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Very nice blocks, they will have a lovely 'stained glass' look to the quilt when you are done.

I also suggest 'stitch in the ditch' for your first time at quilting. Just put your stitch length at about 3.0, no need for it to be smaller than that but it is a personal choice so you can go smaller. And yes a walking foot is a 'must have' when quilting 3 layers together.

Can't wait to see your finished quilt.

warm quilt hugs, sue

That depends entirely on your batting and each batting has a recommendation for maximum quilting distance. I use Warm and Natural or Warm and White and I usually don't quilt less than a hand width. Usually, my design tells me how it wants to be quilted when the top is done.

Sometimes, I combine SID and a tied center, using embroidery floss.

I just took a look at your blocks, and I assume that you will put sashing between. You could SID along each side of the sashing (both directions). Inside each block, you could draw an irregular8-pointed star with a point where the dark line meets the edge, and an inside point centered on the next line. It would require a little free-form quilting, but it is still a straight line.

I really like your blocks, it will be a nice quilt.

The only thing I have to add is if you decide to mark your quilt design, do it on the top before you make your sandwich. Also, I get my batting out of the package and let it rest for a day before I make the sandwich.

I like the idea of echo quilting around the "windows". Just slightly different than stitch in the ditch.

Thankyou very much again everyone! This is a great forum so far :)

gaigai: Thanks again. I will start putting aside money. If I get into this hobby I am sure the foot will be worthwhile compared to the cost of a professional quilting service. I will keep that in mind about the lesson too.

Quilting G: The concept is from a pattern by Kathleen Bissett, however I couldn't find a source to purchase her pattern, so I have been making it up as I go along. It was actually this quilt that inspired me first to have a go myself, but it seems you can do your cuts anywhere you like on your fabric squares as long as you end up with 9 pieces to put back together.

Rose Marie: Thanks for the link. I will check it out when I am at home.

MadQuilter: I like the idea of a star in the centre of each coloured area.

So I have 3 ideas now:
- Stitch in the ditch (creating a replica of the pattern in stitch lines on the reverse)
- "echo quilting" about 1/4" inside the edge of each coloured area
- Star shapes in each coloured area

And I need a walking foot and good quality batting.
I always pick the expensive hobbies :lol:

I've started quilting! And I have learnt a lot

- how easily safety pins go in and how to use a spoon to close them
- to double check the tension on my machine after winding bobbins
- to make sure the next area is flat before starting to sew
- that the whole quilt doesn't go through my machine arm area and to turn backwards 270 degrees instead of always forward 90
- not to worry so much and not too be so precious about it... and that if I line it up with the foot it pretty much sews itself

haha... and I am having fun.

Here we are for the progress just before I emptied a box of safety pins into it and started quilting.

[img]http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2466/...1dfe004db6.jpg[/img]

Thanks everyone for the suggestion. I went with "warm'n'natural" for batting, and I ended up trying the "stitch in the ditch" method for this one. I'm going around all the coloured areas. I am not sure what to do in the wide border yet though.

I've done 4/12 blocks

That looks awesome, great job,

That quilt is absolutely STUNNING!
I wanna make one too! I shall save a pic and maybe later <g>

I took a class for $25 at a quilt shop. Brought home lots of samples and ideas. I believe the main thing about quilting on a sewing machine is PRACTICE so you can learn to regulate your stitch length and move smoothly. There's lots of info on the internet if you just search a while. And I have gotten books from my public library. Also, I've bought them at Half Price Books very reasonably. By the way, I've not machine quilted a project yet. I'm still PRACTICING, but I'm going to try it on some placemats my daughter requested (soon, whenever that is).

forgot to tell you I love your first quilt. Great colors and block selection.