Select batting
 

I want to cheat. Quilter’s Dream Select Batting says you can quilt up to 8 inches apart. I’d like to quilt 10 inches apart to machine quilt in the ditch. It looks very good as it is in the ditch around the 10 inch blocks. What will happen if I do leave it as is with the 10 inch quilting? Fall apart? Not last as long? Make it so it may never be washed? Has anyone done this?What are the repercussions? Thanks in advance for your input!

I wouldn't wash it if it was quilted that far apart. Can you do a "tack" stitch in the middle of each block?

What I found in my earlier machine quilted projects (20-30 years ago) was the wear and tear as they aged were not in the seams, but rather in larger areas of un-quilted fabric. I think part of this is from the subtle rubbing between the top and batting (maybe especially when washing?), and some simply that it is just not secure. I was living under severe allergy protocols for a number of years which meant monthly washing of the bed quilts.

On the other hand, if you aren't washing them that frequently or plan to use them forever, doesn't hurt really to try what you want to do. And you can always go back later and add more quilting if you wish.

Short form translation: I would not recommend going 10 inches, I'd consider 6.

That’s the way to go. My sample quilted through the center was not pleasing. There are places I can tack. I have trouble knotting thread, strange but true. I was looking for other options or ideally that 10 inches would be enough. I’ll just have to have patience when I’m doing it. It’s a gift so I can’t get it back to add more quilting. But all quilting takes patience, right? Yep. Thanks
After thought, thinking of embroidery floss, might be easier to knot. But tougher to bury. There’s got to be a way. I’ll test on my sample.

Thank you. It is a gift so I don’t know their washing routine. I do always send instructions with gifts. My dear SIL with dogs washed hers like a regular blanket every week. I took it back and repaired the seams and learned my lesson, include instructions for suggested care. I’m going to try to go with the tacking idea. Maybe the six inches. I’ll have to see how my knotting goes. Hmm maybe embroidery floss, it’s black on black do it wouldn’t show. Ohh I just love the Quilting Board!

Once you have a stabilizing grid down, it gets easier to quilt. If you have the 10 inch grid, then maybe 1.5 inches from that do another row on either side in both directions. You will get sort of a plaid or lattice effect, with still large untouched centers, yet within the quilting guidelines.

Good luck! My goal for these next few years is I am going to try to be better at the quilting down part of things but I can't draw and have a limited imagination when it comes to quilting designs.

In the early days of Eleanor Burns and her QIAD projects, the go-to was to use embroidery floss.

Without knowing what the centre of each of your 10" blocks are, it's hard to make suggestions that are do-able.

One possibility, would be to quilt a box, one inch from the edge of your ten inches which would give you the 8". Or of course, could go with 1-1/2" all round or whatever works best.

Or if it is a pieced 10" block, use the piece work to help you decided where to quilt.

Or if the centre is a printed picture or embroidery or even the piece work, you could echo stitch around the shape.

All those, and more could lock down your bigger than 8" opening, in order to get the quilting within the parameters of the quilt batting recommendations.

Ten inches is a lot of open space! I suggest the standard of 4" or the width of your hand. Too, it depends on how this project is going to be used. If it's a wall-hanging that is only for display that's one thing but, if it's going to be on a bed or actively used, that's another. And then how often will it be laundered? A lot of considerations here.
As to tying vs quilting in those open spaces. I'm remembering a piece that I tied with black embroidery floss. It looked like spiders! I took it out and used a brighter color.
Depending on the look you want to create, maybe use crochet thread and bury the ends inside the piece instead of letting the ends show as with more traditional tying.

My family prefers wide space quilting so the quilt is 'more cuddly' . For regular any use quilts I make them, I do crosshatching quilting. Looks great on any quilt pattern and I can be up to four inches apart and still look good. They are happy and I save a lot of money. They all have nice expensive long armed quilted quilts but say they are too stiff. Those will last for decades because they never use them. Folded up in the closet to keep.

Well, I have left large spaces, more than 8", and have had no problem. They were constructed early in my self-taught quilt career. I do not wash them every week, and they are fine-no bunched batting. I would not recommend for all quilts, but I would go for it. Here's a pic of a t-shirt quilt with large blocks.

Also, if it's a wall-hanging, the unquilted area might sag over time

I’m not familiar with a crochet thread. I thought crochet was yarn. Please advise what you describe as crochet. This would be black on black color wise.

Reb, crochet thread is not yarn. It is the tread that fine doilies are made of. It's usually next to the yarn at most stores. You can also use pearl cotton thread. You don't have to buy so much that way and may come in different colors. I've used both and like the look of an "old fashioned" quilt sometimes, especially for baby quilts.

Well then. Interesting to note when several opinions are different. Honestly, I don’t imagine the quilt will ever be washed. I know how it will be used and the way the person does laundry. Also, not to put them down at all regarding laundry they do not have pets and their location is a place where it won’t be used often. Their cold weather is short, living in west Texas. Now I have to make a decision. I’ll wait until my in the ditch over all quilting is done and see how the squares look. Tacking might be the best way but it would still disrupt the ‘flow’ of the patchwork. If I recall correctly T-shirts may stretch a bit so that is a good example. Mine is batik which is a denser weave.
Thank you for your input.

When I design a wallhanging this is good advice. Thank you. I can consider the quilting a head of time. Which, I know you are supposed to do but I don’t usually. My bad.

Have you considered using flannel (wash first for shrinkage) or fleece as batting instead? This is what I use for more open quilting,

I was at the deadline to enter a quilt in the local quilt show. I was part of a group showing so was depended on to have something made. I finished the quilt top at 10 a.m. the day before the deadline. I went to Hobby Lobby and bought wide fleece in a coordinating color for the back. I made a tied fleece quilt (remember those?) I cut the 6 in strips all around the quilt top and fleece. I knotted them. No quilting at all. I was hung with the rest of the group projects the next day. I won second place! I about fainted. That quilt is still on my uncle's recliner. He washes it a lot as his dog is always on it. It's funny to see it in the washing machine, it separates like a balloon but goes right back together in the dryer. I had to retie the knots to double knots after the show. I didn't have time before turning it in. There is always a solution, don't get bogged down with have tos and rules.

Thank you. I can’t for this project, already have the quilting started for the sashing. But, maybe for a future project.

Good for you and your quick thinking! I love your not getting bogged down. I’ve already broken “rules” and I’m happy with the results. I am beginning to go down that road. Thank you for your encouragement and response.

Crochet thread is like what a person would use for making doilies. There are different weights, too. Some is thicker and some is very fine, such as for tatting. It probably is on a shelf close to the yarn at the store

Another idea would be to tack it by machine. Just sew about 1/4" - 3/8" back and forth with a short stitch length (maybe 1 on your stitch length).