I have just finished a small quilt top with stars. I was just going to stitch in the ditch around the stars and inside the squares, but my daughter says that since the center blocks of the stars are 4” , I need to stitch around the center block in the star as well the outside of the stars. Opinions??

whether or not you "need" to quilt in the star centers will depend on the batting you use. the manufacturer's instructions should tell you how far apart your quilting can get. you'll probably find you don't "need" to do the extra quilting.

don't pressure yourself to add anything you don't feel ready for yet. i turn green with envy and sigh wistfully when i see the beautiful hand and machine quilting many of our members do. unfortunately, my own skills in that regard are still very limited. (i've learned to "love" the minimalist approach to the quilting phase of a project. :wink: :lol: :mrgreen: )

that said, i have a feeling you might be more pleased with the results and with yourself if you added a little something to the stars. even something as simple as diagonal lines from block corner to block corner, so they run through the centers will add pizzazz without giving you a nervous breakdown.

So very true, Patrice...even doing the whole quilt on the diagonal instead of stitching in the ditch may keep a nervous breakdown at bay.

What a beautiful star quilt! You've done a beautiful job!

What I like doing is considering the use of the quilt...if it's going on a wall and will only be washed infrequently, I quilt very little. If it's going on a bed and will be washed more frequently, then I quilt more. Look at it hanging on a wall, lying on a bed, consider your batting, the user, the use of the quilt, and then make your decision.

Just don't make yourself nervous over it. It's your masterpiece and you need to be happy with it.

Wonderful work, congratulations,
Sharon

No advise here, but your quilt is a beauty.

i love plaid, thats really goodlooking. Also, no have to anything; in quilts. You do what you want :D

Beautiful quilt, beautifully done!! I 2nd Ruth - no have to's in quilts! :D

Those are beautiful fabrics.

Wow---I love all your plaid stars!!!! What a great quilt.

I think the quilting advice you got from Patrice and Sharon is right on!!

no opionion here, but your quilt is very pretty :-)

Thanks for all the kind comments - I cannot take credit for the fabric combination - it was a kit from Keepsake - the plaid drove be batty!! If I had bought the fabric myself I would have bought more of each and "matched" the plaid in each square.

My plan was to use this as wall hanging and I have Warm and Natural as batting. I am concerned that since the Hubby talked me into making it the size it was supposed to be :roll: (I was going to make it a 3x3 square) more quilting in the center of the stars may be better to help stabilize the quilt.

You all have done far more quilting than I and I am happy for any direction. I think I will add small diagonals connecting the base of the points inside the centers.

Thanks for all you suggestions.

Great quilt!! I'd ask you what you want to do? However you decide, it will look fabo! Skeat

in that case, i'm very glad you bought a kit. matching plaids in clothing is a big enough pain. you'd have driven yourself up the wall doing it in star blocks. :lol:

that must be why the plaids i have always end up waaaaaaay at the bottom and back of my stash drawers.

don't feel sorry for them, though. they have the striped stuff to keep them company on those long, cold, winter nights. :lol:

LOL - my daughter was in hysterics when she saw that I had bought something plaid - she knows what I do with clothing :lol:

Warm and Natural is a needlepunched batting with scrim -- very stable and does not need close quilting. I think it can take quilting lines up to 6 inches apart; check the batting insert.

In any case, a wallhanging does not need to be quilted as closely as a bed cover.

p.s. I love your quilt!

Your quilt is gorgeous!!

great quilt and that's good info prism99 :)

very nice and sounds like you have it under control....your quilt is very pretty!...:-)

Very nice.

No advice, but you've done a great job so far, so I'm sure the quilting will be also.

Since it is small you don't need to do quite as much quilting. I assume you will use it as a wall hanging or table topper. I don't quilt my wall hangings like the lap and bed quilts.

Betty, what a beautiful wall hanging! I really like the plaids and the colors are me :wink:
I am still fairly new at all this so no advice on the quilting part, just had to tell you I love it :thumbup:

Can't add anything more than what was said, but I want to say I love your quilt. It is stunning done in plaids--don't think I have ever see stars done in plaids.

Uuuummmm, you could quilt a star in the center blocks with a metalic thread or sew a star shaped button in the center of each star. Just a thought, looks good and good luck.

Want to bet it ends up on a bed??? It would be beautiful on a large wall for sure, but I bet someone ends up with the beauty on their bed. I would have to lie under it for a bit anyway!

speaking of stripes and plaids..........I'm sitting here typing and looking at some plaids and strips I'm going to use as QAYG Christmas stocking for the Troops and the Seniors. You thought Christmas was over? It's never over here, and I love to use the plaids with solid to make the stockings. Something festive and encouraging about them.

Don't forget to post that picture of the result of your wonderful work.
Hugs,
Sharon

Beautiful Quilt!!

I think stitching in the ditch is harder than stitching 1/4" from the seams. How about stitching on the diagonal like others have suggested and use clear thread. If it is going to be a wall hanging you don't have to worry about the scratchy ends left from the clear thread.

BTW, I love your use of plaid! You did a great job!

Why would you accent the squares when you want everyone to see the stars. I would quilt it so that the stars pop. You did a beautiful job

I think the same way, about your quilt top. It is certainly beautiful. Do keep us posted as you decide how you want to finish it. Good work. :D

I totally agree with PatriceJ. I make "Bottoms Up" Christmas stockings with similar stars on the seat flap. I find that adding the diagonal lines through the stars really does add just the right amount of pizzazz to the overall design. So, if you're up to it...