I am about to begin my first free motion quilting after practicing forever... was going to do an all over stippling with perhaps some loops in the borders- but was wondering if you begin in the center of the quilt and work towards the outer edge- or corner? I spray basted my sandwich- does anyone sew around the very edge of the quilt first just to prevent pulling in on the edges? Thanks for advice

I work from the middle out, almost in concentric circles. Good luck!

I begin in the center & work toward the edges. I usually roughly divide my quilt up into sections & quilt by sections. I wouldn't sew the edge of the quilt before I did my stippling. I would pin the edges though & then after your meander or stipple & before you did the border I would go back & repin the edges to adjust for any changes in size due to your FMQ. That's how I have done it & it works for me!

I wouldn't sew around the edges. It could cause ripples from the fabric shifting.

Great tips so far. Thank you for posting this topic. :-D

I do my FMQ by section. I also spray baste and I use pins on the edges so that they don't fold in.
It sunds like Maggiemay and I do the sam thing. Great minds!

I work the same way as Doreen & Maggiemay.
I also spray baste - love the ease of working with that stuff.
As for stippling, it's so much fun and I manage to work in my name or initials along the way. Hidden signature.
Don't forget to label your finished treasure and have fun.

Love the name "Covered in Threads". It seems that I am always finding bits and pieces on me. I lived in Flagstaff for 8 years. Loved it!

I keep a lint roller by the door of my craft/sewing room to roll over me before leaving. My DH still manages to find at least a thread or two on me. Been here for 18 years now, still love it but ready for a change.
Be sure to post the finished quilt, always enjoy seeing others creations.

I am on the same boat as Covered in Threads, Doreen & Maggiemay. I spraybaste and reinforce with pins.

The first time I spray basted I figured that I did not need to start in the middle -- let me tell you ripping out a seam is a piece of cake compared to ripping out quilting when you find out how things rippled as a result of the basting.

don't stitch around the outside before quilting - it has to be able to (move) outward as you go. you start in the middle and work outward toward a side, top, bottom other side-
chances are the edges will not be even when you finish- we generally we square up the quilt before binding.-that is when you would stitch around the edges.

if your top has bias edges- or alot of seams along the edges you may want to stay stitch the top- but do not stitch it to the batting/backing-only stay stitch the top itself to keep edge seams from coming apart or stretching.

Thank you all for your advice-- I'm always so grateful to this board when I have a question-- the response is so fast!!

I hate to sound like a sheep, but I do as the others and spray baste and pin, starting in the center and working my way around. (baahhh)