferior to hand quilting. I have many friends that can no longer hand quilt and they still want to make quilts, machine quilting is easier on the hands.
In a baby quilt contest in a magazine there were 10 baby quilts submitted. The 3 winners were all machine quilted, the 2 hand quilted did not receive an honorable mention.
But hand quilting is still my fav!

I have seen quilts in a judged show that have both. It is a nice way to show off both your skills.

No, it's not bad. I've done it before and it looks fine. And you have the added bonus of finishing it faster.

I agree to put it away for a bit and then decide when you aren't so frustrated. But in general, I think it's ok to mix machine and hand quilting in the same project. Life's too short to hand quilt in the ditch!

I agree with "it's your quilt, do it your way." I would have never thought to do both, but if I saw some nice examples of both being done, I'm sure I'd do the same thing!

I do both machie and hand in most of my qyuilts now anbd love it, do what you feel is right for you!

I've thought more about this and I think that to machine quilt the borders would actually highlight the hand quilting in the center. Sort of like a frame enhancing a picture.

I think mixing hand and machine quilting has been done for as long as sewing machines have been around. :D:D:D

I would do whatever I want and since it sounds like machine quilting the borders would be easier on you, go for it!

There are no rights and wrongs.

(I think the quilt police are snowed in!! )

I love it. I just hope they aren't snowed in here in Iowa because we have a lot of snow. I am a hand quilter too and I would have to think about mixing the two (hand and Machine) but I have seen it done many times. Do whatever feels right to you.

Your quilt, your decision.

I have a friend who does beautiful hand applique.Another friend does hand piecing. Both send their quilts to longarmers. No reason why you can't mix hand quilting with machine quilting.

Yup- I totally agree :thumbup: :thumbup:
Also- I've only really done hand quilting- learning to MQ this year. Large quilts can be really tedious after awhile. I've done them.
Do what's right for U :)

I mix them in most of my quilts. I figure the first person that is rude enough to complain about how i make my quilts will get an anatomy lesson involving my pincushion and their posterior ;)
It's mine I can do it how i want and if they don't like it they are more than welcome to make their own and quit picking on my projects lol

I would put it away for a while and then get it out later. If I hand quilt a quilt, I do it all by hand but I don't see a reason why you can't do both on the same quilt. Just remember, if there are no quilt police, then there is no quilters jail either. Create your own style.

I longarm quilt for customers, and one lady does beautiful hand quilting. But she says she just doesn't have time to quilt all of the tops she has been making. She has me load the quilt and quilt certain portions, then I baste the rest and she hand quilts those. So I say go for it!

It's your quilt--do it the way you want. I once did this when I got sick of hand quilting a queen size quilt. I still have it and use it and I haven't gotten arrested yet. :-)

I'm just finishing up a queen size and machine quilted (SID) all over and then am doing the fill-in work by hand quilting each block. Yes, it's taking some time and yes, it's looking good! Not one guilty feeling - just enjoyment in doing this!!!

I like to finish each project as I do it too. But if you will like the quilt when you are done and it won't drive you crazy, then do the machine quilting. Otherwise go ahead and start something else while you contamplate the finishing. Whatever you decide, it will be right for you!!

This question is really timely for me. I'm in the last stages of my baby Jane quilt. I have all the center blocks hand quilted and the pieced tris are also hand quilted (all QAYG)...but...I am just about to put it together and will need to do lots of SITD. Due to the size of the blocks and the numerous seams with PP...some of the "ditches" are really thick..I am thinking of doing that by machine. I just don't think my hands can tolerate doing it...so..I'll peek out the window before I start, but then think I'll go for it. You should too...

I have a friend who ties her quilts, uses them and as the spirit moves, takes out the ties and hand quilts a section at a time, eventually the whole quilt is hand quilted.

No one is going to come in your house and point fingers, do as you please and get it done so you don't lose your interest in quilting.

Carol J.

I took an heirloom quilting class from the master of machine quilting -- Harriet Hargrave. You can achieve a hand quilted look by using the nylon thread on top, and a silk or cotton thread in the bobbin. When the quilt is washed, and it scrunches up after drying it, the "look" is that of a hand quilted quilt. Can you try that??

I feel exactly the same way and have also tied and quilted in one quilt, a gift quilt even!

I just finished 2 hexangonal tabletoppers. One I did with FMQ, the other I handquilted a grid in the center (the center was a Baltimore Album pattern and just too many starts and stops to FMQ) and FMQed the border with a feather pattern. They both looked great. Phooey on the quilt police - its YOUR quilt!

I hand quilt certain sections on the quilts I make as a personal touch.
I don't know if there's a right or wrong as long as it comes out uniform without bunching.

Its your quilt, do what you want. If you see the quilting will not even show that much on the border, I see no reason for you not to finish it by machine.

I, too, have done both hand & machine quilting on the same project. In fact, I currently have one (Circle of Life pattern) where I hand appliqued the centers with embroidery floss, hand quilted around them in the block & then used a heart design from my machine & 'tacked' the border which is a dark print & won't show. The trio might summon the quilt police but I like it & plan to keep it so I won't answer the door bell.!

I was thinking of doing the same thing - I finished quilting the center of a quilt that is for me and thought maybe quilting the 2 boards by maching, which I have never done before (machine quilting) - but since I have my new machine (brother sq9000) I thought I would try it. thanks for asking this question. :)

I just finished quilting my avatar quilt. I had it machine quilted outside the applique work in a feather design and I hand quilted inside the bordered squares around the applique with cross hatching. I love the look :P

Grammer Ann-
It is not worth doing cross-hatching by hand. I am sure your hand-quilted center is lovely but be rational about the borders. In cross-hatching, uniform stitch size is probably more important so go for it with machine-quilting and save your hand-quilting for feathers and stars,etc.
Besides quilting is supposed to be fun and it doesn't sound like you are having fun.
Finish your quilt by machine and start your next project with fresh enthusiasm.
-Judy

Your Avatar Quilt is so pretty..... very showy! What is the next project??

I like this quilt --- very showy!!

. I usually don't like to start a new project before the first is done.[/quote]

Wow! I never seem to do that!! I always have 2 or 3 "irons" in the fire. If I waited-----I might never get another one made.