I attach below a photo of a border that I'm trying to quilt. As you see, the border fabric is of leaves.

I want to quilt around each leaf. I started hand-quilting, which allows me the greatest control, but I cannot come close to neither an acceptable stitch gauge nor an acceptable rhythm; in addition, it will take more time than I have (quilt to be auctioned 22 May; it's lap size and there are about five yards of this border), and I'm not sure that either my eyes or my hands are "young" enough to get through this process. (P.S. I've never hand-quilted anything before.)

On the machine, I have only ever done stitch-in-the-ditch with a standard foot. Last night I attempted to attach a generic walking foot (purchased at Hancocks recently) to my 1970s Monkey Wards machine; doesn't fit. I have other feet for this machine, but not a walking foot. There is a "foot" with only a "circle" through which the needle would go.

I'm thinking of trying free-motion but know nothing about it. And as I look at the pattern, I fear that I'd have to do a lot of stop-start as I jump from one group of leaves to another.

Basically I think I'm in over my head (not that that's stopped me in the past) and need advice from quilters here.

Sending to a free-arm quilter is not an option. a) I have no way to compensate her; b) my piecing on this leaves (ahem) much to be desired in places (i.e., I'm embarrassed to have anyone else look THAT closely at it); c) I doubt there's time.

Suggestions? I really do want to quilt around these leaves.

What about doing a lattice pattern, so it looks like the leaves are climbing on a trellis?

a walking foot will not help you quilt around those leaves- a walking foot is good for stitch in the ditch/cross-hatching, ect- straight lines.
a free motion foot (also called a darning foot) is used for free motion quilting.
make a (practice) sandwich about 12" square, put a few leaves on it and practice. free motion quilting takes some practice before it looks good enough for a quilt up for auction.
if you do not have a darning foot do you have a clear foot so you can see where you are going? that would help=
also with a walking foot the feed dogs are kept up- used-
with free motion the feed dogs are put down- not used- which allows you move the fabric sandwich around

Here is a great link on how to do FMQ leaves:

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=...quilting+vines

That is a very simple leaf vine if you leave out the center of the leaf. The round circle foot is probably the darning foot if it has a spring on the arm above the foot. You drop your feed dogs, lay your hands flat on the sandwhich, put the pedal to the metal (fast foot speed) and move your hands slow. I wear gloves (garden gloves work). Make a piece of your scraps your practice guide and use the pattern above to show you how to get around the leaves and connect them. Good Luck and the fabric is great for a quilting pattern. My sister's and my first machines were the same one as yours.

How about an old fashioned quilting bee? Ask some friends over who quilt and ask them to help you finish this in time for the auction.

Thanks; yes, I have a darning foot. I've also been watching Patsern this morning:

http://www.youtube.com/user/patsern

and next I'm off to Peg's link to FMQ leaves.

Thanks!

I would find a stencil with a leaf pattern. I wouldn't try and quilt around the printed leaves, just do a leaf pattern in the border to compliment the print. I also like the lattice idea. You can use a walking foot for the lattice, but you need a darning foot to FMQ. If you get a stencil, you can hand quilt. Beautiful fabrics, would like to see the whole quilt when you are done!

Ahem. The only "friends" I have who quilt are... you all... I actually don't know one local person who quilts. (play sappy violin music here...)

I'm going to try FMQ on a 12" test patch and see just how bad I am... (oops... my feed dog switch appears to be jammed... arrghhh)

Let you know how it goes. In the meantime, some add'l photos of the quilt, along with inspectors. (Sorry for the photo quality.)

No suggestions but love the quilt - not sure that this is what they meant about a quilting bee though. :lol: