Suggestions please
05-01-2021, 09:44 AM
#3
Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2021
Location: Potsdam, NY
Posts: 178
I just did a large I-spy quilt for my kids to have at the family cottage. I stitched in the ditch around all the squares. If your batting allows larger areas to go un-quilted, (some say up to a certain size) you could just go around the 4patch. Or tie the quilt with a tie at each corner of the 4-patch, or along the sashing. You could do different floss colors on the ties for additional I-spy fun.
05-02-2021, 08:25 AM
#4
Power Poster
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Between the dashes of a tombstone
Posts: 12,716
Diagonal stitching through the blocks will work. Consider using a double needle straight stitch for this. Or as Tartan suggested a serpentine stitch but on the diagonal. You'd be surprised how quick the diagonal stitching goes.
05-02-2021, 01:31 PM
#6
Power Poster
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 17,718
Straight line quilting using the seamline, stitching either side of the seam.
No need for marking. Just use your foot as a guide against the seam.
Check your batting as to how far apart your quilting can be.
If the double lines don't give you enough, you could do a 2nd stitch line.
Or go diagonal.
Or if you want it heavily quilted, do continual lines the same width apart, or at random distances.
No need for marking. Just use your foot as a guide against the seam.
Check your batting as to how far apart your quilting can be.
If the double lines don't give you enough, you could do a 2nd stitch line.
Or go diagonal.
Or if you want it heavily quilted, do continual lines the same width apart, or at random distances.
05-02-2021, 01:39 PM
#7
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Greater Peoria, IL -- just moved!
Posts: 6,077
I'm another fan of a wide serpentine stitch if you have it as a built-in option. It goes well with everything and you can set it/choose threads so that it either disappears or becomes part of the grid/project. I think using the seams as a guideline (no marking!) and going over into both seam allowances stabilizes the quilt and holds up well to being machine washed.
I know -- some of you can do it free hand, that just makes me cranky! Not that you can, but that I can't. I can, however, let my modern machine do most of the work -- didn't have that option with my vintage.
I know -- some of you can do it free hand, that just makes me cranky! Not that you can, but that I can't. I can, however, let my modern machine do most of the work -- didn't have that option with my vintage.
05-03-2021, 05:57 AM
#9
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 2,826
I like making I Spy quilts and have done all the above. The diagonal is the easiest and there is minimal turning the quilt and you don't have to mark anything. I use "Gutermann invisable" thread from JoAnns in the top and a polyester thread that matches the back in the bobbin. I sew on a vintage machine, and I have to reduce the top tension a little bit to accommodate the thread. I've never had any problem with this brand, but have had problems with other brands.
The finished block is 6", so that's the widest space between the stitching. I use warm and natural batting, so that works with that batting. I'm not sure you can see the stitching in this photo, but is one I quilted on the diagonal.
bkay
The finished block is 6", so that's the widest space between the stitching. I use warm and natural batting, so that works with that batting. I'm not sure you can see the stitching in this photo, but is one I quilted on the diagonal.
bkay
