Question Please on How to Use Quilting Stencils
 

I finally decided to just do a stipple pattern on my first FMQ project and have been practicing. I will be using a stencil because I don't feel I have the ability to meander evenly. I've looked at a few to order online and they all have beginning and ending points (see sample images).

In one image the start is upper left, end lower right. In the other start is on the upper left, end lower right.

When you mark your quilt with a stippling stencil, do you mark the quilt so that the next section starts at the end of the last - essentially an unending stipple across the quilt (until you lay it for the next row)? This would work if the start and end points were both on top.

But if they are in different positions, do you just mark laying the stencil side to side and then sew each marking independently - starting and stopping with each? Or, would you stagger the marking so that the next section starts where the first ends?

Or am I just overthinking this?

Thanks for your help.
Cathy

perhaps the second one gets flipped top to bottom so that the pattern is more varied.

I notice that in the example on the right, if you mark the entire stencil and move it to the right, the upper left starting point will line up with the ending point of the upper right. I think I would do it that way, in rows.

Val in In is absolutely right. That is like a pantograph and you make copies and tape them together so you can go along the quilt in a row. Then start again. I use them on my mega quilter. With stippling, just go with the flow. It will look good.

Thanks for your replies. I appreciate the suggestions. So new at this and so afraid which is kind of silly. :) Leah Day of daystyledesigns has a video on which she says something like - give yourself permission to mess up. Thanks again.