Question For Hand Quilters
 

Have you ever attempted planning a hand quilting design that will avoid seams....or is that even possible?

I am finishing one just now that has worn me out with the number of seams I had to go over. I'd like the next one to be just a bit easier on my fingers.

Avoiding seams is my number one aim when deciding on a hand quilting design. I cannot get good stitches when going over seams.

Boston, I avoid seams at all cost. They are a bear to quilt through.
BTW- your hand quilting is lovely :)

I agree with Tartan. When hand quilting I try to avoid seams as much as possible but when necessary just do a few stab stitches and call it good. All of the seams is the main reason my NYB quilt has sat as a UFO for a number of years now. Can't figure out a hand quilting pattern to work with all of those seams!

Back when I hand quilted, and even now that I longarm, I often have a vague idea of the quilting in the piecing process and sometimes even more than vague. I will often adapt a pattern to have less seams if I can. But if I could not, I would also try to come up with quilting patterns that avoided the seams and save the fancy ornate designs for the areas that had vast expanses with few seams which usually meant the background areas, setting squares and triangles and borders. This would often result in a lot of echo quilting in the piecing, usually 1/4" from the seam line and in areas where I did have to go over a seam I would stab stitch like Tartan and NJ Quilter.

I used to toy with the idea of making a handquilted wholecloth but I don't think I ever will. I may do one on the LA though.

I press seams open and have not had a problem going over seams. :o

I have done an arc curve near each seam and avoided them, then at intersections, travel to the next starting point. Our long arm quilting friend is doing a whole lot with perle cotton. It's gorgeous. On Facebook, see.melissa.quilt

Wholecloth quilt , I mean

Hmmm, I just did a search in FB using "Melissa quilt" and "Melissa.quilt" and got nothing. Can you please provide a direct link, I would love to see it. (go to the page and copy the URL address and paste it in a reply) Do you know is she couching it or using a 12 wt which can be run through the machine?