That is the way I quilted my best of show quilt shown in my Avatar. It is much easier doing it this way if you have a small harp.

i always start in the middle. by machine or by hand.

Usually center for me. What little hand quilting I've done, I buried the thread like embroidery.

I always start in the center and work a quarter at a time. I have several inches of overhang on the back and in batting to make up for any "creep".

I always start in the center and quilt the lower right quadrant, then reposition the quilt so I'm always working in that quadrant (most of the quilt is then in front of me and to the left, so I don't have to move that weight around).

This is a really good idea. I think I usually have started machine quilting with my walking foot at the top center and just move down and over but there is a lot of bulk on my lap most of the time to fuss with (plus it gets hot). Next time I'm going to try it this way. Thanks!

I always start in the center and work out. The basic quilting taught me that years ago and I haven't strayed from that. I tried to change it up once and was disappointed, so I go with what I know works.

I normally start in the center and work out for the same reasons others have said. I do FMQ on my DSM and learned to do it that way. Recently did crosshatching on placements and started following a line from an outside edge but still started on a center line. Don't know if that mattered for straight line quilting.

I too always start in the center. I do a row up and down and then across. I then quilt a quarter at a time.
My Daughter tried starting at the edge and ended up with a great big pucker in the center. She tried to talk me into ripping it out. I told her she needed to rip and that way she would not do that again.
I have always known to do it that way.

I wonder if we are all talking about the same "middle"? I consider the middle to be the center of the quilt. I wonder if some of these replies are talking about starting to quilt in the middle of a side rather than in the center of the quilt. For those of you starting in the center of the quilt, it might help to mention how you are burying or tying off the thread ends. (When starting in the middle of a side, there is no need to bury ends because they are at the edge of the quilt.)

Just label me confused. :confused: