amma

I just wanted to say thank you for all of the information you have all posted in the past message boards. There is such a wealth of information to draw from. You are all so quick to help and share your knowledge!
I have been cruising through them all the last few days. The quilt pattern my son picked out had me puzzled as to how to piece the blocks together to get the pattern right. In one of the postings there was a link to a book that had the same pattern and directions for only $6.95. Needles to say I could not order it fast enough :D This will save me A LOT of time that I would have spent reverse sewing, over and over and over.....LOL
The pattern is sets of 3 tumbling blocks scattered evenly around the quilt top. He wants a black background and border with bright colored blocks on it. The design looks like they are just floating on the quilt top. I am going to do all the machine quilting (except for the blocks) in black which is an added bonus, as the mistakes I will inevitably make, should disappear. I have never done machine stippling before either. I am thinking about making the back black, too, just to give myself a break as this will be a larger wall hanging and it will not show.

SandraJennings

Amma, I'm pretty sure we all would tell you you are very welcome and it really is no problem...We love to share and really do believe quilting people can do no less. Your quilt sounds like a real treat, hope you will post a picture when it is finished, as we would love to see it. Sounds like you may have a budding designer in the wings as well. Good luck! :D

Carla P

Hey Amma. You are right about saving yourself a lot of headaches by using black for the backing as well. Another option would be some of the very busy black & whites available. Any "artistic value" in your stitches will be lost in either. Since this will be your first attempt at stippling, do yourself 2 favors in addition to the black or b&w backing. Use a smaller needle & finer thread, like a size 10 or 12 (sharp- not universal) needle and at least a size 60 thread. You will, in the end, see it quilted and not see the quilting itself... not without a good light & magnifying glass. The 2nd favor to yourself would be to buy an extra 1/2 yard of the black or 2 FQs (1 black & 1 b&w), depending on your choice of backing color, to make a mini quilt to practice on before you do the real thing. This might also help you decide which backing you prefer.

Good luck & of course, we hope to see it when you are finished. :D

amma

Thank you both! Thank you for the hints on the needle and thread to use as well as making a mini sample quilt first. I can make a mini quilt out of one just one set of the blocks and if it turns out ok I will make a pillow out of it for his bed! I will post pictures when it is done. You are making my first project not so intimidating!