Split Decision Quilt
 

I am a beginning quilter, this is only my 4th quilt and I am making it for my sister for her birthday. I was hoping to get some ideas on what design to quilt. I can only straight line quilt, and unfortunately my small machine makes it very very difficult to turn my quilt (it gets stuck). I was thinking about quilting in orange thread to stand out, but since my quilting skills aren't fantastic its probably safer to use white thread. Any ideas would be appreciated!

Thanks!

How ambitious, great job. Don't think I was as brave on my 4th quilt. Sometimes a slightly curved quilting line off-sets a very geometric pattern.

You might try cross hatching. I do mine by laying a length of blue painters tape along one of middle diagonal lines and then stitching next to the tape. The tape is your guide to a straight line. Then just move the tape across the quilt and go down the other side. Keep moving the tape. When it stops sticking use a new piece of tape. You never have to turn the quilt except at the ends of each row. Make sure you alternate which direction you hit each time to prevent puckers.

No help here, but wanted to say it sure is a beautiful quilt!! Good luck with the quilting!

your quilt is very pretty

Lovely quilt! Your color choices are beautiful, nice design, and your quilt is flat and straight. (I couldn't say the same on my 4th quilt, LOL) Your sister will be thrilled. If you're worried about the quilting showing too much, grey thread might be better than white. It will blend in more throughout the quilt.

Beautiful quilt! Since it is a more modern design, straight line vertical quilting about an inch apart would look great. Lately I have also seen several quilts with just vertical line quilting, but the lines were just slightly curvy in a random basis--but never crossing over each other-sometimes half inch apart and up to about two inches apart. This gives a Slightly softer look to a geometric pieced pattern..

I like the idea of cross hatching. Would you start from corner to corner or would you keep your lines going with diagonal blocks so it goes more with the pattern?

And thanks for the compliments everyone! I am teaching myself as I go so I learn something new with every quilt :)

Beautiful quilt. My first thought was to quilt following the line of the diamond shapes ie diagonals. One line through centre of each block.

Very very pretty!

I would love to see this quilted with orange thread in wavy lines. Wavy lines are a modern type of quilting design and are very easy, especially if you have a walking foot. You simply start at one edge of the quilt and move the fabric gradually from side to side as you sew. Because the lines are wavy, they are not expected to exactly mimic each other (unlike straight lines, where it is easy to see a deviation). I will see if I can find a photo or two of what I am describing..... Ahhh, here's one!
http://www.canoeridgecreations.com/2...1_archive.html

Beautiful quilt! I think stitch in the ditch is perfect for your quilt, and gray is a good color for the thread if you are a bit unsure about your stitching. Like others have said, check your batting to see how far apart is okay. I use Warm and Natural and you can quilt as far apart as ten inches. If it is hard to get the quilt through your machine, the fewer stitches you have to have, the better! I think I would stitch around each block and then do one diagonal through the center. I just love your quilt. You are doing really really well!!

Dina

Ive done like tess with crosshatch. works fine!! Your doing great your 4th quilt! Wow!!

This does not look like a beginner's quilt. Great job! Have you considered using grey thread to quilt it?

I am so impressed, you have done some great work, very creative.

Very nice! Can you give us a link to the pattern? Sorry.. no help/advice with the quilting but you are doing great!

Beautiful on all counts. What pattern ? Square within a Square? I think orange thread will take away from the beauty of our quilt. Grey is a good idea.

superb everything: pattern, colors, piecing! many excellent suggestions given already. I am not going to add to this. I can't wait to see it finished.

The quilt is great - as for quilting it, I always choose the simplest plan until I was comfortable with something more complicated.

Nice job, I love the black and white background then the yellow just pops. I would stitch in the ditch on the diagonal lines, I like the idea of using grey thread.

You made a wonderful 4th quilt

Agree with Prism ... I think wavy lines in the center of the orange square, and again in a diamond around the orange square extending to the edge of the B&W block.

Some machines have a setting for a wavy line and if you set the stitch length to the longest setting you'll get a nice long wave and all you really have to do is sew a straight line with a walking foot. Easy!!

Your quilt is awesome!

It's oh so very beautiful!

The pattern is Split Decision in the magazine McCall's Quick Quilts in the June/July 2012 issue. I actually really like the wavy lines idea, I found this and fell in love with it:

http://www.freshlypieced.com/2011/01...-quilting.html

However, I don't have a wavy line setting on my machine! The closest thing I have is a zig zag stitch, which is close but not exactly what I want :( I wish I had a more advanced machine!

I really like your quilt. Good luck with the quilting.

What stitches are available on your machine?
 

What stitches are available on your machine. I have one that if you increase the stitch length it will make a wavy line like what is in that picture.

Brother XL2600i stitch options
 

Here's a picture of the stitch options my machine has. I've been messing around with #6 to try and get a wavy line but it just zig zags.

I do this too. It is such a great way to keep the lines even, and you use different sizes.

Actually just messing with #10 is getting closer to a wavy line. Still kind of boxy but better than #6 :)

Actually, the wavy lines I am talking about are a straight stitch! You simply guide the quilt sandwich to right and left as you sew with a walking foot. This makes gently curved lines, and you don't have to worry about stitch length -- all of the stitches will be even. It's very easy to do. Maybe try it out on a practice piece to decide on stitch length, spacing of the lines, etc.

Edit: I just checked the link you posted. Those wavy lines are indeed made with a decorative stitch -- usually called a serpentine stitch. This is different from my suggestion in that it creates very even waves. The photo I posted is made with just a straight stitch, and the lines are purposely uneven.

try number 18 or 23 and lengthen the stitch and see if that will work. Mine goes three stitches to the left then three stitches to the right and with the stitch lengthened it looks pretty good, more pointed than curved. though.

Beautiful quilt...

Oh My this is gorgeous!!!

Just popping in to say that this is a beautiful quilt! Have fun with the quilting and finishing!

I really love your quilt! I found the pattern online for those who may want it http://www.mccallsquilting.com/patte...html?idx=14052

That is a beautiful quilt. Ditto what Dunster said. Very nice and look forward to much more of your work.

I would stitch in the directions of the large pieced triangle. Here is the center of a quilt that shows you the directions of the quilt lines. I would measure the width between the HST piecing and see what number it is divisible by. The quilting would enhanced with the lines being in the same direction as the large pieced HST. Good Luck. Excellent choices on your fabric palette !!